Chapter III

Hood stood in the middle of the elevator, a move he usually didn't do. If one stood in the middle as soon as those doors opened, one of two things happened; you got the first shot off or they got the first shot off. Usually it was they. When you got five cronies, wielding guns of all kind with itchy trigger fingers, all hell would break loose. It was guaranteed. But if you stood off to one side, you had a better chance of success, but you shouldn't count on it. The best way was to send up one elevator as a decoy, while the other went up alongside it. The bad guys react to the first one, shooting it to pieces, while you step out of the other and shoot them to pieces. It was pretty simple if you thought about it.

Hood looked up real quick and saw the floor numbers slowly signifying his ascent. He took a deep breath and prepared for whatever laid in wait on the other side. No one knew that they were coming except Steve. Jan didn't even know he was coming; it was going to be a surprise. He smiled at the thought and felt the elevator coming to a gradual stop. The bell in the elevator rang and the door opened ever so slowly as a bead of sweat streamed down the side of his face. There was no one on the other side.

He breathed a sigh of relief and stepped outside the elevator. Hood didn't bother to make sure it was safe, he just waltz right out into the open, exposed. He turned and walked down the hallway to Jan's apartment. "1003" read the numbers signifying her address and below it was a little peephole. Hood peered in to the best of his abilities but he couldn't see anything. He tried to persuade Jan into getting rid of this one and installing one of the hidden ones, but she wouldn't have it. He shook his head at her indiscretion, took off his sunglasses and knocked on the door.

"Just a second!" a voice rang out from behind the door. It was Jan and this was another thing that bothered Hood. She was never suspicious as to who could be on the other side of the door and always gave herself away. But to her, she had nothing to worry about; no one was out to get her. Hood then jumped as he heard the door unlock and the door fly wide open. "Baby!" screamed a voice and then Hood felt a tremendous shift in weight upon him. It was Jan pouncing on him.

Hood at first fell back into the hall but was able to regain his balance and go back in Jan's apartment. He hugged her back as strong as she was hugging him. Hood then set her back on the ground, "How you doin' babe? Stayin' out of trouble?"

"Oh Hood, you know me. I'm a sweet, little, innocent schoolgirl. Doing nothing but studying to make her parents proud." she said slyly and innocently, tugging at Hood's hands towards the sofa. Hood looked straight into her eyes and smiled. She was gorgeous and all his. Hood didn't like to think of himself as possessive and in fact didn't really even treat her that way like some possessive guys treat their girlfriends. Hood let her make a lot of decisions but he also made a lot of suggestions, which usually she gave into. "Come on, I want to take you out for a couple of hours." Hood said tugging back towards the door.

"Really, where are you going to take me?" Jan asked pulling herself closer and resting her hands lightly on his arms.

"Well, first me and Steve have to run an errand, but after that it's your choice. Anywhere you want to go, we'll go.

Jan's smile dropped to the ground and her hands, which were resting lightly on his arms, went deadweight. "By 'we,' do you mean you and I or you, Steve and I?"

"Oh come on, don't do that. Listen, I wanted to surprise you and I did. I can't help if me and Steve have to run this errand first. Besides, can't you call up one of your friends and she can 'escort' Steve around, keep him in line?" said Hood. He was begging actually.

"Are you kidding? I've seen the way Steve acts around women and it's pathetic. He becomes an even bigger bumbling fool then he already is." she said stubbornly now backing away from Hood.

"God damn it Jan, I can't help that! Ok? Would just come on, I promise, we'll have a good time." Hood said assertively. Jan looked at him a little shocked. It was very rare that Hood talked to her like that, but behind the angry voice there was compassion and caring. He was only trying to look out for her.

Jan nodded, "Just let me get some things and I'll be right back." She proceeded to walk out of the living room and into her room. Hood stood where he was and looked his watch. Eleven minutes had passed by since he had left Steve in the car. He hoped he was okay.

Jan came back and looked a little bit more refreshed with a giant smile on her face. She walked up to Hood, put her arms around him, gave a quick hug and then gave a quick peck on the cheek. Hood nodded and Jan's arm's slid down, her right clasping into place with his left. They walked towards the door; Hood opened it and walked out first. Usually, he would Jan go out first like a gentleman should, but something didn't feel right. He looked down the hall and saw a man in a brown suit. The man looked back and met eye to eye with Hood. His face remained stoic and he started to head down the hallway towards Hood.

Hood's eyes went wide, knowing what this meant. He grabbed Jan and threw her back into the apartment as hard as he could. She literarily flew into the air and it the hardwood floor hard. With his free hand, Hood reached for his gun, drew it and leveled it with the man in the brown suit. By that time, the man had drawn his own pistol and fired.

Hood heard it fly past his head and he returned a round. The man ducked and fired again, but Hood had now dove back into the apartment, slamming and locking the door. He ran over and picked up Jan who screaming as to what was going on. They cleared the doorway and took refuge behind the bar.

"Stay down and don't move!" Hood ordered and Jan shook her head in reply. Hood slowly looked over the bar and looked at the door. Shots rang from the other side of the door and bullets began tearing their way through in every direction. Hood ducked and returned fire once again, emptying his magazine and quickly reloading. He looked down at Jan, who sat in a fetal position, covering her ears. An apology was all that he could muster.

Hood looked back at the door, waiting. He gave a quick look at his watch, in about two minutes, Steve would be leaving and there was no point in going out the front door. Hood knew of the emergency stairs out the back, but there was no doubt in his mind that someone was covering that way also, but it was their only way out.

"Come on." he whispered picking up Jan and moving her behind him. He fired two more shots at the door and then at the window, shattering it. Hood looked through the broken glass down the stairs and didn't see anyone. He moved out first with Jan behind him and quickly made their descent down the metal staircase. In a minute or so, they made it to the alley and were sprinting to the street. They turned the corner and Steve was still sitting there, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. He looked up as he saw Hood and Jan barreling down the street at him. He went ahead and threw the car into gear, turning the wheel in preparation for a quick escape attempt.

Hood opened the back door, pushed Jan in and then jumped in himself. He looked at his watch and saw that it had been five minutes past the time he had told Steve to go.

"Steve, I specifically told you to leave if I wasn't back in twenty minutes and for once I'm happy you didn't listen to me." Hood said breathing heavily. He felt himself slam back in the seat as Steve took off.

"What happened? What's going on?" Steve blurted over his shoulder. "I'll tell you on the way to Dresser's. Now hurry up, drive!" Hood yelled. He looked at Jan who was quivering and about to burst into tears. Hood pulled her to him, hugging her gently reassuring everything was ok.