A Little Sane

Chapter 17

Mercedes looked at the number on her phone curiously. It was a restricted number. She cautiously answered the phone. 

"Hello..?"

Jerome and Abbe knew something was off by the look Mercedes gave them.

"Hi Diablo... yes it's me.."

Jerome tilted his head and gave a look of astonishment. Diablo had called his wife instead of him. He studied Mercedes carefully. He watched Abbe who was growing more anxious by the second. He wasn't sure yet if involving Abbe was a good idea. He still didn't know if they could trust her, though she hadn't given them a reason not to for the past few days. 

"Yes, sir. We can meet there. You have a van for us parked outside? Of course we will take care of it. We will know who we are exchanging with correct?"

Jerome couldn't make out what Diablo was saying, so he based it off of his wife's responses. 

"We can do that..."

The look of shock on her face was question inducing, but her response was even more mind boggling to Jerome and Abbe.

"Oh... Thank you.. It was nice talking to you too.. I also hope you have a great rest of your day.."

The line went dead and Mercedes stared into space for a moment. She finally looked up at Jerome.

"We have our first assignment..."

Mercedes went to speak, but hesitated. She walked into the kitchen and placed her phone on the table. She grabbed Abbe's and Jerome's, doing the same. She walked back into the livingroom.

"We have to go seven miles south of Gotham.. there's a package we have to pick up.. it's a test run.. He's hoping we can help get rid of this package..."

Mercedes looked in the kitchen.

"We might all have to get new phones.. or at least burner phones that he can call.. that way it's undetectable to the FBI..."

Abbe backed away scared. Mercedes slowly walked up to her and placed her hand on her arm.

"Abbe... listen to me.. all you have to do is watch the kids.. you don't have to know anything else that goes on.. I don't want to involve you.. that way.. if shit hits the fan.. you can honestly say you were just the babysitter.. you didn't know anything.."

Abbe slowly nodded still having troube breathing. Mercedes sighed.

"Abbe... I can completely understand if you want to back out.. but here's the thing... you know too much already.."

Abbe looked at her frightened. Mercedes shook her head.

"No no. We would never hurt you Abbe.. but if you left and Diablo found out about you.. he wouldn't risk leaving you alive.. I really like you Abbe.. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.."

Mercedes looked at Jerome sadly. She turned back to Abbe with an apologetic look.

"I'm so sorry.. I should have never involved you.. I just couldn't lie to you.. if you were going to stay here for a while.. you needed to know what you were staying in the middle of.."

Abbe sighed and nodded. She stepped forward and placed her hand on Mercedes's arm.

"I understand.. I would still love to watch the twins.. I can get tough. I can do this. I promise."

Mercedes looked at the time. She turned to Jerome and Abbe with a face of steal. 

"Jerome we have to go. Abbe.. here's a twenty I had saved back.. if you want to order in some food I'm cool with that. We'll be back as soon as we can be.."