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Angelus · (08-25-2013)

A Night to Remember
Part 3: "White Snake"

One day prior…

When the phone rang, Anj was finishing up a New York Times crossword puzzle. Hey, gotta keep the mind occupied and all. It looked as though today was going to be one of those days when he was able to fill in all the squares. That happened more often than not, but once a week he'd hit a wall. A Brazilian tree in four letters would intersect with another name for marsupial in five, and he'd be stumped. It didn't make his day when he filled in the puzzle or spoil it when he didn't, but damn, it was something.

He put down his pencil and picked up the phone and Sheila said, "Anj, how you been? It's been too long. I got some work for you."

"I'll be right over," he said and broke the connection. She was right, he thought, it had been too long. The workload had seemed to run dry. What had it been now? Months? A man can get rusty with that sort of time to himself. Sitting there, watching movies or passing the time with a crossword puzzle.

There was still plenty of money. Anj lived well -- a good apartment in the back bay with the an even better view to match. He even managed to save more than he spent, placing money in safety deposit boxes around the country, savings accounts under other names.

If a rainy day came along he had his umbrella and if he needed to he could disappear off the map for awhile. It'd be good to work again though. A smirk crossed his face. No matter how long he spent trying to escape life on the road all it took was an extended stay at home and suddenly he was jonesing for those long miles of highway yet again.

Earlier…

He sat in the rental, engine off, but radio filtering in as background chatter. On the steering wheel sat an open manilla folder with an 8X10 glossy of a man with a patchy beard covering his face. Anj could tell he was heavy just by looking at his face. The pronounced jowls and thick neck gave it away. He studied the folder so he'd remember the face well when he was distracted by the rip-roaring noise of a motorcycle zipping into the dusty lot of The Black Horseshoe.

Anj looked through the windshield as the rider on the bike pulled to a stop and killed the engine. He climbed off and wasted no time lighting up a cigarette. Then he sauntered into the bar. Anj new that swagger anywhere. Griffin. MacAlister.

"Well, I'll be," he muttered.

Five minutes ago...

Sometimes the best practice in life is just to learn to not stick your nose where it doesn't belong. A lesson he'd learned a long time ago, but oddly enough, harder to follow the older he got. Anj fell in step behind Callaway and Griffin as they made their way out into the dirt parking lot of the bar. The night was cool and Anj shrugged his shoulders into his jacket.

"Well, that went swimmingly," Griffin said as he fired up a fresh cigarette. "I guess it wouldn't be a night out without some trouble, huh?"

"Speak for yourself," Callaway replied. "I tend to like to keep a low profile."

"Yeah? You swindling Hoss back there, that was you keeping a low profile?"

"I didn't swindle nobody!"

"Yeah, and I'm still a virgin."

Ally rolled her eyes and then finally pulled her own jacket on.

"It's been fun, boys. It has, but let's call it a night, shall we?"

"Night's still young," Griffin said. "Next round is on me as soon as we leave this shit-hole in the rearview."

Anj stepped between the two.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but I'm not sure you guys are aware of who that was exactly."

"Who? Bear Grylss back there?"

"Yeah, him."

"Please, our beloved captain, enlighten us."

"Name's Jack Daw. I've been doing a favor for a friend and been keeping a tab on him for awhile. He's part of a local biker gang called The Six-Fours. Long time meth runners running their product up the PCH and into northern California all the way through Portland."

"That's a cute history lesson, Anj, but to be frank. What the fuck does that have to do with us?"

"Well, for starters Jack isn't going to take that little ass-kicking we just gave him and his boys lightly. I'm willing to bet he's rounding up some more of his biker posse and they'll be back in greater numbers to save face and even the odds."

"So?" Ally said. "We'll split. We were leaving anyway."

"If only it was that simple," he said. "Everyone in there got a look at our faces. Also, even if they didn't, Daw and his crew will be back to shake this place down and get what they need as far as information. I wouldn't be surprised if they already had a scout out on the main drag over here waiting to clock when we leave."

"What are you proposing then?"

"Well, I need a favor -- "

"Oh jeeze --"

"The Six-Fours have run of a small town north of here called Bending Oak. They've essentially taken it over and consider themselves the judge, jury and executioners. There's a man there that I need to talk to. He's got some information I need."

"And you what? Need our help getting him out?"

"Exactly."

Ally and Griffin exchanged looks.

"Like I said, guess it wouldn't be a night out without a little trouble."

To be continued...

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