07-24-2014, 06:34 AM
ENIGMA: “Asmodeus…Mom!”
CAROLINE MARTIN: “Eric!”
Her face is bright red as she quickly moves to cover up her bare body.
I saw things…more than I had ever wanted to see. Things I will never un-see. Suddenly I envy Hellen Keller.
I quickly closed my eyes, turned around and walked back out of the room and went right into the kitchen.
Please God if you are listening let there be beer in the fridge.
I opened the fridge, searched high and low, milk, orange juice, water, but no beer.
Fuck!
And with mom being a recovering alcoholic there is no chance of any liquor here. My only hope was the beer that I used to keep in the fridge. Yes I know, I’m an asshole. Who keeps beer in the fridge when living with a recovering alcoholic? Me. I did that. And it was fine. My mother learned how to control herself so the beer was never an issue but it appears she either drank what I accidently left behind or threw it out. Hopefully it was the latter.
Ok, there is a liquor place right around the corner, I can go there.
No wait, I can’t. Fuck. The feds. Those mother fuckers are probably sitting out there in their white van that they think is inconspicuous but to the trained eye is as out of place as Frodo Smackins in an NBA Dunk Contest.
Ok, ok, I can get through this. I just need a minute.
I sit down on the couch, put my head in my hands and just shut myself off to the world.
Much better.
ASMODEUS: “Eric.”
Fuck. All I needed was a few minutes of peace and quiet, all I got was thirty seconds.
I lift my head up out of my hands to see my father standing in front of me. Thankfully he is fully clothed. To his side is my mother, also clothed, though looking a bit more disheveled.
ASMODEUS: “Eric, your mother and I would like to talk to you.”
ENIGMA: “No Dad. No you really do not need to talk to me. In fact, I think we are long past having the birds and the bees conversation.”
ASMODEUS: “Well your mother and I…”
ENIGMA: “Dad, no. We are not having this conversation.”
“And for the record, how did you even get here?”
ASMODEUS: “Your brother drove me.”
ENIGMA: “Sebastian is here? In New York?”
ASMODEUS: “Yes he is. He had some matters to take care of.”
“He said he had planned on stopping by your place to talk to you.”
ENIGMA: “Well it would have been fantastic if he had mentioned that to me.”
ASMODEUS: “Well he has been very busy these last few days as you know.”
ENIGMA: “Actually I do not know that Dad. I have not talked to Sebastian in weeks.”
“I have talked to his mobile mouthpiece Jacob but not Sebastian.”
ASMODEUS: “I sense some frustration in you, son.”
ENIGMA: “Very astute.”
ASMODEUS: “I don’t like your tone.”
ENIGMA: “Noted.”
“And Mom what are you doing?"
"You have been hounding me to come and visit you, we agreed that I would come today at nine a.m."
"One would think given how much of a fuss you made about me not coming to see you previously that you would have been well ready for visit.”
CAROLINE MARTIN: “I know Eric. I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”
ENIGMA: “And you thought you would find it in bed with Asmodeus?”
ASMODEUS: “That’s not fair.”
ENIGMA: “Life is not fair.”
“Where exactly is Sebastian?”
ASMODEUS: “I don’t know. He just said that he had some things to take care of in New York, he did not specify and I did not ask him to elaborate.”
“Why? Do you need him for something?”
ENIGMA: “Yes I do.”
ASMODEUS: “Is something wrong?”
ENIGMA: “No, everything is just peachy.”
“How about you and Mom go and straighten yourself up, you both look like a mess.”
“I need to make some phone calls.”
ASMODEUS: “Is everything ok?”
ENIGMA: “Yes everything is fine. I will fill you in later.”
“Mom is Hector still living next door?”
CAROLINE MARTIN: “Yes he is, why do you need him?”
ENIGMA: “I might have an opportunity for him to earn a couple of bucks.”
CAROLINE MARTIN: “I am sure he would love that.”
My mother did as I asked and went back to her room to freshen up, after some initial reluctance Asmodeus followed suit.
It is very clear that I cannot leave here with the fed’s still out there following me. But fortunately I have a plan. And it is going to involve a lot of moving parts.
Let the games begin.
I take the phone out of my pocket, unlock it using my finger print and call Jacob. It takes three rings and Jacob picks up.
ENIGMA: “Jacob it’s Enigma.”
JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Hello Enigma.”
“What can I do for you?”
ENIGMA: “Do we still have that white laundry van that we sometimes use for various operations?”
JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Yes we do why?”
ENIGMA: “I need you to drive it down here to New York.”
“I need you to meet Sebastian somewhere and exchange vehicles.”
JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Why, what is going on?”
ENIGMA: “I will explain it to you later Jacob but right now I do not have the time.”
“Can you just do this for me?”
JACOB, THE MESSENGER: “Yes. Where shall I meet Sebastian?”
ENIGMA: “He will call you and let you know.”
“Thank you.”
One down, two to go.
Again three rings and the person on the other end picks up.
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Hello brother, how are things?”
ENIGMA: “Sebastian we have a problem.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What is wrong?”
ENIGMA: “I came to see my mother and as I was walking here I happened to notice that I was being tailed.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Tailed? By who?”
ENIGMA: “My initial feeling is feds but I did not stop to ask them.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Ok remain calm.”
ENIGMA: “I am calm.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “So what is your plan?”
ENIGMA: “I called Jacob, he is going to meet you here in New York. He is bringing the van with him.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I see.”
ENIGMA: “I figured you could find a place to meet him and exchange vehicles.”
“At which point you will bring the van here to the service entrance of mom’s apartment building.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Why am I doing that?”
ENIGMA: “Because I am going to have the kid next door meet you down at the service entrance, he will take the big laundry bin out of the back and bring it inside at which point Asmodeus and I will climb inside and he will wheel us into the vehicle and you will then drive us back to the Compound.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Ok. I understand.”
“What are you going to do about your apartment here?”
ENIGMA: “Well I do not know at what point the feds started following me but I am going to assume it was as soon as I walked out of the building. Which means that my apartment is no longer safe.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What of the documents inside?”
ENIGMA: “I have a plan for that.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Very well. I will contact Jacob and make arrangements for the vehicle swap. I will then call you when I have reached the service entrance of the building you are currently in.”
ENIGMA: “Thank you Sebastian.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What else are brothers for?”
Two down, one to go. This time I dialed Nicholas’s phone and after one ring he picks up.
N.I.G: “Yeah boss?”
ENIGMA: “Nicholas we have a problem.”
N.I.G: “What’s that?”
ENIGMA: “Did you happen to notice anything out of the ordinary the last few days? Anyone following you?”
N.I.G: “Definitely not. I would notice if someone was following me.”
ENIGMA: “I figured you would, which is why I asked.”
“Which brings me to the next thing.”
“I need you to do me a favor.”
N.I.G: “Sure boss anything.”
ENIGMA: “I need you to go back to my place, go to the back entrance, next to the door there is a light switch that is painted red. Flip the switch and then leave.”
N.I.G: “What happens when I flip the switch?”
ENIGMA: “The building will burn to the ground.”
N.I.G: “I like it.”
ENIGMA: “Nicholas, do you have somewhere you can go to lay low while things calm down?”
N.I.G: “Yes I do. My family has a place in Pennsylvania I can go to.”
ENIGMA: “Great.”
“Before I hang up, were you able to obtain any information on our next target?”
N.I.G: “Yes I was"
"A lot actually. I know where he is and where he will be for the next few days. But how can we do anything now with the feds watching you?”
ENIGMA: “We can’t. Which is unfortunate.”
“And yet somehow it is typical government at its finest.”
“Just when we are making some progress the Government gets involved and things grind to a hault.”
N.I.G: “Our tax payer dollars at work.”
ENIGMA: “Indeed. Thank you again Nicholas. I will contact you again when this is all over.”
N.I.G: “Very good.”
I hung up with Nicholas, pocketed my phone and walked out of the apartment, down the hall to apartment Six K. Home of the Gonzalez family. A nice couple actually, they own the bodega a few blocks from here, the one whose windows allowed me to spot my tail. Their son Hector is a good kid, maybe around nine or ten now. He is always helping my mom bring in the groceries or offering to go downstairs to get the mail for her, anything to make a quick buck.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
The door swings open and standing there is Hector.
HECTOR GONZALEZ: “Long time no see Eric.”
ENIGMA: “Hello Hector, how are you and your family?”
HECTOR GONZALEZ: “We are doing great.”
ENIGMA: “That is good to hear.”
“Say Eric how would you feel about making One Hundred bucks?”
HECTOR GONZALEZ: “Did you say One Hundred?”
ENIGMA: “Yes Hector I did. But you have to promise not to ever tell your parents about the money or how you got it, is that clear?”
HECTOR GONZALEZ: “Oh I won’t tell them, it will be our little secret.”
ENIGMA: “Great. Come with me.”
To be continued.