The Ride Of My Life: Chicago

Chapter 26

The next morning everyone is getting ready for their day to began. getting dress, having breakfast, and making sure they not forgetting anything before they walked out the door.
Mack let me picked out whatever clothes to wear. I put on a black tee-shirt that has dreamcatcher on it and a pair of blue jean.
I check my phone to see if I have any missed calls or text message from anyone at this point. And I see that I've had one from Mateo.
Mateo: Forgot to tell you, that I gave some of your stuff. It's in the backseat in the car.
At first I wasn't going to reply back, but I did, telling 'thank you'.
I meet Mack in kitchen where she is sitting on the counter-top on her phone.
"Morning." she said, looking up from her phone for a second. "Want breakfast before we hit the road."
"Sure." I said. Going over to the cabinet to get a bowl. I know where they keep everything since I come over to hangout with Mack. "Mateo text me, a while ago."
"Really? What he say?" she said surprised.
"Just letting me know that he put my stuff in the car when he dropped it off."
"That's nice of him." I nodded. It got quiet for a second before she poke up again. "So what do you want to do after school?"
"What do you, want to do?" I asked, as I pour coco puff into the bowl and then milk. And I don't care what we do. As long we doing something together, that is fun.
"We could go to the mall and just walk around or something."
"That's fine." I take a bit of my cereal.
After finishing my cereal and getting a drink of orange juice. We head out the before telling her grandparent goodbye. And I offer to take my car instead of her, for all that time she been giving a ride when I needed. So, I wanted repay her by driving her to school for all that time.
The drive to school from her house isn't that long. It's about ten minutes to get there. There not much talking but listening to music to past the time until we got there.
I try to park close to the school but had to parked a little further, it's fine though.
As we're getting out of the car, I notice that people are started to stare and whisper to each other and even pointing..
"Uh, why is everyone looking at me? Did people talk about why I was gone?" I asked, looking around again.
"Yeah, you could say that." she said, dong the same looking around. As we're walking toward the school build.
As I turn to walk in the school, I almost run into Jayson.
"Watch where you're go--" he said, mad before realizing who it was. And then his mood shift, into something else, that I can't quite figure out. Maybe shock or surprised to see me. "Oh, Estelle! S-Sorry about that. I'll just, uh, get out of your way." he step side.
"Ooo...kay." I said, a little weird about that. And continue walking until I get to my locker. Which is blocked by couple of people.
Clearing my throat to get their. "Excuse us." I said politely.
"Estelle! You're... you're back." one of the guy said, surprised to see me here.
"Uh, yeah... I am." I gives them a questionable look at them. Why is everyone surprised to see me back, I was going on for one day and plus the weekend. So, why are they acting like this.
But one of the guy moved out of my way, giving me a wide berth. I nodded in thanks. Turning to Mack and keeping my voice low so that she the only one that can hear me.
"Mack? Do you have any ideas what's going on? Are they... afraid of me? Or something?"
"I have no idea?" she said, putting her hands up. "Your guess is good as mine. But I could ask, Jayson when I see him again."
"That would be great."
"I'll let you know, what I find out. Until then keep your head down." I nod.
And after that we went our separate way, until we will met up again in class or at lunch time.
All morning I try to keep my down but people keep whispering when I enter the room. But when lunch time rolled around, I notice that people falling quiet as I walk past them. And I can't help but feel like there's a spotlight on me. Beside that, I haven't see Kendra all day. So she must be out sick for the day.
I made it to my usual spot at the lunch table where Mack is sitting with her food. Today lunch is spaghetti and meatball.
"Is everyone at school talking about me?" I said, looking at the lunch room.
"Yeah. But you not gonna like what I have to say."
"What's that?"
"There seems to be quite a few rumors swirling around about you." she said, giving me a sad smile.
"Like what?" I'm sitting at the edge of my seat eager to know what they all saying about me.
"Well... do you wan the good, the, or the ugly?"
"Tell me... the ugly."
"Word on the street is, you got lice. Super-lice."
"Seriously. You got to be kidding, like ew." I made a disgusted face. Like seriously that's what they saying, I thought it be something and not this.
"Some people are already making bets on whether or not you wearing a wig now."
"Unbelievable." I shake my head. "I wish I could... go back to being invisible. Everything was so much easier when the only people who notice me at school were the teachers, you and Kendra, before everything got out of control and into a big mess."
"Easier isn't always better."
Across the cafeteria room I catch Shae's eyes. And she look shocked like the rest of students here to see me back to school. But she only looked at me a split second before looking away from me.
"Well, on the plus side, it looks like my very presence shocked Shae into silence for a few moments."
"I'm sure she was banking on you missing too mush work to make another run at valedictorian." Mack lip twitch up a little into a smile.
"I don't give up that easily." I smile a little. "Especially when it's something really important to me."

After school went to the mall for a few hours just walking around to past before doing homework when we get back to Mack's house Yeah, I know we should of done that before going out but we just wanted a break after a long day at school, especial when everyone is whispering about me and started spreading rumors that isn't true. But beside that I had a good day at school, as long as Mack is by my side.
Right, now we're back at her house doing school work. Her parent are making dinner, the twin are playing their gameboy in the living and her grandparent are in their living room downstairs watching a movie.
"Your dad reached out to me today. He knows you're staying here and wanted to hear how you were doing." Mack said, out of the blue. When I looked her to her, she have a little sad look in her eye, but her expression is blank.
"What did you tell him?" I asked, a little curious.
"That you're safe. But... he really misses you, Estelle. I think you should call him."
"But... what do I even say?" because I really don't know what to say to break the ice between us. And I'm surprised he checking up on me by asking Mack and Skye to see how I'm doing, and I know shouldn't be, but I am.
"Start with 'hello'. and see where it take you from there."
I picked up my phone sitting next to me with sigh. Biting my lip, I scroll through my contacts to 'Dad'. I was about to hit the call button when I hear a knock on the door and Mack mom pop her head in the room looking at us.
"Estelle, there someone here for you." her mom said.
"Okay," I said getting up from the bed and making my way to the door. Mack is right behind me, curious to see who it is.
When I got to the door which is still open, I see Tristan standing on the other side of the door.
"Tristan, what are you doing here?" I asked, surprised to seeing him here. I thought it would be Tyler or Mateo standing here, wanting to talk.
"It's bad, Estelle. Real bad."
"Who is he?" I hear Mack asking me.
"He's one of Tyler's crew." I said ti her. I sneak a peak behind him to see if anyone else is with him. But it just him. "It just you?"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you. The crew, all of them, they're... I found out what Mateo's plan was. What the package was. They're about to do something really bad. They're gonna cross a line... one there's no coming back from. We can't let them go through with it."
"You want to go up against Mateo? Against Saul and the whole crew? That's what you're saying? What about your brother?"
"Kaden is with me but he's at the garage. They don't know I'm here talking to you." I nod. "But yeah. And we can't do it without your help. We have to stop the crew before it's too late." and for a second I thought I might of have feeling for Mateo after telling me the truth and saying all those thing to me when he dropped me off here yesterday. What an idiot I am.
"What you going to do, Estelle?" Mack asked. Honesty, I really don't know what to do. Do I go with Tristan and help him and his brother to stop something that could ruin their lives even more. Or do I just stay out of it and let them do it own their, since it's theirs problem, to began with, well Saul who put them in this mess by dragging everyone with him.
I turn to my best friend that I know would do anything for me, and be by my side what ever decision I ever make, no matter if it's bad or good. But what I'm going to ask is going to be a lot to ask her to do and I'll respect her choice if she in or not.
"I know, I;m asking a lot here. But-"
"Can I cover for you?" she finish the sentence for me. "Estelle. You know I would do anything for you. No matter what it is, I'll be there for you."
"So you will, then?"
"Of course, I will. I just tell mom something that won't worried her to much and probably won't be back late. But I'll check up on you. Or you call if need anything else."
I nod. "Thank you. Your the best." I give her a hug before walking away with Tristan to his car, that is parked behind mine.

Minutes after Tristan picked me up from Mack's, I'm in the front seat of his bronco looking out the window as he's playing music in the background. We're heading towards downtown of Chicago. So, that must be where we're going then.
The drive from here to downtown is about twenty minutes drive or more depend on traffic.
As we're getting closer to where we're going, I'm started to get more worried to what's going to happened, whatever is going on. My legs started to shake and I'm fidgeting with my fingers together and focus on something beside the danger what may be ahead.
"Come on, come on!" I hear Tristan murmurs to himself trying to look pass the car in front of us to pass him, if the coast is clear on the other side of the road. Then he taps on his GPS that is display on the dashboard.
"What are you doing?" I asked, looking over to him.
"I'm trying to triangulate the crew's position with their cell signal... but none of them have their phones on. Even my idiot brother."
You don't even know where they're meeting the Night Skull?" I said, shocked by that.
"I know they're heading downtown, but they still keeping some of us in the dark." he shrugged his shoulder. "But I did bugged boss man office.
"You, did the right thing. Even though your going to be in a lot of trouble for that. You're part of the crew. Anything they do can blow back on you. It's not fair for them to keep you out."
"Exactly!"
"Well, what did you find out that's such an emergency? What was Mateo's plan? What was in the package?"
"The answer isn't 'what'... it's 'who'." I look away from him and out the windshield. It feel like my throat's closing up when i try to swallow.
"The package... was a person?"
Yeah. That day at the stadium... we kidnapped somebody. That's what was in the big trunk." Tristan give me sad glance.
I can't believe this. I help them kidnapped someone, I can't kidnapped a living, breathing, human. If they founded out I was in all this, I'm in so much trouble. My life will be ruin than it already have been by getting involved in the first, well tricked into being one of them and helping them with their job.
"Ohmygod... I'm gonna kill Mateo, for this." I try taking a deep breath, but the anger grew a little more inside of me. "That asshole! How dare he involve us in something like that without telling us?" My blood is boiled from the anger. Is that why they didn't want to tell us what the job really about and only leading on with the basic to know without giving us the whole details.
"I think he knew we'd react like this if we found out. That's why he only told couple people the truth. Nyla, Jack... the ones who wouldn't bat an eye at this." Tristan said with a blank expression.
"Well, who was it? Who did we kidnap?"
"I only know what I recorded on the bug. I overheard a call Saul had with the Night Skull. It sounded like it was someone the Night Skull was after. Someone who was talking to the F.B.I."
"Oh god..."
"Yeah. And not just any informant either. It's a member of the Night Skull."
"One of their own was ratting on them?"
"If they hand over the informant, the Night Skull will kill him. There's no washing that blood off our hands."
"I think, I'm gonna puke." i taking slow breath to not prevent from it.
"Please don't. I just got Sherrie cleaned the other day."
"What?"
"That's my car's name. You know what? I'll roll down the window just in case" and he did rolled the window down. As the cool breeze comes in, it's helps a little. Calming my nerves down. "I mean, forget the morality of it! If the feds find out what happened to their witness, they're gonna come down hard. The C.P.D., some task force, even the Night Skull... All of that's a walk in the park compared to the F.B.I. making us their problem. All of us are on the hook for this, Estelle. This is why I tracked you down. We have to stop the crew."
"But how?" because I have no clues what to do for them to listen, once their mind is made up.
"Tyler will help us. He blew a gasket when he learned what Mateo had done. That fight, the morning after the rave? When you left the crew? That's when he found out."
"You think we can just change their minds?"
"I still believe that this isn't who we are. It's not too late to go back. Saul, Mateo... they're just cornered and desperate they won't listen to me... but maybe you can convince them. Mateo... he cares about you. But non of this matters if we can't locate them." staring at Tristan's dashboard computer, thinking of something that could help find them in time before it's too late.
"The crew always turns off their phones on a job, right?" I said, and hoping I'm right the next thing that came out of mouth, that one person will be with them but don't know their processor when it comes to this kind of this. "What about Jack's? he's new. And dumb."
"You're right! He is dumb!" Tristan taps into the console... and a blip appears on a map. "Got him! We're getting close." and soon we're speeding up a little over the limit, but this seems more important than some speeding ticket, when it come to stopping two idiots who's about to make things worse than they can ever image and ruins other people lives for this kind of stunt they are pulling.
Tristan screeches to a stop in an expensive shopping distract.
"The blip says they're right around here." he said, looking around the street.
I get out of the car and followed Tristan on foot as he tracks the geolocator from his phone.
"From what I heard on Saul's phone call, they're going to make exchange at a gambling parlor the Night Skull controls. And it should be right... here!" Tristan sprints through the door. I followed right behind into... an extravagant store.
"Uh... Tristan? This doesn't look like a casino." I said, looking around the store that have elegant clothes and expensive jewelries.
"This doesn't make any sense! Look, Jack"s signal is right here!" he said, looking at his phone to make sure where at the right place.
"What if, it's hidden? The Night Skull likes to coerce other criminals, right? They go after people who can't turn to the police for help. So what if this an illegal gambling den?"
"You might be onto something. The legal cardrooms in Chicago only allow a handful of games. And there, you're betting against other players, never the houses. The Night Skull would go bigger."
"Wait, look! Over there!1" i hear pitched laughter from the far end of the store, near the dressing rooms.
A curtain parts and three expensively dressed young women walk out. And behind them, I can barley make out the doors of...
"An elevator?" Tristan said, looking at it.
"That's gotta be the way to the parlor."
"Alright. Let's go>" he said, with a game face.
I start toward the dressing rooms, but realize Tristan isn't following me. I turn around to see him with a puzzled look, studying his phone.
"Uh oh. That's not good."
"What is it?"
"the intruder alarm back at the garage. Something tripped it."
"I thought you said you were the only one left behind!" beside Gizmo, I doubt he can set the alarm off on his own.
"That's just it. I was, beside Gizmo, who can't set it off, since he in the apartment. I've gotta get back there, Estelle. It's all ridding on you now."
"Tristan, please be careful. Don't get yourself hurt. We're gonna need you to make it out of this."
Tristan put a hand on my shoulder. "Right back at ya." with that, Tristan scurries out into the street, leaving me here to stop all this that Mateo and his dad is up too.
I sneak closer toward the dressing room, ducking behind a rack as another group of well-dressed visitors slip through the curtain to the unmarked elevator.
Great, there's no floor signal. I can't tell what level they're gong to, I thing to myself. Frustrated, I have to think how to get to this parlor? And need to think quick before time is running out.
I looking around the place, I notice the shimmering dress on display beside me. And that gives me an ides on how to get there.
If I looked the part, I could slip in as part of a group, I smiled to myself as the plan going into place. Walking over to a champagne short elegant dress that goes to my knee and thin strap. Taking it off the rack, I hurried to a changing room and changed into the dress. Looking at myself in the mirror with the dress on, I look great as I can be. And hoped that this worked.
Walking out the dressing room, I already spot a pair of jovial guests entering the store and heading this way.
"Are you feeling lucky tonight darling?' A woman said, wearing tight black dress, that goes up to her thigh and wearing little too much makeup, if you ask me.
"Only every time I'm around you babe." the guy said, putting his arm around her waist. He's wearing a tux and an expensive watch around his wrist.
Slipping out of my hiding spot as they pass, joining them in the elevator. But, they notice me, right away.
"Evening." the guy said.
"Don't you look marvelous? What will you be playing tonight?" the woman asked with a polite smile.
"Me? My game is...baccarat." I said, that came into mind.
"I adore baccarat! Do you prefer the punto banco or chemin de fer variant?"
"Well, neither. I play a little-know version called ou se trouvent les toilettes."
"That sounds fantastic. I must give it a try." thank god for 11th grade French class, or I wouldn't know what to say to make her believe me in the first place.
I watched the woman goes to the buttons to press first and tenth floors at the same time. Must be some kind of code to get to the parlor. And the elevator begins to descend underground.
Thinking over the number in my head to remember, but then it click. One and ten! An ace and a ten are 21 in blackjack.
We finally made to the floor and the elevator door open. The two couple walk out first but they gave me a smile and farewell. Taking a deep breath, I walked out of the elevator and started walking down the hall to a set of double door.
Pushing the double door open and find myself on a decadent, gold-trimmed gambling floor.
Whoa. This place is swanky, if I say so myself as I look every inch of this place.
The staff and other guests either nod appreciatively at my dress, or pay no attention at me at all. So, it's looks like I'm doing so far so good to blending in.
I linger by a central table hoping for a good spot to scout the crew.
"Can I help you, miss? You look a little young for this place." one of the staff said, looking at me.
I froze for a second, trying to think of something without getting caught. "Don't you look a little young?" I said, right back at him. I draw myself up as tall as you can and look down my nose at the man. "Have you looked in the mirror? You look a little young. Do I need to have a little talk with your manger about embarrassing customers?" pulling an act that he unsatisfied a customer bout their looks.
"That's not necessary. My apologies, miss!" he said, shocked by this. After that he leaves me alone as I scan the gambling floor. And soon I spotted Nyla, in a stunning short red lace dress.
Not wanting her to see me, I turn away, staying put in my spot, hoping she doesn't recognize me from behind. Waited for a second before taking a risk to peek over my shoulder and see that Rylee and Jack have joined her. And they're talking. I'm too far away to hear them, so I need to get closer without them notices me. But, how?
But then Nyla signal the other to follow. The tree of them pass by an intimidating bouncer into a roped-off room.
Now, I need to find a way to get back there. I sigh.
Not wasting a second I started following them, but find myself face-to-face with... Tyler.
"Estelle?" he says in surprised to see me here.
"Tyler!" I said surprised, too find him already. Thought it be hard to find him, but guess not.
He looks around the anxiously, grab my hand, and pulls me into a private lounge. Once we're alone, Tyler wheels on me.
"What the hell are you doing here?' he said angry. I mean I would too, but when someone comes to get you to help stop whatever going on that is extremely dangerous then they can handle. Then I'm going to help them stop this, before it ruins them even more than it can.
"I'm here because, I was worried about you?" I said, which is partly true, even if I'm still mad at him for tricking me to be one of them. But it wouldn't stop me from what I was going to do next.
I throw my arms around Tyler's neck, holding him close. After a moment, his arms wrap around my waist. I missed this so much, being in his arms, feeling safe.
"Estelle... it's dangerous for you to be here." he said, in a low voice.
"I know. I know everything."
"How?"
"Tristan told me the 'package; was really a Night Skull traitor. I know Mateo's planning to hand him over in exchange for our freedom. But it's not too late to stop this. Come on..." I pull on Tyler's arm, but he doesn't budge. Not even a little. "Whats wrong?"
"I can't let you blow this, Estelle."
"What? You almost killed Mateo when you found out! I thought you were against this whole plan!"
"He came around to my way of seeing things." wait, that didn't came from Tyler lips. Turning around I see Mateo walking into the lounge, he folds his arms across his chest. "Estelle. Glade you could join for the fireworks." looking at him, I have an urge to slap him across the face. Just think that we're once friends, but after this I don't even know if we're ever going to be friends again. Unless he don't go through with this plan of his.
"This stop here."
"Oh, okay. Why didn't you just say so?" he say sarcastically with a grin on his face. That I so badly wanted to knock off his face.
"I'm serious, Mateo. This scheme of your is over." I said angry for a second before taking a deep breath to calm myself a little. "I know you want your dad's approval more than anything, but you can't do this, Mateo."
Mateo looks right past me, over my shoulder. His face is expressionless.
"This isn't about my dad anymore, Estelle. It's bigger than that. And it's too late. The gears are already turning." I turn to Tyler, stunned.
"You're really down with this? Handing a federal informant over to his old crew? The F.B.I. will come after all of us for taking their witness" Mateo just starts laughing. I give him a glare.
"What could possibly be funny about this?"
"The feds won't do a thing, because he's not their witness."
"What?"
"It's a lie, Estelle. We staged it all." Tyler finally spoke after Mateo walk into this room. So everything they said is a lie. And I got nothing to worried about, I could of being doing something with Mack's family instead being here to stop this plan that's wasn't true. "The member we kidnapped isn't a rat. We just made the Night Skull think he is."
"Mateo, this was your plan?"
"My plan? Estelle, this was your plan. It's you who come up with it remember?" Mateo said with that grin again. "They have everything they want, but 'we just have to make them think they don't.' make them believe it could all be taken away. There's only one thing they're afraid of losing... freedom. No different from us. it's the one thing the entire Night Skull will step out of the shadows to protect."
In my head, everything clicks into place.
"The man in the Badgers hat. It's him, isn't it?" I asked, looking between them to confirm it.
"We just had to get him alone." Mateo start telling what happen before the mission at the stadium. Between him, his dad and the person. He say that the rest Night Skull wouldn't know where he was. Then Saul gave give a ticket to the game as a gift to the him and the guy call it a bribe, wanted to know what he's up to before accepting it. Saul told him that it's an advocate, from him and the crew and don't want to be a lapdog. But want to be partners.
"We knew he'd keep it quiet from the rest of his gang." Mateo said, continuing talking. "Better yet, we know exactly where to find him. We grabbed him in the bathroom and knocked him out. And you did the rest."
"If the Night Skull realizes we're lying, they'll kill us without a second thought. That's why we can't back down now." Tyler said.
"I don't understand something. How'd you make it seem like he betrayed them?"
"First, we let them sweat for a couple days, wondering where he was."
"Then I hid his phone in the federal building. If they tired to track him, they;d think he was with the feds. Saul told them we sprang him from a safehouse."
"And you didn't trust me with any of this." I said, angrily.
"I didn't think you had the stomach. And I was right." Mateo say, flatly. "I knew Tyler wouldn't either. My dad said he got weak ever since you showed up." Tyler grimaces and looks away.
"Only Nyla had the guts. Eventually had to trust Rylee too." said Mateo.
"Look, Estelle, this guy we grabbed? He's a real piece of trash. He's killed people." said Tyler.
"And now you're killing him." I said, getting upset by all this.
"What the Night Skull does with him is their business." Mateo says, narrowing his eyes at me.
"You know what they'll do to him. This isn't you. This isn't the crew I know. This isn't the Mateo I know."
"Then you don't know us at all. Our life? What we've been through?" he says, mad for a second before is mood shift to a little of sadden or disappointment. "At the end of this, your dad will take you back. He'll welcome you home. You'll go off to college and forget all this ever happened. You're a tourist."
"That's what you think of me?"
Mateo bites his lips simmering. "They'll be here soon. We'll finally meet the Night Skull face to face. And we'll be free of all this for good." he says,a blank expression on him.
"It won't work, Mateo! No matter what you offer them, they won't let you go!" I raised my voice a little try to get through to him and getting mad that he won't listen. About this could backfire and they should walk away from all this and try another plan that have nothing to do with this. "You're selling your soul for nothing!"
"Selling? I'm not selling anything, Estelle. Freedom can't be brought. It can only be taken." Mateo walk to the door.
"Mateo, please. You're going too far with this. You're not a bad person." I'm begging to him to just listen once more and giving him a chance to change his mind to not go along with it.
He hesitates at the threshold for more than few second and for a second I thought I got through to him. I was wrong.
"You don't get to choose where the line is drawn." he looks over his shoulder to Tyler. "Get rid of her, will you?"
As Mateo leave the lounge room, Tyler approaches me, his face is pained likes he doesn't want to do this but don't have no other choice but to obey.
"Come on. You need to get out of here before you get hurt."
"By who? You?" Tyler steps back and shakes his head.
"How can you say that to me? You know I could never-"
"I don't know, Tyler. Apparently I have no idea what you're capable of." getting mad again. "Don't you get it. They're going to kill you! They're going sniff out Mateo's lie."
"The plan will work." he said. Trying so hard to believe this could actually work, but it won't. I have feeling everything to backfire once they see something that doesn't seem right. And it's going to be there's fault for not listening to me when I'm right about this whole thing.
"And what if it doesn't? are you really willing to take that risk?"
"You want us... just you and me... to go against not one but two crews?" he said shocked, but then calm down. "You're even crazier than Mateo, you know that?"
"Why are you even here, Tyler? I thought you cut and run at the first sign of a bad situation. You don't stick around."
"I'm asking myself that same question."
"It;s me, isn't it? I'm the reason you haven't left." I said, feeling guilty. If I wasn't part of any of this, he probably already left town right about now.
Tyler hesitates. I walk up close to him. Only leaving about few inches between us.
"You can still stop this, Tyler. We can stop this, together. Tyler? I need you." I put my hand on his cheek, making him meet my eyes. "If you ever actually cared about me..." Tyler puts his hand over mine.
"Of course I do." he said, looking into my eyes.
"Then do this one thing for me. Please. I can;t do it without you."
Tyler looks deep into my eyes. I've barley able to meet the intensity of his gaze, but I refuse to back down. I'm not gonna give up , like everyone else did, I'm gonna stand down until they give in.
"Okay." he finally say, after a few seconds.
"Okay?"
"Yeah. To hell with it. Had a feeling my time running with Chicago Shadow was coming to an end anyway. The exchange is going down somewhere in the VIP area. This way."
Tyler grab my hand once again, pulling me behind him. But in a gentle way. We make it across the floor, keeping an eye out for others members of the crew. But we don't see any of them.
"Looks like they're in position for the exchange. Saul wanted me posted out here. We'd better hurry."
I reach the roped-off section, but the bouncer puts up a hand. Great. How I'm gonna get past him?
"It's ten to get in." the bouncer said, holding a hand out. Well that was easy, at least I don't have to ID or anything else to get back there.
"What? Like ten dollar?" I asked to be sure. But I was so wrong about the amount of dollar.
"What? No. Ten thousand. That's the minimum. This is the high roller section." the guy said, with an angry look on his face.
I strep back from the cordon. Now, what I'm going to do, since I don't have that kind of money.
"I don't suppose you have that kinda cash on you." I asked Tyler, when I walked back to him and told what the bouncer said.
"Let's see. I've got $500." he said, pulling out few dollars bills from his pocket.
"I've only got, ten."
"​$510's a good start." he smile, a little, like that's a good thing. But not when on a schedule to stop this whole scheme.
"Tyler, be serious! There's no way we can come up with that kind of money, that quick."
"Sure we can. We just have to win it."
"You want to gamble our way to $10k?"
"No. I want to cheat." he say, sarcastically. "You're a math whiz, Estelle. I wager you'd be great at counting cards. And me? I've got some tricks up my sleeve. There is another way, but it's riskier."
"There's something riskier than what you just said?"
"If I cause a big enough distraction, you can probably sneak back there without the bouncer noticing. But then you'd be on your own, up against both crews, i wouldn't be able to help you anymore. It's your call, Estelle."
I took a moment to think about this. We either gamble to get the money? Or I go in alone and try to stop both crews on my own, which it won't be doing it by myself without any help. So I'm going to go with the gamble and hoped that we win the extra 9490 to make 10k.
"Okay. Let's make some money, then."
We both exchange the $510 for chips and approach a crowded blackjack table. The dealer deftly distributes pairs of cards to each player. And the dealer started calling out the number until he say twelve, fifteen and twenty. Some of the people groan, while one person cheer when he won.
"So how do we do this?" I asked Tyler. Since I don't know anything about this blackjack.
"I only know a little about counting cards, but this is how you'd do a simple H-Lo count. Every card that gets dealt changes the probability of the cards left in the shoe." he said. And I thought he would known what to because I thought he might of played this before, but I guess I was wrong.
"Right, If I get dealt a king, that's fewer left in the deck."
"So you want to keep track if there are more low cards or high cards left. So keep a 'running count'. every card dealt from 2 to 6 adds one. Ten and higher subtracts one the rest do nothing."
"I get it. So you can track the likelihood of what's gonna be next."
"The main thing is, if there have been a lot of high cards dealt, next one is likely to be low.."
"And vice versa."
"Exactly. You've got it. You just gotta make sure to play fast and decisive, so nobody realizes you're counting." I take the last seat on the left at the table.
The dealer welcome me and the it's a fifty-dollar minimum.
I slide forward a couple of chips. Tyler stands behind me, watching anxiously. Which is kind of making me a little nervous about this whole thing. Just hope I don't mess.
The dealer slides cards to each player. I watch each card closely. And started counting them in my head. Four...Eight...Six...Two...Two.
I look down at my hand. I have 16, and anything over 21 loses.
"Hit me!" one of the gambler said. "Yes, just the card I needed!"
"Miss, it's your turn." the dealer said, waiting for me to answer.
"​Hit!" I said, tap the table. The dealer flips out another card for me. Holding a breath hoping I didn't make a mistake for making that move.
"A Queen. You have 26." I nodded.
The dealer scoops up my lost bet. And then I feel Tyler lean in. "It's okay, stay cool. Remember, the more of one type to be dealt, chance go up that the next card will be the other."
"Right. I've got this."
A few hands later, I again counting the cards as they're dealt. I have a king, jack, ten, king, ten and that's make it 15. the dealer's face up card is a queen. He probably has a good hand.
"Miss? The dealer calls out to me.
"Hit." I said, hoping to get this one right. Tapping on the table and get my next card. It's a six, which is a low number and I got it.
"That's 21." the card dealer said.
"Good call there. Just gotta hope the dealer didn't tie you." Tyler said.
The card dealer flip over his hole card... which are two pairs of kings.
"Twenty." he said. I win.
I scoop up my winnings into my pile.
"Come on, lets move to another table before the dealer gets suspicious." Tyler whisper to me, so I can only hear him. I nodded.
Soon, Tyler seated at a poker table while I watch from a distance, trying to see the other players' cards.
It's down to just Tyler and one other player for a large pot in the final round of betting. The woman pushes forward even more chips. But might I says that Tyler is good with a poker face, not showing any sign what's he up to or his next move is.
"You really want to go toe-to-toe with me?" the woman said, with a smile on her lips.
"I dunno. Do I?" Tyler said, playing it cool. His eyes flick to me, looking for a clue.
Okay, the table has a lot of clubs and diamonds, but the woman has nothing but two heart cards. She can't make a flush. She's bluffing. Now, I need to give Tyler a signal to him. So, I blow him a kiss.
Tyler can't help but smile for the gesture that I made to him and I kind of felt little embarrassed for dong that when their a lot people around but not paying much attention to us.
"Alright. I guess we're doing this." he said, putting a poker face on.
Tyler matches the woman's bet, and they flip their cards.
"King-high straight." he said, with a grin.
"Ugh! I've got nothing!" the woman said, mad that she lost the bet.
Tyler pulls the big pot toward him.
I move from table to table, Tyler spills a drink all over a dealer, who doesn't notice I switching cards. At another table, Tyler hides cards up his sleeves, flicking them out in split-second dexterity. Finally, I count the winnings.
"Okay, looks like we've turned our 510 into... 7k." I said, a little flatly and disappointment.
"That's pretty good work, but not enough." he sigh. Tyler glances at his watch. And getting angry. "And we're outta time. The exchange is going to happen any minute. And unless we double our money in the next sixty seconds, we're outta luck."
"Then let's double it."
I take all the chips I've built up and walk over to a rowdy crowd congregation around.
"The craps table?" Tyler said, with amuse in his voice.
"Come on, little lady! We were just about to have a come out roll." a man said, to me.
I drop the stack of 7k on the pass line.
"Oh. Now it's getting exciting." A woman said, smiling.
The man hands me a pair of dice to throw. Gotta blow on them for good luck, that's what people. I was them do in movies. But I think I'll have Tyler do this and see if it works.
I turn to Tyler, holding up the dice.
"Well?" I said, nodding toward the dice in my hands.
"You want me to do it? I've had pretty much awful luck my whole life." he said.
"Yeah, so... I figure you're due."
Tyler laughs, take the my hand in his, and blows gently on the dice.
"I hope you're right." with the crowd cheering me on, I throw the dice on the table. And they start to bonce across the table and rebound off the far wall. Everyone cranes their necks to see what number they landed on.
"Seven! She got a seven." said the gambler man.
The group at the craps table explodes in celebration, high-fiving me. Together, Tyler and I pick up the winnings and head back toward the VIP section.
When we got to the rope-off the bouncer got angry again, said. "I said it's ten grand to-" he stop for second the second we show him the amount that we won. "Uh?"
He steps aside letting pass him, but I'll be lying if I say I didn't just give him a birdie. When I walk pass him, he should assume that we be back without the right amount of money or chips to get back in the VIP section. He deserved it, if I say so myself.
"Keep the change." I said, as Tyler give him the whole box filled with our winning money to the bouncer.
The high-roller area is dimmer and quieter. A string quartet plays softly in the corner of the room.
"I can't believe it. We actually pulled it off." I said, looking at the room.
"You pulled this off, Estelle." Tyler said, smiling at me.
Still giddy from the high of my feat, Tyler and I hug tightly. Then awkwardly pull apart as the memories of his betrayal flood back to me.
"Listen... I..."
"You don't have to do this now." I told him, giving him a sad smile.
"Yes, I do. I know I've lie to you. I know I hurt you. But I'm gonna make it up to you... even if it take the rest of my life from now on, no more games, no more lies. Just the real me. I swear it." I walk up close to Tyler, leaving a few inch apart from us. "I just want you to know-"
"Shut up, Tyler." I grab the lapels of his suit and pull him close. My feet arch up on my tiptoe and I kiss him hard, cutting him off. He wraps his arms around me, cradling me against his form. And it felt like I fit in his arm, just perfectly.
I can't help but feel like this kiss is a promise. No matter what's waiting for me, I'll face it together with him.
At last, my lips apart, and I float back down to earth. I look up at his smile filling my vision.
"Okay. I'll shut up." he said, smiling.
"Good. Because we've got a life to save." I said, smiling up to him.
The two of us start moving through the high-roller area. But don't have any luck to know where they be or the hostage.
"So do you have any idea where they're keeping the hostage?" I asked, Tyler looking around the room.
"No, but he's gotta be around here somewhere..." I grab Tyler's hand and pull him back sharply.
"Don't move. Over there." I pointed across the room. A man has his back to us, arms folded, gazing up a large painting mounted on the wall.
I squinted my eyes a little, to get a better look of the person and it's turn out to be Saul.
"We can't let Saul see us. Come on." Tyler grab my hand, leading us behind a pillar, hiding. Just in time, because Mateo walked up to his dad.
"It's all ready." Mateo said, keeping a straight face. But Saul didn't say anything, "Dad. I said it's all-"
"I'd always heard rumors about this." Saul said, ignoring what Mateo said and just keep on looking at the painting.
Mateo glances at the painting.
"'Landscape with the Fall of lcarus'. this reproduction is excellent." Saul steps closer to the painting, studying the tiny, distant form of the man plunging into the sea.
"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts." Mateo say, getting upset, because he a lot of hard work into his plan and he's not going to have it back out. Since he's think they're close to walking into their freedom after all this is over.
"And third... and fourth..." Saul say, sounding like he going to regret this and id doubting it already.
"Don't. it's too late. When it's over, the crew will understand why we did it."
"Too late indeed." he turns to Mateo and awkwardly puts a hand on his shoulder. "You're grown up so much, my son."
Mateo must of felt uncomfortable, the way his posture change, with his dad's stare and looks away.
"Yeah. Guess I have."
Saul opens his mouth, struggles to form words, and instead just claps his son on the shoulder a couple times and releases him.
"I will get in position and direct the Night Skull to the vault when they arrive."
"Alright. It's almost over, dad."
"Yes. It is."
"The vault! That's where the hostage must be." I said, turning to Tyler and keeping my voice low for they can't hear.
"Now we just have to find it." he said, thinking where the vault could possible be.
I watch Mateo and Saul part ways, Mateo vanishing down a hallway.
"Let's see where he goes." I says, walking out from our hiding place.
Tyler and I follow Mateo at a safe distance. But soon we see a fork in the path up ahead, but then we lost him.
"Which way did he go?" Tyler says, hurried down the hallway to see which way he went. But then only find a gun in his face.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jack said, looking sternly at Tyler. He doesn't see me yet. Tyler flashes a look toward me, his eyes urging me to hide.
I quickly, ducking into a side room. Closing the door quietly as I can without getting caught.
"You're supposed to be watching the front. What the hell are you doing back here?" he asked. I can still hear them.
"I was just looking for Mateo. He asked me to get rid of Estelle, and it's done." Tyler said, getting angry for questioning him.
"Congrats on doing your job. Now let's go. I'm taking you back to your post." I hear Jack moving. I glance knowingly through the narrow gap in the door. And soon, their footsteps recede.
Tyler got me this far, but now I'm on my own to finding the vault, I thought to myself.
Venturing deeper into the corridors beneath Ardizzone, walking around a corner and see...
"Skye?" I said, in surprised to seeing her here. How does she know about this place. Does she have lead on what's going to happened soon.
Skye turn around, startled, her gun down. She exhales in relief when she see me.
"Jesus, Estelle, you just about gave me a heart attack." she said, looking at me and taking another deep breath.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, curiously, to know what she up to,
"I should be asking you that. Don't you know this place is under Night Skull control?" she took a second before changing her mood from concern mix with surprised to a disappointment like a someone kept something from her or doesn't trust her. "You do... don't you? That's why you're here."
"Skye, seriously, why are you here?" I asked, again hoping she'll tell me the second time I asked. And giving her a sad look.
"I got a tip that the Night Skull was about to do a big deal here. It's with Chicago Shadow, isn't it?" she getting a little excited about putting this all together, soon she'll be the hero for catching the two most criminal crews of this town that been going on for a while.
"Yeah." I don't know why I said that, maybe I hoping she can help stop all this before thing goes wrong and everyone get hurt if they know this plan is trap for Night Skull.
"Do you know where the exchange is supposed to go down?"
"I overheard them talking about the vault."
"Come on, we've gotta hurry."
I follow Skye through the halls until I find a massive, steel door in the wall.
"This must be it>" Skye says, smiling. But for a second I though I have a weird feeling about this but then thought it could be nerves from all this. I ignore it and taking a breath.
Together, we push the heavy door open. The vault is small, and I thought it would be big for someone running an underground casino, but guess not. The vault is heavy-duty. Poker chips, bands of bills and money counters line the walls. And sitting in a chair in the middle of the room is, the hostage, for a second I didn't recognized him, but then I did. He from the alley of that one night when I heard him and Saul talking about something months ago.
"A hostage? What the hell were they planning?" Skye asked, confused as to what they're planning. Disappointed, she pacing the floor trying to think what they possible want with this person.
She stop and look at the person, before talking, "Alright, I can get him out of here."
"Alone?" I says, surprised by this. How she going to that without getting caught by someone, if they see them or notice that the hostage is gone before the exchange.
"I need you to get back to street level and call your dad. He'll want to hear what this guy has to say."
"Okay. I'll call him." doing as I said, I dart back into the hall and start running back to the main level.
But then I stop when I hear voices from the vault.
"Thank god you're here!" a voice said, sounding like from the hostage.
I turn around, creeping back toward the vault and peering in.
Skye's take off the man's hood and is walking behind him to untying the rope.
"You gotta get me outta here before they come back!" the man said.
"You don't have to worry about them anymore, Hensley." Skye said, from behind him. But then I was wrong again, he wasn't the guy from the alley. He was there at the stadium when we're getting the 'package
. He's one of Skye's task force, I thought to myself as the realized hit me. What does all this mean?
Looking back into the vault and just in time. Because I see Skye draws a knife.
"What are you waiting for? Cut me loose!" The man said, getting a little impatient and scared.
"You talked." Skye says, flatly, with no emotion or anything less with with it.
"What? No, I didn't. I'd never! Not on my life." the man starting to get scare for his life and begging for Skye to believe him.
"Gotta agree with you there." she put on a fake sadden, or I at least think is fake who knows. But then she dives the knife deep into Hensley's chest.
Hensley screamed in pain as she deep it a little more. I can't believe I'm seeing this. And I feel like getting sick from it and screaming for help. But no words came out and I'm glad because I don't want Skye to know I'm here. If she does, who knows what she'll do to me.
"Why's you make me do this? You really thought we wouldn't find out?" she said sounding sad or disappointed by this.
When I can't take this anymore, as I watched life leaves Hensley eyes. I turn to run, but two pairs of hands grab me.
"Don't you know it's rude to spy on people?" a woman said.
They shove me back into the vault, where Skye is wiping her fingerprint off the knife.
"This one was outside listening to the whole thing." a man said, to Skye. He shove me forward so Skye can see me clearly.
"Oh... oh, Estelle... Man, I told you to leave."
"They... they were all at the parking garage... They're your task force." I say, before the shock came over to me. "You... you're the Night Skull!"
Skye have a kind look on her face.
"Estelle... Estelle, just breathe. I need you to calm down. This can be fixed. I promise." she say, trying to mask a sad look on her.
I try to pull away, but the other two detectives hold onto me with a firm grip.
"Don't struggle, Estelle. Let's just keep this simple. This doesn't have to get any worse. I kept your secret, didn't I? now you can keep mine." she smiled which felt weird and not in a good way.
The world spins. I can't even form words. Beside the thoughts in my head likes; does Lexi knows about this? Is she in on this? Or is she under the dark? How would she feel, if she know? Hurt? Confused? I would feel sorry if she didn't. Because then everything will be crashing down around her and people going tear her part with all this. If they knew what her mom is doing. For the sake of Lexi, I'll keep my mouth shut until I figure another way around this problem.
Skye stands up. "Do you know where Saul is? He wanted us all here for this. I'm guessing he wants to thank you for nabbing our rat."
"I..." Just then I hear a shriek of metal as the vault door swings closed.
I see just silver of Jack's face as he throws something inside, just before it shuts, completely, leaving me inside.
"What the-" one of the detectives says, confused to what is going on.
Then the woman pull on the vault door's handle, likes she can open it and think it just shut on it's own.
"It won't budge." she said, as she keeps trying.
I look down at to see what Jack threw... a steel conister that starts spewing a dork, noious cloud.
"Those bastards! It was a setup!" Skye said, getting angry.
The gas fills the room quickly, burning into our lungs. I cough and gag as the it consumed in my air way.
"I... I can't breathe." I said, coughing a little more as I try to catch my breath for fresh air but can't with all this gas.
The members of the Night Skull start choking too. I drop to my knees, coughing more and holding my hand to my throat. As I start to lose consciousness, Mateo's words echo in my head.
"Selling? I'm not selling anything, Estelle. Freedom can't be bought. It can only be taken." he said, as I remember earlier before laying down on the ground.