Chapter 7: AJ
It was half past nine when AJ stood outside the apartment. AJ wore a black hoodie and black sweat pants as well as black combat boots. AJ kept checking and rechecking his messages in case of the odd chance that the meet up was cancelled.
No such luck.
AJ eyed a white van as it pulled up to the curb. The passenger, wearing similar clothes as AJ, stepped out and approached AJ.
"What time do the birds sing?" The man asked in a rough voice.
"Two hours before dawn." AJ replied.
The men stood there in silence for a few moments. AJ and the man suddenly burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, Roman. I can never take that seriously." AJ laughed.
"I honestly thought you were gonna say 'The birds remain silent' just to fuck with me." Roman laughed.
AJ pulled open the sliding door of the van and hoped in.
The driver, who had a blonde streak in his hair, glanced back at AJ. "Glad to see you didn't change your mind." He said.
"No way, Seth, rent's due next week and I ain't going back to Pizza Hut." AJ chuckled.
Seth nodded his head to the man sitting next to AJ. "You remember Dean, yeah?" Seth said.
AJ turned his head to meet Dean's stare. "Ambrose? How's the hand?" AJ asked.
Dean rolled his hoodie sleeve over his cast. "It's been better," he said. "Good thing I'm married, right?"
Everyone chuckled.
"Where's the field trip today?" AJ asked.
"Associated Bank on the corner of Davis and Main." Seth said.
"They're open before ten?" AJ asked.
Dean nodded. "Only bank in the city that is," He snickered. "'Bout to suggest a policy change."
After a few minutes of driving the group pulled into the parking lot of Associated Bank.
"Alright boys, masks up, hoods up, shades on. Don't bother with the safe only hit the tellers," Seth ordered while loading his pistol. "And Dean? No sloppy logistics like breaking your fucking hand again, yeah?"
Dean rolled his eyes and covered his face with the skull mask.
AJ, Seth, and Dean marched into the bank. Before anyone had a chance to react, Seth leapt onto a nearby table and fired a single shot into the air. Dean charged the security guard and tackled him, while AJ ran to the tellers.
"Nobody fucking move or D plugs the guard!" Seth screamed. "We are The Shield and we are here to right the wrongs of injustice!"
"Don't make me hurt you now," AJ spoke gently to the teller. "Just pull out all you have."
AJ collected the money and whistled to Seth. Seth jumped off the table and ran out the door with AJ and Dean.
Roman ripped open the sliding door. Dean, AJ, and Seth jumped in. Dean slammed the door with a laugh. Roman sped down the street. The group cheered as the bank faded into the distance.
"Dean count the hit." Seth laughed.
Dean counted the cash.
"AJ, when we get to the drop off help Roman tear off the license plates and torch the van, yeah?" Seth said.
"Sure." AJ said.
"We walkin' home then?" Dean asked.
Seth groaned. "I got a car stashed by the drop off." He said.
Dean nearly dropped the money bag. "Uh, guys?" He asked.
Seth turned around. "What?" He snapped.
Dean stared at the bag of cash.
"What's our cut?" Seth growled.
"Hundred thousand... each." Dean said.
Everyone gasped in shock. Roman nearly swerved off the road.
Seth grabbed the money bag and began counting. AJ eyed Dean nervously.
"There's no fucking way." Seth muttered.
Seth turned around and faced AJ. "How in the fuck did you pull four hundred thousand from the tellers?" He demanded.
AJ shrugged. "I just told them to hand it over." He said.
Seth started laughing. "You're our money guy from now on, AJ." He laughed.
Soon the group pulled into a deserted parking lot. Seth and Dean divided the money while AJ and Roman covered the van in gasoline. Seth lit a match and engulfed the van in flames.
Seth handed AJ a bag. "Hundred thousand," Seth said. "count it if you don't believe me."
AJ shook his head. "I trust you." AJ said grinning.
Roman dropped AJ off at his apartment. AJ entered the apartment and counted the money.
"Hundred thousand exactly." AJ whispered staring at the money.
AJ's phone buzzed.
"One New Message" it read.
AJ opened his messages.
"See ya next time -S"
AJ smiled and put away his phone. Who would've thought that he'd get away with another heist, this being his fourth one.
"What the fuck is all that?" Said someone behind AJ.
All the color in AJ's face left. AJ turned around to face Finn.
"Hey, man," AJ said nervously. "forgot you're home during the day now."
Finn rolled his eyes. "Don't change the subject, AJ. I want to know why my best friend is counting money on our dining room table, and it's not even noon yet."
AJ looked at Finn nervously. "Fine. But you can't tell the girls about this." AJ said.
Finn nodded his head. "Ok, fair enough."
