Chapter 19.
.4.08pm.
Less than five minutes later, Toby had a connection to the receiver hooked up, and the whole room could clearly hear the mumbles and snippets of conversation that it picked up.
Memphis wandered over to join with Sway on the same desk she had been sat on for the past 20 minutes. Rachel, none to subtly, got up to allow them some alone time.
"You okay?" Sway asked as Memphis sank down next to her his eyes closed.
"Mmm. Just tired."
"We didn't need this did we?" Sway grinned, placing a hand gently on his knee.
"Er, in a word - no! Not really." He laughed slightly and opened his eyes so he could look at her. "You're so calm. How do you always do that!?"
"Calm! Memphis are you forgetting my little outburst? Waterworks and everything!"
He laughed louder and bent in to kiss her briefly. She always managed to make him smile.
"Seriously?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"I have someone here who just put it all in perspective for me. And I guess, I don't know, they just keep me calm. As long as they are, I am."
He raised an eyebrow at this, and followed her gaze over to where Rachel stood, casually leaning against the wall, cigarette in hand, retreating deep behind her dark eyes. She flicked the ash from her Kool and laughed as Tumbler dropped a screwdriver in an attempt to impress her by spinning it in his hand. He fumbled on the floor to pick it up and she laughed again, taking a long drag on her cigarette and shaking her head.
Sways voice broke into Memphis's thoughts "I used to be like that."
He turned to look at her "You still are."
***
.4.10pm.
Sphinx sat in the same chair, still tied down and strained to listen to what Johnny and his gang were whispering about. If he couldn't hear them, there was no way Memphis would be able to. He needed to draw them away from their corner and get them sneaking loud and clear. He suddenly had an idea, they were all pretty damn dim as far as he could tell and knew it wouldn't take much for them to fall into his trap.
He slumped sideways in his chair, forcing all his weight to one side causing it to tip over and send him crashing to the floor. He kept his eyes closed.
"Shit!" Shouted Smithy as he jumped at the noise.
They all rushed forwards to Sphinx.
"Aw shit he passed out again. Fuck Smithy how hard did you hit the bastard with that pipe?" Said Johnny as he helped one of the larger guys right Sphinx, chair and all.
"I don' no dog. Pretty hard I guess. He a big dude aint it."
"Yeah well, I didn't want you to kill him did I! What the fuck use is a dead guy to us huh? Idiot!" Sphinx heard the unmistakable sound of a hand slapping around the side of a head.
"Sorry." Mumbled Smithy.
"Big Mike. Give me your phone." Barked Johnny "We need to call Eddie, update him."
Sphinx had to fight his hardest to suppress a grin. This could be just what he needed.
***
.4.15pm.
Toby batted Kip's hand away furiously as it reached in to press a button on his control board.
"What did I tell you man? Don't touch!"
Kip grumbled and sat down on a swivel chair, swinging himself back and forth vigorously, desperate for something to amuse himself with. He settled on watching Tumbler futilely trying to chat up Rachel who was having none of it.
"So, like er, where you from?" He asked awkwardly, fidgeting as he stood ridged next to her relaxed form.
She slowly raised her eyes and stared at him for a beat before replying.
"Long Island."
"No shit." He nodded moronically and then quickly changed tack "So er, like, er, what do you do? You know, as a job?"
The same long pause and level stare followed before she answered.
"I'm a beautician."
"Really?" He asked, unable to hide the serious surprise in his eyes.
She looked at him, her expression totally deadpan, before answering him and then drawing her smoke up to her lips.
"No."
He looked at her, embarrassed, obviously unsure what to do with himself, but knowing the conversation was over. She was back in Rachel land now, barely even breathing, just standing slumped against the wall, hidden behind her eyes, surveying the room silently.
Sway chuckled and nudged Memphis.
"She's such a bitch. Look at him! Poor kid."
Memphis looked over at the bewildered looking Tumbler as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"I think he can handle himself okay."
They watched as he started to ramble to Rachel again, who looked as if she hadn't even noticed he'd started talking.
"No, no, no." Muttered Sway to herself "Stop talking. Please stop talking."
Memphis laughed quietly under his breath.
Sway stood up "I can't watch this." She said as she picked up Rachel's cigarettes from table. "Hey Rach!" She called.
Rachel looked over at her as Sway held up the packet.
"Can I bum one?"
"Sure." Rachel answered as Tumbler slinked away quickly, glad of the diversion.
"Spoil sport." Whispered Memphis into Sways ear as she drew a smoke from the packet with her teeth.
She lit it and the turned to look at him slowly.
"That's very mean Memphis Raines."
"I'm a very mean guy." He said in a low voice as he leaned in and kissed her passionately.
"Do you two mind!? Ugh." Retorted Freb as he wandered past.
Neither of them answered and without breaking from the kiss Sway flicked him a stiff middle finger.
Memphis heard Donny chuckle. "They'll come up for air eventually." He said as he turned his back on the couple and grinned at a smiling Rachel.
"Hey guys!" Toby suddenly yelled. "I. I think. Yep, we got something here! Memphis."
Memphis and Sway pulled apart quickly and ran over.
Rachel whooped and gave Toby a little wink before moving over to stand behind him, her arms draped around his neck, Tumbler looked on enviously. The others came to bunch around Toby as he shushed them all, pride coming off him in waves as he finally became the center of attention, this time for the right reasons.
He pulled his cans down from his ears and flicked a few switches on his board.
First all they got was a faint crackling, then as he turned the volume up, and the background fader down, they could clearly hear Johnny B's voice.
"There's a lot of interference," Toby said as he hit a record button and leant back in his chair, Rachel still leaning on him "So I'd guess he's on a cell phone."
"Good. Nice work Toby." Nodded Memphis as they all stood desperately still, worried that the slightest movement would have an effect on the signal.
"Yo!" Said the crackly but, unmistakable voice of Johnny B "Eddie it Johnny B dude." He paused, obviously listening to the person on the other end of the phone talking. Memphis felt Sway stiffen at his side at the sound of the voice, her fury still raw.
"Yeah dude yeah. Safe. Mmhmm. Yep. Yep. No. We got one of them right here. No, its not the blonde one, this dumbass crew you sent me couldn't even pick off one little woman!"
Memphis cleared his throat loudly, his hate for this man building with every word he muttered.
"No. They only went an got the only one that can't fucking speak. Yeah, that's him, big dude, kinda ugly. Yeah. I know dude tell me bout it! Fucking assholes. I know. Yeah. Well he can't tell you nothin'. Yeah that what I said. Blackmail dude, I like it!" He laughed and paused a little while longer "Nope. No. Sure dog. You come down here and we'll get ringin' our little friend! Yeah I got his number. Yeah. Yeah. Pier 14, one of the outbuildings on the south side. Yeah. Easy to find-"
"That's it!" Memphis jumped into action. "Right Toby, you keep an ear to what he says and keep us posted via Donny's cell. We need to keep mine free and these are no use right now." He pointed to his receiver. "Er, okay, Donny, Tumbler, Kip, Rachel you come with me, the rest of you stay here. Keep us posted." He said again to Toby.
"Er, excuse me." Sway turned to look at Memphis her eyes wide.
"He already has you targeted Sway." He explained, "I don't want you to come."
She raised her eyebrows and Rachel tossed her her jacket "Tough shit." She said as she strolled out of the door leading the others.
Memphis threw up his hands and gave Otto an exasperated eye roll.
Mirror man laughed "You totally under the thumb aint you?"
Memphis shook his head "You just don't argue with Sway." He replied as he backed out of the garage, following the others, to the recently re-parked and re-plated SUV's.
***
.4.31pm.
Less than 10 minutes later, the six cruised along the south side of Pier number 14 in the large black van, with Sway behind the wheel.
"Hey." Rachel pointed over Memphis's shoulder from the back seat "Aint that Tara over there."
He followed her finger and sure enough, parked amongst a set of black bikes, and vans similar to their own, was a gleaming silver Lexus. The vehicles were parked on a square of tarmac that posed as a driveway for the small, windowless breezeblock outbuilding. There was no visible entrance so Memphis guessed that they were now around the back, and that the door was on the opposite side, facing out onto the water.
He turned in his seat to address the four sitting in the back of the SUV.
"You stay here. I'm gonna go check it all out. Give me two minutes then follow me okay?" They all nodded and Rachel lit up yet another cigarette, leaning back in her seat, eyebrows raised.
Memphis turned to Sway "You coming?" He asked, but she already had one hand on the door handle. Question answered.
They climbed quietly from the van and crept up the makeshift driveway to stop against the back wall of the building.
Memphis lowered his voice to a whisper. "You go around that way," He indicated right "I'll meet you around the other side."
She nodded and slunk away, giving Memphis one last fleeting glance over her shoulder before turning the corner.
Memphis followed suit in the other direction, moving silently along, barely breathing. Creeping around was second nature to him from his boosting days. The sound of a door slamming shut and a brief scuffling noise caught his attention and he flattened himself up against the cool bricks. He stood still for a few seconds and the proceeded along the wall, all the while listening out for further signs of activity. He stopped at the end, his back against the breezeblocks, ready to peer around the corner to check out the front side of the building. Then he froze and swore under his breath as he heard a voice drifted around from where he wanted to go.
"Raaaaaines!" Johnny B sang, "I know you're out there boy! Come on out and say hi, we got a right lil' party going on here!"
Memphis held his breath and his position, not wanting to do anything premature.
"Say something." Said Johnny gruffly, this time not talking to Memphis.
The next thing he heard made his breath catch in his throat. He wasn't sure if it was the shrill desperation or the wavering tone that hit him most when Sways voice answered Johnny's command.
"Memphis."
"Memphis." Mimicked Johnny laughing "Come on, come out and say hi to your woman! Don't be rude."
Memphis slowly moved out from the side of the building to stand facing Johnny. The sight before him made him feel physically sick as he took it all in. Johnny B stood, flanked by five or six other large men, with his arm wrapped around Sway's neck and a gun pointed steadily at her temple. Beads of sweat were appearing on her pasty skin and her eyes had faded dramatically from their usual brilliant blue to a steely gray.
"Aw here he is! Look boys its Raines, come to say hello!" They all guffawed moronically as Sway closed her eyes and swallowed thickly. "Now then Raines," Johnny's tone of voice dropped to a less playful tone "What the fuck do you think you're doing sneaking around here?"
Before Memphis could answer, he heard a noise from behind him and saw Johnny's face contort with anger.
"What the fuck!" He shouted.
"I could ask you the same thing." Came Rachel's voice from somewhere over Memphis's shoulder, his two minutes were up and the cavalry had arrived.
Memphis held up a hand to quieten her.
"RAINES!!!" Johnny shouted again. "Where the fuck did this lot come from?!"
"They wont do anything-"
"They better fucking not!" He seethed "I want them moved back."
They didn't move, simply stood still staring at him levelly, Memphis's army.
"NOW!" Johnny shouted and he clicked the hammer back on the gun.
Sway let out a small gasp and closed her eyes, breathing deeper and more erratically.
Memphis's knees started to feel weak and he threw his hands into the air quickly "Okay, okay." He said in a tone much calmer than he thought he could manage, "Take a couple of steps back guys."
He heard a shuffling from behind him and knew that they had done as he asked.
"That's better." Johnny snapped, his anger subsiding slightly. "Now answer my question. What are you doin' here?"
"We came to pick up a member of our crew." Said Tumbler gruffly.
"Oh yeah? And who's that then?" Johnny raised his eyebrows, a worse actor than he was a ringleader.
" 'Big dude, kinda ugly' " Memphis mirrored Johnny's past comment as Donny pulled a receiver out of his pocket and waved it in the air.
Johnny looked shocked for a second and then his face contorted in rage again and he shouted over him shoulder "YOU FUCKIN' IDIOTS! YOU DIDN'T SEARCH HIM?"
"Yeah dog," Smithy replied "He had rats in his pocket din' 'e!"
"Did you search BOTH pockets!?" He yelled.
"Oh. Er, I'm, erm. I'm not sure." Smithy muttered in a small voice.
"Fuckin' idiots! I'm working with a bunch of fuckin' idiots!"
Rachel chuckled and reached into the pocket of her jacket.
"Hey!" Johnny shouted whipping around to look at her "What are you doin'?"
"I'm havin'," She said slowly as if talking to a small child, "a smoke." She pulled out the packet and wiggled it at him. "Want one?"
He growled at her and pushed the gun tighter against Sway's head making her gasp again.
"Rachel." Memphis warned.
There was a crash and a yell from inside the building. Everyone turned and watched as a short stocky man emerged from the entrance behind Johnny, dragging a smug looking Sphinx with him.
"Damn Johnny." He said as he shoved Sphinx, who's hands were still tied behind his back out of the door before him "He wasn't fuckin' unconscious!" He rubbed his nose and glared at Sphinx "He just fuckin' head butted me!"
"Damn it! Shut up!" Shouted Johnny, he was starting to loose control and it showed in his face. Memphis became wary and he looked briefly at Sway whose gray eyes turned to him slowly and lingered.
"Hey dude!" Said Smithy excitedly, realization flooding over his face "He never was unconscious, bet he just did that to get us to talk louder!"
"Yeah Smithy!" Johnny spat "I think we'd figured that out you dumb fuck!"
Smithy's smile faded and he shrank back, looking disheartened.
"What are we going to do about this little situation we have here then?" Memphis asked, his tone still surprisingly calm.
"Well, the way I see it Raines we are calling the shots here as we have two of your crew!" He grinned a malicious little grin.
"Yeah." Kip said "But the way we see it, Sphinx's feet aint tied are they, and he doesn't need his hands to knock the shit out of you morons!"
"Kip, shut up!" Warned Memphis.
"Yeah listen to big bro boy scout. Coz u see, problem is, if *he* tries anything," He jerked his shoulder in Sphinx's direction "I'll blow *her* head off."
Memphis had to fight to keep his knees from buckling.
"Ok, I may have deal for you then." He said as an idea popped into his head.
"I'm listenin'." Johnny turned his attention from Kip and the creepy, smug smile returned to his face.
"Well, the way I see it, you don't want many people to know about this right. Because that would be cheating. And I know that most of the big players are in the know about our little bet."
Johnny narrowed his eyes but didn't answer.
"Would make you look very untrustworthy." Memphis paused "So if you hand them over now, it wont be mentioned."
"Is that it?! I should pull this trigger right now for making me listen to that shit!"
"I'm not done." Memphis said quickly "I have another proposition for you. Now I know that for you, one of the added bonuses to this, is that you're gonna make some money off the sales of the boosted cars."
"Mmm," Johnny said "So what?"
"Well, I'll make a trade. Sphinx and Sway for all our cars at the end. Win or lose."
Johnny got a gleam in his eyes as he considered this greedily.
"Well Raines. Seems you've come up to scratch there." He signaled at his men and they shoved Sphinx forwards towards Memphis and the others.
They stood and waited for him to release Sway.
"But how," Johnny looked at Memphis his eyes steely "do I know that you wont go back on your word."
"I wont." Said Memphis beginning to panic, but not showing it.
"Hmm, maybe I should keep this one just to be sure." He bent his head and kissed Sway on the cheek.
Fury covered Memphis's fear and he had to do everything he could to stop himself from charging forwards and pouncing on Johnny.
"Then again." Johnny smiled sickeningly "I could just shoot her."
Sways eyes flew wide and Memphis nearly fell to the floor. The world began to turn in slow motion as he watched in horror as Johnny's finger squeezed the trigger of the gun.
Sway stood and waited for the flashing pain, waited for it all to go black, she shut her eyes tight and waited for death. There was a click and then she heard a loud shrill laugh from behind her and was amazed to realize that she could open her eyes.
"Three of the six chambers in this gun are empty," Johnny grinned at Memphis who had turned an even paler shade than Sway. "This girl's one lucky bitch." He laughed again and shoved her forwards. Him and his crew turned chuckling and walked back inside the building.
Sway stared at Memphis for a beat and then crumpled to the floor. He rushed forwards and dropped to his knees in front of her. A noise from behind him told him that the others were leaving, allowing them some privacy.
Sway stayed still for at least five minutes, her head facedown on Memphis's knees whilst she concentrated hard on her breathing and he crouched over her body. When she finally sat up again Memphis was relived to see that some on the color had returned to her cheeks and eyes.
"You okay?" He asked quietly.
She nodded "I think-"
"What?" He mumbled kissing her cheek.
"I think," she exhaled slowly "I need a cigarette."
He laughed and sighed deeply as he pulled her to her feet. She smiled and he felt the weight in his stomach lift instantly.
"Lets go." Memphis said, glaring over his shoulder at the door to the building, fury boiling inside him. He was going to make Johnny pay for this.
His thoughts were interrupted when Sway grabbed his face in her hands and pulled it down roughly to her own to kiss him hungrily.
He pulled away, breathing heavily. "What was that for?"
"Just checking I was really still alive." She grinned wickedly.
He flung an arm around her shoulder and walked her back around the building.
"Are you really going to give him all the cars?" Sway asked as they approached their SUV.
"Yeah," He looked at her "Well we don't want 'em, and you never know, *someone* might even send an anonymous tip-off to the cops after we're done. You know, Johnny could get into some serious trouble with all those stolen ladies on his hands!"
Sway laughed loudly and climbed into the passenger seat of the van.
"What's so funny?" Rachel asked as Memphis started the engine.
"Oh nothing." Sway looked over at him and grinned before turning in her seat to face her friend. "Now, gimme a damn cigarette."
***End chapter 19***
.4.08pm.
Less than five minutes later, Toby had a connection to the receiver hooked up, and the whole room could clearly hear the mumbles and snippets of conversation that it picked up.
Memphis wandered over to join with Sway on the same desk she had been sat on for the past 20 minutes. Rachel, none to subtly, got up to allow them some alone time.
"You okay?" Sway asked as Memphis sank down next to her his eyes closed.
"Mmm. Just tired."
"We didn't need this did we?" Sway grinned, placing a hand gently on his knee.
"Er, in a word - no! Not really." He laughed slightly and opened his eyes so he could look at her. "You're so calm. How do you always do that!?"
"Calm! Memphis are you forgetting my little outburst? Waterworks and everything!"
He laughed louder and bent in to kiss her briefly. She always managed to make him smile.
"Seriously?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"I have someone here who just put it all in perspective for me. And I guess, I don't know, they just keep me calm. As long as they are, I am."
He raised an eyebrow at this, and followed her gaze over to where Rachel stood, casually leaning against the wall, cigarette in hand, retreating deep behind her dark eyes. She flicked the ash from her Kool and laughed as Tumbler dropped a screwdriver in an attempt to impress her by spinning it in his hand. He fumbled on the floor to pick it up and she laughed again, taking a long drag on her cigarette and shaking her head.
Sways voice broke into Memphis's thoughts "I used to be like that."
He turned to look at her "You still are."
***
.4.10pm.
Sphinx sat in the same chair, still tied down and strained to listen to what Johnny and his gang were whispering about. If he couldn't hear them, there was no way Memphis would be able to. He needed to draw them away from their corner and get them sneaking loud and clear. He suddenly had an idea, they were all pretty damn dim as far as he could tell and knew it wouldn't take much for them to fall into his trap.
He slumped sideways in his chair, forcing all his weight to one side causing it to tip over and send him crashing to the floor. He kept his eyes closed.
"Shit!" Shouted Smithy as he jumped at the noise.
They all rushed forwards to Sphinx.
"Aw shit he passed out again. Fuck Smithy how hard did you hit the bastard with that pipe?" Said Johnny as he helped one of the larger guys right Sphinx, chair and all.
"I don' no dog. Pretty hard I guess. He a big dude aint it."
"Yeah well, I didn't want you to kill him did I! What the fuck use is a dead guy to us huh? Idiot!" Sphinx heard the unmistakable sound of a hand slapping around the side of a head.
"Sorry." Mumbled Smithy.
"Big Mike. Give me your phone." Barked Johnny "We need to call Eddie, update him."
Sphinx had to fight his hardest to suppress a grin. This could be just what he needed.
***
.4.15pm.
Toby batted Kip's hand away furiously as it reached in to press a button on his control board.
"What did I tell you man? Don't touch!"
Kip grumbled and sat down on a swivel chair, swinging himself back and forth vigorously, desperate for something to amuse himself with. He settled on watching Tumbler futilely trying to chat up Rachel who was having none of it.
"So, like er, where you from?" He asked awkwardly, fidgeting as he stood ridged next to her relaxed form.
She slowly raised her eyes and stared at him for a beat before replying.
"Long Island."
"No shit." He nodded moronically and then quickly changed tack "So er, like, er, what do you do? You know, as a job?"
The same long pause and level stare followed before she answered.
"I'm a beautician."
"Really?" He asked, unable to hide the serious surprise in his eyes.
She looked at him, her expression totally deadpan, before answering him and then drawing her smoke up to her lips.
"No."
He looked at her, embarrassed, obviously unsure what to do with himself, but knowing the conversation was over. She was back in Rachel land now, barely even breathing, just standing slumped against the wall, hidden behind her eyes, surveying the room silently.
Sway chuckled and nudged Memphis.
"She's such a bitch. Look at him! Poor kid."
Memphis looked over at the bewildered looking Tumbler as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"I think he can handle himself okay."
They watched as he started to ramble to Rachel again, who looked as if she hadn't even noticed he'd started talking.
"No, no, no." Muttered Sway to herself "Stop talking. Please stop talking."
Memphis laughed quietly under his breath.
Sway stood up "I can't watch this." She said as she picked up Rachel's cigarettes from table. "Hey Rach!" She called.
Rachel looked over at her as Sway held up the packet.
"Can I bum one?"
"Sure." Rachel answered as Tumbler slinked away quickly, glad of the diversion.
"Spoil sport." Whispered Memphis into Sways ear as she drew a smoke from the packet with her teeth.
She lit it and the turned to look at him slowly.
"That's very mean Memphis Raines."
"I'm a very mean guy." He said in a low voice as he leaned in and kissed her passionately.
"Do you two mind!? Ugh." Retorted Freb as he wandered past.
Neither of them answered and without breaking from the kiss Sway flicked him a stiff middle finger.
Memphis heard Donny chuckle. "They'll come up for air eventually." He said as he turned his back on the couple and grinned at a smiling Rachel.
"Hey guys!" Toby suddenly yelled. "I. I think. Yep, we got something here! Memphis."
Memphis and Sway pulled apart quickly and ran over.
Rachel whooped and gave Toby a little wink before moving over to stand behind him, her arms draped around his neck, Tumbler looked on enviously. The others came to bunch around Toby as he shushed them all, pride coming off him in waves as he finally became the center of attention, this time for the right reasons.
He pulled his cans down from his ears and flicked a few switches on his board.
First all they got was a faint crackling, then as he turned the volume up, and the background fader down, they could clearly hear Johnny B's voice.
"There's a lot of interference," Toby said as he hit a record button and leant back in his chair, Rachel still leaning on him "So I'd guess he's on a cell phone."
"Good. Nice work Toby." Nodded Memphis as they all stood desperately still, worried that the slightest movement would have an effect on the signal.
"Yo!" Said the crackly but, unmistakable voice of Johnny B "Eddie it Johnny B dude." He paused, obviously listening to the person on the other end of the phone talking. Memphis felt Sway stiffen at his side at the sound of the voice, her fury still raw.
"Yeah dude yeah. Safe. Mmhmm. Yep. Yep. No. We got one of them right here. No, its not the blonde one, this dumbass crew you sent me couldn't even pick off one little woman!"
Memphis cleared his throat loudly, his hate for this man building with every word he muttered.
"No. They only went an got the only one that can't fucking speak. Yeah, that's him, big dude, kinda ugly. Yeah. I know dude tell me bout it! Fucking assholes. I know. Yeah. Well he can't tell you nothin'. Yeah that what I said. Blackmail dude, I like it!" He laughed and paused a little while longer "Nope. No. Sure dog. You come down here and we'll get ringin' our little friend! Yeah I got his number. Yeah. Yeah. Pier 14, one of the outbuildings on the south side. Yeah. Easy to find-"
"That's it!" Memphis jumped into action. "Right Toby, you keep an ear to what he says and keep us posted via Donny's cell. We need to keep mine free and these are no use right now." He pointed to his receiver. "Er, okay, Donny, Tumbler, Kip, Rachel you come with me, the rest of you stay here. Keep us posted." He said again to Toby.
"Er, excuse me." Sway turned to look at Memphis her eyes wide.
"He already has you targeted Sway." He explained, "I don't want you to come."
She raised her eyebrows and Rachel tossed her her jacket "Tough shit." She said as she strolled out of the door leading the others.
Memphis threw up his hands and gave Otto an exasperated eye roll.
Mirror man laughed "You totally under the thumb aint you?"
Memphis shook his head "You just don't argue with Sway." He replied as he backed out of the garage, following the others, to the recently re-parked and re-plated SUV's.
***
.4.31pm.
Less than 10 minutes later, the six cruised along the south side of Pier number 14 in the large black van, with Sway behind the wheel.
"Hey." Rachel pointed over Memphis's shoulder from the back seat "Aint that Tara over there."
He followed her finger and sure enough, parked amongst a set of black bikes, and vans similar to their own, was a gleaming silver Lexus. The vehicles were parked on a square of tarmac that posed as a driveway for the small, windowless breezeblock outbuilding. There was no visible entrance so Memphis guessed that they were now around the back, and that the door was on the opposite side, facing out onto the water.
He turned in his seat to address the four sitting in the back of the SUV.
"You stay here. I'm gonna go check it all out. Give me two minutes then follow me okay?" They all nodded and Rachel lit up yet another cigarette, leaning back in her seat, eyebrows raised.
Memphis turned to Sway "You coming?" He asked, but she already had one hand on the door handle. Question answered.
They climbed quietly from the van and crept up the makeshift driveway to stop against the back wall of the building.
Memphis lowered his voice to a whisper. "You go around that way," He indicated right "I'll meet you around the other side."
She nodded and slunk away, giving Memphis one last fleeting glance over her shoulder before turning the corner.
Memphis followed suit in the other direction, moving silently along, barely breathing. Creeping around was second nature to him from his boosting days. The sound of a door slamming shut and a brief scuffling noise caught his attention and he flattened himself up against the cool bricks. He stood still for a few seconds and the proceeded along the wall, all the while listening out for further signs of activity. He stopped at the end, his back against the breezeblocks, ready to peer around the corner to check out the front side of the building. Then he froze and swore under his breath as he heard a voice drifted around from where he wanted to go.
"Raaaaaines!" Johnny B sang, "I know you're out there boy! Come on out and say hi, we got a right lil' party going on here!"
Memphis held his breath and his position, not wanting to do anything premature.
"Say something." Said Johnny gruffly, this time not talking to Memphis.
The next thing he heard made his breath catch in his throat. He wasn't sure if it was the shrill desperation or the wavering tone that hit him most when Sways voice answered Johnny's command.
"Memphis."
"Memphis." Mimicked Johnny laughing "Come on, come out and say hi to your woman! Don't be rude."
Memphis slowly moved out from the side of the building to stand facing Johnny. The sight before him made him feel physically sick as he took it all in. Johnny B stood, flanked by five or six other large men, with his arm wrapped around Sway's neck and a gun pointed steadily at her temple. Beads of sweat were appearing on her pasty skin and her eyes had faded dramatically from their usual brilliant blue to a steely gray.
"Aw here he is! Look boys its Raines, come to say hello!" They all guffawed moronically as Sway closed her eyes and swallowed thickly. "Now then Raines," Johnny's tone of voice dropped to a less playful tone "What the fuck do you think you're doing sneaking around here?"
Before Memphis could answer, he heard a noise from behind him and saw Johnny's face contort with anger.
"What the fuck!" He shouted.
"I could ask you the same thing." Came Rachel's voice from somewhere over Memphis's shoulder, his two minutes were up and the cavalry had arrived.
Memphis held up a hand to quieten her.
"RAINES!!!" Johnny shouted again. "Where the fuck did this lot come from?!"
"They wont do anything-"
"They better fucking not!" He seethed "I want them moved back."
They didn't move, simply stood still staring at him levelly, Memphis's army.
"NOW!" Johnny shouted and he clicked the hammer back on the gun.
Sway let out a small gasp and closed her eyes, breathing deeper and more erratically.
Memphis's knees started to feel weak and he threw his hands into the air quickly "Okay, okay." He said in a tone much calmer than he thought he could manage, "Take a couple of steps back guys."
He heard a shuffling from behind him and knew that they had done as he asked.
"That's better." Johnny snapped, his anger subsiding slightly. "Now answer my question. What are you doin' here?"
"We came to pick up a member of our crew." Said Tumbler gruffly.
"Oh yeah? And who's that then?" Johnny raised his eyebrows, a worse actor than he was a ringleader.
" 'Big dude, kinda ugly' " Memphis mirrored Johnny's past comment as Donny pulled a receiver out of his pocket and waved it in the air.
Johnny looked shocked for a second and then his face contorted in rage again and he shouted over him shoulder "YOU FUCKIN' IDIOTS! YOU DIDN'T SEARCH HIM?"
"Yeah dog," Smithy replied "He had rats in his pocket din' 'e!"
"Did you search BOTH pockets!?" He yelled.
"Oh. Er, I'm, erm. I'm not sure." Smithy muttered in a small voice.
"Fuckin' idiots! I'm working with a bunch of fuckin' idiots!"
Rachel chuckled and reached into the pocket of her jacket.
"Hey!" Johnny shouted whipping around to look at her "What are you doin'?"
"I'm havin'," She said slowly as if talking to a small child, "a smoke." She pulled out the packet and wiggled it at him. "Want one?"
He growled at her and pushed the gun tighter against Sway's head making her gasp again.
"Rachel." Memphis warned.
There was a crash and a yell from inside the building. Everyone turned and watched as a short stocky man emerged from the entrance behind Johnny, dragging a smug looking Sphinx with him.
"Damn Johnny." He said as he shoved Sphinx, who's hands were still tied behind his back out of the door before him "He wasn't fuckin' unconscious!" He rubbed his nose and glared at Sphinx "He just fuckin' head butted me!"
"Damn it! Shut up!" Shouted Johnny, he was starting to loose control and it showed in his face. Memphis became wary and he looked briefly at Sway whose gray eyes turned to him slowly and lingered.
"Hey dude!" Said Smithy excitedly, realization flooding over his face "He never was unconscious, bet he just did that to get us to talk louder!"
"Yeah Smithy!" Johnny spat "I think we'd figured that out you dumb fuck!"
Smithy's smile faded and he shrank back, looking disheartened.
"What are we going to do about this little situation we have here then?" Memphis asked, his tone still surprisingly calm.
"Well, the way I see it Raines we are calling the shots here as we have two of your crew!" He grinned a malicious little grin.
"Yeah." Kip said "But the way we see it, Sphinx's feet aint tied are they, and he doesn't need his hands to knock the shit out of you morons!"
"Kip, shut up!" Warned Memphis.
"Yeah listen to big bro boy scout. Coz u see, problem is, if *he* tries anything," He jerked his shoulder in Sphinx's direction "I'll blow *her* head off."
Memphis had to fight to keep his knees from buckling.
"Ok, I may have deal for you then." He said as an idea popped into his head.
"I'm listenin'." Johnny turned his attention from Kip and the creepy, smug smile returned to his face.
"Well, the way I see it, you don't want many people to know about this right. Because that would be cheating. And I know that most of the big players are in the know about our little bet."
Johnny narrowed his eyes but didn't answer.
"Would make you look very untrustworthy." Memphis paused "So if you hand them over now, it wont be mentioned."
"Is that it?! I should pull this trigger right now for making me listen to that shit!"
"I'm not done." Memphis said quickly "I have another proposition for you. Now I know that for you, one of the added bonuses to this, is that you're gonna make some money off the sales of the boosted cars."
"Mmm," Johnny said "So what?"
"Well, I'll make a trade. Sphinx and Sway for all our cars at the end. Win or lose."
Johnny got a gleam in his eyes as he considered this greedily.
"Well Raines. Seems you've come up to scratch there." He signaled at his men and they shoved Sphinx forwards towards Memphis and the others.
They stood and waited for him to release Sway.
"But how," Johnny looked at Memphis his eyes steely "do I know that you wont go back on your word."
"I wont." Said Memphis beginning to panic, but not showing it.
"Hmm, maybe I should keep this one just to be sure." He bent his head and kissed Sway on the cheek.
Fury covered Memphis's fear and he had to do everything he could to stop himself from charging forwards and pouncing on Johnny.
"Then again." Johnny smiled sickeningly "I could just shoot her."
Sways eyes flew wide and Memphis nearly fell to the floor. The world began to turn in slow motion as he watched in horror as Johnny's finger squeezed the trigger of the gun.
Sway stood and waited for the flashing pain, waited for it all to go black, she shut her eyes tight and waited for death. There was a click and then she heard a loud shrill laugh from behind her and was amazed to realize that she could open her eyes.
"Three of the six chambers in this gun are empty," Johnny grinned at Memphis who had turned an even paler shade than Sway. "This girl's one lucky bitch." He laughed again and shoved her forwards. Him and his crew turned chuckling and walked back inside the building.
Sway stared at Memphis for a beat and then crumpled to the floor. He rushed forwards and dropped to his knees in front of her. A noise from behind him told him that the others were leaving, allowing them some privacy.
Sway stayed still for at least five minutes, her head facedown on Memphis's knees whilst she concentrated hard on her breathing and he crouched over her body. When she finally sat up again Memphis was relived to see that some on the color had returned to her cheeks and eyes.
"You okay?" He asked quietly.
She nodded "I think-"
"What?" He mumbled kissing her cheek.
"I think," she exhaled slowly "I need a cigarette."
He laughed and sighed deeply as he pulled her to her feet. She smiled and he felt the weight in his stomach lift instantly.
"Lets go." Memphis said, glaring over his shoulder at the door to the building, fury boiling inside him. He was going to make Johnny pay for this.
His thoughts were interrupted when Sway grabbed his face in her hands and pulled it down roughly to her own to kiss him hungrily.
He pulled away, breathing heavily. "What was that for?"
"Just checking I was really still alive." She grinned wickedly.
He flung an arm around her shoulder and walked her back around the building.
"Are you really going to give him all the cars?" Sway asked as they approached their SUV.
"Yeah," He looked at her "Well we don't want 'em, and you never know, *someone* might even send an anonymous tip-off to the cops after we're done. You know, Johnny could get into some serious trouble with all those stolen ladies on his hands!"
Sway laughed loudly and climbed into the passenger seat of the van.
"What's so funny?" Rachel asked as Memphis started the engine.
"Oh nothing." Sway looked over at him and grinned before turning in her seat to face her friend. "Now, gimme a damn cigarette."
***End chapter 19***