in short sentences just above a whisper, though I doubt anyone down in town can hear anything. The main street is full of people, lights are shining in most of the houses, and you’d think they were celebrating New Year’s or something with the amount of noise they’re making.
Even by one AM, the partying doesn’t seem to be letting up.
“At least they’ll be drunk and tired by the time they finally go home,” Ace remarks to no one in particular, since we’re probably all thinking the same thing.
The children and wives leave first, and by two AM, the street finally starts clearing. The lights in the houses start winking out one by one.
“That’s your guy,” I say to Eagle and Mac as the old, portly guy they’re supposed to be bringing in limps and stumbles along Main Street, making a left turn towards his already dark house on the second row over. His wife never came down to the party, and that house has been dark since we got here.
“And there goes yours,” I tell Ace and Rook, who both grumble agreement. I bet they had eyes on him since we got here. He’s getting up there in years, but his wife is young and pretty and he was all over her all night. His hand is cupping her ass now as they make their way towards their house. It could be a while before they’re asleep, though he’s gotta be over fifty, so that’s not a given at all.
The guy me and Blaze are supposed to take down is in his early forties and he’s had a different club girl wrapped around him each time I caught a glimpse at him. Now he’s got two kissing and dancing for him just outside the bar.
Sweat is running down my face and back, so much of it, my shirt is nearly soaked. It’s a hot night tonight, no wind to speak of, and even the breeze that rises every so often is warm.
Our guy is one of the last to leave the bar, a girl on each arm, as he leans on one and then the other on the way to a small apartment above what was some sort of office space or store back in the day. It’s right at the end of Main Street and the last structure on the side of town that’s right below the hill that leads to the big house. The downstairs windows are boarded up, but the upstairs ones are open and brightly lit. At least we’ll be able to hear exactly when he finally goes to sleep. How we’re gonna pull him from under those two club girls is another matter altogether.
We wait for a solid hour after the whole town goes dark and silent. Even club whores the guy me and Blaze are taking out brought home eventually stopped moaning and screeching.
“It’s time?” I ask Rook, who nods.
“Let’s make this quick and silent. No talking, only hand signs from this point on,” Rook says. “You know what to do and where to meet. And, Colt, if you see something that’s not supposed to be there, don’t be shy about letting us know.”
“I won’t,” I assure him.
“Good luck!” Rook says and starts making his way down, Ace right behind him.
The rest of us follow in pairs. The wind has finally picked up, cold and fresh and all the hissing and whistling is masking our descent very well. My nervousness is just a memory now and a ball of something heavy in the pit of my stomach that’s not so hard to ignore now that we’re doing this. Worrying has no place now in my head. The only way I get back from this is by doing my best.
By the time Blaze and I reach cover among the first row of houses, the rest are nowhere to be seen. The wind is whistling around us, gusting through the open spaces between the houses, raising dust and debris, most of which is hitting my face. I’m hardly breathing as we sneak towards our target house. A shutter banging against the window and shattering glass breaks the silence over our heads. We plaster ourselves to the wall of the house we’re walking by and wait. A curse turns into a full-on argument between the husband and wife in that house.
Great, just what we need.
And I think that before the occupants of at least three houses start shouting for them to shut the fuck up. But luckily