Vindictive (Complete)

XIII

    Twenty six blocks. Fifty three stickers. Six sides. Nine white, nine red, eight blue, nine orange, nine green, and nine yellow. He had rubbed one of the stickers off. He has used his Rubik’s cube for years. He loved to fidget. It helped keep him calm. It helped keep him focused. It helped keep him appear normal.
    Michael Bell is a fat white man, with brown hair and glasses. He eats cheeseburgers, smokes a pack every day, and takes an extra five minutes on his lunch breaks. He works for a software company and has a small family. His wife, son and poodle. He counts the steps to the car every morning, wondering if his legs will grow longer. To most he looks like your average, stupid American. Maybe he is. What he isn’t, however, is a bad liar.
    He lies about everything. He lies to his wife about all the other woman he sleeps with. He lies to his boss about how much he is slacking at work. He lies to his family about how much money he brings in. The police have no idea what his other source of income is. He lies to himself about loving his family over his money. Michael Bell is willing to lie about anything and everything for money. He is even willing to sell a car to a dealership, with a bomb hidden inside. He is willing to lie to the police about the explosion, at said car dealership. Michael Bell shakes hands with Isaac, holding his Rubik’s cube in his left.
    “You have yourself a deal! I’ve always loved an explosion!”
    “Good. We will have the bomb ready by tomorrow. Buy any car there you like.” Isaac smiles, glad to finally have things moving.
    “Within reason.”
    Michael is escorted out of the building, Isaac looking at Fernando.
    “We need a bomb.” Isaac looks at his hands, becoming more rough.
    “Fedor. He will make the bomb. He will hide it in the car. It will be inside the shell itself.”
    Fernando looks to Isaac, setting his bottle down. Isaac smiles, liking the idea. He stops leaning on the table, heading towards the door.
    “I’ll be back soon... with the bomb ready.”
    Isaac exits the office, ready to pay Fedor a visit. He can see all the men below, some moving a crate of weapons to the back. They are all in a hurry, bringing in the money for the Amor family. They aren’t all related but they consider themselves a family. Isaac sees himself part of their family, he is proud. He loves the power that comes with it all. He loves the control.
    He climbs into the little green car that Michael Bell left behind. The trojan horse. He drives in the bright sunlight, the afternoon sun shining down upon him. The city glows all around him once again, lighting up the sky. He can feel the wind blowing all around him, his window rolled down. He turns up his music so that the city can hear him. He wants to be heard.
    The drive feels short enough as Isaac arrives. Fedor’s home. He can smell the salt in the air, the ocean pounding against the shore. The ocean is upset, the waves climbing into the air. He can see the seagulls on his dock, looking down at the roaring waters. He thinks about the party last night, how much fun he had. He loves to indulge himself, to watch people’s faces. He loves to see the disgust on the others, who will never be anything like him. Isaac knocks on the door, waiting. Fedor opens the door, smiling.
    “Исаак. My friend. How may I help you?”
    “I need a bomb. Small enough to fit in the car behind me. Big enough to blow up at least two other cars.”
    “Легко. I have PETN.”
    “What is that?”
    “I’ll show you.”
    They enter his home, looking at the waves crashing out the windows. They descend down the hallway hatch again, leading to his basement. He opens the panels, then pulling out a metal box from the one on the left.
    “PETN. Plastic explosive. Powerful and won’t explode on the drive there. It’s perfect.”
    Fedor pulls out a jar with white crystals inside, setting it down on the lip of the window. He grabs a foldable table from behind the stairs, setting it in the middle. He opens the jar and pours the crystals on the table, stepping back with his jar.
    “This isn’t something to take lightly. I am serious with explosives.” Fedor takes out gloves, putting them on.
    He takes out duct tape, along with a device. He tosses Isaac a phone, small blue prepaid flip phone.
    “You will call the number saved in contacts. When you do, this will explode. Make sure you do it at the right time, anyone can get hurt.”
    Fedor staps the small pile of PETN inside a bag along with the device, duct taping it closed. The device is a phone attached to a burning element, able to set the explosive off.
    “Even a small fingerprint on duct tape can be found. We take no chances. Follow me.”
    Fedor closes the windows, locking them shut. He slides the table away and brings a black tool bag. They exit the home and look at the green car. Isaac unlocks it and Fedor opens his bag, climbing in. Isaac sits inside and watches him work.
    “You would be surprised how much room is behind the stereo.”
    He takes off the cover, sliding his pocket knife along the side, between the hole and stereo.
    “Give me your knife please.”
    Isaac gives him his knife and shoves it in the other side. He takes pliers out of his bag, tugging the box out of the dashboard. Isaac looks inside, plenty of room farther back. Fedor unplugs the stereo and shoves the bag into the hole.
    “This should still get a signal. I think we have it.”
    Fedor plugs the stereo back in and shoves it inside, putting the cover back on. The radio works just as before, music coming on. Isaac hands Fedor his wallet, letting him take as much money as he wants.
    “Thank you, Fedor. This will work.”
    They both stare at the sunset over the ocean for a moment. The waves continue to roar on, the evening has come. Fedor closes his bag, nodding his head.
    “Прощай. Good luck.” He climbs out, closing the door.
    Isaac watches as he enters his home, rubbing his bald head. Isaac stares at the waters, smiling. He can see it now. He can feel Simon’s death in his grasp. He can feel his power beginning grow. He loves it… so very much.