The Herd

Chapter 18

P.O.V.: Noah
I woke up earlier than normal this morning, and Brook hasn't even shifted yet. I looked at my clock and saw that it was only 5:13AM. Nobody's awake yet. Antonio's routine doesn't start 'til 5:40 so he's not even up either. James, however, should be awake. We decided 5:30 was a good time to leave.
Christian, an old friend, does his business early. He claims it's not better business, just better to "not get caught." Of course, with his record, that's clearly not the case. He's not a high ranking drug dealer, like a mob boss, or a gang leader, but he's high enough to know things. I wouldn't be surprised if he's even worked for the Exterminator. I would, however, expect him to be smart enough to not rely on that business.
I swiftly got out of bed, sure not to wake Brooklyn. I quickly got dressed and left the room wearing my casual getup. My blue hoodie, gray tee, jeans, and a gray and white pair of shoes. My necklace hung from my neck, the small green stone slightly glowed in the rising sunlight that gleaned from the living room window as I entered. James was already waiting on the couch playing on his phone.
He wore his black hoodie, and a red tee under that. His black jeans and sneakers fashioned with the dark and gloomy look. Perfect for the black man of which he is. (Jk, I'm not racist)
"Ready to go?" I asked.
He nodded. "Sure am."
"Alright, lets go then."
     I led the way down the few steps and passed the washing machine and dryer until I reached the door. James was following short behind me. Passing the few cars, including Kap's demolished Camaro, and Ben's bullet riddled truck, we finally met my car. I simple, humble, blue Lamborghini. Lame. I know.
     James walked around and got into the passengers seat as I got behind the wheel. "You know what I like more than knowledge." He said in a nerdy voice
"My Lamborghini." I replied as I started up the car.
We had a short laugh but it soon died out. Nothing lasts forever right? Not even a knowledge joke.
     "Alright." I said as we rolled down the driveway. "Where do you want to get breakfast?"
     James chuckles and sighed, looking out the window. "Ken's Pancake Den." He said laughing.
     "Oh?" I laughed with him. "Yunno if we go there we can't say anything to the others. They'll kill us on the spot."
     "That's why it'll be our little secret." He said with his finger on his mouth.
     I laughed at the idea. "Allllriiight." I said.
     After a short drive, we stopped at the infamous pancake house "Ken's Den." The best place for breakfast in all of Kingdom City. The Herd absolutely loved the place. We went there whenever we wanted to celebrate something early in the morning. Birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. James and I walked in and the first waitress to greet us knew exactly who we were already. That's how famous we are here. I'm not sure they understand the fact that we're all wanted criminals, but who knows.
     "Ah, welcome back." She said joyfully.
"Hey. Table for two." I said.
"Clearly." She said sarcastically. "You two on a date?" She said as we followed her through the Den.
     "Very funny." James said.
     "Hell yeah we're on a date." I butted in.
     James looked at me like "the fuck you doin'?" but I just smiled at him and winked. He rolled his eyes and laughed.
     "Right here gentlemen." She said, gesturing to a table for two near one of the Den's window.
     "Thank you." I said sitting down. "Appreciate it."
     "I'll be back in a minute to check you y'all got your orders." She finished before walking away.
     "So," James said, picking up his menu.
     "Uh-oh," I sighed, looking at my own menu.
     "What are you thinking?" He said.
     "What do you mean?"
     "About the whole situation that we're in?" He stated. "The Exterminator, the Jocks. Cameron and Kap and their injuries? What's our infamous leader thinking?"
     I leaned back in my chair and sighed. I read through the menu and glanced back at him. "I'm thinking the Stacker Packer. What about you?"
     "Oh, come on Noah." He rolled his eyes, leaning back. "I'm never in the loop with these things. You only ever talk with Ben or Antonio."
     "Yeah. So?"
     "Sooo.... I want to know what's up." He pushed again. "I want to know the juice."
     I sighed and scratched my chin, thinking for a moment. "The Exterminator is a low class gang leader right?"
     "Right."
     "So how in the hell do you think he got a hit on him that large in the first place? He never messes with anyone else's business to begin with." I asked.
     "Well, realistically it's not that large."
     "For this city, yes it is."
     "Fair enough." James rested his arms on the table and thought for a moment. "You think there's a bigger play here?"
     "I do." I said. "The Exterminator is ruthless enough to kill innocents and cops, but according to our intel he's bought off half the cops anyway."
     "Okay?"
     "That implies that this has nothing to do with the cops." I said. "No undercover bounty hunter cops like we're ran into before."
     "Who else then? The Jocks?"
     "No." I said, shaking my head. "Lang is smart but I don't think he'd pull something this extreme."
     "Even if it was to get to us?"
     "If it was a plan to get to us, and he had the whole thing mapped out, he wouldn't have attacked you at the mall." I stated. "Why corrupt a plan so heavily like that?"
     "Fair enough." He said, looking out the window. "So it's an outside source... with a quarrel with the Exterminator?"
     "That's what I'm thinking." I said. "He did something to piss off a higher boss. We need to find out."
"Wait, why do we care anyway?" He said. "What difference does it make to us? We kill him, take the money, job done."
"We need to know what we're getting into." I answered. "We don't want to get caught in the middle of a gang war."
     The lady from before walked up to us with a smile. "Are you two ready to order?"
     "Oh, yes." I said. "I'd like the Stacker Packer with a side of bacon please. Oh, and a cup of coffee too."
     "Sure thing." She said. "And for you?"
     "I'll just take the Breakfast Platter please, and some water."
"Right away." She said. "I'll take those." We handed her the menus and she took them away.
"Who do you think it might be?" James asked.
"Well," I started. "I was thinking about the all night. It has to be someone with the power to order such a hit on him. No one too low income."
"So the gangs on the west side of the city." He concluded.
"Yes." The west side of the city is very dead and unlikely to have gang activity. Though there are few gangs, such as the Rodents or the Scavengers, they aren't exactly threats. The cops could take them out whenever they want, but leave them be for when they lead them to higher gang members during trades.
"How about the Aces?"
"No, I wouldn't think so." I said, leaning on my arm. "They're north side, to far from the Exterminator and his Wasps to have any quarrels with each other."
"Office of Steel?"
"No. They're business men, they won't get their hands dirty, let alone order someone's death." I thought for a moment.
A man came to our table, holding two plates in his hands. Behind him was the same lady with our drinks.
"Thank you." James said first as he got his plate.
I followed his example and thanked them as well.
"Of course." The both said. They chuckled to each other at the jinx.