This chapter probably got me put on some watch list. The things I had to Google to make sure everything was possible or to see if there were better alternatives (hence the reason the chloroform from the first edition of this chapter has now become a taser. Yay research! And then boo research because playing cards hurt when they hit you, even if the person throwing them isn't the best.).

Disclaimer: Neither Now You See Me, the characters, or the lyrics that appear at the beginning of each chapter belong to me.

California Days

Death surrounds.
My heartbeat's slowing down.
I won't take this world's abuse!
I won't give up, I refuse!
This is how it feels when you're bent and broken.
This is how it feels when your dignity's stolen.
When everything you love is leaving,
You hold on to what you believe in.
No, not gonna die tonight!
~Not Gonna Die by Skillet

Jack had grown up on the streets of New York. He had been a pickpocket and a thief for most of his life. He had spent much of his young life looking over his shoulder for his own safety. So he could tell when he was being followed and right now he was being followed.

It had started as an uneasiness in his stomach that he had simply passed as left-over fear from being chased by the FBI. He could feel eyes watching him and though he was in a large city with thousands upon thousands of people in it, he could practically feel the heat boring into the back of his head from someone paying close attention to his every move. Agent Rhodes hadn't laughed at him when he brought it up three weeks ago, but he had been quick to dismiss the thought. He was keeping the FBI far away from that part of California and Jack was supposedly dead so no one was looking for him to begin with.

Jack stopped abruptly and spun around as if lost and looking for the correct building when he was actually scanning the crowd following him. He had been playing this game for three weeks. His follower—if he actually had one, and he firmly believed he did—was an expert. Jack had never actually seen the person, but he nevertheless instinctively knew that the person was there. He pulled out his phone as if to check a map, but his eyes continued scanning the crowd. No one was paying him any mind except the few who cursed him as they narrowly missed colliding with him.

He was about to stop the act and carry on when he noticed a man in a black suit stopped outside of a store window. To those not looking it wasn't that odd—lots of people window shopped in this area of town—but the man was looking into an abandoned store with boarded up windows. Rubbing the back of his neck and looking around as if trying to figure out where he was, he could tell that the man had positioned himself just right to keep Jack in his sights. Satisfied that he had spotted his pursuer, Jack turned and started walking, feeling the man falling into step behind him. Casually, Jack separated himself from the crowd and made his way to the alley he had eyed earlier. The alley was dark with no only the one entrance or exit, but it was deserted save for a mangy cat which hissed at him and skittered back to a couple of old trash cans. Falling into his old habits, Jack melted into the shadows, grateful he had chosen to wear dark clothing.

His eyes adjusted fairly quickly, and he could clearly see the entrance to the alley. Several minutes passed and Jack was beginning to wonder if he was just imagining things when the man he had spotted stepped into the alley. He was cautious and carefully scanned the alley, but Jack was an old pro at this. He watched from the shadows as the man pulled his phone from his pocket. Despite the stillness in the alley, the busy street and the fact that the man was speaking quietly meant Jack couldn't hear a single word that was said. The magicians squinted, focusing on the man's lips. He had taught himself to read lips at a young age, but distance and lack of practice meant he could only pick one or two words out. He saw the man nod and he could clearly read the last two words: Mr. Bradley.

Jack sucked air in, fingering the pockets of his coat. He had seen the news report saying Bradley had been released, but he hadn't worried himself with that fact. He was dead, after all, and what could the old man do? He hadn't even bothered calling Agent Rhodes to see if he should be worried. Obviously he should have called. But there was no time to deal with should haves. From his position halfway down the alley, he studied the man he would most likely be facing in a few minutes. The man had a good five inches on him and was solidly built and Jack winced imagining the damage that could happen if he made one mistake. As he was studying for weaknesses, the man slipped the phone back into his pocket and pull something from another pocket. With the distance, Jack couldn't be sure what exactly it was, but whatever it was he knew it couldn't be good. His opponent started down the alley and Jack pressed himself closer to the wall, crossing his fingers in hope that the man would walk by him so he could slip out and disappear in the crowd. There was only five feet left between them and Jack could now clearly see the taser in the man's hand. He bit his lip and forced his breathing to slow, hiding as best he was able to.

And then his phone rang.

The man's head snapped toward him and Jack cursed as he sprang to his feet, Wanted Dead or Alive blaring from his pocket. The man was startled to see his prey only five feet away and started to bring the taser up, but Jack was prepared. He let three cards fly as the man began to move. His aim was true and the man stumbled backwards as the cards hit him in the face. Keeping his distance, Jack sent half the deck at the man who staggered backward and threw his hands up to protect his face. Jack simply adjusted his aim and spun the cards around his arm.

"You little…" the man's curse was cut off as a card hit him square in the eye and he let out a shout of pain.

Knowing he needed to act while the man was distracted, Jack slipped the rest of the cards back into his pocket and sprinted. Bending low, he caught the man around the waist in a tackle Merritt had taught him and the two crashed to the ground, the taser flying from the man's grip. Despite his already swelling eye and having the breath knocked out of him, the man was a fighter and reacted quickly. Jack grunted as the fist connected with his back, and he pulled himself up, driving his own fist into the man's jaw. His opponent grunted and used both of his hands to grab Jack's jacket. Putting all his weight behind him, the man threw Jack off him and to the side. Using the momentum, Jack rolled as he hit the ground, and went to get to his feet when his back collided with the trash cans. Losing his balance, Jack crashed to the ground as the trash cans tumbled over, spilling their contents.

Seeing the man already on his feet, Jack scrambled to his feet and grabbed the trash can lid as he did and held it up like a shield. The man didn't even pause as he charged his foe and brought his fist up for a right hook. Jack blocked the blow with the lid, but the force of the blow pushed him back and sent violent vibrations up his arms. Struggling to see over the lid, Jack barely brought the shield down in time to block a blow to his gut and then back up to block the following blow to his face. Each hit he took sent him staggering backwards until his back was to the wall, but it also drew a howl of frustration and pain from his opponent. Knowing he couldn't last much longer like this, Jack used the wall to his advantage and pushed off, falling full force into his opponent and sending him stumbling backwards into the fallen filth. Struggling to keep his feet, the man fell back for a moment to gain his footing.

Seeing his chance, Jack threw the lid at the man and bolted past him. Ducking under a wild throw, he swerved and spun back, nearly falling but he managed to catch himself on the ground. The man, his eye red and swollen and his knuckles bleeding, practically growled as he charged. Jack just grinned and brought his hand up, revealing the taser that he had grabbed as he turned. The man's good eye widened as he tried to stop, but Jack pulled the trigger button. The second the barbs connected, the man stiffened and collapsed. Jack stared, mouth open in surprise before realizing he was still pushing the button.

Throwing the taser on the ground, he left the man lying their immobilized. He left the alley at a run, ignoring the curses that were thrown after him as he rammed into people. He only ran for a block before slowing to the pace of the crowd once more and removing his jacket. Throwing his jacket over his shoulder, he pulled a pair of cheap sunglasses on and kept walking, blending into the crowd. He kept a careful watch, but it appeared Bradley only had the one man on him. The feeling of being watched was gone, but he remained careful. It wasn't until he had travelled several blocks, backtracking and zig-zagging as he went, that he felt comfortable. Still being cautious, he made his way to a relatively quiet street and reached for his phone. As he had expected, the call that had given him away in the alley had been Agent Rhodes. Looking around carefully, he hit the call back button and leaned against the wall, making sure to cover his lips as he stood casually. The phone only rang twice before Dylan's exhausted voice answer.

"Jack?"

"Hey, Agent Rhodes." Jack greeted, shoulders relaxing slightly as he grinned. If the FBI agent was all right then things couldn't be that bad. "I think we might have a small problem."

"Are you all right?" Dylan's voice was a tad higher than normal, as if he was nervous or panicked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Jack answered, grin fading. "Some dude was following me, but I took care of him. He was working for Thaddeus Bradley."

"I know." Dylan sighed and Jack could hear the physical and mental exhaustion in the older man's voice.

"What's going on, Dylan?" Jack asked, lowering his voice as a teenage couple walked by.

"I don't know."

Jack leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. He took a shaky breath before he opened his eyes once more. He had hoped his feeling that something was going to go wrong had been misplaced, but it looked like his gut knew what he didn't want to. He didn't say anything as Dylan began to explain.

"We're in danger and t's my fault. I made a mistake and now we're going to pay for it. I've been exposed and Bradley wants revenge. Against all of us."

Jack nodded even though Dylan couldn't know that.

"What's the plan?"

There was silence for a moment, and it dawned on Jack that for the first time Dylan was at a loss. Bradley had made the first move and it had completely thrown the mastermind. Another thought crossed his mind and he spoke before Dylan could come up with a response.

"What about the others? Are they all right? Have you heard from them?"

"I-I don't know." What sounded like a punch being delivered into a seat followed that proclamation as if Dylan had just punched something. "Daniel and Merritt won't answer no matter how many times I call. And Henley…"

Dylan cut off.

"What about Henley?"

"I can't be sure about Danny and Merritt, but I know Bradley has Henley." He didn't offer any explanation.

"Where do you want me to meet you?" Jack's voice was cold. He looked at Henley like the sister he never had, and Danny and Merritt were family whether they liked it or not. And no one messed with his family.

"I'll be in California in six hours. I'll text you the address." Dylan hesitated before continuing. "We're on our own, Jack. The Eye can't help."

"We're not the ones who will be needing help." Jack stepped away from the wall. "I'll see you in six hours."

"Be careful, Jack. We don't know what we're up against."

"You too."

Pressing the end button, Jack slipped the phone back into his pocket and put his jacket back on. He looked back the way he had come, but there was still no sight of the man he had tased. Satisfied, he jogged across the street and started scanning the block. Bradley would have to wait for later. Right now he needed a car and that white Ford was calling his name.