Vindictive (Complete)

XIV

    This picture. He could stare at it for hours. Baseball cap, blue jeans and a pink button-up shirt. Yellow dress, white high heels and long curly blond hair. Black suit, blue tie, brown hair and glasses. Fluffy, perfectly combed brown hair, a bone attached to the dog collar. Taken in front of the family car on an early sunday morning. They are all fat… even their poodle. Michael Bell’s family is perfectly normal. Perfectly average. Perfectly… perfect. It’s too perfect.
    Edward sets the photo down, rolling his eyes. He’s tired. Tired of people dying. Tired of this stressful job. Tired of missing the family dinner because he is called in. He needs the extra work, he asks for it. Lately he is given just too much for his liking. He can’t sleep, all the tossing and turning. It’s all bothering him. He needs to disconnect himself from his job. He will sleep later.
    “Last person. Let’s get this over with. I know you’re tired.” Stephanie hands Edward his fresh coffee.
    It’s his fourth coffee this morning. Extra sugar today. He is already crashing.
    “Last person.”
    They can see Michael from their questioning room. The window blinds are still bent. They close the door, Edward turning on his tape recorder. Michael is tapping the table, his fingers nervous. He looks completely calm, other than his hands.
    “We have some questions for you.”
    “Shoot.”
    Michael smiles at Edward, causing him to fake smile back. Michael noticed it was fake.
    “We have you on record for trading in your car yesterday. Green, one hundred thousand or so miles. Nice car.”
    “It was a good car.”
    “You traded that car in for a truck. Why?”
    “I’ve always wanted a new truck. I couldn’t help myself.”
    Edward stares at him. At least he’s honest.
    “Two people died. Mother and child. Your car was one of the ones that exploded.”
    “I… heard. I saw it on the news. I feel so bad for the man. I couldn’t imagine losing my family.”
    Michael closes his eyes. He actually feels bad for them. Isaac told him no one would be hurt. He cared about the money more, however.
    “It was tragic. Do you have any idea why someone would explode their car at the dealership?” Stephanie takes a seat, folding her hands.
    Of course he did.
    “Some kind of… sick person? Terrorism? Someone who was very far from God.” Michael shakes his head, his fingers tapping away.
    Edward looks at his fingers. He can see he is nervous. He would be too, however. Edward believes him, as most do. Michael has been lying for his entire life. The only person who knows he is full of shit, is himself.
    “We don’t know what car the bomb was in. You have a solid alibi, your neighbors saw you at home. We will keep investigating this. Looking for leads. For now, Michael you’re free to go.”
    Edward gets up and walks out, drinking his coffee. He waited this time. He is tired of being burned. The door closes on the way out, Stephanie opening the door for him.
    “Thank you, ma’am.”
    They smile at each other, Michael’s thumb digging into his pointer finger. His lie worked, yet again.

    The rain falls down to the Earth, like angel's tears.

    Charlie drives up to Fedor’s home, mud covering the dirt road. He needs to get a GPS tracker. He is nervous at the idea. He is nervous at the idea of taking on Simon. He wants to see the women set free, of course. He just can't shake the idea… of what more it will cost. He saw what was on TV. Two women killed. A mother… and her child.
    He knocks on Fedor’s door, waiting. He will do as Isaac asks, because he has no choice. He can’t back out now, he must continue. He must accept his fate. The door swings open.
    “Чарли… Charlie. My friend. Come in.”
    Charlie comes inside, ready to see his friend.
    “I saw what happened to the dealership. The bomb went off as expected… but-”
    “I know. Isaac wasn’t supposed to set the bomb off until late at night. I… well I’m just wanting to get this over with. I don’t know what I will do after this is all over. I’m just tired. I’m tired of good people getting hurt. I’m not sure if it is worth it anymore.”
    “I know you have a good heart… Чарли. I also see the good that is happening. You’ve saved several women already. They are able to see their families again.”
    “Yes… but that doesn't change the fact. That father will never hold his family ever again. That child will never grow old and experience the best days in her life.”
    “Charlie… I understand. I have family too. I keep them far away from here. To keep them сейф… safe. Death comes for us all. Save who you can Charlie. You have a heart of gold.”
    Charlie hugs Fedor, having known him for a long while. He doesn’t have many friends, but Fedor was always kind to him… even if he cares most about money.
    “I need a GPS tracker. I have work to do. We will find where Simon lives. We will end this… once and for all.”
    Charlie lets go, walking with Fedor to the basement. He unlocks the left window, pulling it out. Just looks like a box. Just a GPS tracker.
    “Чарли. You can have this for free. You’ve bought enough. Just stay strong.”
    Charlie takes his gift, leaving the basement. Fedor shakes his hand, helping him out. The afternoon rain continues to pour, as he runs for his car. He has already contacted Simon’s seller. They are to meet downtown at a small restaurant. This place is known for letting anyone eat there… and conduct any business they like.
    Charlie has two hours before his deadline, his GSP tracker all set up. He puts it away in his glove box and drives for the restaurant. He can smell the salt in the air as he rolls down the window. He smiles as his music plays into the air around him. He loves to smile. Markus had his smile, too.
    The thought of his brother burns less for himself. He is starting to forgive himself, and realize his better side. He never wanted to hurt anyone. It just happened for him. He never wanted to kill Alex. He never wanted to let his brother overdose. He never wanted to blame himself for all these years. At last he can take a deep breathe, to allow himself to think. He is fighting his itch, hoping to beat the battle. Hoping to stop turning to cocaine.
    The night sky pours down the rain, the sound filling the city. So many people love this sound. This smell. For some, the rain is something they look forward to. Some, like Charlie, love to watch it fall from the sky. They love to feel it upon their skin, reminding them they are alive.
    Charlie arrives early, looking at the restaurant across the street. “Zhao’s noodles.” Owned by… Zhao. He assumes. He watches the rain as he waits, waiting for another car to arrive. Zhao’s stays open until midnight, making it a place some visit. Simon’s men are comfortable selling in public… which is something Charlie isn’t used to.
    The black car pulls up, Charlie knowing. He can feel it. That’s them. Two men climb out. They are both wearing suits, one brown, one black. They look professional. They don’t look like drug dealers. Charlie knows. That’s what they want you to think. They have heroin… that Charlie will buy. He will just give it to Dante, who is almost out. Dante prefers heroin.
    They enter the restaurant, the car empty. Time to play stupid. He hopes this works. Charlie exits the car, pulling up his hoodie. He runs across the street and walks up to the black car, the two men ordering noodles. He hopes they don’t look back. He bends down beside the car, sticking the GPS above the tire.
    He can see them finding a table, not looking. He rushes away from the car, his heart pounding. They would have killed him if they saw. He doesn't care whose car it is, as long as they go home with it. He enters the restaurant, the chinese man looking up at him. He assumes it’s Zhao. He assumes every restaurant is named after the man inside. He doesn't put much thought into this, obviously.
    “I’ll take a bowl of shrimp ramen. With a fortune cookie.”
    The man nods, opening the cash register.
    “Twelve dollars.”
    Charlie pays and gets his drink, walking up to the two men. He sits down in their booth, they look at him. Charlie saw right before he sat down, one has a pistol in his hand. The man on the left. He places his hands on the table, showing he means no worry to them.
    “I have the money.”
    “We have what you want.”
    Charlie opens his wallet, pulling out the money. He slides it across the table, the man on the right counting it. They look similar, but not related. Both black hair.
    “Okay. We are leaving it under our seat. Take it after we leave. Enjoy your meal.”
    They stand up, one leaving for their car. The other walks up to the counter, asking for his noodles to go. They hand him his bag and he leaves. Charlie watches as they enter their car and drive away, not checking the back tire. His GPS worked.
    The man arrives with his noodles after a minute, smiling. He sets the bowl in front of him, the smell filling the room. Charlie loves noodles.
    “Thank you for your business. Have a great night.” He waddles back to the kitchen, hiding in the back.
    Charlie shrugs and eats his noodles, every bite better than the last. It reminds him of Dante’s cooking. Just not as good. He eats every bite and grabs the bag under the table. He leaves a small tip, what’s left of his money. He checks the website for his GPS, they are heading towards the ocean. Maybe Simon lives near the water.
    Charlie sets the bag in the trunk, stopping before entering his car. He checks for a GPS in his car. Nothing. Now he feels like the smarter one. He watches as the GPS turns away from the water, towards the city. Charlie makes the call. He is ready. Isaac has been waiting.
    “Did it work?”
    “Yes. They are headed downtown. I think one is going home.”
    “Good. Come to the hideout. We will borrow the van.”
    “On my way.”