Chapter Eleven: Play Dead
Jinx stared at the worn red door across the street; the grimy eye slot; the barred windows protecting the emptiness beyond the glass. Slowly she shook her head from side to side, clenching her jaw. Why didn't she realize this before? Deception was one of her fortes and yet she allowed herself to get too comfortable with someone that deceived her. It had to be Luke. Infuriated for making such a foolish mistake, she sat on the bench brooding over what to do next. Running in blindly would be the amateur's first and last mistake. She, however, was a veteran thief; quick, silent, and deadly. Pink eyes pictured the large man with beady eyes looming behind the door; his dirty wife beater; the tacky gold chain. She imagined his motionless body sprawled on the filthy floor.
Narrowing her eyes, she stood. Slinging the red bag over her shoulder, she crossed the street. After casting a glace around for spying eyes, she knocked twice and waited. The slot drudged open and the beady eyes peered out at her. "I'm here to see a guy," she stared aggressively at the man behind the door. He slid the slot shut and slowly un-locked the door.
"I take it you're here to see Luke again," he grumbled.
"Yeah, I am," turning on her heel she headed for the stairs, descending them two at a time. She paused at the bottom of the steps, fixing her eyes on the steel door standing silently at the end of the hallway. Thoughts swirled around and around in her mind. Should she charge in, orbs flying? Perhaps lull him into opening the door with a trademark smile? Or should she let him know right away that if he doesn't open the door she'll blast the wall down? What is she was wrong? What if Luke wasn't the one? She bit her lip and glared at a pebble on the floor. Which course of action is the wisest when so many possibilities are left to the unknown?
Alright, relax. Calm down. Just get inside and adapt to how things go. She took a deep breath and held it, slowing down the maelstrom of her mind. Pink eyes snapped open; she silently walked up to the door and knocked.
The slot opened and emerald eyes met hers. "Jinx…what a pleasant surprise." The voice had a hint of unease that suggested just the opposite.
"I just wanted to stop by for a little chat," she faked a rather convincing smile.
"Hm…fair enough," his eyes smiled. "The password?"
She stared hard into his eyes. I swear to god, I'm going to kill you. "Meow," she winked. His chuckle resonated down the hall as he opened the heavy door and gestured her inside. The girl settled down in the same chair she sat in just two days prior, propping her boots up on his low glass coffee table.
He eyed her feet on his table with slight annoyance but said nothing. Instead he wandered to the bar and poured himself a drink. "So, what would you like to talk about?"
"What do you do, exactly, Luke?" she glared at the back of his head. He finished and headed to the chair opposite her.
"Why do you ask?"
"Curious."
"You know what they say about cats and curiosity…"
"Don't be cute," an artificial smile hid her blunt seriousness.
He took a sip of his drink and ran his middle finger around the edge of the glass. "Obviously I'm a middle man. I take what thieves bring me, pay them, and sell it back to companies or provide larger firms with goods. I just pass along the loot."
"And…what do you do from the civilian's perspective?"
"You mean do I have a front? I do."
"That being?"
"I just own a few coffee shops here and there."
Jinx's blood ran cold. She had never disclosed her address to anyone, aside from Raven and the Café; the application required it. He owns the Phoenix Café…that's why he's always there and why he knew where I lived. Damnit, I should have put a fake address! She scratched her brow and leaned across the table on her elbows. "Really. Coffee shops? That's very clever…any I know?"
Luke eyed the girl for a moment. Something about this visit and her calm attitude was eerily disturbing. Had she figured it out? Was she just confused? Regardless, he didn't like the odds that were stacking against him. This girl was notoriously wicked when it came to battle, and he knew he didn't stand a chance against her. Nonchalantly he leaned back in the chair, his fingers blindly running down the side, searching for a small button; they depressed it a moment later.
"Oh, lets see…There's the one across the street, the Blue Moon in north side, and the Phoenix Café in the business district." He watched her intently for any subtle changes.
Jinx remained calm and collected. "You own the Phoenix Café? I didn't know that. You know I work there."
"Really? I must never be there when you're working," he drank the glass dry, shaking the ice cubes slowly as they clattered in the bottom. "Small world."
"Hm." Jinx looked up at the taller man as he stood. "I know it was you," she whispered deathly quiet. They stared at one another in silence. Everything was confirmed by the look on his face. Jinx narrowed her eyes, clenching her jaw. Luke's gaze drifted to something behind the seated sorceress. Instantly a feeling of dread shot through her. She snapped around just in time to meet the butt of pistol; it struck the side of her head with a sickening thud.
She slammed to the ground, feeling the cold tile hard against her cheek. A cacophony of screams and dissonance echoed inside her head; she fought to sit up. …jesus…fuck… Squinting her eyes to focus, she pressed her palms on the floor. The limbs fumbled in incoherent attempts to answer her commands. A trickle of warmth oozed down her temple and she groaned, angrily clawing across the floor on her stomach towards the open door.
"Sorry about that, Jinx," he walked over and squatted down in front of her, stopping her pathetic attempt at escape. "But I couldn't have you killing me."
She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't conjure the words to say. She settled for a livid glower; holding her head up defiantly against the writhing pain.
"You want to know why…purely business, my dear. Nothing personal. In fact I hate to see an attractive girl like you bleeding on the floor, but what my boss says, goes." Luke motioned for the assailant to back off; Jinx heard him shuffle over to the bar. "You're just too goddamn good, Jinx. You out-do every thief on the street, and drive them out of town in search of greener pastures. And then you suddenly stop and the import of stolen goods stalls."
Each breath was growing slower; her mind faded in and out as she tried desperately to get up, to wield her powers. But the blow was skillfully placed; she was helplessly trapped.
"And what do you think you are accomplishing by going legit? How long do you think that will last before the primal hunger drives you to the streets once again? I've seen the gleam in your eyes, child. You love the thrill of the heist." When she said nothing, Luke shook his head and stood. "Pour me another drink, Karl."
I need…help…she slowly moved her hand to her pocket, her fingers gracing the plastic shell of the communicator. Concentrating, she managed to flip the cover open in her pocket without alerting attention. She visualized the key pad in her mind. Raven's call number was 40624. Numbly, she punched in what she hoped were the correct buttons before clicking the alert button on the side. Silently she willed the call would make it to the girl.
Luke spoke but Jinx heard little as her vision grew dark and foggy. Please…Raven… Sheer will kept her lucid despite the unconsciousness reaching at her mind. Things slowed down, moving half a step behind their actual speed. She stared sideways at the two men talking at the bar. For the first time she saw the man who had struck her down. He was tall and built, with stark black hair and pale gray eyes. She had never seen him before, but would never forget his face. Blood dripped off her cheek, spattering the floor. She didn't know how long she could hold on.
"Well my dear, you stay put while I make this very important call," Luke laughed before flipping out his cell. After someone answered on the other end, he grinned. "I've got her…"