Shadow

Chapter 10 - Bait

Abbie made her way to the house at the end of the block. Jimmy had dropped her off at the intersection of West Shelbourne Avenue and Pearl Diver Court. She kept mumbling under her breath the house number he had told her while keeping alert to any activity around her.

All the houses within the area were luxurious, two-story homes. Almost all the lawns were covered by small round hedges sitting on red granite stones, and at least one tree, fully grown in each lawn, some at least fifteen feet high, sprouted bright green leaves. The height of the trees cast a large shadow covering most of the hedges. But now that it was dark, the streetlights were the only ones that cast the shadow in this area, not including some of the lights that were open in the houses Abbie had passed.

She crossed her arms and shivered. Not because she was cold, as the air was quite warm compared to the temperature in the desert, but because she was wanting a line. Jimmy told her about Richie and his drug abuse, and although this was a favor for her new friend, she was hoping Richie would have at least some coke for her. She was missing the drug of love and wished she was in Tony's basement getting high again.

After what she had been through today, she deserved some coke. She needed it.

The silence bordered her like an icy draft. It was as if everyone in the street had a curfew; she hadn't seen one single living thing on her walk over here, nor did she hear a peep, other than the sound her heels were making, which clonked on every step she took.

She walked to the end of the curved block and came across the house Jimmy mentioned. She looked at the house number and realized this was it. The house was different in comparison; it had a pathway of little white steps leading to the front door, and on both sides of the pathway grew tiny hedges, its roots covered by red granite stones. The driveway was also bigger in contrast to others; the garage door was at least double in size and on both sides, and there were lamps that hung from the brick wall. She walked up the pathway, her heels continuing to reverberate off the concrete, and straightened herself. She stood in front of the dark green door and rang the bell.

Then she heard footsteps from the other side of the door.

A part of her felt anxious, but this Richie was a man, so she expected it to go either swimmingly well or horrendously bad. Either way, it wouldn't have mattered to her; the way she figured, she'd already been through the worst experience of her life today so whatever Richie would do to her, or if anything, would seem like a slice of heaven.

'Who is it?' The sound came out as muffled. It was a male voice.

'Is this Richie?' Abbie asked.

'Who's asking?'

'Harry Deckard sent me. Compliments of the Mirage.'

The door unlocked and it opened ajar. A half a face peeked out from the door, as if hiding away from the outside, then evolving into a full one upon seeing her.

Abbie was looking up at this tall man. His dark, piercing eyes studied her up and down. He scratched his bearded face. His hair was short but balding up at the top. He opened the door even more and Abbie could see more of him. The man that was supposedly Richie was dressed in a black Metallica t-shirt (which looked tight given his bulky, muscular figure), dark blue jeans and white sneakers, but had one arm behind his back as if he were hiding something or taking something out.

'I never told Harry my address,' he said. 'How did he know I was here?'

Abbie cleared her throat and placed a hand on her hip. 'Harry knows everyone and everything in Vegas,' she replied in a confident tone.