Chap. 11

Annie finished her breakfast and Angel volunteered to get the dishes, which surprised her. She thanked him and patted his shoulder, before following Jack into the living room. He sat on the couch and pulled her down next to him...a goofy grin on his face. Bobby walked past them and upstairs. "So, what happened this morning?" She asked, curious. Jack rolled his eyes and leaned back into the couch, idly playing with the pocket in on his hoody. "I woke up and came down here...apparently one of them had walked in my bedroom while we were asleep..." Annie's eyes got huge and she suddenly felt really embarrassed. "Oh wow." He nodded and chuckled. "It's okay though, they didn't break any bones.." Annie frowned. "I'm sorry, I should have went back to my room last night."

She looked at her hands, upset they'd said something to him. "No! Don't be...you really helped me out." She looked up and smiled. "Well in that case, never mind." His blue eyes lit up and he nudged her knee with his. They were quiet, just sitting there in comfortable silence. She couldn't stop grinning, then Bobby broke up their happy little moment. "Okay, love birds...we got shit to discuss...ANGEL!" He sat on the armchair across from them, then Angel came into the living room, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Yeah?" He asked, and Annie patted the spot on the other side of here. "Meeting." She piped up and Angel sat down.

Bobby sighed and kicked his feet up on the coffee table. "Okay, so...we got to go to that liquor store and check the surveillance video..." He didn't look at all happy about this, neither did Jack or Angel. Annie wasn't looking forward to it either. It was quiet. Bobby continued. "I need to see how it went down." Angel nodded. "I'll call Jerry and have him meet us here, he can drive us all over there in his van." The eldest nodded and stood. "We'll leave here in a few minuets. Go get ready..." they all stood and Annie went to follow Jack upstairs but Bobby gently grabbed her hand. "Can I talk to ya?" She nodded and watched Angel and Jack go into their rooms and shut their doors. He rubbed his beard and looked sullen.

"I know you only got here a few days ago, but...I need you on this one okay?" Annie nodded and smiled. "Okay Bobby.." He sighed. "Bring your piece...I know your the best shot we got...just in case.." Annie nodded and he motioned for her to go on upstairs. She ran up and went into her bedroom. She pulled out a pair of clean jeans and hopped into them. She grabbed a leather jacket out of the closest, she assumed was Bobby's and a teeshirt. She slid into the tee and put the jacket on. It was a lil bog on her, but very warm. She rummaged through her bag and found her pair of mechanics leather fingerless gloves her father had gotten her for when they worked on his car. She smiled as she put them on and grabbed the .9mm. She tucked it into the back of her jeans and pulled the jacket over it. Annie slid two clips into her pocket and headed for downstairs.

She met up with Jack outside his door. He looked the same except he had boots on. She smiled and pushed her hair behind her ears. "You ready?" He nodded and followed her downstairs. Bobby ran up to his old bedroom and was back in five minuets..."Has anyone seen my leather..." He saw Annie wearing it and grinned. "Aw, your wearing my jacket...how cute." She flipped him off and he chuckled. "Maybe later....but your going to have to give it up..." Annie pouted and Jack smiled. "Be right back." He ran back upstairs and came back down with his, except it was more punk-ish. It had zippers and a retro style. She blushed and slid into it. "Thanks Jackie." He smiled. "Anytime." Angel rolled his eyes. "Just make sure your jacket is ALL your giving her..." He mumbled and went out the front door. Annie wanted to say something, but couldn't cause she lost her voice. Within minuets Jerry was pulling in and they all piled in. Angel sat upfront so Annie was squished between Bobby and Jack.

She had to adjust herself so the cold pistol wasn't digging into her lower back. Jack looked at her curiously and she shrugged. "Had to get comfy." He nodded and made an 'o' shape with his mouth. Annie grinned and Bobby spoke up. "Over here Jerry..." He pointed to a parking space beside the road and Jerry quickly parked. It was still early, only 9:30 am. They all got out and waited. "The owner will be here any minuet to open up." Jerry said....then a Islamic man rounded the corner and looked startled when he saw them. Bobby stepped forward and barely smiled. "Hello, sorry to startle you. We're the family of Evelyn Mercer.." The man looked deeply sorry.

"Ah, hello. I'm so sorry about your mother. She was truly a kind woman." He paused and unlocked the store door. "Come in?" He asked and they followed Bobby in. They all looked around, it looked normal. Bobby talked quietly to the shop owner and after a few minuets, he brought out a tape and slid it into a small TV. The air was thick with tension. Annie saw them all stand still...nervous and anxious.

(okay, truth is...I hate writing in third person....so its gonna be first person from now on.)

I watched each of their faces as the owner fast forwarded through the tape. I was nervous too, even though I didn't know Evelyn Mercer...I felt close to her for some reason. She raised these men, sure they were messed up in some ways, each had a heart of gold. I stood closer to Jack, we were farthest away from the screen. The man didn't watch after he pressed play, he just looked saddened. From what I was aware of, his son had been killed too. I could hear them all breathing. My eyes were glued to the screen. The black and white video was like a train wreck...horrible but you couldn't stop watching. I shifted on my feet, as we watched the two men come in, wielding guns. One looked like a rifle of some sort...then the other was a 12 Gage. I shivered.

I clenched my jaw, as I saw the tiny old woman crouch behind a shelf...the man behind the register had his hands up as one of the masked men took only money out of one slot of the cash register. That sent off a red flag....usually they would empty out the whole drawer. I kept quiet though. Bobby looked like stone, Angel was the same...Jerry and Jack seemed to be taking it the hardest. I looked back to the screen and balled my fists at my side. One came around the other side of the shelf and surprised Evelyn. He was yelling at her about something. She was standing now, saying something. I watched her mouth...it looked like 'please, don't do this with your life..' Then he shot her. I jumped, blinking as he shot her again.

The two masked guys ran out. I swallowed the lump in my throat...tears burning in my eyes. I looked to Bobby who too was fighting off tears...they all were. Jack was pacing behind me, freely crying. I was angry...pissed even. I knew that wasn't no normal robbery...they came in there with a purpose to shoot Evelyn. I swallowed my tears and grabbed Jack's hand, taking him outside. "Come on.." I whispered. We went into the chilly air and he lit up a cigarette, passing it to me and lighting one for himself. We were quiet, I know he doesn't want to be crying in front of me again. I inhaled deeply and let it out. Jack was trying to be so strong...but he needed to just let it out. I pulled him by his hand to me and held on. He was okay for a minuet...then he broke down.

"Those fucking assholes, I'm so glad Bobby and Angel killed their asses.." I nodded and rubbed his back. "Me too." I felt his warm strangled breath on the nape of my neck...and his tears. I let out a few and heard Bobby and the other come outside. Bobby looked murderous. But unexpectedly, he grabbed Jack's arm and hugged him. "Its okay little brother, we're going to burn some fucker's ass good." I wiped my eyes, watching the two embrace. I decided to speak up. "That wasn't a robbery...they only took cash from one slot...it was loaded.." Bobby nodded. "I noticed that too...it was an execution." The other three brothers gave us curious looks. "Normally, robbers will come in, empty the cash...maybe shoot the guy behind the counter....but they looked for Evelyn..They knew she was in there." I said, white knuckle fists hanging at my sides. Bobby nodded. "We gotta find out who is the supposed witness..." Angel said and Jerry sighed. "I got Gymnastics in an hour..." Bobby chuckled and nodded.

"Jerry, can you run Jack and Angel home please?" Angel gave him a curious look, so did Jack. Jerry shrugged. "I could, yeah." "What the hell you mean 'run us home' Bobby?" Angel looked upset. "I got to go do something, I want Twinkle Toes here with me okay?" angel was going to argue, along with Jack, but Jerry put calming hands on both their arms. "C'mon guys...save it for later." I smiled reassuringly. "You know Bobby aint going to put me in danger..." Jack gave Bobby a warning look and spoke up before Angel. "Bobby, you get her hurt and I'll fucking kill you." Bobby rolled his eyes. "Shut up Fairy." I grinned and hugged Jack. "I'll be fine. See you later okay?" I kissed his cheek and Angel pulled him away from me, towards the white van.

We stood on the street corner for a minuet, waiting for them to be out of sight. "Sorry Annie, but I need your opinion on something." I nodded. "Sure Bobby." He pulled his beanie down farther on his head. He searched his jeans pocket and pulled out a wallet. "I wanna go to his place and search it." I took it from him and saw the face of one of the killers they have already gotten. "Let's go." I was wanting to get the bastard who set this up. Bobby flagged down a cab and we told them the address. Half an hour later we pulled up to this old busted down house. We went around the back and he busted the back door window out, letting us in.

I laughed. "Really smooth Bobby." He grinned. "I'm all about smooth." I rolled my eyes and we went in, shutting the door behind us. "What are we looking for?" Bobby shrugged. "Anything that can tell us something." I nodded and started ransacking. I tore apart the couches, went through drawers...took apart the kitchen..nothing. After an hour, Bobby hollered for me. "I found something you might like." I walked into the master bedroom and grinned. Bobby had upturned the mattress and there was at least ten guns. I immediately went for the rifle. He smirked. "Thought you'd like that one." I picked it up and it was a good weight. Single shot, bolt action. ".308...damn good gun." I was in love. It had a black barrel and synthetic stock, expensive scope mounted on top. I opened the action and looked down the barrel...clean.

"This will deliver if need be.." I mumbled as I peered down the scope. Bobby got quiet as he watched me handle the rifle. "You scare me..." I looked at him, and realized I did look a little intimidating. I was in perfect stance with it shouldered. "Then don't piss me off when its loaded.." I laughed and put it down. "Fuck that." Bobby agreed and began putting all the guns in a duffel bag he'd found. I groaned when I realized the .308 wasn't going to fit in it. "Shit, um Bobby." He looked up with his brown eyes. "Yeah?" I picked up the rifle. "This isn't going to fit." He sighed. "Well....here!" He grabbed a long pillow off the floor and took the case off. "There ya go!" I rolled my eyes again and obeyed. "We didn't find much..." I said right before we walked out. I was just about to shut the door when something silver caught my eyes. "Hold on.."

I grabbed it, a digital camera. I turned it on and flipped through the pictures. There was only 17 pictures...all of Evelyn Mercer in her daily routine. "Bobby..." I said, handing him the phone. "Thats proof they were hired...we used to do that over seas. We'd get pictures of our targets and the best places to set up.." He nodded, anger flashing though his eyes...then he stopped. "What the fuck is this?" He handed the camera back to me. There Evelyn was, being escorted into the police building by a younger guy. He was tall and dorky looking. Brown hair and a crow nose. "You know him?" Bobby nodded. "Officer, his name is Fowler..its Green's partner." I didn't know what he was talking about.

I flipped through the last two...there was an older man walking in and out of a restaurant with her. "Who's this?" I haded it back once more and Bobby groaned. "The lawyer that handled her will....he said he'd only met up with her once.." I snorted. "Looks pretty friendly to me.." The man had his arm around her waist. He agreed and groaned. "This just keeps getting deeper and deeper." I sighed with him and we left, catching a cab back to the Mercer house.

Hope yall enjoyed it. Please R&R!!

Love,

Illy.