Blur

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 

Mac pulled into the diner’s parking lot and sat in his car for full minute before getting out.  Traffic had been fairly light getting down into the valley and he had made good time.  Famous Joe’s Hamburger Joint was packed full of customers as Mac stepped out of the black BMW and surveyed the lot.  His gaze roamed around the diner’s plate glass windows and up to the roof where the Famous Joe’s neon sign blazed in its garish glory.  The fat man he thought to be Joe stood tall on the roof holding a large hamburger to an open mouth while giving onlookers a thumbs up.  The large eye sore could be seen from miles down the highway at night, its neon glow bringing in customers like moths to a flame.

Mac shook his head at the sign and walked in the front doors and plopped down at one of the only available booths.  Almost instantly a bubbly blonde babe sauntered up and welcomed him to famous Joes before dropping a menu on his table and introducer herself as Sandy.

“What’s the special tonight Sweetheart?”  Mac asked the waitress.

The waitress stared at him like a deer in headlights before answering.  “The only thing special in this joint are the burgers man.  If you want choices go to Denny’s down the street.  Otherwise pick a burger, pick a side and pick a drink,” Sandy the waitress said as she crossed her arms and waited for his order.

“Okay then... Burger, loaded, fries and a Pepsi,” Mac said pushing the single sided menu back towards the blonde who nodded at him before scooping up the menu and heading back to the kitchen. 

Mac was watching her leave as his phone chirped.

“Head to the bathroom.  Leave your hoodie on the seat.”

Mac read the text and followed it instantly, standing up and removing his black Under Armour hoodie and tossing it down on the booth’s bench.  The bathroom was at the back of the room, not too far from his booth and he walked in and shut the door behind him.

“Wait.”  Ghost urged in his next message.

Mac leaned up against the sink and waited almost thirty seconds before receiving the next text.

“Slip out the door and into the employee’s room across the hall.  There is a black duffel bag on the wall.  Take it and go up the ladder in the closet.  Go now.”

Mac did as he was told and grabbed the bag as he entered the employee room.  The weight of the bag and the clink of metal inside gave him a good idea what to expect when he got up onto the roof.”

“Assemble the gun in the duffel and position yourself below the O in the Joe sign.”  Ghost told him as Mac stepped onto the roof.  “There are a pair of glasses in the bag as well.  Put them on and wait for my command.  Drones are standing by and will have a target for you shortly.”

“Roger Ghost,” Mac told the phone as he slipped it into his pocket and unzipped the duffel.

With quick and precise motions Mac had a silenced Scout sniper rifle out and assembled in under thirty seconds.  He placed the sunglasses on his face and sat down next to the sign and waited.

The glasses activated even as his butt touched the gravel stones of the roof and began flipping through the cameras of the closest drones.  Mac watched the images flow in as the drones delivered the intel straight to his eyes.  Each drone was scanning people up and down the block.  He saw several men in dark business suits draw attention from several drones, each of their faces were marked with a yellow box and then the cameras moved on.  Mac double checked the gun and the tech sights as he waited.  Running his practised fingers across the carbon alloy and sight locks.  The gun felt good in his hands, warm to the touch, like an extension of himself and not like a cold callused weapon of death.