Plains

Chapter 14: Planning

June 25th 6:32am Bailey's POV

The early morning chill swept through my short hair, making me pull my thin blue-jean jacket closer to me despite the fact that later today the temperature is supposed to reach near ninety.

I spent the night a Douglas's house in their guest bedroom. I still haven't told Douglas that my mother threw me out onto the streets and is basically poisoning my sister. I know I need to, but something is stopping me, what, I don't know. That's why I'm out here at the butt-crack of dawn, hoping the chilly breeze will knock some sense into me.

Lightly pushing the pedals of my bike, I slowly drive through Main St. of Plains, looking into the old shops that line the street, each one dark and silent just like rest of this loveingly drab little town I call my home. 

Shivers run down my spine, but not from the chill in the air. Something in the pit of my stomach tells me to go back to Douglas's house and tell him what happened.  

I start to pedal faster, eventually turning down the road conecting to Douglas's house. 

The shivers in my spine return when I see five silhouettes standing at the corner of the road, heads huddled together in a seemingly deep conversation.  

As I near them they brake formation, and just stare at me, making my uneasiness grow immensely.  With every second I grow closer I feel sicker, until my stomach drops completely when I see who they are. 

"Ms. Hall!" I hear the familiar sickly sweet voice calling to me. "Just the person we were looking for!"

"Jose, please, I really don't have time to be your little puppet right now." I begged, coming to a stop, glancing over to the other four pairs of eyes on me. 

"On the contrary Ms. Hall, I believe you've been kicked out of your home, no?" he didn't wait for me to respond. "So, if I am correct -and I know I am- you've got nowhere to go, and I being the generous soul I am, have a proposition for you that I think is unwise to refuse." he spoke calmly, his hands placed behind his back in a manor much like a guest at a fancy party. 

I sucked in a deep breath, my head spinning. At the way Jenny stepped a few inches forward, I felt unwise meant more than just a suggestion. "Let's hear it then" 

He smiled that barracuda smile that was becoming his signature. "Do you intend on going to the annual Summer Shin Dig at Wellington manor?" he asked, even though I was positive he already knew the answer. 

I nod my head against my better judgement before he continues. "Well then, I'm sure you know Mr. Wellington is rich beyond belief, and to my knowledge, he wouldn't even notice if a few hundred thousand dollars suddenly vanished one day. At least according to his accountant."

Calvin laughed. "His ex-accountant." everyone joined him before Jose resumed.

"It would be a waste if all that money went untouched, but we have come up with a solution, and it involves you, Ms. Hall." 

Fuck me.

"It's very simple. Calvin is our lookout, sweet Jenny here will disarm the alarm, Eva, you and myself will get the money unnoticed upstairs to the getaway car that Mickey will be waiting in and then he just simply drives away with thousands of dollars. It's that easy Ms. Hall, it will only take up a miniscule amount of your evening." he stares at my jaw hanging open at the words I could hardly believe. "You might want to close your mouth Ms. Hall, you're beginning to catch flies."

I snap my mouth shut. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly." he answers with a shrug.

"What if we get caught?"