"Dressed up as cops?" she asked as opened the passenger side of his Buffalo.
"Yeah, Devin Weston said they was two trust fund kids or something."
"So, you're still boosting cars, is what you're telling me?"
Franklin lowered himself behind the wheel. "Something like that. I was actually telling Michael the same after we had possession of those sports cars."
"Let me, guess," she said as she clicked off the radio. "He gave you some sort of generic, generalized statement in his old, roundabout way?"
"You know how he is, Kar," Franklin said lightly. "Past-time glories still mean something to him."
She leaned her head back into the headrest of the seat. "What are we doing anyway?"
"This Weston dude? He wants us to get yet another car," Franklin informed her. "We heading towards the oil derricks and Trevor's going to meet us in a helicopter."
"A helicopter?" she questioned as they took off for their destination. "If I don't see another one of those for a hundred years, I'll be too fucking happy."
"Yeah, really. But you know these new chips they puttin' in all the licenses now? He's gonna be scanning that for our target."
"And who's the lucky winner this time?"
"Some dude who's going through a divorce," he told her as they drove. "Wants to hide all his valuable assets. Thinks they can't be found."
"Anything valuable can be found one way or another. Just gotta know the fuckers rich enough for the equipment."
The drive to the field of drilling rigs took less time than Karen anticipated, and by the time they reached the entryway of the fence surrounding the land, the helicopter that Trevor was flying in was high above them. As they stepped out of the vehicle, they heard Trevor's voice.
"Put up your hands and stand where I can see you."
"Alright," Franklin said as he turned to look up at the aircraft. "You got me, homie, alright. You know how to work that face recognition shit already?"
"I'll figure it out," they heard Trevor say hesitantly.
"You think it works?" Karen asked Franklin as she stood by him, her hand bridged over her eyes to shield from the light of the helicopter. Before Franklin could answer her, Trevor's voice rang out again.
"Public exposure? What's the deal, Franklin?"
"Man, fuck that. I got a high ass, homie. One time will pick a brother up for any old shit."
"You want me to take it out on the LSPD representative sitting beside me?"
"Man, just get to Hawick," Franklin said as he rounded to the driver's side of his Buffalo again. "Dude we lookin' for is down that way. We'll follow in the car."
Karen didn't waste another moment after the helicopter took Trevor flying back over the city. Franklin put heavy foot to the gas pedal to keep up the pace.
"Wanna explain that one to me?" Karen asked as they approached closer to the Hawick area.
"I don't wanna explain nothin' to no one," he said, even more guarded.
She paused for a second, not being able to contain the laughter any longer. "Whatever you said, Frankie boy. I guess it's no crazier than what anyone else does in their free time."
"Man, whatever," Franklin said with a scoff. "You got jokes, don't you?"
She laughed more. "I'm here all night."
"Come in, Franklin, Karen," Trevor said as they came up to the area. "We are in position over Hawick Avenue. What's the name of the suspect?"
"The dude's name is Chad Mulligan, alright?"
"Chad Mulligan. Roger that."
They waited, parked in an alley, for the proper directions from their eye in the sky.
"Two guys on a rooftop going at it. Lady downstairs in a bikini," Trevor said after a few minutes. "Let's see if we can connect the dots."
Karen looked around, once again leaning back into the seat comfortably.
"Come in, Franklin. Suspect's not in the area," Trevor spoke up. "I repeat, suspect not found in the area."
"Alright, alright," Franklin said as he began driving down the street again. "He might be a couple of blocks east of there."
"Roger that."
Karen laughed out again. "I love how he takes things seriously."
"He takes things personal."
"He's a sensitive guy," Karen defended. "I see nothing wrong with that."
"Yeah, until one day, we the ones he's taking things personal with," Franklin said, the lowered the hand that held his two-way. "Unless of course you want T that way. Then I don't know what to tell you. That's totally on you."
"I'm half his age," she nearly bit out. "Doesn't he like older women anyway?"
"Ohh," Franklin drawled out. "So you have been noticin' him. I see how it is. You know Lamar's going to throw a fit over this, right?"
"Over what?" Karen scoffed. "And what do you mean, you see how it is? How is it, Frank?"
"Karen, you can try to fool anyone else. But me?" he emphasized with a hand to his chest. "You can literally pull wool over my eyes and I'll still see things for exactly how they are."
"Mhm," she huffed out. "I like to see you think you're so smart. Gives me some bragging room when you're wrong."
"When am I ever wrong? Lamar? Remember?"
"What the fuck ever. He likes every girl. Every girl," she said, cutting her eyes at him. "Besides, you want to talk about being right, Tanisha. Remember?"
"Come in, Franklin," Trevor's voice crackled through again. "We've got a positive ID on the suspect. I repeat, we have visual on Chad Mulligan. No vehicle in sight."
"Alright, look, cool. We looking for his lockup, dog, alright?" he said as he spun the wheel around on his car. "Stay on him, and look out."
"Why are we taking this guy's car anyway?"
"You don't ask Devin Weston questions," Franklin told her. "Mainly because you ain't gone get a straight answer with the motherfucker."
"We have lost sight of the suspect," they heard Trevor say. "Might have to send pilot boy down to draw him out."
"Hold on! Wait," they heard the distraught voice of the pilot. "He should come out from behind that building."
"Suspect's on foot," Trevor said just moments later.
"Okay, I see the chopper," Franklin told them. "We ain't far away."
"Suspect's stopped walking," Trevor spoke up again. "Appears to be accessing a small garage."
"Alright, alright, this is it. I'ma get the car."
Karen watched the guy as Franklin popped out of his vehicle.
"Hey, motherfucker!"
"Oh, shit! Shit!" the guy exclaimed.
"Aw, fuck!"
Before they could react the guy disappeared into the garage.
"Get in!" Karen shouted. "Get in!"
Franklin had shut his door not a second after the car in question came zooming out of the garage.
"What happened?" Trevor asked them.
"Hey, look, just stay on him, man, and let me know where he is."
Karen tried her best to follow the path in which the guy had taken off in. "Right," she said, leaning forward. "To the right."
"Suspect sighted going south on Dutch Drive."
They followed as fast as they could, narrowly avoiding the traffic around them.
"Suspect going west down alley toward El Rancho."
Heading towards the alley, Franklin swerved at the last moment, taking the street around it. "Hey, where is he, man?"
"Car going north on El Rancho."
Karen then heard the older man imitate the siren of a police unit, laughing as they followed Trevor's direction.
"I'm glad you think this is funny."
"All units be advised, we have a possible joy rider heading west on Hawick in a black Z-Type."
"Hey man, you getting other cops on this shit?"
"Nah, homie," Trevor said airily. "Thought you'd appreciate the authenticity."
"Oh okay. Well, I fuckin' don't," Franklin snapped.
"Calm down, we'll get him. To the left," Karen then said.
"Your boy Chad very nearly totaled the score. Ohh! Chad, that was close."
"Okay, we see the motherfucker, man," Franklin told Trevor as he leaned close to the steering wheel. "We got this."
Karen saw the Z-Type speed past them and down the highway parallel to them.
"Fuck this shit, man," Franklin hissed out. "Where is he?"
"Suspect back on Del Perro heading west. Frank, you gotta speed this up! He's getting away."
"Hold onto your panties, Karen, we hittin' this shit."
Weaving in and out of traffic seemed effortless to Franklin sometimes. Almost as if he had an ability. But she cringed as she watched the expensive car just barely missing traffic itself, the cars almost-accident swerving out of the way just in time.
"Suspect sighted near the Lifeinvader offices."
When they caught up with the vehicle at the building, it sped off again, cutting across the road into an alleyway.
"He's turned into an alley off Del Perro."
"You my eyes, right?" Franklin asked him.
"Lost sight of suspect near a parking garage. Request ground units to investigate."
They swerved, smoothly entering the parking garage. Carefully listening to Trevor and the pilot.
"All garage exits clear. Suspect is in the building."
Franklin drove up another level by the time Trevor could help them a little more.
"Okay, I'm seeing things a little more clearly."
"Hey, you can still see us, right?" Franklin asked as he stood from his car. "We in the middle of the garage."
"Roger. We have visual."
"You reading other heat signatures on this level?"
It was a few minutes before they heard from Trevor again, Franklin giving directions to Karen of how they would pick up the vehicle. Sliding over the console, she sat in the driver's seat to his Buffalo, agreeing with his plan.
"Near side of the garage. On my left. There's a man in a car."
"This better be him," Franklin said as he quickly took off on foot. Karen hung back as Franklin took out his pistol. The guy stepped out of the car, holding his hands up. Karen slipped her sunglasses over her eyes as she slowly rolled up next to the scene.
"Yeah, that's the motherfucker," Franklin said as he merely turned his head towards Karen. "Thank you, Trevor Philips."
"I know you think this car might be worth something," Karen heard the guy say, but his words quickly turned into pleas as Franklin stepped forward, keeping his aim. A swift pop, and the guy fell to the ground. Franklin jumped into the Z-Type and backed out of the parking spot.
"Suspect down! Fine work ground units."
Karen circled around so she could follow him out. Hearing Franklin's voice on her ear piece as they left the area, she clicked off the radio.
"Hey, I'm delivering the ride to Los Santos International."
"Is the lady going to be there? Or just the dick who ain't paying us 'til we get all the cars?"
"Shit, I think they both gonna be there, dog. Devin and Molly."
"Say hello from me... to Molly."
Karen placed her hand over her mouth to prevent them from hearing her giggle. She straightened up quickly, placing both hands on the steering wheel as she continued following Franklin.
"Man, I ain't hitting on nobody for you, man," Franklin said, annoyed at the request. "Least of all her."
"Come on! Why not? It's about time I settled down."
Another laugh nearly came barreling out of Karen.
"Shit, man, you need like a lion tamer or some shit. This girl, man, she got balls, dog, but... She need some serious stones to handle your ass."
"Just say hello."
"Man," Franklin chuckled out. "I ain't gonna be a part of that."
"After everything I've done for you... ahh, you are just like Michael."
Karen wondered if she should say anything. After all, she was heading towards the airport right behind Franklin. She would say something to the lady if Franklin wasn't going to. But Trevor's voice stopped her just as she parted her mouth.
"Besides, that Karen girl you bring along isn't going to say hello to me," he said. "Don't tell me that you haven't claimed stakes on that."
"Man, I haven't. Me and Karen are just friends. Have been for years."
"How can you ignore something like her though? She's almost perfect."
"Almost?" Franklin asked before she could comment. Wisely, she kept quiet to hear Trevor's response.
"Yes, almost," Trevor repeated himself. "The only thing that hasn't made her perfect yet is the fact that I'm not with her. Once she realizes her never-ending, ever-growing love for me, she will be the very definition of perfect."
"Yeah, whatever, dog," Franklin laughed out.
Karen had to bite her lips shut in order to keep quiet on Trevor's comments. It didn't surprise her in even the smallest amount that he had looked her way. Much like Lamar, he looked in anyone's direction. She had even heard him hit on other guys before. Still, the charm was strong enough that she couldn't help herself as she yanked out her piece from her ear and laughed.
The calm drive on the highway ended in them rolling up to the airport's entrance for the private hangars. She watched as Franklin's arm hung out of the window to talk to the security guard. The burly guard said something, glancing back at her, and then motioned for them to be let through. She followed Franklin as he headed off to a hangar to their left. Just as she came to a stop, she heard the voice of the billionaire.
". . . beauty was a woman, I'd have to break my twenty and under rule.
"Man, I'll just stick to driving, alright?" Franklin said.
"Hey, tell me something," Weston said as Franklin stepped out of the requested vehicle. Karen was tempted to close the window so she wouldn't have to hear him go on. "You know how many of these things they made?"
"Uhh, shit, like ten?" Franklin put in.
"No, not like ten, man," Weston mocked. "Exactly ten!"
"Oh wow, man. You one of them type of dudes, huh?" Franklin said as he walked around the front of the Z-Type.
"Tell you something," Weston began. "How'd you like to drive a car like this one day, man? For real!"
Franklin's fell into sarcasm. "Like this? Or this?"
"Oh man, right back at me, homie. Really nice. Hey, y'know something? You're not like those, uhh, snowbird retiree pals of yours. You are sharp, man."
"Man, I'm just lookin' for a paycheck for my services."
"No, no, no," Karen heard the man say. "Don't worry. It'll come, that'll come. But right now, it is life lesson time, pal. You have got to wake up to what's real in this situation, bro. Take me, right? I am opportunity. I'm security. I'm fast cars, blowjobs."
Karen rolled her eyes.
"I got the world on a plate. Those two clowns... oh, man, they are the worst kind of disaster that can ever come down. They are a full core meltdown, and you're just standing there soaking up major radiation. You have got to take stock, man. Make that call, before it's too late."
"Yeah, alright man, I will."
Franklin walked away from the billionaire, waving his hand. She was relieved when he sank down into the passenger seat next to her.
"Before it's too late, man," Weston emphasized.
Karen didn't bother waiting for the man to board his fancy jet as she shifted the gear into drive and swiftly took off. "What's he talking about?"
"Man, I don't know," Franklin replied, glancing in the side view mirror. "I think he has something against Michael and Trevor, but I don't know. I don't really care."
"He wants you to be his little errand boy?"
"I ain't being an errand nothin' for him. This fool wants something done, then he can throw around his weight somewhere else. We ain't even being paid yet for these stupid fucking cars."
"Just as long as you stick to your guns, Frankie," she said as she waited for the security gate to open. "I'd hate to see you lose who you are for anyone." She paused as she looked for any oncoming traffic. "Including – "
"Don't say it, Kar," he warned. "I know you don't particularly like her, but damn, home girl, I can't change how I feel overnight."
"It's been several nights, Frankie," Karen said, but not really wanting to push. "Many, many nights. And she isn't any closer to accepting you for who you are. Don't think you deserve someone better?"
"I don't know. I guess I just feel differently for Tanisha since we did grow up together."
She shook her head. "I grew up with a lot of folks. I wouldn't necessarily say they've accepted life as it truly is." Wanting to drop the subject, clearly seeing the sorrowful, pitiful look on her friend's face, she looked back at the airport disappearing behind them. "Was that the Molly lady that Trevor wanted you to say hi to?"
Franklin put his fist in front of his mouth. "Yo, you heard that? Trevor's gonna blow a gasket if he ever thought you'd hear him say that."
"About me or about her? Because both had me laughing on the way to the airport. Tell me that you don't find that shit hilarious."
"Man, okay, it's entertaining," Franklin admitted. "But it's still a little creepy coming from old, homicidal dude. But, that's all you, Kar. You the one not afraid of him, remember?"
"Because there's nothing to be scared of. You just have to know how to handle Trevor. That's all."
"Well, you can do all the handling of him from now on. I got a feeling Michael would be glad of that, too."
A cell phone went off somewhere in the car, and Franklin shifted so he could pull out his phone.
"Speaking of Michael," he said, reading the text message. "Apparently, he's got a job for me."
"Just you? Because I'll take a taxi home."
"I don't want to just leave you somewhere," Franklin told her. "Let me see if I can't – "
"No, really, Frankie, it's okay. I really don't mind taking a ride home. I have enough money on me."
"You sure?"
"Yes, positive," she said as she pulled her bag onto her lap. "I really can do without being dragged into another race-run-and-gun mission with any of you."
"Girl, that's supposed to be your profession."
"My profession, Franklin," she said as she turned off into a parking lot, "is cleaning up what others don't see and what those people don't want others to see." She let the car idle as she opened the door. "That is my profession, dude."
"Alright, sure, whatever you say, Kar," he said as he slid over the center console. "Hey, be safe, and text me or something when you get home. I gotta go see what these two crazy dudes have going on now."
"Sure thing," she said, placing her cell phone to her ear to call a cab. "Be safe yourself."
She watched the white Buffalo pull off into traffic, leaving her to wait on her cab. She had a lot of thinking to do. If she wanted to continue taking scores, payment or not, with these guys. She wasn't going to imagine that things weren't the way they were. This wasn't her first rodeo. She wasn't an idiot. She knew there was no way out. Because she knew of the things they did, even if she wasn't always involved. And the things she happened to be involved in were always no-tell anyway. Someone gets caught, picked off, no one knew each other. That's how it had to be in order to survive.
But she was the last person anyone should go to for survival advice. She had trusted someone who turned on her faster than she could blink. Those events replayed in her mind again as the taxi came to a stop in front of her. She wouldn't go that far again with anyone. She wouldn't allow herself to be so worthless, so dispensable, that she could be tossed away again. It may have been a unique case with Luis, but he still rang her through a loop, and then dismissed her when her name could no longer help him.
Karen had felt insignificant for a long time after. She didn't want to ever feel like that again. So maybe a trio of guys, two of them past their criminal prime, and one trying to get past being a two-bit gangster, was the best group she could be with right now. She could definitely learn from Trevor and Michael, even if it was things not to do in a criminal career. Turn or get caught, or worse yet, flip for the FIB. That still made her blood boil. But she realized how meaningless it was to her, and it wasn't worth having the wrong eyes look at her in the right way.
The city scene had faded with the daylight, and by the time the taxi had stopped in front of her Sandy Shores home, she knew what she had to do. She felt a sense of community within the group she was placed upon. Stick with it, Karen, she told herself as she opened her front door. Stick with it.