“Sources. These guys apparently got kicked out of Las Balas. So you don’t want to start a war for no reason.”
Yoda made a strange face at me. “Well, no, we don’t want to start a war. But you got a ransom on your head so we can’t just sit here and let that happen.”
Moves coughed and stepped in. “We can case the joint and leave a warning to see how they respond. If we’re going to do that, we gotta do it today. You got until tomorrow, right?”
Ryder tapped Moves. “Let’s get to the warehouse. You haven’t even heard from these guys, right? I mean, they haven’t even given you the next steps for instruction. They don’t sound organized. If they were with Las Balas, this would be coming a different way. It’s not like them. I mean, we didn’t exactly sit down and have cups of tea last time but they sure as hell ran it a lot smoother.”
Marcelle dropped a plate with egg and bacon sandwiches for everyone at the table. All of them were wrapped in brown lunch paper covering. I unraveled mine and sank my teeth in. The runny egg yolk ran out onto the table. I cleared it up with a napkin.
“We can send a warning shot. That’s what we need to do,” Vlad said. “That way we know if those punk-ass bitches are operating separately.” He devoured his egg and bacon sandwich in about two bites. He flagged Marcelle from afar and pointed to his sandwich.
“You want another one?” she called from the front counter.
“Yes, ma’am, these are delicious.” Vlad had a big grin on his face. He was a big softie unless he was hunting you down.
“Vlad, let’s get it to go. We got work to do,” Ryder said before turning back to me. “Do they have your number? Have these clowns attempted to call you?”
“No, no phone contact, they just dropped off the letter and said to wait for the next contact.” Ryder turned over his fingers on his hand and looked at them. He wore a jade ring. Never saw him once without it. Must have meant something to him.
“Huh. So if I’m right and they came twice to the warehouse, then they will have a present there when we arrive. You said they tried to scare you with the fire situation. So let’s be prepared when we ride in.”
Every one of the boys looked to Ryder and nodded in agreement. The war was starting and I was powerless to stop it.
Marcelle came to the table and pushed the egg and bacon sandwich into Vlad’s large hands.
“Thank you. How much?”
“Nothing for you. On the house.” She winked at him and nodded her head out the window. “Come back more often, you’re good for business, fellas.” A crowd of people had stopped outside, taking a look at the pimped-out bikes in the parking lot and whispering.
We all laughed.
“Will do.” Vlad’s eyes opened and he high-fived Marcelle. She laughed and wiped her hands on her apron.
“Guys, let’s head to the warehouse.” I summoned the crew to get a move on. My head was telling me that news was at the other end. We looked like a football team putting on our helmets. Cars beeped as they went past. I led the charge out to the warehouse. I idled as we reached the edge of the parking lot. From a distance, everything looked to be in order. I let Moves and Vlad in front. They crept in and parked right out front of the warehouse. Both of them dismounted off their bikes and pulled their pieces from under their waistbands. Two imposing hulks casing the warehouse. We waited at the entrance. Minutes later, both of them beckoned, letting Yoda, Ryder and me know the coast was clear for us to come forward. I dismounted.
Vlad with his tight jaw said, “Lead the way.” I nodded and pressed the alarm code on the wall and unlocked the front door. I flicked on all the lights. Vlad and Moves stepped past me and slid along the perimeter on each side with their guns raised. The air held tension. Something made me look down. Another letter. These guys like to use their pens. I’m surprised they’re smart enough to be able to write.
I picked it up. Ryder and Yoda watched in anticipation. The envelope had some weight to it. I opened it up. Inside was a cheap prepaid phone and a note.
Use this phone. We will contact you on it. You now have 24 hours to get our money. We assume you have it by now. We want you to pack a garbage bag with the full funds in $100,000 bundles at Fahrens Park entrance. On the way in is a garbage can. Drop the money in there at 23 hundred hours. Come alone. If you don’t we'll kill you and execute phase two of our plan. You’ve been warned.
Ryder waited patiently until I finished the letter. I handed it to him. His eyes scanned through at a quick speed. I watched as he passed it to Yoda.
Vlad and Moves anticipated the next set of instructions.
“So it looks like these guys think they are some kind of mafia dudes. We ain’t gonna play around with them. I say we bum-rush their chapter beforehand. If we give them this ransom, then they will keep extorting us. This can’t be Las Balas, they play the game better than this. I think you might be right, Diego. These clowns are solo. If they are, we are in luck and will squash both of them like the disgusting rodents they are.” One side of Ryder’s face curled up in a snarl so nasty it even made me step back a little. I breathed out. Might be one small step.
“We will back you up when you go out, Diego. You’re not going out there alone. We can drop a bag of fake money in there. These guys are full of shit.”
I stood there, thinking about it. The whole thing didn’t make sense. “It’s like they want us to start a war with Las Balas.” I rifled my hands through the tangles in my hair. “I say we call their bluff and I go out and dump the bag like Vlad said.” I stared at Ryder, waiting for a response. “What would be even better is if we can get a source to help us locate these punks.” I tapped Ryder as he paced the warehouse. “We got the new sign-up as well and he has a security crew. Maybe swear him in as the Merced Enforcer. We can get them to set some traps up at Fahren.”
Ryder stroked his beard. “That’s a plan I like. Get them on the phone, set it up.” His eyes glistened as his mouth moved to a smile. “Time to get down and dirty in Merced.”
TWENTY
MISTY
The dark of my room made me feel suffocated so I got up and snuck into the kitchen and turned the light on. The ticking of the clock sounded like death’s doorknock to me. By now, Diego had just over twenty-four hours left to go before he had to deliver the ransom. Jimmy and Blaze, what a combination. I hadn’t heard from Diego in a day, and the worry was gnawing away at me, slowly but surely. I had school tomorrow, but it didn’t matter. The last few days had been a blurry mess of lectures and staring off into space.
