by Sarah Monte
Jennifer winced internally at the forced toughness in Mike’s tone, she guessed some things would just take time to fade away. David looked at the three of them thoughtfully and said after a long moment of contemplation, “Truthfully, it isn’t a bad plan at all, but it does have quite a lot of loopholes and you’re leaving way too much to chance. The thing is, you’re trying to predict Donovan’s moves when he himself makes those decisions on an impulse. What makes you think that he would go to the warehouse himself? What if he sends someone else to check on things? Or what if he doesn’t react? No, I think you need to come up with something better and more concrete to fall back upon just in case.”
“It’s exactly what I was saying too, till Mike said -,” began Jennifer
“- do you have a better plan?” finished Mike as he looked at the pair of them. When they didn’t reply and averted his gaze, he said, “I’m going to go to the precinct now and get to work on this as of now. If it works, it does – else we got nothing to lose anymore. David, you take care of yourself for now brother – we’ll be back soon enough to check on you and I’ll get security to come here and keep an eye on you personally, I can’t afford to take any chances anymore when it comes to your safety.”
Ted nodded in agreement and chimed in, “He’s right, if we do manage to take Donovan in alive – which would be the best thing to do, then on trial you’re the best witness we have as of now. Of course, that also paints a bright red target on your head but there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Don’t worry about that for now though David. I’ve spoken to Dr. Matthew about your treatments by the way, he is going to get started on it soon enough. That’s why you haven’t been discharged yet,” said Mike.
“No man, you have already done so much for me, I really can’t accept any more help from you. I don’t know how to repay you for everything you’ve done for me already -,” said David when Mike cut him off abruptly. Part of him wanted to smack David in the face for making a big deal out of things. Weren’t they brothers? Didn’t David feel the same about Mike too? How was this help at all, if anything it was his duty to protect his only family in the world!
“You would do the same for me if I was in your place, wouldn’t you David? Then don’t talk to me like I’m your real estate agent and not your brother. Get some more rest, you’re going to need it based on the kind of tests and treatments Dr. Matthew was talking about putting you on. I’ll see you soon,” said Mike with a small smile.
It was time to go put his little daring plan into action. He wasn’t sure how much he could trust Rat not to blab – at this point they were just counting on his fear of Mike and of death rather than his actual loyalties, which could very well still be swinging towards Donovan. At this point, thought Mike as he walked out of the hospital with Ted on his side and arm in arm with Jennifer, he just wanted to see Donovan and get this whole thing over with face to face. Probably just the way Donovan would have liked it too, in theory. For in practice, Mike saw through his façade of being dangerous quite clearly – having used one all his life personally. Donovan was indeed a coward and a monster without a conscience, and these traits combined didn’t really make for the most pleasant man in the world.
Little did he know what awaited him in the very near future though, and how surprised he was about to get.
****
“Where’s Liam?” screamed Donovan from his desk as one of his many nameless henchmen came running in to comfort their boss.
“We’re not really sure Sir, we haven’t seen him for a while,” said the man in a trembling voice. Donovan hated these little pipsqueaks, always sending them out for tiny jobs and half hoping they would get killed for their lack of balls. Always shaking in front of him, ready to soil their pants if he so much as raised his voice a little. Of course it was their fear he thrived on, capitalizing on it to the utmost to keep things running the way they were with him on top. But it did bother him how nobody had come along to challenge him, keep him excited, keep him on his toes for the longest time. Nobody who wouldn’t say the words ‘Yes Sir’ before he even finished his question.
They were well trained lackeys, but unappealing to Donovan now. Which is why when the insignificant little task of getting David killed turned into this subtle war with billionaire Mike Sinclair, Donovan went in with blazing guns. He wasn’t sure yet how tough Mike was, given that he let Jennifer get killed so easily. But then again, to a guy like him – maybe she was just another pretty face for temporary purposes and he shouldn’t yet be underestimated. Donovan was one step ahead as usual, and he intended on keeping it that way for a long time.
“Not really sure? Do you really think that you have the right to remain standing there if you can’t answer my questions? I haven’t raised this fucking empire based on unsure bastards. Find out where Liam is and bring him to me right now! Or kill yourself before I have to,” added Liam as an afterthought.
The man began visibly shaking and sweating as he replied feebly, “Don’t you worry about a thing Sir, what you have said will be done.”
As Donovan watched him leave, he leaned back and looked up at the single slightly flickering light right above. It was good to be made to feel like God, although what most people forgot and Donovan tried his best to keep down was that even God got lonely at times. Maybe Donovan wasn’t as crazy a monster as everyone thought, the complementary notions that came with his visuals. What most people forgot when taking into account a gangster’s life was that they all came from somewhere, they all had stories. Those stories did get warped in time, become even more fanciful and stuff of legends that kept the business running as long as it did.
But there was the truth, at the bottom of it all. Nobody knew it except Liam, of course – and Liam was someone Donovan invariably trusted. Maybe the truth would or wouldn’t change things, but it was there. And truth can sometimes be a dangerous thing to deal with.
****
“Are you ready?” asked Mike as he looked at Rat with some concern. Rat had been cleaned up pretty well, and made to rehearse his lines umpteen times with several interjected threats by both Ted and Mike, but mostly Mike.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, Dad,” said Rat in a mocking tone, chuckling a little as Mike made a move to strike him and was stopped by Ted.
“Control yourself Mike, you’re at a police station, remember? And remember your promise to me, don’t make me take you off this case and waste valuable time and resources,” said Ted in a warning voice as Mike sat down grudgingly. “And as for you Rat,” said Ted turning towards the thug, “This isn’t a joke, but I appreciate a good sense of humor at the right times. Right now however, you need to be extremely focused on what’s going to happen. Because if things go south, then your brains are going to be the first ones to be blown out for sure – and that is if you’re lucky.”
Rat nodded, knowing that Ted spoke the truth. Even Ted didn’t probably understand what was at stake here. Rat was prepared to die, but would much rather he didn’t. He focused on his reflection, at what remained of his face and body. It didn’t hurt much anymore thanks to the painkillers, but those scars would forever remain. He hadn’t heard of Gunther in the longest time, and thought it would be almost foolish to ask. He hoped that Gunther wasn’t dead though, he was his only real friend in that murky world. As his train of thought lead him down bad roads again, he refocused his attention on that pretty lady sitting in the corner. She seemed aware of what was going on around her while at the same time being absorbed in her own thoughts. He wondered how someone who looked like her had managed to find herself amidst a situation like this, unless she was Mike’s paid whore.
Mike’s voice broke him out of his reverie as he heard, “Tell me your lines again one last time before you leave.”
Rat sighed and turned towards Mike, who was looking at him with an intensely scrutinizing expression as he said, “Making me say it for the hundredth time will not make me remember my lines any more than they will make
you trust me. But okay, for your sake – I will do it,” he added hastily as he caught the dark expression on Mike’s face.
“Donovan, I bring with me a message from the police. They cracked Gunther and managed to get the location of your biggest drug warehouse. I’ve been sent to tell you that they’re going to set it on fire and there’s nothing you can do about it till your entire empire falls to pieces around you,” said Rat in a deadpan voice.
While Ted nodded with satisfaction and just before Mike opened his mouth to issue what Rat presumed was another boring threat, the girl spoke – and her voice was just as magical as Rat had thought it would be. “Rat, I know we’re asking you to risk a great deal for us when there’s almost no knowing how things are going to end up. I promise you though, that if everything works out – you will have nothing to fear about once Donovan is captured,” she said in a gentle voice.
Jennifer didn’t really know what made her say it, or what made her sympathize with someone like Rat in the first place. What she did know however, was that every human life on this planet was worth it. Maybe Rat didn’t mean anything to them, but she was sure he was something to someone. And no matter what he was, he didn’t deserve to die as a pawn in someone’s game. Part of her also was worried that Mike’s constant threats would probably push Rat over to deceive them, and she wanted to give him some sort of comfort and assurance that it wasn’t going to be so. She didn’t really understand why people got so mesmerized when she spoke, but she could see in Rat’s eyes that she had managed to dissipate his apprehensions and win him over. She saw Mike opening his mouth to say something from behind, but signaled him to stay shut with her eyes. Maybe Mike did have a better understanding than her of how things worked in the underworld, but she knew how emotions worked in the real world.
“You don’t go worrying about all this ma’am,” said Rat in a surprisingly respectful voice. “I’ll make sure I get Donovan to the right place for you, and avenge the hurt he has caused you,” continued Rat as he indicated the bandage of Jennifer’s head, “I won’t betray you ma’am, don’t worry about it.”
Jennifer smiled at him gratefully, and Rat smiled back at her, probably genuinely smiling for the first time in weeks. Even if he died now, at least he would die happy.
“No need to get so cocky asshole, you have a job to do – it would be best for you to start focusing on that,” said Mike in a low growl. “Don’t get so insecure about your lady Sir, she’s a fine one for sure and I won’t let her down,” replied Rat in a teasing voice.
“Are you ready?” asked Ted this time, looking at Rat one final time.
****
Rat walked down the alley, knowing that by now one of the men sitting in front of the cameras would have caught him. It was only a matter of time before he was either struck down or identified by the people and either killed or let through. But they would have to tell Donovan though, and that was sure to be an interesting conversation.
“Boss, boss I think Rat is walking towards the entrance,” came the man from earlier screaming and running towards him. Donovan looked a little confused, not really too sure who the so called rat in question was or why it rang a bell at all.
“Who is this rat? And why does this even concern me enough for you to come barging in like this you idiot?” screamed Donovan in rage
The man stopped short and hesitated for a second before saying, “No Sir, you don’t understand. Rat and Gunther, the two men who were arrested when Mr. Sinclair caught them for kidnapping that man David remember?”
Donovan’s mind clicked into place immediately and he said with a little curious smile, “Bring him to me.”
Chapter Twenty Four
Back at the precinct, Mike and Jennifer sat in the observation room, exhausted as Ted moved around the station trying to finish off the paperwork. Any amount of insistence on their part to get him to rest was waved off immediately, since this was a crucial time and not a second’s attention could be spared.
“If I look away for a second and that’s the second in which we locate Rat before the transmitter or his life itself is compromised – then we have wasted a life as well as our own time and resources. So no, I am not going anywhere. But keeping Jennifer’s health in mind and the fact that you do have nothing else to do till Rat comes online, I suggest you both go home and hang tight. I’ll give you a call when you need to come back to the precinct, I swear,” said Ted in a rush as he fluttered all around the office.
Mike was about to open his mouth with an expression of vehement opposition on his face, but judging by Ted’s short natured temperament at the moment, she decided to pinch Mike and make him shut up. She nodded at Ted and led Mike away, trying to reason things out with him.
“Where is Gunther? I haven’t seen him and you haven’t spoken to him at all since the beginning of this investigation. Don’t you think that we need to speak to him? He could give us valuable evidence,” asked Jennifer.
“Ted has been dealing with Gunther, and last we spoke to him he still refused to crack. I can’t keep wasting my time with him when there are other easier ways, I’m assuming he’s booked on charges of attempted murder and assault as of now and the police will deal with him in their own way later,” replied Mike almost nonchalantly.
This bothered Jennifer a little, who honestly believed Gunther to hold the information that was a little more useful than anything Rat could give – which wasn’t too much to begin with. Truthfully, and even rather childishly, Jennifer did want some time alone with Mike. Just to talk to him a little, make sure he was doing okay and also because her head hurt a little. But Mike was adamant on staying at the precinct, and was arguing rather fiercely about it with Jennifer.
“How can you expect me to go back home and sleep while we’re waiting for Rat?” argued Mike in a low voice as he looked at Jennifer incredulously. “I’ll understand if you want to though my love, and I’ll come with you because there’s no way I’m leaving you alone.”
“Don’t be stupid, it’s not like I want to leave. But think about it, we don’t know how much better or worse things are going to get – and if things get unfortunate, we don’t know when we’ll have a chance to be able to leave the precinct again at all. And I do want some time to just feel a little normal with you again, Mikey,” finished Jennifer as she looked away, blinking back a tear.
It was most definitely the use of his nickname that made Mike open his eyes to see that despite all the bravery that Jennifer had shown in escaping the goon, it was still bound to be a traumatic experience for the girl. Life had taken a completely unexpected turn for her, and if there was a chance for her to feel even a shred of normalcy again, she would obviously be looking forward to taking it. Mike smiled at her slightly, stroking her hair out of her face and nodding. He took her hand and led her out of the precinct, making sure as they left that Ted saw them go lest he panic about their safety. It didn’t feel right to be leaving that way, especially since the plan balanced so precariously on a big risk.
But if Jennifer needed him to be there for her for the next few minutes, then Mike could put the whole world on pause as its side as he tended to her needs.
****
The last thing Rat remembered was being hit really hard in the head and falling to the asphalt. His body and especially his head had suffered so much injury in the past few weeks that it seemed almost miraculous to him that his skull hadn’t suffered any internal damage. Maybe if her got amnesia at least, the world would leave him alone, or his skull could maybe not be so thick for once so he could die.
He had known that he would be reprimanded a little at the very least, or just beat up and thrown around for entertainment’s sake. Donovan had made sure his men knew that in case they got caught and coughed up, they would be chopped up and thrown to the dogs – but usually nobody made it back alive from the police station to Donovan. Mostly because they never wanted to. And here sat a little rat with a black bag covering his head and wondering what the future held
for him.
Just then, a hand roughly yanked the black cover off his head, slapping him in the face to boot so that when he slowly opened his eyes and blinked in the light, Donovan’s face came into focus only a few minutes later.
“Welcome back, my little Rat,” sneered Donovan at the miserable little man sitting on the floor in front of him. Bruised and battered to a pulp, he looked worse for the wear and ready to conk off at any moment. Donovan wondered if he should maybe develop some parameters and protocol to hire his men, this one seemed too weak to be fit for anything at all!
More importantly though, he wondered how much the police had tortured this man and how much they had managed to get out of him – if anything. And why had they let him go, and why had he chosen to come back here? There was a sense of buzzing electricity and cautious curiosity between the two, and it was instinct that had kept Rat and him alone in the same room.
“Thank you Sir, I’m glad to be back,” replied Rat graciously, but guarded at the same time. The transmitter was an extremely tiny thing that looked like a pen, and was stuffed in his right leg’s pant. It would be easy to turn on if he even just rolled over, but how he would switch it on before he got killed or hurt or incapable to use it were questions that plagued him. He had Donovan’s attention and curiosity for only a few moments before it turned to probable rage or ended in Rat’s death. Considering how he didn’t have much time left, Rat would have to act fast.
“Don’t waste my time on this small talk. Because of your ineptitude along with that other dope head, I’ve had to deal with issues and problems that don’t even concern me otherwise. It’s given me a very bad name on the street that my men were stupid enough to be caught and held by the police for so long and affected some of my potential dealings too. So what do you have to say in your defense Rat? Why should I let vermin like you live?” asked Donovan skeptically.