The Brotherhood of The Black Rats

3.25 Plum Wine and Cigarettes

25| Plum Wine and Cigarettes

“We shouldn’t be going off half-cocked like this,” Gabriel half slurred as the remaining Black Rats came above ground at 23rd street. “There are too many unknowns here. We could be walking into another trap.”

Spider watched from the rendezvous point as their voices grew lounder upon approach.

“We finish the job,” said Simon. They had placed The Spell Door in a thick cardboard packing tube that hung from his back. “We get our money, and we get the hell out, simple as that.”

“What about the fact that the Spell Door’s been opened?” continued the weary magician. “You think you can just pull the wool over whoever this big shot is? Why don’t we trying ripping off the Queen Witch herself while we’re at it.” 

“We need a plan,” agreed Calvin.

“Are you with us Doc?” asked Simon then.

“I’m here Simon.” The voice said sounding just a few feet ahead of the pack. “And I’ve confirmation that Kai and Thompkins have made it to the safe house in one piece.”

“Good, there’s our plan.” conceded the Irishman. “Now let’s find Spider and put this night behind us.”

“You’re gonna get us all killed.” Said Gabriel.

“You’re welcome to back out now.” said Simon with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Oh, yeah right.” defended Gabriel.

They were nearly on top of the bowler-topped man waiting under a streetlamp in front of a public housing unit before he revealed himself to them. There was a weariness to the seasoned thief when he saw the diminished numbers among the brotherhood.

“Where are Thompkins and Kai?” he asked as he joined the others.

“Things went south,” answered Simon.

“How south?” he then inquired.

“Florida.” Spoke the leader of the band. “So we damn well better be getting our Money tonight.”

“Come,” said Spider leading them onward. “They want to meet at The Highline.”

Now five strong they made it the rest of the way before the old greenery-laden railway that was the Highline came into view. Closed to the public for the evening its shadowy overpass provided the perfect cover for the exchange of goods in front of the empty warehouses that lined the darkened city block.

“I don’t friggen believe it.” Stated Gabriel as the two fervent figures came into view.

“What are you playing at Spider?” asked Simon in no mood for further surprises or games. The sight of the man in the grey trench coat and matching fedora was not a welcomed one. His associate wore all the trappings of a Stewart in the Belvedere Court. This was not what any of them had expected.

“Please don’t let Gabe be right,” pleaded Colin.

“Relax,” said Spider “Do you understand why our client asked for anonymity now?”

“Ahh, The Queen’s Knaves return victorious!” exclaimed the Stewart holding his arms outstretched as he stepped forth to welcome them.

“They reek of Troll,” said The Grey Guardsmen as he took a long drag of his cigarette exhaling a puff of smoke with each move of his lips. “Bloodmaw Tribe even, what kind of mess did you lot get into tonight?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Gabriel at a volume only his comrades could hear.

“Come now Reinhardt, these boys have done us a great service.” Said The Warden “I can’t imagine it was easy…I thought there were to be six of you?”

“There were complications,” said Spider.

“Oh really?” inquired the other man then. “I trust our little secrets kept yes?”

“It’s hard to spill a secret when you don’t have one to begin with.” Said Simon as he slowly slid the plastic messenger tube off his back.

“Naturally,” replied The Warden. “Is that it then?” he asked nodding in the direction on the parcel.

“Aye,” replied Simon. “Do you have our payment?”

“Of course,” said The Warden in a jovial attempt to shave some of the tension off the moment. “Reinhardt,” he added turning toward his associate “If you would please.”

The Grey Guardsmen took another long drag of his cigarette this time blowing a thick tendril of smoke right in front of Simon and the others. When it cleared a pair of silver briefcases and a lone bottle of wine were at their feet.

“There’s your payment in cash as agreed upon, along with a little something extra for a job well done,” said the Warden watching the two twin boys each take a briefcase leaving the bottle for the mustached magician among their number. “That’s from the Queen’s private vineyard in France, a plum wine aged in a cherrywood cask vintage 1743, keep you light on your feet it will. We thought it apropos of this first evening together.”

“There’s something you should know,” said Simon wasting little time in delivering the parcel to the other man. “The House of the Gilded Crane is in engaging in Pixie Trafficking with noted members of the court.”

“Of course they are,” replied the Warden with not even the slightest hint of surprise in his remark. “There’s a war coming boys, mark my words, a war in which skills such as yours will be coming in handy…” he let his voice trail off as the Grey Guardsman blew yet another cloud of smoke around the pair of them. “Enjoy the wine…” He said slowly beginning to fade into the either “Until next time.”

“There won’t be a next time.” Said Simon boldly, “Me and mine have had enough of War thank you very much. You’ll have to find another a bunch stooges, might I suggest The Grimms or The Waxers maybe…”

“Is that so?” asked The Warden taken aback by the thief's demanding tone.

“Yes,” replied Simon with the others at his back.

“Oh damn it.” Said The Warden clearly disappointed by Simon’s words “Looks like I owe you a drink Reinhardt.” he said turning to his comrade. “Finish them up quickly now.” He added before fully fading away into the night.

“With pleasure,” said the man in the grey trench coat taking one final drag of his cigarette before flicking it to the ground and breathing one last giant cloud of hazy smoke. “Five died plaque rats coming right up.”

The Black Rats; were outnumbered by the Grey Guard two to one in the time it took the bottle of plum wine to shatter on the ground at Gabriel's feet. The trench coated men stepped out of the smoke, their wands at the ready taking the group completely by surprise.

“Oh Fuck,” said Spider as the first grey gloved hand reached out for him.