Specially Hired
Macy was
overlooked and unnoticed at 5’4 and small sized. She was regularly mistaken for
a teenager in
With her father
banned from seeing her as a youngster he’d left her life; leaving her to be
raised by her mother. It was a difficult transition for her because her mother
remarried and had two children that were different to Macy. She had been so much
like her father that her mother resented her and caused her to react in a bad
way. Her half brother and sister weren’t perfect, but because all the bad deeds
had been focused on Macy, they could do no wrong and she got the bad rap.
Macy’s history
went from bad to worse because her father had left the city and not long later
was murdered. Her traits being similar to his, she despised herself due to the
grief. Meanwhile she grew further and further apart from her mother and half
siblings. Causing trouble for all of them and nearly destroying her half
sister. Her step father was neutral through out it all, but tried to help Macy
adjust and fit in. It caused jealous reactions from the others that she got
along best with him. Her half brother had issues with her because of this, but
didn’t care about the rest. Her step father wound up in prison serving time for
fraud occurring at his work.
Macy’s mother
later became diagnosed with cancer and although she’d drifted apart from her,
Macy tried to make peace with her and help care for her. It never happened
because she had been diagnosed way too late and died several weeks following
the diagnosis.
Her half sister
tried to commit suicide taking her mother’s pills following that, and her half
brother saved her life by calling paramedics. After having her stomach pumped
and admitted to the hospital, she was later admitted to a psychiatric ward
where she currently resided. Her half brother ran away and hadn’t been heard
from since.
The only people
Macy related to were gang members, drug users and other people with similar
dysfunctional families. Through her times she always remembered how alike she
was to her father and aspired to try more to be like him. She studied martial
arts and respected the various styles; she learned to meditate. The damage had
been done though, and she was hard core. Controlling her anger at the world and
the society she’d lived in had become too difficult for her. Macy developed a
stronger friendship with people in the underworld where she found mutual
respect with others there. With her tough attitude and strong fighting skills,
there was nobody for her to fear in the world.
Macy had a taste
for blood a long time back when a crack pot tried to drag her into his car when
she was 14. Having already studied enough martial arts, and learned a lot about
back street fighting she knew what to do. She’d smashed his head into his open
car door knocking him unconscious and proceeded to do a typical gang type
beating on him before leaving. Had she a weapon, the crack pot would have been
dead, but he survived and police suspected the work of a gang.
Even while she
worked at her part time job and tried to make a decent living, she encountered
jerks that bothered her. The only thing that seemed to keep her level headed
was remembering her father and trying to keep straight.
It currently was
being very difficult to not get up and lay a beating on the jerk staring at her
in the Tim Horton’s. She usually stopped there for coffee as it was all she
could afford and this jerk continued to stare at her even though she showed no
signs of interest in him. She struggled to focus on reading while listening to
her knock off I-pod she’d scored from Gotti. She’d met him in
She was wishing
she knew someone there, but nobody she knew was ever around that area until
late night. It was a different scene then, but if they were there now she knew
the jerk would be told. Usually they would buddy up and protect each other from
trouble, but Macy was on her own and growing angrier by the minute. Each time
she’d come to this Tim Horton’s recently, the jerk had been there. She’d been
sitting in her usual spot, but this morning he’d beaten her to it and occupied
the seat. Macy had moved to a different section and he’d purposely gotten up
and switched seats so he wouldn’t have to turn to stare.
If she didn’t
want all the coffee she would’ve poured it in his lap by now for his musical
chair game, but she valued her morning coffee. She wished she could afford a
Starbucks or something else further up along her way, but she was on a tight
budget. Macy even considered helping to sell drugs, or protect the drug mules
for some extra money, but she didn’t want to get busted. Just like how she
didn’t want to get busted doing a number on the jerk. She hoped he’d do her the
favor of following her and try to attack her so she could ‘defend’ herself.
It never came to
that though, and she got to work and finished untouched. It wasn’t until she
was on her way home that one of her oldest friends ran into her. It had been a
long time since she’d seen Mila and Macy had hoped to catch up, but Mila had
important news.
They went into
Macy’s favorite hang out which was a bowling alley near her apartment. It
barely made business, but they supported it by using the fast food offered
inside. After getting something to eat, Macy sat down with Mila hoping to catch
up.
“How is Trevor?”
Macy asked; Trevor was Mila’s 4 year old boy Mila had after her 18th
birthday. Macy knew the paternity of the boy all along, but never told anyone.
“He’s good,” Mila
replied, “he’s with my sister right now so I can’t stay long. I came to tell
you about Geordie.”
Macy hadn’t heard
her half brother’s name since he’d run away; she was all ears now as she asked,
“What about him?”
The expression on
Mila’s face told Macy right away the news wasn’t good, but she put on the
strongest of fronts as she added carefully, “Whatever it is you can tell me, I
won’t break.”
Mila informed in
a very remorseful tone, “He was found in
Macy didn’t
flinch, it didn’t hit her as hard as hearing her father had been murdered. It
was painful though, and thoughts of immediate revenge entered her mind. She
didn’t show it as she replied, “Thanks for telling me, I’m glad it came from
you.”
Mila relaxed
slightly and nodded, “I know, that’s why I said I’d find you and do it first.
I’m sorry Mace.”
Macy had heard
the nickname ‘mace’ used many times before; many had told her she was as bad as
mace. She didn’t mind it and she managed to get through the rest of the meal
with Mila without exploding.
Returning to her
little apartment, the hate grew again and she found that by practicing katas
she exerted some of her energy, but it still pissed her off.
Not long later
Macy left her apartment to go check her connections through the drug world.
Someone would give up who had sold the bad hit to Geordie and she would find
them.
Benny ‘The
Hammer’ Marrow had been someone Macy knew how to deal with. She knew him
through his dealers and he’d been cool with her. She knew he wouldn’t have sold
bad hits of any kinds of drugs because he wanted his customers to come back for
more. Benny got the nickname Hammer from the way he hammered back drink after
drink and held his liquor. He liked that other people thought otherwise and
laughed at stories he’d beaten people to death with a hammer. Eventually he’d
lived up to the nickname when he was crossed by someone and hammered a nail
through his their eye.
Moose stood
outside his club, and Macy played as cool as possible. They didn’t know that
Geordie was her brother because they didn’t know her past history. Moose
grinned when he saw her and pretended to box, “Mace! Let’s practice some
punches; hold up your hands.”
“Surrender?” Macy
quipped, “Not like that Moose, one of my knees will get you, but since I know
you, I won’t go for the crown jewels.”
Moose cracked up
laughing as he reached for the door, “You’re all heart Mace, but thanks. Don’t
try that one out on Nicky, or he won’t show you his new knuckles.”
Macy nodded as
she stepped inside, “I won’t Moose, we can practice head butts when I come out.
After talking to Nicky and Benny I could use a way to get rid of the headache.”
Moose continued
to laugh as she went inside trying to keep the same frame of mind. Nicky ‘The
Knuckle’ Barnwell was Benny’s bodyguard and right hand man; a very large man.
Most of the time he was quiet, but he like to joke from time to time. Like
Benny, Nicky got the nickname ‘Knuckle’ from the size of his knuckles. Everyone
had assumed it was because he carried a pair of brass knuckles, but until they
started that rumor Nicky had never owned a pair. He went on a search to find
one that would fit him and it started a new hobby for him between work outs at
the gym. Nicky also had a slow like personality, but he did have intelligence.
He was also quicker than he looked and Macy thought he was cool.
Nicky ‘The
Knuckle’ stood in his usual spot in the corner of Benny’s office when she
entered. Both of them looked at her and broke into grins. She rapped knuckles with
Nicky, “I hear you got new knuckles.”
Nicky proudly
displayed a huge set of knuckles that were painted black. The four dark circles
made Macy grin, “What did you do to get those? Kill a four eyed raccoon?”
Both of them
cracked up and Nicky laughed so hard he couldn’t answer so Benny did, “I got
them for him, but there wasn’t any killing involved.”
Macy glanced at
Benny before looking at Nicky again musing, “It’s a good thing they’re too big
for me, or I’d have tested them on you.”
Nicky continued
to laugh as he slid them away and Macy moved for the chair in front of Benny’s
desk. She shook hands with him before she sat and Benny quipped, “If anything,
you’re here to use them on me. You usually come to see me about something
that’s cold hard; never for pleasure.”
Macy usually did
see him about various problems, and rarely for a pleasure visit. This one was
entirely different; she couldn’t let them know she was steaming over Geordie’s
death. She played it cool, “Well I heard some bad hits were going around and
stopped by to see how things were going here. It must make business bad with
everyone watching for it.”
Benny nodded,
“Yeah that shit is bad; there are people in the hospital and some dead. One
unrelated case from my death report was a cocktail of drugs though. None of it
has been good for business, but my stuff is good and people respect me.”
Macy nodded
sympathetically; she believed this and asked, “So who’s selling it? I felt bad
for you and wondered if you could use some help.”
“Now you want to
work for me?” Benny asked incredulously, “What happened to helping watch my
dealers’ backs?”
“I told you about
that Benny,” Macy replied evenly, “I can’t take heat, but I respect your offer.
This is different; this is about protecting you and the other dealers we know
like you. Gotti may not be really affected out in
“If I find out
I’ll lay into him with my knuckles.” Nicky spoke for the first time in a bitter
tone, “I’ll lend them to you if you want Mace.”
Macy glanced at
him quipping, “I’d have to get you to carry them for me Nicky; they look too
heavy.” He cracked up again and Macy grinned at Benny who chuckled, “That’s
another good one Mace.”
When the laughter
subsided, Benny informed quietly, “I don’t know yet who it is, but Trapper told
me that a junkie he knows buys off this guy. I told him to find out who and let
me know. So if you want to help, I can get back to you with it.”
“I’d like to get
right on the scene and talk to Trapper. Speed up the process, no pun intended.”
Benny chuckled,
“That’s cool Mace; I trust you. I’ll pass it around that you’re looking into it
for me. If you find the guy and help us make him disappear I’ll pay you.”
Macy stood and
shook his hand, “Deal Benny, and if you pay me well I’ll buy you a cigar and
Nicky some new knuckles. Leopard print would look good on his big paw don’t you
think?”
They both laughed
and then Macy rapped knuckles with Nicky before leaving again. Outside Moose
was busy on his cell phone, but winked at her as he held out a hand. She gave
him five before she headed off to see Trapper.
The Don Mills
area where Trapper usually could be found wasn’t far and when she reached it
was a different scene.
When she found
Trapper at the mall, he was pushing drugs to earn some money. Macy knew he
lived near by sharing a rental with a friend, but that was about it. Mostly
they’d known each other by name, but hadn’t encountered each other much.
Approaching him,
she noticed his friends looked nervous and he watched her curiously until she
stopped in front of him, “Trapper?” He nodded and glanced at his friends to
indicate he sensed it was cool before he asked, “I’ve seen you before haven’t I?”
Macy nodded, “Yeah, at Benny’s place. I just came from there. I’m Macy.”
“Mace. Yeah I
remember the name, Benny does know you. So does a few of his dealers. I know
Tony ‘The Toenail’ he’s out on business, but I don’t think we ever met.”
Macy shook her head,
“No, not officially, but Benny said he’d pass it around that I’m helping him.
He might not have gotten to you yet, but I’m cool.”
Trapper nodded
and then moved aside so they could speak privately. Out of earshot of the
others he asked, “So what’s up? You want a purchase or something?”
“Information.”
Macy replied, “Benny said you know a junkie who purchases off the guy selling
bad hits.”
Trapper went pale
as he nodded and lowered his voice considerably, “Yeah, that guy was found near
here in the ravine. The bad hit came from the same place; word has been going
around about it and everyone’s freaking out. This junkie I know, he’s way out.
I think he’s used to that shit, but he might be dead by now too. I haven’t seen
him, and nobody knows where to find him.”
Macy detested
junkies because they were so unpredictable, but she had to keep looking, “Who
is he? Anyone I might know?”
Trapper glanced
north further up
Macy was
determined to keep looking, but realized this was all Trapper knew. She
exchanged parting greetings with him and continued on her way north. By the
time she’d gotten up near where the junkie lived, the word had gotten out that
Macy was working for Benny looking for the bad dealer.
There were
several promising leads on the junkie, but he wasn’t in any of the places she
looked. If not for her anger, she would’ve lost her determination in the search
and gone home. It wasn’t like Macy to be up most of the night looking, but
something made her press on.
She’d just
finished getting reacquainted with the Golden Dragons when she recognized Tec
talking to another Oriental guy she’d never seen before. It seemed that he was
just as interested in knowing who she was as she was interested in him. Tec
suddenly approached introducing, “Macy, this is buddy of mine, Vic.”
He turned to Vic
finishing the introduction, “Vic, this is Macy, she just signed on with Benny
to find the guy dealing the bad hits.”
Macy shook hands
with Vic and they studied each other curiously. Something about him seemed
different; like he was too clean to be a part of the crowd. Yet he also seemed
genuinely interested in finding the person too.
“Vic was just
telling me he was interested in finding the guy too because it’s been hurting a
lot of business here.” Tec went on as Macy studied Vic who nodded, “He says if
we could narrow down where it’s coming in from then people would only avoid
there.”
“Cool, you’ll
have to read my tea leaves too.” Macy quipped as she asked Vic, “Do you throw
in a shiatsu too?”
Vic grinned and
Tec laughed, but Macy went on seriously, “All kidding aside, it’s better to
eliminate the problem altogether rather than have people die from bad hits.”
Vic could see the
genuine interest she had, and took the joking in stride, “Well I’ll shiatsu my
brain and think of something.”
Tec chuckled and
Macy joked, “We don’t have enough time for that; Benny hired a person of
action. I need to keep looking and I don’t think he’s sharing the bounty fee.”
Vic asked, “So do
we divide and conquer, or look under the same rocks together?”
Macy shrugged
indifferently, “I’ll kill whatever bugs crawl out from the rocks, but you can
have a turn if you like.”
Vic grinned and
glanced at Tec, “Thanks for introducing us, we’ll keep you up to speed. No pun
intended.”
Recalling her
quip of ‘speed up the process’; Macy watched Vic with a wry grin. It had been
difficult to focus most of the time, but somehow she felt more at ease with
Vic.
Although she
could handle herself, Macy was positive Vic was cool. She was at ease riding in
his car as he pulled away listening as he said, “Your name is familiar around
the city so I trust you, but after this next place up here I wanted to ask at
I’m at a dead end. You wouldn’t happen to have any ideas would you?”
“Go for tea?”
Macy asked straight faced as she watched him grin before he replied, “I’d
rather meditate on it for better results.”
Macy was
impressed that he used meditation and asked curiously, “Do you study martial
arts? Tai Chi?”
“Yes, I learned
from back home, but practice many forms. Tai Chi is good for warming up and
staying focused. What about you Mace?”
Macy was looking
at the direction they were going out the window as she replied, “I studied many
forms too, but simply adapted to what suited me. I recently picked up throwing
since I enjoyed baseball I thought I’d get the hang of it. It’s different
handling spikes, but I recently got some throwing knives to practice with.”
Vic took interest
in this as he focused on his driving, “Cool, I never really got into that since
primary weapons are the staff and I liked using that or the short staff. I take
it you don’t discriminate between the arts like me; I like the Kenpo sticks.”
Macy glanced at
him with respect and replied, “They are cool, and you’re right. I don’t
discriminate between the styles and even like the various forms of Kung Fu. I
wouldn’t want to learn all the aspects of certain arts because they don’t suit
me, but I do respect them all and admire certain things about them.”
Vic turned off
Don Mills and continued driving as he mused, “Well it’s nice to know about who
I’m working with like this, but it doesn’t solve finding where these bad hits
are coming from. This guy I’m headed to just up here has bought bad hits before
from various places and is a known addict. It’s not the junkie you are looking
for, but he might know who it is or where the other guy is.”
Vic glanced at
Macy asking, “Are you cool with meeting him? He’ll be hopped up, but he’s not a
violent junkie. I can talk to him alone if you think you might want to put his
lights out or something.”
It was courteous
of him to ask her and Macy suspected Vic wasn’t one of them. She suspected he
might be undercover searching for the dealer, but didn’t worry about his
status.
“Sure I’m cool.”
Macy replied casually, “I’ll let you handle him if he gets out of hand and just
sit back and listen. I might have a question or two, but I’ll let you go with
it since you know him.”
Vic nodded and
they continued in silence for a moment before Vic slowed the car near the
entrance to a park. When he parked, they got out and went down the path to the
park. There wasn’t anyone in the vicinity until the playground came into view.
Macy noticed several people hanging out on the equipment, but noted Vic’s gaze
went to a picnic table away from the area where a lone figure sat staring up
into the dark sky.
She followed his
lead as he headed over informing quietly, “I don’t know the people on the
equipment, but be cool. I don’t want Sonny to get spooked. That’s the name he
goes by, but I don’t think it’s real.”
Macy couldn’t
have been cooler than she was at the moment; she was gunning for the dealer
with the bad hits and nobody else. The junkie was a line to the dealer and she
couldn’t jeopardize that so she was calm.
“Neptune, Venus,
Pluto, Mickey-.” Sonny was saying as he watched the sky before looking at them
approaching and suddenly grinned, “Minnie and Goofy!”
“You better had
be Goofy.” Macy told Vic out the side of her mouth as they finished their
approach. Vic grinned and nodded as he addressed Sonny, “Hey Sonny, what’s up?”
Sonny looked up
as he pointed musing, “Stars and space. I always wanted to go up.”
Macy eyed the
group on the equipment that watched them, but hadn’t moved. When they stopped
at the picnic table, Vic asked, “How are you Sonny? I came to see if you were
okay what with the bad hits going around.”
Sonny looked at
him suddenly frowning, “Jeremy died, overdosed or something and that other guy.
People are looking for him and I told them he’s up there now.” He returned his
gaze back up to the dark sky and Vic looked at Macy to indicate that this would
be the junkie she’d been looking for.
Looking at Sonny
again he asked, “Do you know who is selling the bad hits?”
Sonny looked at
Vic his expression looking fearful, “I’ve seen him once selling to Jeremy. He’s
not anyone familiar to me, a new guy working for someone around here. I heard
he’s fixing it up to sell for more.”
Macy knew of this
kind of tampering just like she knew about the ‘flea powder’ people sold.
Instead of weakening the narcotics and selling at the same price, this dealer
was making dangerous concoctions and selling it for a higher one.
“What does he
look like?” Vic asked as he watched Sonny who suddenly slapped a mosquito with
glee, “Gotcha!” Macy watched and waited until he flicked the dead mosquito away
before Sonny finally answered Vic’s question, “Some ugly short guy with dark hair;
he wore sunglasses. I don’t remember much more than that.”
“What about where
you saw him selling to Jeremy?” Vic asked in a manner that made Macy get a
sense again that he was undercover.
“On Don Mills,
near where that body was found in the ravine.” Sonny replied looking back up at
the dark sky again, “He was selling there for a while before he left in this
direction.”
“Who else did you
see him sell to while he was there?” Vic asked, “Nobody we’ve talked to have
claimed to have bought from him.”
Sonny shrugged,
“I wasn’t really watching, but if he sold the same stuff to them as he did to
Jeremy and that other guy. Maybe they’re dead too and you can’t talk to the
dead.”
It made sense to
Macy and she sensed Sonny didn’t have anything more of value to offer. Vic
pressed on though asking, “Did he leave in a car?”
Sonny shook his
head, “He rode a bike, but nobody knew it was his parked behind him until he
left. Nobody really remembers much about it except that; we were all busy
taking hits. We got ours off the Golden Dragons because we know them.”
“Who else was
there with you?” Vic asked curiously, he hoped to get their information too.
Sonny looked at him asking, “Didn’t you talk to them all? They’re the group on
Don Mills I usually hang out with.”
Vic informed, “I
did, but they said you saw him and they didn’t. That’s why I came to ask you;
so you’re telling me they know something more?”
Sonny shrugged
and then sighed, “I dunno, they got pretty whacked out. Maybe they don’t, but I
know they would tell if they knew something. Everyone is scared and worried the
bad stuff will hit everywhere in town.”
He turned his
attention between Macy and Vic adding, “The cops might know more because they’d
have all the people that were killed. Maybe they’ll catch this guy, but I don’t
know anything else.”
Vic nodded and
glanced at Macy before he said, “Okay, thanks Sonny. You be sure to tell anyone
if you see this guy again.”
Sonny nodded and
went back to his gaze up in the sky while they turned and left. Macy didn’t
question Vic’s interrogation like manner as they moved off. Instead, she
commented, “It’s better than nothing.”
“It is, but I
should go back to the rest of the group Sonny was with.” Vic replied in
thought, “Maybe they’ll have remembered a little more with what Sonny just told
us.”
Macy doubted it;
if they had seen something they would have said. The fear of the underground
world had spread to all the users and dealers. She glanced at Vic replying,
“I’d join you, but I’d like to get back because I have a part time job and need
some rest. Maybe we could hook up again later tomorrow though.”
Vic was surprised
as he asked, “You didn’t recognize the description and know who it is do you?
Are you ditching me to go find him on your own?”
Laughing, Macy
said, “No, I really do need to get in. I didn’t want to push the questions too
much in case the dealer gets scared and takes off completely.”
It was possible,
but unlikely since she was sure the dealer was greedy enough to keep selling
only in different areas of the city. It worked on Vic though and he nodded,
“Okay, I get you. Leave me a message through Tec tomorrow and we can hook up.
I’ll leave him with anything I found out.”
Reaching the car,
Vic got the door for her asking, “Where can I drop you?” Macy wasn’t sure she
wanted him to know where she lived, so she gave him directions to the near by
bowling alley.
They discussed
martial arts during the ride back, and when he pulled up at the alley he
noticed it had closed, but didn’t comment as she moved to get out. She thanked
him for the ride before watching him pull away and decided to use the lane
behind the apartments to get to her building. She was sure she wasn’t followed
back there before going inside.
When she got in,
there was a message for her on her machine. It was another shocking surprise
when she played it back. The facility her step father currently served time in
had contacted her about her step father because of Geordie’s funeral. It was a
matter she would have to deal with tomorrow though and she wondered if her next
visit would be with her step father Curtis.
Vic headed in to
Specially Hired headquarters and found the head boss Raul, in his office. Like
Vic and several others, Raul was still up late working on their latest mission.
He took a seat in front of Raul’s desk watching as Raul read something on his
desk. After a moment he realized that Raul wasn’t reading, but staring at it.
“Are you okay
Raul?” Vic asked and watched as Raul’s head snapped up suddenly looking at him
with surprise, “When the hell did you sneak in here?”
Vic watched his
boss with concern, “I think you’re tired; I’ve been here for nearly a minute
now.”
“Put a bell on
yourself.” Raul scowled as he stared at him, “Save your creeping around for the
neighborhood.”
For a moment they
stared at each other before Raul sighed and ran his hands through his hair
wearily as he muttered, “Sorry Vic, I am tired. This report just came in of
another bad hit that killed a teenager. I don’t know where Jack is and I’ve got
people out there searching for this guy before more die.”
“I wish I could
say I found him, but I only have a vague description of him. A user named Sonny
said he was a short, ugly dark haired guy that wore sunglasses. He saw him in
the area near the Golden Dragons selling, and saw him leave on bike north on
Don Mills. I’m going to take a guess and say that’s the junkie that’s missing
whose paperwork you’re looking at.”
Raul nodded
replying, “Just faxed in, and an hour before that a guy named Jeremy Rowland.
It’s getting so that I want to trash the fax machine; I hope Jack is onto
something about this because it has to stop.”
“Want me to
message or call him?” Vic offered knowing his boss likely had done the same
requesting the big soldier would do so when he was able.
Raul shook his
head, “Jack’s a big boy; I’m not worried about him. I’m anxiously awaiting the
results and he hasn’t bashed and crashed anything that I’ve heard of in the
last ten hours.”
Vic was
surprised, at 6’2 and 220 pounds Jack Flint was one loud warrior that made a
lot of noise when he was on a mission. Usually he worked alone and made a lot
of destruction so Vic expected to hear the results of it too.
Raul was watching
him while he thought and nodded, “You see? You get what’s got me so worked up;
the longer I wait to hear about what he’s shooting the shit out of the more
worse I know it’s going to be. I expect to hear he leveled a building or
something in about an hour from now.”
“Maybe this will
distract you.” Vic offered, “I finally met that Mace everyone talked about.
She’s a little 5’4 woman who is officially hired by Benny Marrow to find the
bad dealer. Macy knows a lot of people, but didn’t seem to have a line on this
dealer. I got the sense that she didn’t trust me very well, but we got along
well on the subject of martial arts. She’s studied many forms and adapted them;
she also picked up throwing, spikes and she said throwing knives. I don’t know
how good she is, but she said she practiced. Aside from being hired to find the
dealer; she seems clean.”
Raul was
distracted as he asked, “No dealing or protection or anything?” He was
surprised that someone so well known amongst the underground circuit had no
connection to crimes.
“None that I
learned about, but I didn’t dare ask around much.” Vic replied before informing,
“Tec knew her, he introduced us. I could try a few questions with him, but I
get the impression she’s well respected or liked by most of the people there.”
Raul thought
about this for a moment before he asked, “Is there any word on what she’s supposed
to do if she finds this dealer? She’s not assigned to kill people is she?”
Vic shrugged and
then replied, “I can find that out, but I haven’t heard anything. I have to
watch my status in the underground so I can’t ask too much. I have been
observing and listening and I haven’t heard anything.”
Raul’s phone rang
and he answered it while Vic waited quietly. When he put it down he said, “That
was Chris, he said he’s heading in for the night. His end of the investigation
has led him to a separate dealer with weakened narcotics. It’s all flea powder;
no bad hits.” He started to drum his fingers on the desk as he sighed, “I had
hoped that was Jack, but that’s okay.”
The distraction
hadn’t lasted very long and Vic gave Raul a smile, “Well boss, I’ll be heading
in for the night too. If you like I can check out some stores for some wigs for
you tomorrow.”
As Vic stood Raul
gave him a perplexed stare until Vic grinned, “For when you’ve finished pulling
out all your hair.” Raul glared and Vic left the office in a hurry leaving Raul
glaring at nothing. He sighed again as he nearly ran his hands through his hair
again, but stopped. If this kept up, he might just have to take up Vic on that
offer.
Macy knew the
facilities hours and would have to wait for a moment to call from work before
she could find out what Curtis had wanted. She guessed it would be funeral
arrangements for Geordie, but it would compromise her position in finding the
bad dealer if they learned she was related to him.
Things were
getting worse when she went into Tim Horton’s because the jerk was sitting in
the spot Macy had used the day before staring at her arrival. If she had money
for two coffees one of them would’ve been over his head. There were so many
rotten things happening that it was difficult to remain civil, yet she managed
to keep calm as she ordered and then chose a spot to sit further away.
She kept focused
on how to arrange the funeral, surmising she could do it on behalf of Curtis
and use his name. She would have to arrange to see him in the prison and get
his opinion. She hadn’t seen him since her mother’s funeral and had no idea
what to tell him. She did know that due to the circumstances she would be
granted a visit immediately without much protocol. Arrangements needed to be made
and Curtis was Geordie’s father.
She remembered
when he used to try and help her fit in and how Geordie had been upset by their
relationship. Although Curtis had known her half sister was in a mental
institution, Macy hadn’t talked to anyone about this. She wondered what her
step father would be like when she contacted him?
Macy got through
her coffee without much nuisance from the jerk and left without being further
angered. During work, she was able to make the call and an appointment to visit
her step father that afternoon. It left her with a shorter time to work on
finding the bad dealer and she wanted to check her underground friends for any
new information.
Remembering Vic,
she wondered if he was still out looking and if he worked undercover for the police.
She would’ve asked Benny or one of the others, but decided to play it quiet
while she had his help. There was no point in getting him suspected when he
might be able to find the dealer.
After her part
time job, Macy went home to change and leave things at the apartment before
going to the prison to see her step father. With high security entering she
couldn’t bring anything inside anyway. The procedures to get in to see him was
grating further on her nerves. The cold frosty atmosphere and hard faced guards
didn’t help matters either. In order to keep civil and refrain from remarking
she pictured them in boxers with Big Bird printed on them. When one gave her a
disdained expression upon seeing her there she ignored it, but it happened he
was the one leading her through to see Curtis. As he opened the locked door he
smirked, “Someone like you shouldn’t
be here.”
Macy replied with
a simple hand gesture before passing through and noticed the guard didn’t know
what it meant. Curtis was waiting expectantly in the room and watched
curiously. When she took the seat opposite him, he glanced momentarily at the
door waiting for the guard to shut it before he said quietly, “You know this is
about Geordie and I know it’s been a long time, but I can’t do much inside.”
“I can arrange
everything for you, but I need to do it in your name.” Macy replied before she
added quietly, “My only other problem is the cost.”
Curtis nodded and
informed, “I contacted the bank; Geordie never touched the account after he
took off. The money your mother had in it is still there and it should be
enough to cover the costs. I told them you could access it to make
arrangements, but the paperwork would take some time. It was all I could do for
the moment, but since Geordie was on the account and the arrangements are to be
made for him they said they would hurry it.”
“It’ll take some
time for the arrangements anyway.” Macy informed before she asked curiously,
“How did you find out? Through inside or from one of the stone faced workers in
here?”
Macy sensed the
answer to be both, but waited as her step father answered, “Inside first and I
have to tell you that I more than understand what it’s like to fit in around
here. I know what it was like for you, but that’s history.”
She sensed
something more as she studied him; slightly distracted by how he’d changed
since she’d last seen him. Curtis suddenly asked, “Do you remember Steve? He
was the short dark haired guy with a face that looked like the bottom of a
shoe?”
Macy recognized
the description she’d heard from the night before, but didn’t know the name.
She was positive her step father was giving her a hidden message here now and
played along to find out how much he knew, “He sounds like a lot of people I
remember; can you narrow it down?”
Curtis nodded in
a slightly knowing manner as he replied, “We used to see him shopping in that
mall up on Don Mills. He hung out at that shop Overland Electronics. He always
seemed like he was on the other side of the tracks.”
Macy knew
precisely what Curtis was telling her now; she could find the dealer near the
tracks off
Curtis met her
eyes with the same cold expression knowing she understood. He nodded replying
quietly, “Geordie would be pleased if he was there.”
Macy replied in
promise, “I’ll do my best to find him and give him the invitation.”
There wasn’t
anything more to discuss, and their message had gotten to each other. Curtis
was ready to go and stood, “I better let you go and run now. You have a lot to
deal with and I appreciate it.”
Macy stood too
sensing a hidden meaning behind the statement, but was thrown when Curtis
suddenly gave her a hug. The last time he’d done it was at her mother’s funeral
before he was escorted away it was one of condolence and goodbye. She sensed
this one to be more of a goodbye hug and she didn’t object.
They parted
company and the same cold faced guard sneered again at her as he led her back
out, “See, it didn’t take long for you to want to leave.” She gave him the same
parting gesture and he returned it with a sneer.
When she was
outside again, Macy glanced back at the prison for a moment. If that guard ever
found out she’d been calling him an asshole in sign language he’d be furious,
but at least she’d kept her cool.
Later on during
her rounds through all the underground dealers and people she knew, Macy had
learned from them that nobody had learned anything new. She caught up to the
Golden Dragons and learned that Vic had been there earlier, but upon learning
nothing new he’d gone off on a broader search promising to check back in later.
Tec told her that Vic did learn that the junkie they’d been looking for had
been found and like the others had died from the bad hit.
Macy decided to
get on with the funeral business and see about the bank before they closed up.
Following that she went back home to her little apartment thinking about what
Curtis had told her. When it was dark; Steve would come out and she had an idea
of where to look for him. It was time for her to prepare for her next task
which meant she needed dark clothing. After a little practice with the spikes
and throwing knives she was ready to go and hid them away in her pockets.
This time when
she returned to the Don Mills area and caught up to Tec; Vic was with him.
After exchanging greetings, Vic informed her that he’d learned this dealer was
still in the area since some people thought they had seen him from the new description.
She sensed he
suspected her of something from the way he made casual glances at her. At the
same moment, she could tell he was checking to find out more about her.
When Tec took a
call from someone up at the other mall on Don Mills, Vic tried to casually find
out more about her, “So Mace; has anyone else offered to hire you to find this
dealer?”
Macy shook her
head as she prepared for more questions following this one, “No, but I’m sure
accolades will come when he’s found. I suspect the same would be the same for
you.”
Vic shrugged,
“I’m just proving my status, but you already have. You’ve been around a while
now and it makes me wonder. Why haven’t you worked your way up the status
ranks? Don’t you want to have the power like the Golden Dragons?”
She was about to
answer, but Tec suddenly got off the phone saying, “There’s a guy up near
Fairview Mall that says he’s seen a dealer fitting the description and can meet
for a discussion.” Vic pulled out his car keys, “What are we waiting for? Let’s
go.”
They looked at
Macy who hadn’t moved; Vic watching curiously as he asked, “Aren’t you coming?”
Tec watched while he waited for her answer.
“Actually,” Macy
lied smoothly, “I’m waiting on word from a contact here. Unless it’s an actual
sighting I don’t want to miss this meet. I can wait to hear what you learned
when you get back.”
The reply suited
Tec, but Vic sensed something else. He shrugged though and nodded, “Okay, we’ll
be back in a while.” Tec agreed, “Yeah, stay back and make the meet; you might
get better information.”
Macy waited until
they were gone and she wasn’t observed before she left the area; it was time to
find Steve and finish what she’d started. She knew the area where the old rail
tracks well enough and was aware of the dense brush surrounding it. There were
plenty of places a drug pusher could hide and she intended to search all of
them until she found the stash or the dealer.
While she made
her way near
Aside from
animals along the brush, Macy hadn’t noticed anything unusual along the tracks.
Old beer bottles and cans littered the area, but she searched for newer signs
of frequency. She noticed the crickets had quieted from time to time due to her
approach. Macy only had a little experience in the ravine on trails to practice
her silence. Mostly on the street there was plenty of sound to cover any sound
a human made walking. She decided to take it slower and more careful.
It paid off
because she could keep closer to the shadows now while she searched and she
found the first sign she was in the right direction. A receipt from a nearby
gas bar dated for earlier that day was blowing through the grass across the
tracks. When she remembered it, she almost grew angry with herself for not
thinking to ask at the gas bar about Steve. She promptly realized it would put
her in the area and make her identified if she did find him tonight.
Slowing even
further, she kept closer to the brush in the darker shadows avoiding any marshy
areas and watching her footing. The animals along the tracks and area could be
heard; a few she saw. The crickets continued as she continued along further and
she paused a moment to sniff the air around her. She expected a cigarette might
give away his location, but it wasn’t the smell of that. She’d smelled pot and
hash before smoked in various manners with various types of products and knew
that was not the odor she was picking up. It took her a moment of thinking and
sniffing before she figured it out.
Along the tracks
were various yards where gardens ended before them. Some were open; others
closed off by a fence or brush. The other side was dense with brush, but
sometimes contained paths to cross over the tracks to the other side. Where she
stood she sensed to be near to one of the crossings that had been made. She
guessed this was where Steve currently was and had figured out the scent coming
from him. When various narcotics were open and mixed they gave various odors
and she was sure this was what it was. Macy had found where Steve had been
mixing his deadly bad hits before he went out to sell them.
Macy heard
something scurry and whatever it was it startled whoever was there. She was
guessing it was Steve, but had to err on the side of caution. She knew rats,
possum, and other animals frequented the area so she ignored whatever it was
and focused on the person.
They were quiet
for a moment before she could hear the sound of what appeared to be delicate,
but hasty wrapping. If it was Steve, he was putting away whatever he was
mixing. She slunk further back into the shadows trying to determine what her
move should be. She decided to let him call the first move and she could see if
he was who she was after. Then she would react and finish what she’d come there
to do.
It seemed like a
long while before he moved out of the hidden path and onto the open area of the
tracks looking in her direction. She saw that it was a short and ugly dark
haired man, a pair of sunglasses resting up on his head. He turned and glanced
in the other direction suspiciously which Macy suddenly sensed was a ploy. He’d
seen her and was pretending to look the other way to catch her off guard.
For a split
second she felt as though the spirit of her father was beckoning her to roll
quickly out towards the tracks into the open where she sensed his presence. She
moved out of instinct feeling the slash of a blade come just over her back as
she rolled across in the according direction.
Steve fell
forward not expecting her to move and nearly tumbled to the ground. He was in
close quarters to her now to try and take aim with a throwing knife, but it was
perfect range for a spike and she whipped it out and drove it down into the
back of Steve’s nearest calf.
He howled in pain
and Macy ignored it looking to get the knife off him as he fell. She sensed he
hung onto it though and promptly jumped back out of the way of another sudden
slash. As soon as the knife made its way past her harmlessly she unleashed the
throwing knife into his right forearm sticking him good enough to make him
release the knife this time.
The next thing
she sensed coming was his left hand toward her leg and she didn’t have time to
find out if it too held a weapon as she moved back from him towards his legs
out of reach.
Spying the spike
nearest her she lunged for it quickly yanking it from his calf causing him to
howl again, but it was the nearest weapon to her and she needed it that moment
to finish him. He was moving to try and kick her down with his good leg as she
completed crossing over him with her retrieved spike. The adrenaline surged
through her now and she sensed it was the final moment of the kill. Holding the
spike in her right hand like a dagger she snarled, “You’ve been invited to a
funeral….”
Bringing the
spike down with lighting speed and top force it slammed right through Steve’s
heart. A moment later the bad drug pusher was gone and Macy finished her snarl,
“…yours.”
Nearly
impassively she retrieved her spike, and then the throwing knife from his arm.
Although the revenge had been made, it didn’t make her feel much better. The
only thing that seemed to give her any delight in the ordeal was that nobody
else would die from the bad hits he had created. She collected his strewn
sunglasses and his knife before she went to the grim task of emptying his
pockets in search of the bad narcotics. The very least she could do was ensure
nobody else died from whatever he had concocted on him.
Once she was
done, she was ready to go and didn’t bother casting a last look at the dead
pusher as she moved off. As she left the tracks via a trail that led back to
After dropping
Tec back off, Vic was curious to know where Macy had gotten to and decided it
was time to investigate her whereabouts. Telling Tec he had some business to
look after he called S. H. Headquarters hoping to get help from one of the
Specially Hired operatives.
As usual Raul was
there and answered with a tone that told Vic he expected it was Jack Flint. Vic
informed, “It’s Vic, Raul. Sorry, but I need to ask for some help out here. Tec
and I went off to meet someone about a sighting of this pusher and when we got
back Macy was gone. I got a feeling she’s off on her own doing something and I
could use some help searching for her.”
“Gee Vic, I’ll
tell you what.” Raul replied irritably, “You help me find Jack, and I’ll help
you find Macy. Then you can tell me which is more important here. Can’t you see
that Jack hasn’t resurfaced and it’s been more than 24 hours? If we haven’t
heard about him something is wrong.”
“Did it ever
occur to you that Jack might just be as close as we are to finding this bad
pusher?” Vic protested mildly, he knew Raul was extremely tired and very
worried, “There’s a chance I might find him and Macy in the search. Can’t you
send anyone in the area to meet me?”
Raul nearly
wanted to be rotten and send Sean, the least liked of all the soldiers in
Specially Hired. Sighing he said, “Okay call Chris; I just spoke with him a
second ago on the phone so he’ll answer. Tell him I said it was okay and if
either of you come across Jack or his handy work then I want to know pronto.”
Vic agreed, “I
will thanks, Raul.” He disconnected and called Chris setting up a meeting near
the mall. Chris wasn’t difficult to spot as he had arms like cannons and a
chest like a barrel, as muscular as he was he was quick and the most laid back
member of the team. He was also well liked by most of the members of Specially
Hired and well respected.
Vic got into
Chris’s car as it was better suited for Chris to drive in rather than making
him squeeze his bulk into his car. It was while he was getting in that Chris
teased, “If we don’t help find Jack we’ll be called Specially Lost.” Vic raised
his eyebrows closing the door behind him and slipping on his seatbelt, “Tell me
about it, I think he should shave his head so he won’t pull out his hair.”
Chris grinned and
pulled away heading out of the parking lot. It was a fluke that they were
exiting as Jack Flint passed by making a turn onto
Vic was following
Jack’s vehicle as it wound through the street retorting, “Forget that, I want
to know where he’s going.” He found it odd the elite soldier was in this area,
if anything he figured the dealer to show up around the mall.
Jack realized he
was being tailed a moment later and recognized the duo in Chris’s car. He
tapped his brake as a signal and ensured they were able to keep up as he
continued to his destination. The Donway wrapped around the area east and west
connecting the streets and this side pretty much lead to a dead end.
Before reaching
the dead end though, Jack turned onto the last side street before hand and then
turned again pulling up in front of a house. Chris parked behind him wondering
if they had just stopped in front of the bad pusher’s home.
Getting out they
all converged at Jack’s car where Vic accused, “You’re making Raul go bald. You
should’ve called in.” Jack’s piercing green eyes were as hard as jade as he
glanced between Vic and Chris. His striking red hair made him almost look like
a wicked devil as he grinned, “I was following orders; he told me to call in
when I got something on the pusher.”
Chris and Vic
exchanged glances and Chris asked, “So what’s here? Have you got something we
can call in with? Raul will make an ugly bald guy Jack.” Vic shot Chris a grin
before looking at Jack who seemed amused at the thought of this. His jade eyes
flickered momentarily before he explained, “It’s nothing solid, there’s a trail
here that leads to a path next to some tracks. I heard the pusher might be
here, but that it could also be someone else.”
Chris nodded
replying, “I picked up someone selling flea powder yesterday and it’s a good
thing too because today his boss found out he was weakening his narcotics and
wants him dead. There’s more than just this guy out their playing with drugs,
but after this search Jack you should call in.”
Jack nodded and
glanced between them for a moment before he said quietly, “You know I prefer to
work alone, but since you’re here for the party I won’t make you sit it out. So
let’s go.”
Vic and Chris
followed Jack; he head up the trail to the path running parallel to the tracks.
While the trio surveyed their surroundings, Chris noticed an open hole in the
fence that cut people off from the tracks. It appeared to have been made a
while ago by some people who probably frequented the area and he pointed it
out.
Vic looked
quipping, “You’ll have to suck in a lot of air to squeeze through that Chris.”
He looked at Jack about to add a remark about his frame fitting through there,
but Jack’s warning expression stopped him.
“Let’s go, I’ll
climb over.” Jack instructed as he moved off. Vic and Chris had rarely seen
Jack in action because he liked to work by himself, but didn’t have time to
watch him climb the fence. The soldier had been through this type of terrain
plenty of times before and crossed to the tracks without sound or problem.
Chris wedged
himself through the opening following Vic and the trio met up on the tracks.
They all scanned both directions of the new clearing and each of them took in
the still form lying on the ground further down from them. Although it could
have been anything, including a drunk, they all sensed that something violent
had transpired here.
The trio
approached the scene quietly, each of them covering various directions as they
moved closer. When they stopped and peered down at the dead pusher they knew it
was the person everyone had been looking for.
Jack moved first
to look him over observing the small wound in the pusher’s right arm and took
in the blood covering his chest.
“It looks like
maybe a fatal cut to the heart.” Jack mused quietly, “We’ll have to get Jim to
get his people here and let them handle the body.”
Chris agreed as
he pointed out his own observations, “The blood loss was quick and centered in
the area, but you’re right. We can’t investigate what made the wounds without
disturbing the body unless one of you has x-ray vision.”
Vic motioned a
hand to the pusher’s left leg, “He was wounded in this leg too and whatever the
blade was that cut his arm could have done it. It’s a rather small knife wound;
it’ll be difficult to figure out the weapon.”
He remembered
Macy talking about throwing knives, but didn’t comment about that. Instead, he
looked at Jack advising, “I think now you can call in and let Raul know what’s
going on. He can send Jim out; we should stick around long enough for that and
then get moving.”
Jack stood and
nodded silently as he pulled out his phone. Chris kept a vigil, but Vic
surveying the scene while he thought about Macy. Raul had asked him if she’d
been hired by Benny to kill the dealer and Vic got a bad feeling that he knew
the answer.
Moose grinned as
he saw Macy approaching and noticed the gift bag she carried grinning wider,
“You being present; is a present
Mace!” She managed a meager grin at the greeting as it gave her a feeling of
welcome.
“You know it’s
not a set of knuckles for Nicky or I wouldn’t be able to carry them.” Macy
replied as she stopped and watched as he got the door, “Well you get in and
give Hammer his gift; his birthday isn’t for a while so I know I’m not in
trouble.”
Macy gave him a
punch on the arm, “You’re not Moose; this is special.”
She continued
inside the club which was busy and expected Tony ‘The Toenail’ to be at the
office door. He spotted her right away and gave her a smile, “Hey Mace! I’m
glad you’re visiting while I’m here. I wanted to ask you who you think will win
this next fight. Jones is tough, but this newbie Thompson looks tougher.”
Macy knew the
underground fighting world well and had seen Jones in action, but didn’t know
much about Thompson either. She gave him a shrug, “I’d have to get a look at
Thompson first, but if you’ve seen him check his reach. If Jones has a longer
one than him I’d bet on him since he knows how to work that advantage.”
Tony nodded and
then replied, “You should come down to the fights more often. Anytime you like
just ask Benny and he’ll tell you where it’s at.”
Macy nodded and
then pointed to the door asking, “Can you tell him where I’m at?” Tony grinned
as he knocked and stuck his head in, “Hammer, Mace is here to see you.”
“Let her in.”
Macy heard Benny called and waited for Tony to move before stepping through the
door and giving Benny a grin, “That Tony keeps inviting me to the next fight,
you’d think it was Nicky going in and it was going to be good.”
She looked at
Nicky who grinned and eyed the bag she carried joking, “Yeah Mace, like how I’d
think you brought me knuckles in that bag. It doesn’t look heavy enough.”
Macy looked
between them replying, “I brought something better than knuckles.”
She moved to
Benny ‘The Hammer’ Marrow’s desk and set the bag down on top before taking the
empty seat in front of the desk. Benny seemed to know what she’d brought him
and stood eagerly to examine the bag. Nicky stood in the corner, but was
eagerly anticipating what Benny was going to pull out of the gift bag.
After removing
the tissue paper, Benny came up with the sunglasses first. He examined them for
a moment before he set them on the desk and reaching in the bag again. Knowing
the identifying object was proof she’d found the dealer he was eager now to see
the rest and came up with the knife.
Examining it he
mused quietly, “I’m not surprised there’s no blood on it, but I would thought
you would have used his own knife on him.”
He looked at Macy
who replied quietly, “There was enough blood from my own weapons, but there’s
one last thing in the bag Hammer.”
Surprised, Benny
looked at the very bottom and saw something folded in a sheet of tissue paper.
He pulled it out and set the bag aside before examining the last object from
the bag. He needed no proof she’d done her job by bringing the pusher’s weapon.
Sitting he
unfolded the tissue on his desk and uncovered the stash of bad hits Macy had
pulled from the dealer’s body. Surprised he looked at her, “I’m impressed, this
is a thoughtful gesture.”
“I wanted to be
sure you had something to set an example to anyone else who tried this Hammer.”
Macy explained carefully, “So now you have that as proof of what happens to
anyone who plays with drugs in our town. I don’t want the credit, you take it
and you make the point.”
Benny nodded
promising, “I’ll keep you clear of it and you know I mean that Macy. So how
about a little celebration now? Nicky can get us a drink if you like and we can
praise you.”
“I can’t really
stay Hammer; I have some other business I need to take care of. I want to lay
low now for a while, but have that drink on me.” Looking at Nicky she added
with a wink, “I don’t mean that literally either.”
Nicky gave her a
grin and she looked at Benny who reached into his desk saying, “That’s cool
Macy and I’ll get you your fee right now.”
Macy had thought
about what she wanted to do with the blood money and had already made her
decision. She stood and looked at Benny as he suddenly watched her with
surprise. Neither man took it as a sign of threat and waited while she thought
of how she would explain her payment.
“Actually Benny, I’d
like for you to give my fee to cover the cost of Geordie Robinson’s funeral.
Ralph Afterlife Funeral Services are awaiting the release of his body before
they proceed with arrangements.”
Both men were
quiet as they stared at her now with shock, but Benny was thinking and he
finally remembered the name, “Geordie Robinson, yeah Mace, consider it done.”
She extended him
her hand saying, “I’ll keep in touch Hammer, take care.” He took it and they
shook.
When she looked
at Nicky he extended his knuckles to her, she wrapped them with hers before she
left the office. It had never been a more solemn parting, but Macy knew it
wasn’t going to be the last one. It would be a while before she would be back,
but she had a funeral to see about to keep her busy in the meantime. Work had
already gotten notice and allowed her time to be away, she could make the
arrangements now that Benny’s money would be there to cover the costs.
Upon trying to
find others wanting to attend the funeral, she discovered her half sister
wasn’t anywhere near capable of making it outside of the facility she was in.
Upon news of Geordie’s death, she’d slipped further into dementia.
The news of the
pusher’s death made the headlines and Macy was glad she hadn’t been asked any
questions. It was difficult enough as it was dealing with her half brother’s
funeral and the blood on her hands from the pusher. Not only that, but Curtis
had been pushing for the release of Geordie’s body so the funeral could be done.
Mila had made a
promise to be there and told her that the underground world had been inquiring
about her disappearance. It made her think about Vic and wondered if he
suspected her even though Hammer had sent word through everyone he’d been
responsible with a warning.
The Hammer had
obviously set up a big arrangement for Geordie and must have influenced the
release of his body because the arrangements started being made. Her half
brother’s funeral would be at the end of the week and her step father Curtis,
was being allowed to attend.
Macy only needed
to fill in one day at her job, but upon walking into the Tim Horton’s on that
morning, she wished she’d gone elsewhere because the same jerk was there
sitting in her previous spot. She focused on not being there the next few
mornings with the funeral and managed to get through her coffee without using
her pen as a spike on the jerk. It had been a good thing she didn’t carry the
spike or throwing knife unless she intended on using it because she was sure to
do something about this nuisance soon.
At least the
people working at Sport Club with her were sympathetic and didn’t cause her any
troubles. The work passed quickly and she was able to focus better there. Following
that she was headed to meet Mila at the bowling alley when Vic appeared,
“Mace!”
She studied him
as he approached sensing he wasn’t there to take her in. If anything he looked
like he was eager to catch up and grinned as he stopped next to her, “I haven’t
seen you in a long time. Where’ve you been?”
Macy answered
smoothly, “Well after I met my contact I heard Benny got the pusher so I left.
There really hasn’t been any reason for me to be around and I got busy with
work.”
Vic nodded and
she wasn’t sure he believed it, but didn’t mention it as he commented, “We
thought something happened to you, so I thought I’d come by here where I
dropped you off and see if you were around. Tec figured you’d be okay, but
guessed you were just laying low until the police finish their investigation
about that pusher.”
Macy agreed,
“That’s another good reason to not visit my friends out that way.”
Vic looked like
he was about to throw a question at her and she sensed it to be a difficult one
so she suddenly added, “Well, I’d love to stay and chat, but I’m late meeting a
friend of mine inside. We’ll catch up another time okay?”
Vic didn’t push
his luck and nodded, “Sure, see you around.” He watched as she disappeared
inside the bowling alley and then went back to his car. It was time to call in
and update Raul.
Raul looked at
Chris opposite him in the chair in front of his desk and said into his phone,
“Okay Vic, I’ll send in Chris. Stay back and don’t get spotted.”
Setting his phone
down he looked at Chris who stood waiting for his instructions, “Macy was just
seen going into the bowling alley where Vic dropped her off. I need you to go
tail her because she knows Vic and be very careful Chris. Not only may she spot
you, she might be dangerous to you.” Chris took the warning in good nature,
“Right boss, you wouldn’t want me missing for a few days would you?”
He left before
Raul could glare and head out of S.H. Headquarters going straight over to the
bowling alley and parked next to Vic’s car.
Vic got into his
for a moment instructing, “She hasn’t come out, but you could go in and look
around for her since she’s never seen you. Just in case she ducked out a
different exit; I’ll stay in touch with you via the phone for now.”
Chris released
his seatbelt to get out and Vic got out too. When he closed his door behind
him, Chris asked Vic, “Do you really think she did it?” Vic looked over the car
at him, “Chris, she was hired by Hammer and he said he took Steve Evans down.
Now I know Hammer once hammered a nail into some guys’ eye, but I don’t think a
nail did those holes in his heart and leg. Macy said she practiced with a
spike; I’m sure it’s her. It explains the knife wound in his arm because of the
throwing knife.”
Chris nodded in
thought and then shrugged before moving off to check out the bowling alley.
Meanwhile Vic got into his car and left the area in case he was spotted.
Macy was with the
owner of the bowling alley Jason Conner when she spotted Chris walking in.
Amused she jibed, “Don’t look now Jason, but I think this guy walking in is
delivering you new bowling balls he smuggling under his shirt.”
Jason turned and
cracked up laughing when he saw Chris, but Macy kept a weary eye on him as she
asked, “Do you think he’s here to bowl or eat the pins?”
Jason shrugged as
he glanced at her, “I don’t know, he’s new, but I doubt those pins would feed
him.” Macy was about to reply, but Chris started to make his way over to them
and she suspected he was one of Vic’s friends. His walk alone told her he was
trained in some kind of manner, but she remained cool as he made his approach.
When he stopped
Macy pointed at him, “You look very familiar; didn’t you used to be green?”
Jason gave her a surprised glance, but Chris was chuckling as he played along,
“No you must be getting me mixed up with my brother he’s The Incredible Dork.”
Whoever he was,
Macy found him laid back and amusing, but didn’t like why he was there. She was
about to ask, when Chris turned his attention to Jason who was laughing, “I was
wondering if you’re the owner of this place? I wanted to ask if you allow a
bowling party? My buddy is turning 30 and a whole bunch of us want to knock
some pins down.”
“If your buddies
all look like you,” Macy remarked, “then you’d be better off playing with pins
adjusting weights in a gym for a party instead.”
He gave her a
grin, but Jason answered, “Sure you can have it here, you just need to book it
in advance or else you’ll be sharing the lanes with others.” He glanced at Macy
who shot him an innocent grin before looking at Chris who nodded, “Okay then,
I’ll get the guys to set a date and we’ll get in touch. Thanks.”
Jason replied,
“No problem.”
Chris gave them
both a grin before he turned and headed back outside and grinned wider as he
thought about how he worked for Specially
Hired and Macy had been specially
hired to eliminate Steve Evans. She seemed quite cool to him and he
wondered just what her angle was.
The director of
the funeral home gave Macy a card on the day of Geordie’s funeral. She had been
expecting people to arrive, but not this. Stepping aside to open the card she
saw it was from Benny. He expressed his condolences and mentioned he would not
make an appearance at the funeral. Macy guessed it was likely due to the police
presence escorting Curtis and expected to see them soon since Curtis hadn’t
been out yet to pay his last respects to Geordie at the funeral home.
Like most
funerals things went about the same aside from her step father being watched by
uniformed officers. When he saw Macy he gave her a hug of comfort before moving
to pay his respects. He was watched by the officers and Macy surveyed them.
They didn’t look like they would interfere with Curtis during the funeral which
would be a good thing since Curtis was a pallbearer.
It wasn’t until
they were leaving the funeral home to head to the church when she noticed the
car on the street with a man sitting inside holding up a map. Something about
him gave her the feeling he was yet another of Vic’s friends trailing her
around. At the moment there was nothing she could do about it and she continued
on. Several times throughout the service Curtis gave her a pleased smile. She
was sure he knew about Steve Evans and somehow he knew it was her. She guessed
it was from being inside where word would travel quickly, but knew Curtis
wouldn’t jeopardize her.
Outside the
church things started to change and Macy’s guard went up. The same man in the
car was there and her step father appeared to break down in grief after the
coffin was returned to the hearse. They only had the cemetery to go to and Macy
was certain that Curtis wouldn’t be brought back to prison until the entire
service was over.
The police
officers assigned to him turned sympathetic allowing him a moment before they
were ready to go again. When Macy looked for the car again it had disappeared,
but she saw a familiar one go past the church. It looked like Vic’s and she
wondered just what was going on?
She knew Vic
wasn’t connected to Curtis, and she sensed two different atmospheres now. One
was a plan from her step father; the other was about whoever Vic worked for.
It was bad enough
that it was a funeral and there had been so many things happening around Macy
all at once. She wasn’t eager to face something else now and she was sure
something was about to happen. Somehow drawing closer to the cemetery had
raised her senses and by the time they arrived she’d gotten a strong feeling
Curtis Robinson was planning an escape that would occur any second now.
When the cars
stopped he was escorted out and one of the officers appeared to be concerned
her step father would hold up under the pressure. There was another slow down
in the procedure as they allowed more time for him while they prepared for the
final phase of the funeral.
If not for the
commotion and the appearance of the car with the man again, Macy would have
been grief stricken for her own loss. At the moment she was watching with
anxious anticipation and distracted by the same officer who had spoken to
Curtis as he looked and waved for her to come over.
The other officer
held a helpless expression and mostly stayed out of the way. As Macy approached
the one with Curtis said quietly, “He needs a moment before continuing and
wanted to talk to you. It’s okay by us so go ahead and take your time.”
Macy doubted her
step father was this grief stricken as he held up well at her mothers’ funeral.
She put a comforting arm around him anyway and he turned to hug her saying
quietly, “I’ve missed so much inside Macy.” Macy waited and when he released
her he moved for the handkerchief tucked inside his jacket pocket. He used it
before he looked around carefully and then back at her informing softly, “I
know about Benny and all of this. You’ve done a wonderful job and I just need
you to do one more thing for me.”
He fumbled to
fold the handkerchief back and Macy took it from him to fold it properly, “What
is it?” She listened as she folded it properly and he replied, “Be there for me
when this is finished, I need you just this one last time.”
Moving to put the
handkerchief into his pocket she studied his expression for a moment
recognizing the flicker in his eyes. As she adjusted the handkerchief properly
and smoothed it with a hand listening as he whispered, “I’m not like you, I
can’t adjust and fit in.”
Macy wasn’t sure
how much time was left on his sentence and knew whatever he planned was going
to make things much worse, yet she couldn’t stand by and not help him as he had
once helped her. She gave him a nod, “It will be okay, hang in there. I’ll help
you.”
They moved for
the hearse and Macy knew precisely what her step father was going through. He’d
grown up in a quiet lifestyle until her mother married him. Inside prison was a
different world that he didn’t fit into and it was like her trying to fit into
the family. She suspected he didn’t want her to know much about his plans so
that she wouldn’t be questioned, but it didn’t matter. Things had gone way past
the line for her now and there was no turning back.
When she returned
to the funeral director they were ready to move again. The officers had given
room for Curtis as he moved to take up his position at the hearse. He told the
group he would be fine and was just a little upset and queasy. He held up well
for the duration and broke down at the end.
This was where
Macy suspected she was needed and moved to comfort him. She surmised her
step-father would get a good job on stage if he ever got a break.
If she didn’t
know him so well, she would believe his act. His next request was to use the
facility due to the unsteady queasiness and he was allowed to go. Only the
sympathetic officer came with them along with the funeral director who led the
way.
The officer
didn’t bother to check in the washroom as she let Curtis go on his own. He only
looked at Macy asking, “Will he be okay in there by himself? He’s very upset.”
Macy sensed her
step father would be leaving from the washroom at that moment, but replied
quietly, “Geordie was his only son and he is upset, but I think this is just
from not being able to remain strong.”
“I know what you
mean,” The officer replied, “my partner is like that with the emotion. He was
the same when his wife had their baby, but I can see your father was starting
to lose control as it progressed. Maybe now that it’s done he’ll calm himself
and feel better.”
Macy agreed with
a nod guessing her step father was feeling much better now that he was off
running away. She hoped this officer wouldn’t want to check on him too soon and
said quietly, “I think he also feels awful because he wasn’t able to help
Geordie from prison. He was always protective of us; trying to ensure we
weren’t in trouble. Nobody knew where Geordie was though, but it did come as a
terrible shock to us.”
The officer
empathized, “I can imagine, but I heard the guy that sold him the drugs is dead
now. So at least you know he can’t hurt anyone else with his drugs.”
If only you knew, Macy thought to herself, you’d be chasing me faster than Curtis.
She played along, “That’s true and I suppose anyone else who died from those
drugs have got a bit of peace too.”
The officer
nodded and Macy suddenly said, “You’ve been very kind to my father; I
appreciate you helping him at this time. I was worried that he would be
terribly restricted at paying his respects here and I’m pleased you were kind
to him.”
The officer took
it in stride, “Well you don’t have to mention it; I’ve been to funerals before
and know they’re difficult. We’re all human and deserve some dignity.” He
glanced at the washroom door for a moment before finishing, “Your father didn’t
seem to well too, I did what was natural.”
Macy remained
calm sensing he was getting worried about Curtis. She continued to play along
though asking carefully, “If he isn’t being sick now; he might be during the
ride back. I was wondering if you’d look after him? Do you have anything in
your car just in case he is?”
The question
distracted the officer into thinking about that for a moment before he replied,
“We might, but we can get something from here just in case. Either way, don’t
you worry; we can pull over if we have to.”
Macy went on in
her distracting, “I could see if I can get some water for him, but I don’t know
about anything that might settle his stomach.” She could see he was thinking
about this and she wondered how far her step father had gotten by now?
“That’s a good
thought; maybe someone here has some motion sickness tablets we could get him.”
The officer replied as he glanced at the door again, “He should see about
taking one now, it takes a while to kick in. He doesn’t get car sickness, but
under the circumstances it might make his nausea worsen.”
He was about to
open the door to call in to Curtis, but Macy distracted him by moving to look
around the area asking, “I wonder if the funeral director has anything on hand?
I don’t know where she went.”
The officer
turned and looked too suggesting, “You go see if you can find her, I have to
wait here for your father.” Macy couldn’t object without looking suspicious so
she moved off knowing there were only a few minutes left before the officer
would find out Curtis was gone.
After that the
word would get out that an escaped prisoner was on the loose and everyone would
be looking for him. She’d done all she could to help him now and couldn’t think
of anything else she could do.
Macy returned to
the washroom door after a while and noticed the officer was gone. Knowing he
was inside finding out what had happened, she quickly turned back around the
corner and sat on the bench there. When she heard him hurry back out, she put
her hands to head feigning dizziness. He was reaching for his radio when he saw
her and called his partner for assistance. Macy removed a hand making a meager
tone, “Oh I’ll be fine. I was just a little dizzy that’s all.”
“Your father
isn’t in the washroom.” The officer said as he watched her, “Do you know where
he went?”
Macy looked at
him with feigned surprise, “Not inside? But he was about to be sick. Where
would he go?”
The officer
reported into his radio that Curtis was gone and requested back up. Then he
turned his attention back to Macy who pretended to be baffled, “I don’t
understand; we were at the door. How could he not be in the washroom? We would
have seen him leave.”
The officer
explained, “The window was open and if he went out it to escape he’ll be hunted
by plenty of men. If you know anything about this you better had tell me now
because he won’t be treated nicely when he’s captured, he could even be
killed.”
“He went out a
window?” Macy gaped in surprise, “He was queasy; he must be still in there.”
She stood adding, “I want to look.”
She was moving
for the door as the officer followed her saying, “I tell you he’s not in there
and you-.” She ignored him as she continued in noticing the washroom definitely
was empty and the window was open. She looked out of it as the officer came in,
“You can’t be in here because we need to examine the area for any evidence.”
Macy put her hand
to her head again feigning dizziness and near collapse. She allowed the officer
to guide her to the bench again and she sat wearily wondering if he fell for
the act. By this time the other officer arrived and checked the scene before
they deliberated. Although they talked further away and quietly, Macy heard
them discuss her involvement. The officer that had been with her stated that he
believed Macy didn’t know about it.
She continued to
play the part of being in shock about the escape and used that and the excuse
of her half brother’s funeral to act like the questioning was too much. In the
end they took it easier and believed she had been none the wiser to the escape.
They allowed her to go, but warned that they’d be around asking more questions
if they had to.
As Macy was
getting into the car to take her home, the sympathetic officer came over
asking, “How are you feeling? Better?” She gave him her best dazed look, “The
shock has worn off, but I still can’t believe he did this and at such a time.”
The officer replied gently, “I vouched for you, so they won’t pester you too
much with questions. Just take it easy for the next few days and take care of
yourself.”
Macy thanked him
and he closed the door, when the car pulled away she was relieved, but not so
relieved when she saw that the car parked on the road to the cemetery was still
there. Who ever Vic’s friend was, they hadn’t cared her step father had escaped
and gone in for the chase which meant one thing…they were looking for her.
Raul looked at
the group at the table and knew all of them had been watching Macy. Currently
another operative was watching her, but she’d just gone home. He listened as
Sam finished his report, “After Curtis Robinson escaped she was allowed to go
home. When I called Jim he said that she’d not been suspected in the escape.
There have been no sightings of Curtis Robinson either, but he’d have to be
really dumb to show up at Macy’s.”
Chris mused
quietly, “Maybe Curtis believes we’ll never suspect that and show up there
anyway. This Macy character is one smart and very tough girl.” He looked at Vic
next to him watching as the Oriental soldier nodded, “She is Raul and there is
no way we’re going to physically be able to bring her in. We’d have to out
smart her, or knock her out.”
Raul glanced at
his report saying, “According to our information, Curtis isn’t her father and
Geordie is a half brother. So we still don’t know who she really is, but we
need to. Someone like her can’t be left on the street to pick and choose who
she wants to work for and when. If she took out Steve Evans for revenge of her
half brother then we have a problem, but if she did it because of the bad hits
we might have a new female candidate to fill out our roster. We need to get her
in here so I can speak to her and get a handle on what she’s all about.”
He looked up as
Jack Flint entered the room quietly and took up a seat saying, “Sorry I’m
late.” Raul looked at him as though seeing him for the first time replying,
“Actually you came at a good time, maybe you can help us. You could bring Macy
in here couldn’t you?”
Chris and Vic
exchanged worried glances while Sam observed and Jack shrugged, “Probably, but
if she doesn’t want to come to you
why don’t you go to her? Wouldn’t that be a lot nicer and
easier?” Raul thought this over for a moment and then nodded, “Okay, meeting is
adjourned. Until I have another mission for you, you can go home and get some
rest.”
“What about-.”
Sam started to ask, but Raul had disappeared. Jack looked at him and then Chris
and Vic, “Was it something I said?” Vic shrugged, but Chris replied, “We’re not
sure.”
Macy inwardly
sighed when she saw the jerk sitting at the table she’d last used in Tim
Horton’s. This is ridiculous, she
thought, I should just go somewhere else.
She continued to the counter and paid before taking a spot further away. She
was thinking about how she should’ve really played that officer and asked him
to drop in one morning to talk to the jerk.
Distracted by her
thoughts she didn’t notice as Raul entered and watched her as he made a
purchase. He was still observing her as he made his way over and took the seat
at her table opposite her.
Macy looked up at
him in disdain thinking it was the jerk and about to let loose with a verbal
assault, but suddenly became baffled by the stranger, “Who are you?”
Raul extended a
hand and a smile, “I’m Raul and I think you’ve met a few of my people.” She
took the hand wearily, “You make it sound like they came from a planet, but I’m
Macy as you probably know.”
He nodded and
released her hand after they shook and then opened his coffee saying, “There
was no way they’d get you to come in to see me, so I made the trek out. Not
that I mind, it’s just that there’s less chance to discuss business.”
“I might have
gone willingly if I’d been asked nicely,” Macy replied coolly, “and if you
intend on calling off the shadows after this meeting I’ll consider what you
want to tell me.”
Raul smiled and
then took a sip from his coffee before he said, “I operate a Specially Hired
team that go out and do jobs for the city and various places. One of the recent
jobs Vic was on was finding Steve Evans who I’m sure you were the last to see.
I have no problem with that, but I do have a problem with letting your skills
go to waste on someone like Benny Marrow.”
Macy raised her
eyebrows as she asked quietly, “Are you telling me that Vic and the Hulk are
some sort of professional hit men?”
Raul thought for
a second and grinned, “Oh, you mean Chris, but the answer is no. Not in that
sense, we try to apprehend people and sometimes it doesn’t happen.”
“Well I didn’t
get his name, but he said his brother was the Incredible Dork.” Macy replied as
she quipped, “Lucky you don’t look like him or I’d have asked.”
Raul grinned as
he took another sip from his coffee trying to recall Chris’s family and guessed
it was made up. He forgot about that as he replied, “Specially Hired has
sanctioned jobs similar to the one you completed. The officials that give us
the work allow leeway in what we do. Not everyone goes along willingly and
sometimes things do get messy, but I pretty much oversee all my elite crew and
ensure they don’t take heat. I don’t think Benny can offer you that.”
Macy wasn’t sure
what she wanted to do next aside from her regular part time job, but this offer
did seem interesting. Curiously she asked, “You want me to turn in all my
underground friends? I could protect myself, but I’d be one very well wanted
woman Raul.”
Raul shook his
head replying, “No, it’s not like that, we want guys like Steve Evans and
others that are a huge threat to the city. Those dealers and people you know
have been operating for years and not threats. Think about it Macy, what if one
of the next opponents you face is a new threat to the city after someone like
Hammer, or it’s a gang after the Golden Dragons? You’d be there for them, but
it wouldn’t be sanctioned. I guarantee it and you never have to worry about
arrest for whatever hit you make.”
Somehow this guy
had managed to hit a good point with her, but she still wasn’t sure what to
decide. She studied Raul closely for a moment before she asked, “How would you
be able to trust me?”
Raul pulled a
business card from his pocket he’d had prepared for her prior to meeting her.
He handed it over and replied softly, “Your first assignment will prove that
and it’s simple. It’s on the back of the card. Think about it Macy and get back
to me.”
She watched as he
suddenly stood and head out the door before looking at the card again reading his namem 'Raul Ortega', when she
flipped the card over a name was written on the back and she knew what the job
was when she saw it. Looking up again she spotted Raul in a car leaving and
studied him with intensity wondering how he could expect her to take this job?
Specially Hired
had been assigned to it though and Macy thought about it again, she suddenly
could see how he’d expect her to take the job. She’d want to be doing it rather
than Vic or Chris. She would have to think about this long and hard and she
looked down at the name on the back of the card again…Curtis Robinson.
Copyright ©
2005 by Dèsirée Doucette
MACY and all related characters, names, and indicia are
trademarks of Dèsirée Doucette © Copyright Dèsirée Doucette