The Circle: Fallon's Story (THE CIRCLE SERIES)

by Danielle Santiago

  “Good, now let me tell you something. If you move, scream, or try to be a hero I’m going to use my friend right here, mister forty-five to blow your shit off. Understand baby?” Fallon whispered in his ear, following it up with a giggle.

  “Wha..” he started.

  “Shhh, don’t try it. I’m telling you, I have my finger right on the trigger and I think a shot to the dick is probably worse than one to the head,” Fallon said, quickly hushing him. The guard swallowed the tennis ball sized lump that immediately formed in his throat. He moved his eyes from Fallon’s face, only to see Dayvid retrieving three duffel bags from one of the tellers. Fallon pressed the gun harder against the guard’s genitals.

  “Ut un un…no looking around. Look at me baby. Focus on my beautiful face only, Daquan Ricky Travers,” Fallon said. The guard’s eyes went wide.

  “How…how…” he stammered.

  “How did I know your name?” Fallon said. “Well let’s just say I just look like a bimbo with these big titties you like pushed all up in this dress and my ass looking round like an apple. I’m really very smart. See, Daquan I’ve done my homework before I came here today, a lot of homework. So, I know where you live. I know that your mother goes to First Baptist and she walks with a limp because she had a stroke some years back. I know your pregnant girlfriend goes to the school on the east side and she’s having a baby boy who you plan to call Junior. I know you are fucking that teller over there; the one in the green shirt that keeps shooting dirty looks my way. Most importantly, I know that if you ever tell the police you saw me or could identify anyone here in the bank today, I will be going after you and all of the people you love. You won’t get to see that baby born; your mother won’t make it to Wednesday night Bible study and your brother that’s in jail will become booty bait for all my people. You are basically broke so you can’t run and trust me, just like I have people in this bank working for me; I also have cops working for me. So, if you trust the crooked as police and decide to rat on me; any bullshit witness protection program they offer you, I’ll find out and I’ll murder your entire family slowly and painfully, but only after I gut you like a pig…got it?” Fallon said smoothly as if she were singing him a lullaby. The security guard swallowed again. Fallon could see his heart beating so fast it was making the material on his shirt move. She felt her pussy thump slightly. It gave her extreme satisfaction to induce that kind of fear in a man.

  “You don’t have to worry about me. I…I…won’t say shit,” the guard rushed his words out.

  “Good boy. Oh and Daquan, I really do think you’re cute. Plus, from what I could see and feel you’re packing too. Maybe if things were different I’d let you eat my pussy,” Fallon told him. He cracked a nervous smile.

  “Out,” Rain said as she passed Fallon. That was their signal that time was up. Two customers had walked inside the bank, even more reason that it was time to go. That was the best thing about early morning hits—less customers, less chance of anyone trying to flex.

  Fallon reached down and grabbed the guard’s gun from his worn, leather holster; just in case he tried to get brave before she could make it out.

  Dayvid walked calmly out first, followed by Rain and then Fallon backed out last. Autumn was right where she was supposed to be with the engine running. They all calmly climbed into the minivan and just as quietly as they’d come; they were gone. They had yet another successful heist and another slap in the face of law enforcement.

  “Fallon…you sure that chick made sure the surveillance cameras were off? I thought I saw one of them moving when I was putting ol’ boy to sleep in his cubicle back there,” Rain asked, uncertainty apparent in her voice. Fallon sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. That was typical Rain. She was always leery and cautious. Rain would go over their plans sixty times before a heist and unless she cased the place and made the arrangements, Rain would go over and over things a zillion times, driving everyone crazy.

  Fallon looked out of the corner of her eye at her sister. She hated to be second guessed and questioned like she was new to this.

  “Next time Rain, you take care of the logistics, ok. I mean how many times you gon’ ask me about the damn cameras? Do you think I would’ve been in there with my face all out if I didn’t believe the cameras were off?” Fallon snapped back. “I know you think you’re my mother, but I’m not new to this.”

  “I’m just making sure, shit!” Rain snapped. “Like I said, I thought I saw one of the cameras in the back moving and if the shit was moving, it was on.”

  “Was it moving Rain? Did you actually see it moving?” Fallon asked.

  “I said I wasn’t sure,” Rain shot back.

  “If you’re not sure then why bring it up Rain? All you’re going to do is have us paranoid for the next month over something stupid,” Fallon shot back.

  “It’s not fucking stupid, Fallon. But, sometimes you…” Rain started, about to go in on her sister.

  “Yo! You two…shut up. What’s with ya’ll lately? Since Fallon has been back with us, there are obviously some issues. What the fuck?” Dayvid mediated, rubbing his temples.

  “I just want to make sure her head ain’t in the fucking clouds…again. Heard she back with that married nigga Linx,” Rain grumbled.

  “What you say?” Fallon asked, moving to the edge of her seat. “What the fuck did you say Rain?”

  “I fucking said I heard you were back with Linx and his dirty dick, married, fifty kids having ass! That’s what I said,” Rain reiterated her voice rising three octaves.

  “Fuck you Rain! You don’t know shit! I don’t have to take this bullshit either! I’m sick of being accused all the time. I’m grown the last I checked anyway!” Fallon screamed. “Pull over Autumn! Let me out!” Fallon demanded, grabbing for the minivan’s door handle while the car was still moving.

  “Hold on. You’re not getting out. You know better. We don’t fucking stop this car until we get to the other vehicle. Nobody is apart the night after a heist, so sit the fuck there and be quiet until we count the take, split and decide how to wash the shit. This is not new to you,” Dayvid barked.

  “I don’t have to take this shit from either one of ya’ll,” Fallon hissed, opening the door of the moving van. Autumn slammed on the brakes and the tires of the van screeched against the black top.

  “Fallon! What the fuck are you doing!” Autumn shouted. Just as the van came to an abrupt, screeching stop a police car rounded the corner. Everyone in the car froze. Fallon’s heart was beating so fast she lost her breath. Autumn sat erect and stiff as a statue. The police car slowed down and Dayvid locked eyes with the officer in the passenger’s seat. The police car passed the van and a few feet up the police car stopped.

  “This can’t be good. Oh my God. They are going to come back,” Autumn said, worry and fear lacing her words.

  “Just stay calm,” Rain instructed.

  They all watched through side mirrors and the rearview mirror as the police car stayed still for what seemed like eternity. After a few minutes, the police car pulled off down the street in the opposite direction of the minivan. Fallon could hear the breath leaving everyone’s mouth as they all let out the breath they’d been holding and started breathing again.

  “You see what you almost cost us?” Rain started up with Fallon again.

  “Correction Rain, what you started,” Fallon shot back.

  “Drive Autumn,” Dayvid said calmly. “The next person to say a fucking word before we get to the car and to the house is going to have to deal with me,” he said with finality.

  Fallon was pissed. She couldn’t hide anything from her sisters and brother. It was beyond her how Rain found out she was dealing with Linx again.

  That night back at their safe house, after at least ten glasses of champagne in celebration of their three hundred thousand dollar take, Rain walked up to Fallon.

  “You know I love you right?” Rain said, her words slurring a bit. Fallon folder her arms across her
chest playing hard ass.

  “Do you love me? I can’t tell,” Fallon answered, sticking out her lips like a baby. Both sisters began laughing; the alcohol was easing their senses helped.

  “I just want you to have the best baby sis. I would never do or say anything that I thought would hurt you. Just make good decisions Fallon. I love you more than life,” Rain said with feeling.

  “I know. Trust me, I make mistakes but I’m smarter than you think big sis,” Fallon assured. “And I love your bullying ass too.” They hugged each other tightly for a few minutes. Fallon felt her sister’s heartbeat against her chest and knew that one thing was for sure; their bond was one that would be almost impossible to break, no matter what the circumstances were.

  ***

  Fallon awoke to the television inside the hotel room watching her. Her mind was light after putting herself to sleep with thoughts and dreams of her siblings. She would’ve given anything to have an argument with Rain right now or to have Dayvid tell her to shut up or an all-day shopping trip with Autumn. Fallon looked over at the TV and realized it had been watching her all night rather than the other way around. It was still tuned in to the all-news stream on CNN. Fallon turned up the volume on the TV; it was time for an update on her case. Thanks to the media, Fallon had been able to stay a half step ahead of the ones chasing her. She thought it was so crazy how the media reported so many details of ongoing police investigations that those stupid reporters didn’t even realize how much they helped criminals stay ahead of the police.

  Just like Fallon thought, there they were; Fallon, Autumn, Dayvid and Rain’s faces splashed across the screen under the word’s NATIONWIDE MANHUNT. Not exactly how the Porter siblings envisioned their lives ending up. After all they had learned from the best as kids and even when they’d had a sloppy heist, they still always came out the winners.

  The news was reporting now that they’d identified the body on the train as businessman, Dustin Crawford. Fallon was up on her knees on the bed and she hadn’t even realized that she was hanging on the news reports every word. Fallon put her hands up to her head when she heard that the police were in the process of tracing transactions made on Dustin’s stolen credit cards and checking pawnshops for other stolen property, one of which was an expensive watch inscribed with a message from his wife.

  “Damn! I knew my ass should’ve gone out last night and got rid of this fucking watch,” Fallon mumbled, slumping back down on her butt. She couldn’t pawn the watch or use Dustin’s credit cards anymore, which meant she was totally broke again.

  Fallon jumped up, slipped into one of her new t-shirts, and the yoga pants, flip flops, shades and oversized hat she had gotten the night before. It was time for her to ditch the room because once the credit card transactions came back the police would surely be showing up in no time at the Luxor.

  Fallon grabbed her Trac phone from the table, along with Dustin’s watch and cuff links, just in case she could find some dirty pawnshop that would take the items without reporting it. Today was going to be a real test of her resilience because she literally had to make a way out of no way. Fallon opened the hotel room door slowly and looked up and down the hallway. Except for a housekeeping cart, Fallon didn’t see anyone or anything else. She slipped out of the room, rushed down the hallway, rounded the corner and approached the elevator. There was an old couple already standing there. Fallon gave them a quick fake smile. Fallon could feel the old lady staring at her. Through her shades Fallon eyed the woman and noticed that the old woman clutched her husband a little tighter as she kept staring at Fallon. All sorts of thoughts ran through Fallon’s mind as she wondered if the lady had seen her on the news.

  The longer Fallon stood waiting and watching the leery old lady the more she became paranoid. Fallon looked up at the elevator indicator and noticed that it was paused for a long time on the first floor before it began making its ascent towards her floor. Something told Fallon to just take the stairs. She was on the thirteenth floor, but that overwhelming feeling in her stomach was enough to spurn her into action. From years of experience, Fallon had learned never ignore her gut.

  Fallon found the exit door right next to the ice machines. She pushed it open and started down the exit stairs as fast as she could move in those stupid flip flops. After a few landings, Fallon just removed the flip flops and started back down the stairs. Fallon felt sick as another flash of dread went through her stomach. Although her legs were shaky, something told her to start running down the stairs, so she did. When Fallon made it to the first floor, she was winded and sweaty, but she wasn’t going to rest until she felt like it was all clear.

  She eased her way out of the exit doors and noticed the door led to the Luxor’s casino floor. Great! Fallon thought. Casinos were crowded in Vegas all times of the day and night. Now she could hide in plain sight as she made her way out on to the street. Just as Fallon started for the row of glass doors that led to the streets, Fallon noticed a line of Las Vegas police officers and a few plainclothes officers rushing through the casino in the opposite direction towards the hotel lobby. She had a strong inkling that they were looking for her.

  Fallon ducked down next to a row of slot machines until they were gone. She popped back up, sped to the doors and burst through them. There were two officers posted up by their vehicles, but they were so engrossed in their own conversation, Fallon was able to slip down the street without being noticed. When she felt the dry Las Vegas desert heat on her face, Fallon started to cry. She couldn’t control it. The gravity of her situation had finally crashed down on her like an anvil dropped from a skyscraper. Fallon usually avoided feelings of hopelessness, but right then she felt like she was never going to see her siblings again.

  She had never been all by herself long because when she didn’t have Dayvid, Rain and Autumn for those months she was gone with Linx, at least she had him. Right now, she had nobody. Fallon was in big and beautiful Vegas all alone.

  The last time she was in Vegas, she had came with all of her siblings for Autumn’s twenty-first birthday. It was right after they had all pulled off a huge heist and had money to burn.

  Fallon and Autumn walked into the shops at the Caesar’s like they owned the place. Inside of the Louis Vuitton store Fallon dragged Autumn around.

  “Get what you want baby sis. You only officially become an adult once,” Fallon said.

  “I like a bunch? I can’t even choose which one I really want,” Autumn contemplated, looking around with wide eyed excitement.

  “Ok, point to all of the ones you like,” Fallon told her.

  “I love that one, this one, that one up there. I like the one inside the glass. Those two over there,” Autumn pointed, whirling around and around.

  “Yo, stop looking at us like we can’t afford the shit in this store and grab the bags my sister is pointing at,” Fallon told the little Asian lady behind the counter that had been eyeing them and never bothered to ask them if they needed help. The woman seemed shocked, but she jumped into action. She wasn’t crazy because she knew her commission depended on it.

  Once all of the bags were on the counter in front of Autumn, Fallon dug into her classic Chanel caviar bag and pulled out a thick stack of bills. Fallon peeled lined the bills up on the counter in stacks.

  “This must be a good sign. Twenty-one thousand dollars for my sister who is turning twenty one,” Fallon joked. Autumn threw her arms around her sister’s neck.

  “You’re the best!” Autumn cheered.

  “We’re not finished either,” Fallon told her. They could barely carry all of the oversized shopping bags from one store, but that didn’t stop them from hitting up almost every store in the Caesar’s that night.

  ***

  “Pull it together Fallon Porter. You are stronger than this,” Fallon gave herself a pep talk and shook off the good memories of times with her sister that kept creeping up on her. Fallon rushed down the crowded Las Vegas strip now under totally different circumstances tha
n before. She didn’t know where she was headed next and she certainly didn’t have twenty-one thousand dollars in her possession. Which reminded her about getting some money or at least a credit card was her first priority.

  Fallon dipped into a little café outside of the Bellagio hotel and casino. Just as she sat down to gather her thoughts, the Trac phone she’d gotten from Drew buzzed in her pocket. It was the first time it had rang since she’d had it. Fallon was usually the one making the calls, not receiving them. The vibration from the phone had almost made Fallon jump out of her own skin. She retrieved the phone from her bra and looked at it. The number was unknown. That wasn’t unusual for a Trac phone, the calls incoming and outgoing were usually unknown or else why would a person need a throw away phone. Fallon remembered telling Drew that if he ever heard from her brother or sisters to give them the phone number and tell them to call her so she could hear their voices. Fallon’s heart sped up with excitement. Maybe it was Dayvid calling since he’d recently escaped too or maybe it was Rain calling to say her and Autumn had made it to Mexico and were waiting for Fallon.

  “Hello,” Fallon whispered with her eyes closed and face bunched with hope.

  “I guess we are playing a game of cat and mouse,” the female voice on the other end said. “I thought I’d get to come face to face with you today. Guess I thought wrong.”

  “Who is this?” Fallon whispered, looking around.

  “This is your worst nightmare Fallon Porter. I’m standing in the Luxor hotel room you just left. You think you’re smarter than all of us, but those lucky breaks you keep getting are going to run out sooner or later,” the female said. Fallon recognized her voice from seeing her on the news the night before. It was that bitch U.S. Marshall Veronica Torrence.

  “Fuck you, Miss Marshall. Catch me if you can,” Fallon spat, quickly disconnecting the call. She wasn’t stupid enough to let that bitch Marshall keep her on long enough for a cell tower to ping her location. Just in case, Fallon took the battery out of the phone and dumped the phone in the water fountain outside of the café. She rushed out onto the Vegas strip and tossed the battery three blocks up in an overflowing trashcan. Fallon was literally blocks away from the people who had a bounty on her head, but she wasn’t giving up on seeing her family. Not yet. Fallon felt like she still had a little fight left in her.