Chapter 2 : About milk, sunglasses, and wallets
First entering the gas station store, Hannibal stopped briefly to look around and take up the scenery.
It was a shabby little shop, but with all the basics you could wish for when you were on a road trip. The colonel was always aware of his surroundings, especially when entering unfamiliar scenes. With every new mission, he tried to get a feel for the type of people that lived in the area. Currently, there were only a few people present in the shop. Other than the shopkeeper, an elderly lady with a tight gray bun of hair and glasses that had slipped to the tip of her nose, there was only one other customer present who was just entering the shop through the bathroom door.
He was a bulky tall guy with dark surly looking eyes. His chin had a stubble and his dark somewhat curly hair looked dirty and unkempt. On his long suntanned arms, he had a couple of green faded tattoos. One of them a big Japanese koi carp. Sensing his presence and the colonel's scrutinizing stare, the man turned his head and glared at Hannibal. Then he turned around and disappeared between the aisles.
Hannibal walked to the coffee machine to get himself a cup of Joe while his teammates scattered around; all with their own goals in mind.
Face immediately disappeared into the bathroom. B.A had soon found himself a stash of milk in the fridge.
Thirsty as he was, he grabbed a gallon, wondering if he should get another container to-go.
Meanwhile, Murdock had discovered the stand with wacky sunglasses. Within a minute he was trying out one particularly ugly pair that had a huge yellow pointy frame and circular pitch black glasses. It made him look like an alien. Nudging B.A. enthusiastically to show him his new find, the dark man almost dropped the containers of milk he was holding. Snarling at him and giving Murdock a murderous glare for good measure, he turned his back on the crazy man and walked towards the sandwiches on display.
Better ignore the fool before I'll explode!
Slightly disappointed, Murdock put back the sunglasses where they belonged. But the disappointment didn't stay long.
"You know, you still haven't guessed what I spied with my lil' eye, B.A". He said with renewed energy.
"Ain't no playing games with you fool!", B.A answered, checking out the displayed sandwiches.
"It's your blue hat" He added with a low voice.
"Aaaaaaaand wrrrrong again!" Murdock said loudly, making the shopkeeper look up slightly annoyed.
"I'll give you a hint, oh Bad Tempered one. You'll find it right at the start".
B.A growled and swung one free arm at the pilot. But Murdock anticipated the move.
"Too slow big guy!" he laughed while swooping into another aisle with a cheerful howl.
Scowling at the disappearing pilot, B.A walked towards Hannibal who had been following the scene with a mischievous glint in his eye while quietly sipping his coffee.
Face was in the bathroom splattering his face with water at the sink.
The conman had carefully folded up his tailor-made coat and rolled up the sleeves of his buttoned up shirt to prevent his precious clothes from getting wet.
He'd swung his necktie over his shoulder. It wouldn't do meeting their client with damp clothes. He was feeling refreshed already.
The handsome womanizer was happy about this new mission they were on. He was expecting easy money this time, knowing their new client was a wealthy man.
The client was a businessman who had been experiencing a lot of trouble during the last couple of months. Strange accidents had been happening around his business and amongst his staff members. It smelled like sabotage. The team was hired to go undercover and find out who the culprit was.
That shouldn't be too hard…
Face smiled confidently at his reflection. Maybe he could even keep his clothes clean and unharmed this time. It would save him some money from his tailor.
And mayyyybe he could take Rhonda, his latest catch back in L.A, out to that fancy new restaurant he'd discovered a few weeks ago.
"Rhonda, oh Rhonda," he muttered with a smug smile on his face while imagining a very intimate dinner for two.
While running a comb through his hair, Face suddenly noticed a wallet lying on the floor right under the sink. It must've been from that guy that he saw leaving the bathroom earlier. Quickly he picked it up.
He was about to run after the man when his curiosity got the better of him. He couldn't resist having a look inside the wallet before returning it.
A quick glance told him that the man didn't have much cash on him. A bank card and some credit cards.
According to his driver's license, his name was Sean Hernandez. 39 years old. Class C permit. Maybe a Truck driver?
Stuffing back the items into the wallet, Face picked up his coat and walked out of the bathroom. Seeing the surly man standing at the counter, frantically searching his pockets for his wallet, he quickly approached him.
"Excuse me, I believe this is yours?" Face smiled while handing over the wallet.
"I found it on the bathroom floor, can you believe it?"
The man stared at Face for a few seconds, then roughly grabbed the wallet from the conman's hand.
He feverishly scanned its contents, checking if everything was still inside, then removed a ten dollar bill and threw it on the counter.
The elderly lady nervously opened the register for change, but the man was already heading for the door with his groceries. Without even looking at Face, nor the shopkeeper, he trashed out of the store without saying a word.
"And you're welcome," Face called after him sarcastically.
He felt rather indignant at the man's rude behavior.