Switchblade

Chapter 40: Everyone's Curious

Killian walked into the warehouse with a cigarette between his lips and a bag that held a burger, fries, and bottle of water from a drive thru.

"Where are they?" he asked.
"In there, sir." Morgan answered and pointed to the office door.

Killian headed in that direction and opened the door.
Inside he saw two men tied tightly against their metal chairs. Their heads hung limply as if they were sleeping.

Killian removed his cigarette from his lips and whistled.

Both men raised their heads energy-less.

He tossed the bag of burger and fries onto the floor.
"I'm gonna ask you some questions, whoever's the most helpful gets what's in that bag." he stated.
Both of them let their eyes scan to the bag. They saw it was a drive thru order. They hadn't eaten in days thanks to Killian's orders. They were covered in bruises due to some of the men of the warehouse holding a grudge. And they smelled horrible.

Killian took out his phone and a recording app. He pressed the bright red button as he took a seat.

"Why'd your boss send you over here, hm?" He put his cigarette back between his lips and inhaled.
"We don't know. We just move whenever he tells us to." said Felix.
"Did he do it?" he exhaled.
"Do what?"
"The assassination."
They both stayed quiet.
Killian sighed. "Damn it."

He stood up with a hand in his pocket.

Both men looked at him.

He went to Felix. Killian's hand grabbed tightly onto his hair before he forced his head back. The switchblade was pulled out and opened. Then stabbed into Felix's stomach.
Felix gasped in pain but a scream didn't exit, he was too in shock.
"Did he do it...?" he repeated.
Felix looked at him. Whining through the agony. Killian twisted the blade.
Felix stayed tough.
Killian took out the blade and began slashing. Face, arms, chest, stomach. His victim cried in pain at the deep, fast cuts until Killian did the final one across his throat.
He wiped the blade off on Felix's cheek. Then looked at the one who sat next to him. Brogan.

"You gonna play tough too?" Killian asked.
Brogan shook his head.
"Did he do it?"
Brogan nodded.
"WORDS!" Killian shouted.
"Yes!" Brogan flinched. "He did it."
"Why?"
"The-...The plan was to get Johnson to side with him. But Johnson disagreed. I don't know why but Segal came back pissed and shouting about it one day. So it's why I'm assuming he killed him. But I know he did it. We were all talking about the sniper he hired for it. Some tough guy who's never missed a target. We took bets on whether or not he would succeed and I lost $50 on it."
Killian just stood there listening while he smoked the last of his cigarette.
"Where does he live?"
"Who? Segal? Or the sniper...?"
"Segal, you fucking moron."
"I don't know. None of us but Drake know."
"Drake."
"Segal's second in command. He's a dick. And he was a marine so he can kick everybody's ass."
Killian nodded. "Where's Drake?"
"Right now? Probably at Segal's office. The two are always together until the last second of the day ever since Drake came back from managing a warehouse a few cities over."
"Alright." Killian walked off to grab his phone and stop the recording. He shoved it into his pocket.

"C-Can I eat this?" Brogan asked about the burger.

Killian took his knife and cut the ropes to Brogan's chair.
"Have at it."
Brogan fell to his knees and began to dig through the bag like a starving animal.

Killian walked out of the room.
"Kill him when he walks out of that room." he told Morgan.
Morgan nodded as Killian kept walking.

~•~

Denise heard someone enter the restaurant.

"Sit wherever you'd like! I'll be just a moment!" she said as she finished cleaning a dish in the kitchen.

She saw from her peripheral that someone walked behind the counter. They stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

Denise flinched and dropped the metal bowl into the sink.

"Ms. Waters."
"My goodness, Loren, you scared the hell out of me!" she whined.
"I'm sorry! I just knew you wouldn't be at home so I came here."
"Well, what is it?"
"Tati..."
Denise looked at her daughter's best friend. She scoffed. "Loren, I told you she's visiting her grandmother."
"I know what you said but she hasn't texted me in days. That's weird! We never go more than a few hours without at least sending each other a funny video. I haven't heard from her in days. Are you sure she's okay?"
"Well...my mother has really bad reception, sweetie. She isn't that tech savvy and Tati usually doesn't have time to text especially while taking care of her." She began to rinse the metal bowl off and set it down to dry.
"But she didn't even tell me she was leaving. She never does that. We would've started talking about it at least a week in advance. She didn't even tell my brother that she wouldn't be at work for a while."
Denise sighed. She looked back at Loren. "I don't know what you want to hear, sweetheart. I know it's strange but I'm telling you Tati is fine. When she gets back I'm sure she'll explain it all to you."
"Well have you spoken to Grandma Cora?"
"Yes, Loren. They're both fine. If I hadn't spoken to her then I would tell you I was scared too. Do you really think I'd lie to you?" Denise asked softly.
"No, ma'am, but-..."
The two heard the wind chimes as the door to the restaurant opened.

Denise looked at the new customers.

"No buts." she stated before walking towards the counter. "Hi, here or to go?"
Loren sighed and reluctantly began to leave the restaurant.
Denise watched in shame that she'd lied but what else could she do? She was only $20,000 short. She'd get Tati back soon enough.

~•~

Killian opened the door and saw Tati in the kitchen getting started on dinner.
She turned around and saw him as he took off his shoes and slid on his slippers.
She tried to ignore him and just faced the ingredients again.

Killian looked at her and wondered what she was making. He walked over to see for himself.

Tati noticed a shadow cascaded over her.
She snickered. "You're really good at that."
"Did I scare you again?"
"Not this time. But it still takes getting used to."
"What are you making?"
"Lasagna to get rid of the extra ground beef. I thought about just spaghetti and meatballs but I didn't know what else I would use the ricotta for."
"Mm."
He watched her turn down the heat on the stove after she finished the meat sauce. She subtly slid from in front of him before turning around to go to the refrigerator.
He looked at her.
"Did you want garlic bread? I didn't know whether or not to use this French bread for that or for a sandwich. Also we need to go grocery shopping again since I'll be here longer than just a week and I think this is the last real meal I can make out of what we have left." she said as she searched for the ricotta. "Plus I have almost zero dessert ingredients besides sugar and flour and I made a promise to you. And I honestly could use a cupcake-..."
She found the ricotta and turned around. He was standing directly in front of her again.
She flinched and slapped his shoulder. "Stop doing that! It's creepy!"
He chuckled. "I was just making sure I wasn't losing my touch."
"No, you still have it. Now move so I can cook."
He stepped out of the way and let her walk to where she was going.

He leaned against his kitchen island to stare at her. She began to lay her noodles down.

"Tati..." he called.
She froze. Not because she hated it. But because hearing his deep velvety voice say it this time was different now that she didn't despise him anymore.
"Yes?" she answered and continued her layers.
He smirked. "Nothin'."