opening…and the motivation. “This is my fault. I fucked up.”
“That’s pretty harsh, David.” Terry raises his eyebrows delicately.
“No. I’ve been slipping these last months, since she left,” my voice is angry, but it’s only myself I’m angry at. “You’ve been picking up the slack. But it’s my responsibility in the end. I should have taken care of these guys when I first had the chance, when I busted them for cheating. I should have taken care of them permanently. I missed my chance.”
“Well, now you’re getting another one.”
“One that I plan to take,” I say. “Let’s pick up the pace, guys,” I call to the front seat. “I want this over and done with.”
Without a word, Mike accelerates. We’re already well beyond the Strip, out on the highways beyond the city limits. It’s a no man’s land out here, a lawless dead zone where there’s never any police or other law enforcement to be seen.
I look out the window at the miles of rocky sand and dirt stretching out on either side of us. I’m not the first man to be out on a murder mission in this modern-day Wild West…and I won’t be the last. There are bodies buried out here, out of sight and out of mind. I’m itching to give the desert two more. To threaten me is one thing. The guys have beef with me, fine, I get that. It comes with the territory. But there are rules to this thing. Rules even for retaliation. No families. You keep them out of it. To stoop so low as to take an innocent young woman captive? All for a little cash? It’s cheap. It’s so cheap and low, it sickens me.
“Already coming up on the final destination, boss.” Ben nods ahead. On the right-hand side of the road, another mile down, a massive industrial building is looming.
“Pull up to the good side,” I instruct him. One side of the building is charred black and burnt out. According to the Vegas rumor mill, a local bookie had to collect a debt from some guys who owed him big money. When they couldn’t pay up, he had them offed out here. Burned alive. I doubt that the story is true, to be honest, but it’s a hell of a way to set an example. Whether it’s fact or fiction, he hasn’t had trouble collecting on his debts since then. The other side of the building is largely intact. It’s a giant cement structure.
We come to a stop on the ugly property. There’s another lone, black car parked here already. This must be what they took Lilly in. A cloud of dust rises up around us. Stepping out of the car, the air is gritty and hot. It’s midday and the sun is beating down. I glance over at Terry and can see a few drops of sweat already forming on his forehead.
Our second and third cars pull up behind and likewise come to a stop. The men step out. I glance at the guys I have with me. Tony and Bobby won’t be expecting this show of force.
“Follow my lead.”
The guys nod. They know that what I mean is—don’t do shit…until I do it first.
I’ve already spied a door ajar and know exactly where to go. I feel for the gun under my coat, taking comfort in its bulk and weight. I hope I won’t need to use it. I don’t want any violence…because I don’t want Lilly caught in the crossfire.
I pull the massive door open and it squeaks on its hinges. Then I step inside. My shoe clicks on the cement floor. It’s dimmer in here and I have to give my eyes a moment to adjust. The only light coming in is from the windows high above. There’s no working electricity out here.
“Took you fuckin’ long enough.” I hear Tony’s familiar, snake-like voice hissing at me from the far side of the giant manufacturing hall. The space is huge, with ceilings high enough to accommodate a second floor. A metal platform runs along the edges of the room, above our heads. It’s undoubtedly where the foremen used to hold watch, keeping an eye on the workers below. I scan the platform, making sure there aren’t any armed men lying in wait.
“I’m here now,” I reply, stepping towards the sound of his voice. Rows of shelving units separate us, so I still can’t see him. This must have been the packaging warehouse, with the industrial machines next