Come What May
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the shows.
A/N: Thanks to nonna99, ivanacindy, TMVH50, db1205, and sassyzazzi for leaving reviews.
Samuel eyed the driver holding a sign with the logo from their shared restaurant. "I don't like this."
Neil flipped a lock of hair out of his eye and scratched at his side burn. "What don't you like?"
"We've never had outsiders involved in this and I don't like changing the plan now, especially when we're just starting up again."
"Got your own plan?" Neil looked over at the driver as well.
"Yeah, I do." He stalked over to the driver. "You're looking for us."
The driver plastered the smile he was paid to give on his face and reached for Neil's case. "Follow me, your car is waiting."
"I got it." Neil's voice was quiet but it was clear the driver wasn't to argue. The man shrugged and led them to a waiting SUV.
Samuel handed his briefcase to Neil and dug out his wallet. "I'm assuming you have our location programmed into your GPS?" At the driver's nod, he tugged some bills out of his wallet. "Here's $500, give me the keys and take the night off."
The driver's eyes widen and he looked between the two men. His eyes landed back on the cash in Samuel's outstretched hand and the decision was made. He held out the keys with one hand and grabbed the cash with the other. "If you drop it off at the airport when you leave, we can keep this between us." He shoved the bills in his pocket and walked towards the bus stop.
Neil pulled open the door and put the luggage on the back seat while Samuel walked around to the driver side. They buckled in and Neil played with the GPS unit until it was reading out the directions.
"Feel better?" Neil floated the question across the center console.
Samuel eased back into the seat. "Yes, I do. I appreciate that you don't mind."
Neil lifted a corner of his mouth up. "I've learned to be flexible when working with partners." He rummaged through his coat pocket. "Peppermint?"
This was new, Neil never carried food around with him. Maybe this was one change Samuel could roll with. He grabbed the candy and ripped the packaging off. "Don't mind if I do."
Johnny had lived up to one part of his job. Samuel eyed the furniture located in the center of the otherwise empty warehouse. An oval poker table sat directly under a light with a smaller table off to the side. A smattering of chairs ringed the table. Samuel went straight for the small table and set up the laptop. He'd already entered all the data for the money coming in, he would begin the transfers as soon as the game started. He needed all the account information from those competing tonight so he could transfer the funds as soon as a winner was announced. He would leave giving the three of them their cut of the fees until he got back to the hotel for the night.
Everyone knew their jobs so Samuel quickly had an orderly line of people with slips of paper with banking information. He typed in the information as well as accepted the payment transfers that was their crew's finder fee. Neil stationed himself at the table, divvying up the chips. He'd wait to break open a new deck of cards until all the players were seated. The security squads for each player did a little power play dance until they all sat themselves in little groups behind where their player was to be seated. Samuel had learned that they had all filtered in over the last two days and had been informed by text the time and place of the game.
The line ended and the players took their positions. Samuel watched as Neil got the game going and then he started on his transfers. It had taken time to learn how to work the systems to protect the movement of the money, but he'd had good teachers in the banking world. He'd just completely the complex maneuvers when a sound pulled him out of his concentration.
A player's security man was pointing a shot gun at one of the other players. Samuel's hands wrapped around the laptop and his entire body tensed as he prepared to run into the darkness of the warehouse. The player showed that there was nothing in his sleeves and after a heart-stopping moment, the security man reversed his path. Samuel released the breath he didn't realize he was holding and uncurled his hands from the computer. The other players groaned and muttered, but they all watched as the fifth completed the ritual of pulling in all the chips.
Samuel deduced that the game was over – much quicker than expected – and prepared to transfer the money to the winner. Neil would bring the player over as they had a procedure of confirming the victory and giving some instructions. They losing players started to leave and by the time the last one left, the winner had his information and was giving Neil and Samuel solid handshakes. They waited until the door closed behind the last group before speaking.
"That was fast." Neil shook his head. "They were all a bit reckless tonight."
"You didn't even take a break!" Samuel looked over at the cards and chips strewn on the table.
"One minute they were all in and the next four of them were out completely." Neil scratched his head. "I guess we might as well clean up and go find a hotel."
"If you don't mind, I'll distribute our cuts while you pack up the table."
Neil nodded in agreement and started stacking the chips back in his case. Samuel logged in the desired transfers and was done quickly. He gathered the cards laying on the table and threw them out in a garbage can as Neil was snapping the locks shut.
"I came here on vacation two years ago, I think I might have a spot for us to stay."
Neil unsuccessfully stifled a yawn and motioned for Samuel to lead the way. They climbed into their SUV and Samuel backtracked out of the warehouse district and to the highway the same way they came in. He made the final turn towards the highway entrance when suddenly control of the vehicle was no longer in his hands.
The SUV flew forward and sped up. Samuel screamed as a building appeared in front of them. Neil was yelling something at him but he couldn't process the information. The passenger side slammed into a wall and Samuel curled to protect himself from flying debris. The airbags didn't deploy but it felt like the seatbelt was strangling him. Samuel jammed his hand down and unlatched it. He turned to Neil and found him sprawled over the dashboard. His eyes were shut and blood dripped from his hair.
A sound from behind made Samuel turn around and he saw the driver of the vehicle behind him struggling with something. Samuel took that as his cue and flung his door open. "Sorry Neil," he whispered as he ran as fast as his aching body could carry him. He didn't slow down until he reached the highway.
Luck leaned his way and a taxi was driving down the road just as he caught his breath. The driver didn't ask for an explanation and Samuel didn't offer one. An extra fifty doubled the fare and guaranteed the man's silence. Samuel stumbled to the ticket desk and registered for the first flight back to LA. He dropped on a nearby bench and clenched his eyes shut.
He knew he never should have agreed to this.
