The Rot: Book 3

Chapter 18

I looked at the note the Brothers left behind. All it said was that they had to get a move on so they could get back to their families, and they thanked us for our help.

I sighed, "Ah, shit."

"I take it that's not good news?" Rue wondered. "They're just out and about, and they'll be back later?"

I handed her the note, "Nope."

"Well, isn't this a hot plate of steaming piss?"

"Thank you for that image, Rue."

"No problem."

"We really could have used their help, but I get it." There was no point in getting upset. The brothers could have said no if I asked them, anyways.

"So what are we going to do now?" Janice wondered.

"I guess I'll go over there and act like the lost survivor. I can manage," I answered.

"Actually, no, you can't," Ruby said. "They know what you look like, Reid."

"Oh yeah. That's right. Dammit."

"Where'd those brothers go?" A groggy Angela asked when she walked into the lobby.

"They had to get back to their families," Janice responded. "How are you?"

Ang shook her head and sat down.

"You should eat something."

"Not hungry."

"Well, Ang, we might have a plan to get Mick and maybe your sister back," I said.

That Perked Angela right up, "Really? How?"

"Basically, we're going to surrender to those bandits."

"Wait, what?"

"Someone's going to go over there and, well, pretty much knock on the door."

"You cannot be serious."

"Do you have a better idea?" Ruby asked Angela.

Angela glared at Ruby from across the room. "Don't start your shi-"

"Ang, come on," Janice said. "Just hear us out."

"Fine."

"Somebody has to go to their hideout, and try to get inside."

"And then what?"

"Find your sister and buddy. What else would we do?" Ruby said to Ang.

"Can we not?" I asked the ladies. Angela and Ruby were starting to give me a headache.

"Reid's out. Rue's out. So who goes?" Janice asked. Nobody spoke up.

"I'll go," Ang said after a few seconds.

"Really?" I asked her.

Angela nodded. "Yeah. I want to help. I want Cyn and Mick back here with us, and I'm tired of sitting here day and night worrying about them."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay, let's get to work."

All four of us would be heading back out. Once we made it to the Bandits' hideout, Angela would do the 'survivor in distress' routine, and hopefully, those bandits would take her in. After that, it was all on Ang to find Mick and Cynthia, then get the hell out of there.

"Are you absolutely, positively sure you want to do this?" I asked Angela before we left the office. "I'll go over there myself. I'm sure I could cook up some kind of a story to tell those bandits."