Melody shoves the key in the lock of the old rusty door, turning the key with some effort she gives the door a push and it slowly creaks open.
"I forgot about this one." Michael says as they duck inside and he closes the door behind her.
"You never knew about this one." Melody replies smirking and flicking the light switch. The old flourescent light slowly blinks to life illuminating the interior of the dusty garage.
"When I was fresh off the boat from Afghanistan I was doing jobs for a friend of mine, Gerald, this was the first place I bought. I slept on the floor right over there I havent been here in fuck, four years or more." Melody adds, walking over to a counter and flicks on the old radio.
Her head nodding to the music, she unscrews a jar dumping the contents onto the metal countertop sorting through the washers and nuts she picks up a key.
"Weapons locker." She points to her left tossing him the key. Michael walks over to the area she pointed at running his fingers over the woven steel, chain-link style security door protecting a dark room.
He kneels inserting the key at the base of the door and turns it, gripping the links he pushes the doors apart and steps into the small storage room. Reaching over he flicks on the light switch and slowly turns in place as his mouth slowly falls open. Weapons of every make and model line the walls, hanging on hooks or resting on shelves with vests and fatigues resting on hangars.
Melody walks over to an upright cabinet on the opposite end of the garage and unlocks it, reaching inside she retrieves an old beat up cardboard box. She carries the box over to the metal countertop and unfolds the top and slowly, almost in reverence, takes out a dusty worn and faded black leather jacket.
She runs her fingers over the faded subdued black and grey patch on the right sleeve, the flaming skull impaled on a double-edged sword. On the smaller ribbon style patch beneath the larger were the faded letters "SNIPER", a smile comes across her lips.
"I am a baaad girl." She says softly smirking and looking down at the jacket, she puts her arm through and tugs it onto one shoulder then the other.
Giving her shoulders a shrug the jacket's long hem falls around her, coming to rest just above her knees. She tosses her hair free and flips back the collar, touching the heavily tarnished silver Lieutenant's bars still clipped to the points of the collar. Turning away from the counter, she slowly runs her fingers down the sheet covered object in the center of the garage.
Gripping the sheet she walks alongside the car her calf high boots clicking on the poured cement floor taking the sheet with her, she balls it up dropping it in the corner.
"Did you miss me?" She asks the solid black modified Sabre Turbo. The classic muscle car doesn't respond but sits there like the hulking machine it was, shining in the flourescent light. Michael walks out of the weapons room carrying a half open duffel bag loaded with guns, he hands Melody a nickel plated M1911 .45.
"Love the jacket." Melody flashes Michael her pretty and perfect smile giving the slide of the .45 a yank and winking at him, tucking the gun at her back in the waistline of her denim jeans. Searching the pockets of her reclaimed leather jacket she finds a small key.
Melody walks over to the metal countertop and reaches under it, her fingers fumbling for a small padlock. She inserts the key and opens the lock pulling it free she drops it onto the counter and pulls open a recessed hand built drawer. Michael looks over her shoulder as Melody runs her fingers over the military green M40A3 bolt action .308 rifle.
"Yours?"
"Mine." She takes it out of the foam inlay and shuts the drawer, opening the trunk she carefully lays down the rifle
The door to the Sabre creaks when she pulls it open sliding behind the wheel as Michael dumps the guns into the trunk and uses the pull chain to open the garage door bathing the car in sunlight.
Melody pulls down the visor above her head and catches the keys before they drop into her lap. Pressing her foot to the chrome plated clutch pedal she inserts the key and turns the engine over. The car groans in protest failing to ignite before she turns the key and looks down at the dashboard.
"Don't be stubborn." She tells the car then presses the clutch to the floor and turns the key. The engine sputters coughs and ignites with a loud roar then settles into a low and intimidating growl.
Melody pops the clutch and the car slowly rumbles out of the dusty old garage and into the gleaming sunlight, the bright light glinting off of the car and the silver frame of Melody's amber lensed aviators. Michael pull the garage door closed and locks the door as Melody presses the accelerator listening to the modified 9-liter V8 growl and vibrate the whole car.
She rests her hand on the classic wood shifter and when Michael slides into the leather seat beside her she pushes the long throw five speed transmission into first with a resounding click followed by a small hiss and releases the clutch. Tires squeal on the pavement the car roaring as Melody spins the wheel and barrels onto the road, the wind whipping her silky ringlets around her as she smiles and shifts into second.
"Take it easy." Michael says smirking as he looks sideways at the smile creasing Melody's lips.
The Sabre growls to a stop on Decker Street as Michael glances down at the burner phone one of Trevor's goons had given him. Melody lets her aviators drop down her nose a little looking over the rim of the glasses and up at the large office building.
"You sure this is the place?" She asks looking sideways at him.
"This is the address he texted us, or his goons or whoever." Melody clicks her tongue before she pulls away and circles around the building into the parking garage.
Michael pulls open the door for Melody as they both walk into the modern lobby Melody folding her glasses and tucking them into her shirt collar. They walk up to the round receptionist's desk and the woman looks up at them.
"Welcome to TP Industries, Mr. Phillips is expecting you." She hands them two security badges, Melody looks down at hers and then back at the woman.
"The elevators are on your left." She smiles politely gesturing at the doors, Melody taps her security card on the counter before she follows behind Michael. The hired security guards eyeball them, Melody examines their faces then the FN P-90's strapped to their vests.
"I feel like I'm being Punk'd." She mutters as they swipe their cards, the reader blinks green and the elevator doors part allowing them to step inside. The elevator uses the information stored on their cards and automatically selects a floor for them, the doors close and the car begins to rise.
Melody clicks her tongue again eyes wandering the elevator before she takes a pen from a pocket of her leather jacket and a napkin. Using her palm as a flat surface her mouth moves as she silently mutters to herself scribbling on the napkin.
"What is-"
"Shh." Melody cuts him off as the elevator dings and the doors part Melody quickly stuffs the napkin back into her pocket. Two guards at the door stop them one gesturing at the security checkpoint set up just outside the elevator.
"All objects, watches, wallets, cell phones in the bin and step through." Melody steps through the machine giving her a loud beep.
"Ma'am, please remove all metal objects." Melody rolls her eyes and blows the air from her lungs.
Reaching behind her she removes the nickel plated M1911 from the waistband of her jeans, popping the snap she removes her combat knife from its sheath along her waist, dropping them both into the bin. She reaches into the inside pocket of her leather jacket and drops an expanding Asp baton into the bin then a pair of brass knuckles, from her left pants pocket she drops a pocketknife.
"That it?" The guard asks as Melody sighs again and puts her calf high boot onto the table reaching in she removes a small bootknife, it clatters on top of the others as Michael gives her a bemused smile.
"Can I get some kind of receipt?" She asks a smirk etching the corner of her lips as the two guards stare at her.
"Down the hall double doors on your right." The guard says gesturing as Michael rests his arm around Melody's waist and they both walk through the office floor and past several cubicles. Melody doesn't speak as they walk her eyes wandering the floor and her lips moving slightly on occasion.
"You ok?"
"Shh." She replies her eyes closing for a moment as they turn left down the corridor and then her eyes open flicking up to the ceiling. They pause at the set of double doors with two armed guards outside who reach over and open them both, the pair walk into the large and open office.
A woman was leaning over a desk saying something to Trevor who mutters something then nods in agreement as he signs something which she takes from in front of him and walks past them, the doors closing behind them.
"Welcome, welcome to Trevor Phillips Industries." Melody ignores Trevor as she walks over to the floor to ceiling windows and looks out at the city. Taking the pen from her pocket and the yellow napkin she starts scribbling on it again.
"Let's just skip straight to this huh? What are we doing here Trevor?"
"Why, being blackmailed of course."
"Besides that?"
"I'm a businessman Mikey, pillar of the community which means there are some things, as much as I'd like to, I just can't go out and do anymore."
"Like drink the blood of endangered animals or bite the heads off of bats?" Melody asks, turning away from the window stuffing the napkin back into her pocket.
"Those days are long since behind me, I've settled down."
"Somehow I doubt that." Melody mutters as Trevor gestures at two chairs in front of his desk. Michael and Melody take a seat, Melody shifts uncomfortably from one hip to the other half expecting a trapdoor to an incinerator to open up beneath them.
"So, to business." Trevor says clapping his hands together as he hands them both manilla folders. Melody glares up at Trevor as she unties the folder and pulls out its contents. She looks at the building then shuffles through the pages.
"Now, what I really need from the two of you is to see if you've still got game. I think you've been laying on some beach fucking like rabbits for far too long. So I want you to-"
"Rob a bank?" Melody asks, looking up from the documents at him.
"A-plus for G.I. Jane."
"More specifically the Lombank Building in Del Perro." Melody finishes as she looks sideways at her husband.
"Right again, this'll be easier than I thought. So you go rob the bank bring me say, 1.7 million, just for funsies, and I won't kill you both and your kid and/or reveal your location to the half dozen Federal agencies looking for you at this very moment." Melody drops the packet onto Trevor's desk with a resounding slap, getting to her feet.
"Yeah Trevor, you've really changed." She says sarcastically turning and heading for the door.
"This has got me all nostalgic, makes me all gooey inside. So I'll give you what, three days?" Michael doesn't say anything as he pushes the papers back into the folder and gets up following Melody for the door.
"Oh and remember kids, have fun with it. You're back doin' what you love."