The Chosen Ones: Book 3: The War

4

They drove through Maple Brook. Sam looked out the window with curiosity, wanting to see where the Chosen Ones all grew up. She wished she met them under different circumstances but was happy and a bit surprised to see they were just as normal as everyone else.

She should have known, simply by seeing how cool Casey was when they first met, that the others would be just like her. She sat up in the backseat, now wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a baggy blue hoodie, courtesy of Casey.

She didn't mind, as long as she was out of the whites the Nest provided her for the last two years. It was an odd feeling. For the last two years the Nest felt like home to her, but now that she was out she felt more free.

Phil pulled into Zipper's parking lot. There were no cars in the lot to be worked on and the outside seemed more organized. The three of them walked right into the shop under the roll up door. That's when Shannon got a shotgun aimed right at her face.

"Whoa, easy big guy." She said to Zipper as she slowly moved the tip of the gun away.
"Jesus Christ Shannon, I'm sorry." He said, sheepishly. He nodded to Phil, then looked over at Sam. "Who's this?"
As nice of a guy as he was, Zipper was always on guard and cautious of new faces.

"This is Sam." Shannon answered. "Sam, this is our friend, Zipper."
"Nice to meet you." Sam said, innocently.
"You're okay with me." Zipper replied. "As long as you're with these guys." He looked at Phil. "Sorry to hear about Gabby. She was a sweetheart. Shannon texted me and told me what happened."

"Thanks, man." Phil replied. He looked over at Shannon. He didn't know she and Zipper texted each other regularly. A strange twinge of jealousy came over him that he quickly shook.

"So what brings you by today?" He asked.
"We need your help." Shannon said.
"Again?! Shit, being associated with you guys might be hazardous to my health. Friends of yours end up dead." Zipper said, straight faced.

They didn't know if he was joking or not but he wasn't lying, that was for sure.
"We could really use it." Phil told him. "And Matt said he'll make it worth your while."
Zipper let out a laugh and shook his head. "Fucking Matt, man. That son of a bitch is crazy." He thought for a moment. "Sure, I'll help you guys out."

"This will be the last time we ask you for anything. We promise." Shannon said.
"Well shit, Shan. I hope it ain't the last time YOU ask me for anything." He said, coyly.
"I got your number." She replied, flirting right back.

Phil looked on uncomfortably. "We need C4." He said bluntly, not wanting to hear anymore back and forth banter between them. Shannon noticed his abruptness, giving him a confused look.

Zipper's eyebrows raised. "C4 isn't something you get at Home Depot."
"We know. Can you get it?" Phil asked.
"How big is the structure you're planning on blowing up this time?" He asked.

Shannon and Phil looked at Sam for help.
"Big." She replied. "The size of a football field, and wider."
"Damn, you guys are moving on up." Zipper said.
"We'd need a detonator too. Is that possible?" Shannon asked.
"Anything's possible." He replied. "How soon do you need it?"
"Tomorrow." Phil said.
Zipper let out a laugh, followed by a "psh."

He thought on it for a minute, taking a long sip of his Pabst Blue Ribbon tall boy. "I can get you what you need." He said, finally. "But I'm gonna need two hundred k."

Shannon motioned to Sam who went back to Phil's truck and pulled out a black duffel bag. When she returned she threw it at Zipper's feet. The bag kicked up dust off the shop floor.
"There's a million." Phil said.

Zipper just stared down at the bag, speechless.
"Matt wanted to tell you he appreciates all the help you've provided over the past year. That you're a good man, and a good friend. And we all appreciate your loyalty." Phil relayed.

"Well....... tell Matt it's my pleasure." He was at a loss for words. A million dollars to anyone was a lot of money. But to Zipper, who's worked his ass off since high school just to scrape by, it was life changing. "Come back tomorrow around two o'clock. I'll have what you need."

Shannon gave him a hug and Phil shook his hand. Then the three of them headed back to truck.

"He seems.......interesting." Sam noted.
"Friends in low places." Phil replied.