On Top//Topper Thornton

twenty four

It's pouring rain as we head to the spot my dad and Gavin are supposed to meet at. We peek over a fence across the street. Pope has a camcorder from like 2005 in his hands.

"Nice camera," JJ teases. "Where'd you dig up that relic?"

"Why don't you just use your phone?" I ask.

"We'll, first of all, I like my antique electronics. Second of all, this is a telephoto," Pope tells us. "It allows me to get a close image from far away."

"Lord of the dorks," Kie teases.

"For definitive proof of witness payoff we're gonna need quality glass," Pope states.

I spot my dad running down the street with a duffle bag. "There he is."

"Yo, get down," JJ tells us.

I spot a man running from the other direction.

"And there's Gavin," Pope says. "Where are you going, you son of a bitch?" Gavin and Ward both head into a store that's under construction. "No, no, no I'm losing them. Shit. Where's he going?"

"Hold on," JJ tells us. He heads towards the building next to us. He whistles to get our attention. "Yo! Hey. I found something. Come here." We head around the building. "We gotta get up top."

JJ starts to climb a ladder to the roof. One by one we follow after him.

"That's work," Pope says.

"Hurry up," Kie tells us. "Don't wanna miss anything."

We rush to the edge of the roof. Pope pulls out his telephoto thingy again.

"You rolling, Pope?" JJ asks.

"Are you getting it?" Kie asks.

"Yeah, yeah, I see them," Pope tells us.

I can see Dad and Gavin through the hole where the wall should be. But I can't tell what they're doing.

"Ward just handed Gavin something. I think it's a duffel bag," Pope tells us.

"Guys, I think this is payoff," JJ says.

Pope continues his play by play. "Gavin doesn't look happy about something. It looks like he's yelling at Ward."

"Why?" I ask.

"I don't know, but he sure looks mad," Pope states.

I can see Gavin and Ward fighting with one another.

"Shit," Pope remarks.

"What's going on?" Kie asks.

"I dunno. They're fighting over something," Pope tells us.

"They're really going at it," JJ states.

"Oh no," I say.

"Ward's kicking the shit out of Gavin," Pope tells us.

"What are they fighting over?" JJ asks.

"What's going on, Pope?" Topper asks.

"I don't know," Pope tells us. "I'm trying to see. Holy shit. Ward's got a gun."

"I bet thats the murder wapeon," Kie reasons.

I gasp as I hear a gunshot. "Holy shit."

I hid down behind the edge. Topper wraps his arm around me as I wipe a few tears away. I just watched my dad kill someone. I knew he killed Big John but to see it with my own eyes. I can't believe it.

"Oh my god," JJ gasps.

"Holy shit," Topper says.

"What the hell?" Pope says.