The elevator stopped at the lobby. Red and I walked back to the car, “I thought he was just some extortionist. Why didn’t you tell me all this other crap?” I asked rather frustrated. “I didn’t know either Cat, explains how he’s lasted so long though.” Red responded, a bit somber.

We got back to the car, and drove back to the garage. On the highway I noticed a billboard I’ve never seen before. It was for Dakota’s business, it’s almost ironic, him advertising himself as just some guy to find out if your boyfriend’s cheating or whatever. God, if they only knew what he actually did.

The drive back to the garage was uneventful aside from Red pulling up to a taco truck to get the gang some food in hopes to soften the blow that we just took a kidnapping job without their input. I doubt Anaheim would care but Lorenzo is going to be pissed. We got back to the garage. Anaheim was on the couch sleeping, and Lorenzo looked like he was on the phone with someone at the other end of the room. Lorenzo hung up his call when we pulled up.

Red and I got out of the car, he took out the food. “Anaheim, wake up! I got news!” Red yelled. Anaheim stumbled awake and got up, she looked exhausted at least until the food entered her eye. Lorenzo looked unimpressed. “So what’s the news then?” Lorenzo asked “We have a new gig, Price gave it to us and let us keep our money.” Red replied. Lorenzo sighed and asked “Alright what do we have to do?” “Not sure yet we’ll find out soon though.” Just as Red said this he got a notification on his phone. He checked it. “And now we do know.” Red began reading it. He had a smile on his face as he read it, but behind those eyes I saw panic. I just went straight into the deep end, and I’ve just dragged everyone else with me.

Red began “Alright, so we’re taking a guy named John Townsend.” Lorenzo interrupted with “What do you mean take?” “Well uhh, we’re taking this guy to a compound… unwillingly.” Red stammered out. “No, NO! Are you kidding me? I’ll rob a damn bank, but kidnap a guy! Seriously?!” Lorenzo yelled. “Well you have to if you want your cut.” Red said, flatly. “Goddammit Red!” Lorenzo began cursing indiscriminately. He calmed down after a few seconds. “Fine.” He concluded and went to the fridge to grab a beer.

Red began again “He’s a manager at a department store.” Red gave an address. “Meet at the parking lot in three days, 4 PM. I’ll bring a U-Haul” He sighed. “Alright lets divvy out the money.” He split the cash and ammo from the previous job between us. “Class dismissed.” He took a deep breath and got a beer from his fridge. Lorenzo stormed out of the garage in silence and drove off. “Mind if I stick around for a bit? I don’t really have jack to do.” I asked, a bit apprehensive. “Sure, mi casa es tu casa” Red started “or mi garage es tu… Anaheim, how do you say garage in spanish?” “Why would I know” “You’re from California isn’t that part of the whole thing there?” Anaheim sighed, “It’s cochera” Red got his typical grin back before horribly butchering “Grassy-ass” Anaheim cringed at that abomination to the spanish language.

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We hung out in the garage for another hour or so making idle conversation. After a game of dominos I failed spectacularly in, Red asked “Y’all down to go get a drink? I need something other than the cheap-ass beer in the cooler.” I nodded. Anaheim agreed as well. We made our way to some dive-bar Red frequents. The walk was fairly short, just a few blocks. The place looked nice for a dive-bar, relatively clean, probably due to the sheer lack of patrons. There were a few biker looking guys playing darts, a few others just drinking in peace, and one lone bartender who was taking a shot of something for himself when we walked in.

As I was looking throughout the place I saw a woman who was staring directly at me, when our eyes locked she looked away. I didn’t think much of it. We ordered our drinks and claimed a table at the back. Red managed to convince us that we were due a celebration. Because of this we drank much more than we should have.

My memory of most of that night is less than stellar. I remember getting cut off, Red nearly got into a fight with the bartender. We left and I remember stumbling into a car, that's about it.

I felt my senses coming back to me. The first thing I noticed was warmth. Something soft underneath me. A bed much better than my own. Then the pain, the throbbing headache surging through my body. I slowly opened my eyes, they met another pair of eyes. I let out a quick scream and pushed whoever was above me away. I rolled off the bed and looked to see who it was. It was the woman from the bar, the one that was staring at me. Her eyes were wide, and upon further inspection were augmented. Even when I pushed her she was much heavier than someone of her slim size. She had long brown hair, almost perfectly kept. Beautiful lush lips. Everything was too well put together, it was suspicious.

Her lips moved as she spoke in an uncanny voice. “Cat, calm down, it’s just me.” “Who the hell are you?!” I yelped. She giggled for a moment “It’s Tempo, come on you seriously couldn’t figure that out?” My shoulders relaxed slightly. Hell of a re-introduction. Tempo is my mentor, they saved my ass years ago and got me started in Chicago. They’re augmented beyond belief, I’d struggle to even call them human at this rate. Every time I see them they look different, I still can’t figure that out.

I sighed for a moment trying to calm myself down. “Christ, Tempo. Were you seriously just watching me sleep?” I asked, still attempting to shake off the adrenaline. “I was watching your respirations and heart rhythm. In other terms, I was making sure you didn’t die. Your blood alcohol content was around .26” She said in her mildly robotic voice. “And you decided to drive me here instead of the hospital?” I asked, sarcastically “You don’t have the money or the insurance.” Tempo stated, flatly.

I decided to ignore this minor slight against me and got up from the floor. “So you just so happened to be at the bar? And just so happened to save me?” I asked, still sarcastic. She looked blank and simply said “Yes.” I believed her, Tempo was never one to lie. “So how much do I owe you then, or what do I owe you?” I asked, getting back a semblance of a serious tone. “Nothing. Trust me, having you not be dead in a bar in the middle of nowhere is fine enough.” Tempo said “Just stay here until your hangover is at least a little better.” I sighed for a minute, sat back down and said “I’m never gonna complain about a free place to crash.”