The Red Dawn chapter 3
I figured that I might as well do this since I appear to be on a bit of a writing streak today.
Benny: Boredom mixed with dormant laziness and confinement, more like. Are you even going to finish this thing?
I will finish this chapter at the very least.
Benny: We'll see about that.
Enjoy the story, readers!
The next morning, the three Eds headed off to school. Eddy had his hair slicked back as he wore an orange and purple striped polo shirt with a pair of jeans that had a chain tucked into the left pocket. Ed wore a Black Sabbath t-shirt with his green jacket over it, a pair of black jeans and a gray graphic hat. Double D wore his red T-shirt with a slightly oversized orange hoodie over it and a pair of jeans.
Double D asked "Eddy, what do you think about…Kevin's incident?"
Eddy shrugged and answered "Hey, Shovelchin got what was coming to him. The Red Dawn doesn't like people who try to rip them off."
Double D asked with nervousness clouding his voice "Eddy, don't you think that your statement sounded a little apathetic?"
Eddy answered "Look, Double D, after all the things Kevin has done to us, I'm not exactly looking to put up a shrine for the guy. Hell, he owes the Red Dawn money and product."
Ed nodded and replied "Yeah. It had nothing to do with us and everything to do with him."
Eddy said "Yeah, what Ed said."
The three boys approached the school and went inside. Ed and Eddy talked actively and animatedly to each other while Double D looked around. He still felt nervous about what happened to Kevin. There was still some suspicion and anger about the entire event. After all, it only had been a day or two since it happened. Most distraught was Nazz who sobbed on occasion when she thought nobody was looking. He also felt some guilt from what had happened. Sure, Kevin had owed money to the Red Dawn but being beat and framed was an entirely different thing. There was also the distinct possibility that Kevin might be found innocent and released.
Each Ed went to their locker and put their things inside. Double D took out his science and math textbooks and put them into his backpack. Eddy put his English notebook into his backpack and took out his Social Studies notebook and put it inside his locker. Ed took out his lunch and put it into his locker before he took out his Social Studies and English notebook and put them into his backpack.
The vivid discussions and gossip in the hallway suddenly came to a halt. Eddy slammed his locker shut, turned around and looked down the hallway. At the end of the hallway was a disheveled Kevin who wore his brown jacket over his worn green shirt and jeans. For once, Kevin's cap wasn't on which Double D and Eddy took note of. He walked slowly to his locker and every step felt like a thud to everyone else.
Nazz broke the silence when she said "Kevin? You got out?"
Kevin looked at her and answered "Yeah, my folks bailed me out this morning. I have to go to court in a few weeks."
A random kid somewhere down the hall snickered before Kevin glared at him. Eddy's face was phlegmatic but internally, his thoughts were partly solemn and partly indifferent.
Eddy thought "Jeez, I never thought that I'd see Shovelchin like this. I mean, it's Kevin fault anyway. Why should I care so much?"
Kevin said "Look, Nazz, I was set up. You've gotta believe me…"
Nazz replied with teary eyes "Kevin, I don't know what to believe or what to think anymore. I-I just need some space, OK?" before she walked away with her friends.
Kevin looked crestfallen while Ed and Double D headed towards their first classes. Eddy stayed behind as he stood by his locker with intrigue. He had no idea of what to do. Pass by Kevin like everyone else or maybe say something to him? Eddy sighed and walked past Kevin to catch up with Ed as the two were in the same English class.
Eddy's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. As he took it out, he saw a text from one of his fellow workers, Pete.
It said "You and Double D are gonna be working the tables tonight. Ed's on patrol with G-Train".
Eddy texted back "Got it. Table 7, as usual?"
A few minutes later, Eddy got a text confirming so and he put his cellphone back in his pocket.
He said "Alright, Lumpy, you're with G-Train on patrol tonight. Sockhead and I will be at the tables."
Ed nodded and replied "Table 7 again?"
Eddy smirked and responded with "Hell yeah, Ed. It's our lucky number."
Double D felt his cell phone vibrate in his backpack as he tried to copy the notes on biology from the whiteboard. He hurriedly finished copying and quietly and subtly checked his cell phone to find a text from Eddy saying that he and Double D would be working at Table 7 tonight. Double D tried to put away his cell phone, only to get caught by his Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Ellingway.
Mrs. Ellingway squinted at Double D through her square, jewel-rimmed glasses and asked "Eddward, is that a phone I see out?"
Double D answered, stammering "I-I'm sorry, m-ma'am. I received a text message from my mother. It was important so I had to see what it was about."
Mrs. Ellingway calculatingly looked at Double D before she said "Alright, Eddward, put it away. But I don't want to see it again or else I'll confiscate it."
Double D nodded and replied "Yes, Miss Ellingway." before he turned off his cell phone and put it inside his backpack.
Things were going to be interesting that night…
Eddy, Ed and Double D split up in the lane. Ed went towards G-Train who stood by the entrance of Sunrise Heights while Eddy and Double D went towards a small pool hall and club not far away.
With Ed and G-Train
Ed met with G-Train who was wearing his black beanie cap with a white T-shirt, a blue dress shirt and jeans in front of Sunrise Heights.
G-Train nodded at Ed, said " 'Sup, big guy?" before he gave Ed a fist bump.
Ed didn't mind working with G-Train as he felt that G-Train was the type of guy that could attract attention when needed and deflect it if it was ever necessary. But he also liked that G-Train gave him some respect which some of his other patrollers didn't, even if he gave respect to them.
Ed asked "So how are we going to do this?"
G-Train answered "You and me are going around here, looking for a dude named Flann Thornton. Then we're gonna head over to the Broadview Apartments to go after a gal named Lindsay Gordon. You know the drill. Make sure that there are no witnesses and get rid of them if there are. Think you can handle this?"
Ed nodded and said "Yeah, G-Train, I can do this."
G-Train replied "Alright, Thornton's apartment is on the 4th floor, room 4D. You'll head in through the front, go up with the elevator and go into his place. I'll be covering the back and the sides in case he decides to make a run for it."
Ed nodded, shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket and walked towards the front door while G-Train made his way to the back of the building. Ed pushed the glass double doors open and went to the elevator. He pushed the button and waited for the elevator to come. When it did, he quickly got on and pushed the button for the 4th floor.
Just before the doors closed, a girl ran into the lobby as she shouted "Hold the doors!"
Ed held his hand in front of the doors, causing them to remain open. The girl ran inside with a clear bag of takeout food and noticed the button for the 4th floor. She pushed a bit of her curly brunette hair behind her ear and smiled at Ed.
She asked "I haven't seen you around here. Did you just move in?"
Ed shook his head and answered "Nah, I'm just visiting an old friend."
The girl said "I'm just getting back in from work. I decided to get takeout on the way home. I mean, a girl's gotta eat, right?" before she smiled widely at Ed.
Ed nodded and replied "Yeah. I'll probably grab something to eat myself when I'm done talking to my buddy."
The elevator stopped as it reached the 4th floor. The girl picked up the clear bag off of the floor.
Ed thought "She's a nice girl. I don't want to involve her in this. Hopefully, Flann can just fork over the money and I can get out quick and fast. But then again, he might not. Good thing G-Train's covering the back and the sides." as he remembered the frustrated gamblers who gave away their life savings in game after game of poker, the solemn junkies who injected heroin into their veins as if they were drinking water and the confused thieves who simply robbed somebody that they shouldn't have had.
The girl softly said "Um, I won't be doing anything tonight. If you want to maybe have a chat after you're done with your friend, I'm Moira Donne. In 4G." before she got off the elevator, Ed quickly walking behind her.
Ed walked over to 4E and knocked on the door, soft enough that it wouldn't attract any neighbors but hard enough that Flann could hear it.
Flann asked with a heavy Irish accent "Who is it?"
Ed answered "It's me. Can I come in?"
Flann said "Sure, mate, hold on." before he opened the door.
Flann was in his mid-20's with wild red hair, jade green eyes and slim but stocky. He showed up at the door in only a pair of maroon board shorts as he rubbed his eyes. Ed walked inside before he closed the door and sat down in a purple arm chair. Flann sat down in a tattered, teal armchair across from him.
Flann asked, suspicious "Alright. Who are you, really?"
Ed answered "I'm part of the crew, Flann. They want the money you owe them. All 3 grand of it."
Flann's eyes widened then narrowed as he began to take deep breaths. He knew that he was trapped and had only 2 options: hand over all of the money or escape. Flann reached into the dresser next to him and pulled out a switchblade. He nervously pointed it at Ed as Ed held up his hands.
Ed said "Whoa, man, let's chill out. It's just 3 grand. You pay what, 900 dollars in rent each month. I'm pretty sure you have 5 grand stashed somewhere in this place, right?"
Flann replied "Look, mate, I don't want to hurt you but I'm not giving up any of my money."
Ed then shook his head, frowned and said "Then you leave me no choice." as he got up.
Flann looked at Ed and then at the switchblade before he tossed the switchblade into a corner and ran for the fire escape outside of his window. Ed grabbed him as he was halfway out of the window and pulled him back inside. He held him down on the floor and looked around the apartment. Ed really didn't want to have to hurt Flann but he had a job to do and if that meant having to hurt people to do it, then he was afraid that he would have to.
Ed let go of Flann and walked into the bedroom. He looked under the bed and noticed a loose floorboard near his right hand. He took the floorboard out and noticed a bit of something. After Ed removed several more loose floorboards, he found a duffle bag containing 6 thousand dollars in fifty and hundred-dollar bills. He picked up the duffle bag and headed for Flann's front door.
Flann picked up the switchblade he tossed in the corner and ran at Ed as he shouted "Where do you think you're going, you little punk?"
Ed stepped to the left and punched Flann in the face with a right hook. Flann landed on the floor as Ed sat down on him. Ed then secured Flann's right arm but Flann still struggled. Ed heard a loud snap as Flann cried out in agony. Ed knew that if he didn't do something, Flann would have had time to alert the police. He then stomped, kicked and hit Flann several times until the now-bruised Irishman was on the floor with cuts, bruises and scrapes all over his body and groaning.
Ed picked up the duffle bag off of the floor, turned to Flann and said "Next time, pay your debts. If you go to the cops, you're a dead man and that's not a threat but a warning."
He then exited the apartment but then he noticed Moira as she stood by in shock with her hand over her mouth. Ed walked towards Moira and grabbed her hand before she struggled in his grip and slapped him in the face with her free hand.
Moira said "Lying creep! An old friend, huh? It didn't sound so friendly to me, with the screaming and yelling!" before Ed grabbed her and shoved her into 4G.
Ed texted "Target threatened me with a switchblade, recovered cash and some, target was injured, currently dealing with witness" to G-Train before he turned to Moira.
Ed replied "Look, Moira, you don't understand. Flann is an old friend. It's just that things got out and we got into a scuffle. Everything's fine, OK?"
Moira's eyes narrowed as she asked "If everything's fine, then why did I hear that guy screaming right before you came out of the apartment? Also, what's in that bag over your shoulder?"
Ed answered "He tripped and hit something. I would have helped him but he refused and threw stuff at me so I ran out of there where I bumped into you. All that's in this bag is gym clothes that I left at Flann's."
Ed then went towards Moira and kissed her with as much passion and intensity as he could manage. Moira then pulled away with shock and confusion on her face.
Moira said "Do you always make out with random strangers after you admit that you ran out on your childhood friend who was injured?"
Ed chuckled and replied "Just the pretty ones." before he turned to go out of the apartment.
Moira said "Will I see you again?" with intrigue in her voice.
Ed answered "Maybe." as he left the apartment and headed towards the elevator.
He got into the elevator and pressed the button for the 1st floor. There were only two other people on the elevator, an elderly Eastern European lady wearing a shawl and a middle-aged Asian man in a three-piece suit.
Ed received a text from G-Train that stated "Went over to Broadview, found Gordon. Gave what she owed right away. Meet me down the street from Sunrise at the streetlamp."
He got off on the first floor, walked through the doors and headed down the street towards G-Train who was leaning against a streetlamp. G-Train carried a plain envelope in his hand which he looked at inquisitively. Ed handed the duffle bag over to G-Train.
G-Train asked "How much is in the duffle bag?"
Ed answered "Six grand."
G-Train snorted with a smirk and responded with "Consider this your bonus, big man. I got the 7 hundred bucks so here's your three grand." before he took several fifty and hundred-dollar bills out of the duffle bag and handed them to Ed.
Ed nodded at G-Train and said "Thanks, G-Train. Bye." before he put the bills into one of the pockets of his jacket and walked away.
G-Train replied "No problem, man. See you later."
With Eddy and Double D
Meanwhile, Eddy and Double D were situated in a small pool hall which doubled as a little nightclub. Jack's Place was known to the locals as a hotbed for criminal activity along with being the it spot in the area. Fortunately, the police didn't come by very often which made it perfect for occasions like what Eddy and Double D were going to do.
Eddy and Double D sat down by the bar as Eddy said "Hey, Shelby."
Shelby, a bartender in her early 20's with brown hair and blue eyes, walked over to the boys and asked "Hey, Eddy and Double D. You two working the tables again?"
Double D answered "Yes, Shelby, we are."
Shelby handed Eddy two black bags with hangers and numbered tags on them and a set of keys before she said "You know which key opens up the storage room. Try not to make a mess again, OK, Eddy?"
Eddy nodded and responded with "Sure thing, Shelby." before he took the items and headed to the storage room with Double D.
In there, the boys took off their regular clothing and put on white dress shirts, black dress pants and black dress shoes. Eddy wore a red and white striped tie while Double D's was green and gold striped. Eddy then put on a red hoodie over his clothing while Double D put on a black blazer. The two then put their clothing into the black bags, put the black bags up onto a rack and headed towards the back room of the pool hall.
There, in the backroom, were several tables with folded papers indicating the number of the table. There were at least three chairs at each table as people began to sit down at the tables. At these tables, people engaged in betting games, activities such as five finger pellet or simply smoked cigars and talked about who was allegedly a snitch, who was a big shot and who was going clean.
Eddy and Double D walked towards Table 7 as Eddy and Double D both stood. Eddy put another table nearby, specifically for betting games such as roulette and craps. He sat in front of that table while Double D stood in front of the original or actual Table 7. Six people sat down at Double D's table while five people gathered around Eddy's table.
One of the people asked Eddy "Hey kid, what do you have going here?"
Eddy answered "Whatever you want, mister. Craps, blackjack, roulette, your game is our command."
He said "Me and my buddies want to do roulette."
Eddy nodded in reply and took out a white ball and placed it on top of the double zero wheel.
Eddy asked "Alright, fellas, what are the bets?"
The first man answered "I'll bet 4 grand on red" as he put forward the amount of chips that represented that amount.
Another man stated "I'll bet 7 grand on black" as he put forward the certain amount of chips.
A different man said "I'll bet 5 grand on red." as he put forward his chips.
Another man replied "You know what, I'll bet 10 grand on black." as he put forward his chips.
The final man responded with "I always win with black. I'll bet 12 grand." as he put forward his chips.
The ball went into the wheel as Eddy waved his hands and said "No more bets". It rolled around before it came to a stop on black 13.
The final man smiled and said "Like I said, boys, I always win with black." before he put the increased amount of chips toward him along with the two others that bet on black.
The first man replied "Eh, I can't be mad. I took a risk and it just didn't work out. Hey, kid, here's 200 bucks for your troubles." as he handed Eddy two hundred-dollar bills which Eddy quickly and subtly stuffed into the pocket of his pants.
The final man also handed Eddy six hundred-dollar bills which Eddy also stuffed into his pocket. An hour later, Eddy and Double D headed back into the storage room and took the money out of their pockets.
Eddy asked "How did your night go, Sockhead?"
Double D answered "I stood in front of the table while the patrons smoked and discussed politics, a few mobsters and French literature. I made six hundred dollars in tips."
Eddy snorted and replied "French literature? Jeez, you got stuck with a bunch of hipsters, Double D. Then again, at least you have some new buddies to talk to and you get cash while doing it."
Double D rolled his eyes and responded with "Very amusing, Eddy."
The two then changed into their regular clothing, put the dress clothing back into the black bags and stuffed the money into the pockets of their jeans. Eddy then took the keys and the black bags and handed them to Shelby at the bar.
Eddy said "Have a nice night, Shelby." before he and Double D handed Shelby a hundred dollars each.
Shelby put the money into her apron, smiled and replied "Thanks, boys. Good night" before the two left for their respective homes.
There we go! Chapter 3 of the Red Dawn done! Maybe I should have these writing kicks more often.
Benny: Seeing as it took you seven hours to do this, maybe you should have them less.
What does time have to do with this? It makes the readers happy.
Benny: Time has everything to do with this. Especially when you're involved.
So guys, share your opinion in the reviews!