The Contract

17: Endgame

Seventeen: Endgame

The van pulled up to the perimeter, the four passengers all staring stolidly ahead. All wore various leather jackets and a selection of caps, beanies and a sun visor. The armed guard peered at the men-and woman-with a jaundiced eye, audibly sighing. The Boss had called in every man who worked for him, in even a nominal capacity and they had already had a variety of men rock up who were so useless even a meagre pick-pocketing ring would be ashamed to claim them. This van looked like another group of that sort of quality.

Tiredly, he rapped his knuckles on the window and the driver laboriously wound it down.

"Where did you come from?" he asked wearily. The husky man wearing the tweed flat cap gave a small embarrassed smile.

"Out in Bonkers," he said self-consciously. "We were assigned to guard a warehouse...which the Boss never really used. But when he asked for everyone to come...well, it's not like we were guarding anything of value and at least it will be interesting..."

Peering in, the guard saw a pair of lanky blondes who were wearing identical grey beanies and who were nudging and elbowing act other. A stocky man with raven hair seemed to have fallen asleep, his sun visor having slipped down to partly cover his face. Shaking his head, he waved them in and with a bright smile, the husky guy gave a small wave and drove on. Shaking his head and hefting the machine gun in his arms, the man turned back to the gate...

...right into the bullet that blew his brains out.

oOo

The van screamed into the garage and screeched to a halt. Heads turned as the driver sat motionless at the wheel, even as his three companions leapt out of the cabin.

"What's happening?" A heavyset man walked forward at the newcomers. The male with long blond dreadlocks was almost bouncing with excitement.

"Did you see that? That dude's head just exploded!" he said as the guard glanced out of the door of the garage-and saw the guard outside go down, blood spraying from his chest.

"SNIPER!" he yelled as another man fell. The garage door slammed shut and the men in the garage raced to their places-while the newcomers sped into the main part of the house...then Snotlout paused, wrenched the door open, grabbed Fishlegs' arm and dragged him from the van.

"Come on, Fishface," he grumbled as he almost pushed the husky agent forward. "We've got a job to do!" The twins were waiting for them in the passageway, both of them bouncing with excitement.

"Look-this is awesome, guys-and we have to make sure we do what we promised," Tuff said, fidgeting under his bulky duffle coat-which was packed with explosives and detonators. "In the words of our third cousin once removed, Sad Larry..."

"If you see a sheep on a hill, it's not worth the struggle," Ruff finished solemnly. Fishlegs blinked and then stared at them.

"What does that even mean?" he asked.

"It means you're back with us, handsome," she leered and winked unsettlingly at him. "Try not to get yourself killed and I promise I'll buy you the best coffee ever!"

"Yeah-not like that poison Snotman there had us brew," Tuff added.

"Hey-that was guaranteed caffeine free!"

"And taste free...and certainly enjoyment free..." Tuff added.

"You know-that's a date," Fishlegs found himself saying and smiled goofily at the female twin. She winked and elbowed her brother, who was suddenly scowling at the husky agent.