Death After Death (#2)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Earlier that day:   

"Are you sure you're willing to walk in there voluntarily?" Max asked, aware of what horrors Joey was capable of.

"I'm sure, I have to make things right," Paulo confirmed.

Max nodded in approval, not respect, but approval. In his opinion it was indeed Paulo's responsibility to make things right after his previous betrayal.

"Okay, so Paulo goes in, unarmed. The mention of my name should be enough to get you a meet with Joey if he's still as obsessed and unhinged as the last time we met," Max explained.

"And then what? I sell you out?"

"Precisely, just not for real this time," Max scolded. "You tell him that you know where I'm holed up, in a town a few miles south of the castle. Your scouts spotted me on a run today, recognised me from The Pit."

"You think that will be enough to entice him into leaving the place defenceless?" Dawson queried.

"The castle?" Max exclaimed. "No, no, there's no way he'd leave himself so vulnerable on the word of someone who was once my friend, not a chance. But it will be enough to nibble at him. His head will tell him that there's a strong chance it's a trap, but he won't be able to resist that tiny voice telling him it may not be. He won't check it out himself, but you can bet he'll send a small group our way."

"But how small is small?" Karl said. "Small for them is a gun-wielding army to us."

Max blew air from his cheeks, "Honestly, there's no way of telling. He must have over fifty guards in that place, at least. I don't think he'll commit too many, after all, Paulo's intel will say that I'm alone, defenceless and out-gunned."

"Okay, so let's say he sends five or so of these crazy Brotherhood bastards our way, then what?" Karl laughed.

"Then we overpower them. Joey might suspect a trap, but we have to remember that The Brotherhood are infected, they won't be as sharp as us. They may have us out-gunned, but in a small group, they can be out-thought and out-manoeuvred."

"So... we jump them?" Karl summarised.

"Of sorts, yes." Max chuckled. "We split off into groups, cause a distraction, and in the mayhem, overpower them and steal their guns."

"You think that could work?" JJ asked.

"It's our only shot. You have to remember, if Paulo plays his part correctly, we'll have a man on the inside as well. That's another body hitting them from the last place they'll expect."

The group thought through Max's plan, the obvious unease painted across their faces.

"I think it could work," Dawson said, well aware of how much her seal of approval would settle the group. If they were going to do this, they all needed to be confident and behind the plan.

"It will work. As long as we stick to our jobs, it will work," Max assured, locking his eyes on Paulo's the entire time.

"You don't have to worry about me, Max. I'm here to get Lizzie out, that's my only agenda," Paulo defended.

Max narrowed his eyes, "Just remember, if you even think about crossing us for a second, I will end you without a second's hesitation."

"Okay, that's enough," Dawson sighed. "For argument's sake, let's say that they're all on the ground, out of commission, and we have their guns. What then? We're still horrifically outnumbered."