“Oh yea, your insurance deductible has to be that or more. They probably won’t even pay out. Here, take this.” He said getting some cash out. “If you report it, the police won’t do anything, but insurance HAS to be contacted then. Insurance will pile you with paperwork. God forbid someone hurts someone with it, and they tie it back to your shop, the red tape will be a nightmare. You don’t need this mess. Some poor kid’s life may depend on that gun. Just take the money.”
“Noooo, Mike. You’re a good man, I can’t just take your money.”
“Now you saved me at least 300 bucks on the HK when I got it, Frank. Out of the goodness of your heart, because I didn’t have the money on me back then. Now the other day I went to the casino and made 1700 dollars, and you know what I do with those winnings? I give back to the community. That’s not money I worked hard for, that’s a blessing to spread. God doesn’t give me that kinda luck so I can get rich, he does it so I can help people like you who can’t afford things. Consider it God’s money to make up for a legal system that doesn’t work and crooked insurance scammers, I’m just delivering it. If God wants to pay me back, I’ll get lucky again at the casino on Friday. I’d say the odds of me making it back are higher than the insurance claims, giving you the full amount and not raising your premiums. People steal every day. You got the guns to sell, so, now got money, the gun is gone…what’s the difference in the long run?” Mike reasoned.
“I can’t thank you enough, Mike. It’s so hard to make an honest living anymore. With people the way they are now, kids on the street hookin, insurance companies raising rates and my damn fixed income not goin up with inflation, I just can’t afford the troubles. Bless you. This is why I let you shoot here free and never charge you a membership. Thank you.” He smiled.
“Thank God for it. I’m just the delivery boy who listens to my boss.” He said, winking at Tanner.
The sounds of Jazz played as Mike finished his lathe work, lightly blowing the metal chips off the new barrel insert.
“So that’s my gun?” asked Tanner.
“That’s your gun. Reinforced slide pins, heavier spring, the muzzle brake threads tighten the barrel inserts in. If you think you’ll get caught, toss that and burn the barrel. Flair in the backpack, as well as a flashlight.”
“My phone has a flashlight, gramps.” She muttered.
“Your phone doesn’t lock onto the muzzle brake and act as a suppressor.” he noted.
“Oh. You know, you’re so convincing as a nice guy that I forget you do this for a living. Does the flashlight work?”
“Yea, pulls right out, guts still work, just pull that out in front of the cops. Now Tanner…are you sure you can handle this alone. It’s a lot to take into-”
“Hey…I got this. Stop worrying.” Tanner assured, admiring the black gun with the little red accents. “And for a garage mod, this is a sexy little gun. You do good work.”
“Get some sleep. I gotta put a few test rounds through it and work on the trigger. In the morning, you’ll have your official kill on this team.” He nodded nervously.
Tanner sat outside the school, getting up from her bench as the students let out and filed from the building like ants. She took a hit from her joint and grabbed her backpack, ready to work. She strolled her way through the building, keeping her head down and blending in like any other student after hours. Avoiding the teachers in the rooms and making her way to the janitor’s closet, checking Mike’s map to be sure. She knocked and waited for an opening. The door opened and a scruffy young man answered.
“Wrong room. No students allowed back here.”
“Um, actually I’m not a student, I’m friends with Tommy, you know Tommy?”
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“Kid, I don’t know who the hell Tommy is. If you’re not a student, why the backpack, and why are you in a school?”
“Hey, it’s a free country, I got stuff to carry. Stuff to…buy maybe. Look, Tommy said you had the hookup. You got Adderall, Oxy?” She muttered discreetly.
“No, not on property. My medication is not your problem. The fuck you think I keep drugs on premise? Get out, little fucking nark.”
“You don’t recognize me? Man, we did some shit together like a year ago.” she said, taking a dramatic pose. "I had longer hair."
“Wait, you do look familiar.” He paused.
“Tanner.”
“Right, right. Couple of Glocks. You were a blonde back then.”
“That’s me, and I got some friends looking for the hook-up, couple of boys I know, they prefer to be anonymous at the moment, we’re gonna hang out in about an hour. Tommy knows a cool place to hang, it’s discreet. You wanna make some money, bring the shit, these kids got parent’s cash, you could make about 2 grand.”
“How many boys?” he asked, suppressing his grin.
“I dunno. 3 and me if nobody pussies out. I’d say at least 2. If they don’t show, I’ll buy everything you got myself and resell.” She said, flashing a wad of cash. “Deal?”
“Okay, fine. I’m not really supposed to be around kids, so fuck off, but where’s the place?” he asked. Tanner slipped a piece of paper in his pocket and winked. “These kids like to party with cash, don’t be late.” He whispered.
Joe looked at the paper, printed off map with marker directions. He sighed nervously and made his way to his things, packing up and making a quick trip home.
He waded through the overgrown grass to an abandoned shopping center, small, abandoned and covered in very old worn graffiti. He felt uncomfortable, checking his bottle of pills and looking for the kids. He spotted movement in the building and made his way to a slightly cracked open back door, slipping in and looking around at the dusty old surroundings.
“Anybody here?” he asked, feeling like he got scammed and almost leaving.
“Just me, Tommy and his friends texted, they are on the way, they got delayed. Come on in.” She greeted, waving him on, joint in her mouth and energy drink in hand. Joe stepped into the office, an old, musty room with moldy chairs and broken glass separating the waiting area. Tanner whistled a jazzy tune as she discreetly locked the door and pulled it shut, the knob looking slightly newer than the door itself, and on the wrong way. Lock on the opposite side. She gave a playful spin as Joe stood, looking curious.
“What is this place?” he asked.
“Old abandoned dentist’s office. The whole little strip mall got canceled; they rented out the buildings for storage for a year or so and just left it. Place got looted and trashed. There are so many abandoned buildings it’s unreal, but this one is very special. I know it looks like shit, but the back room has been spiffed up a little. She said, leading him along.
“I see what this is.” sighed Joe. “Please tell me you at least brought the money?”
“Oh, I got it, I got plenty.”
“Look, I get that we got some shit in common, but I’m not going to jail over this, and you’re not even my type.” Joe huffed. “Nobody’s showing up, are they?”
“Ya got me. It’s just me. I figured we could hang out, catch up, I’ll still buy from ya. I just had to sweeten the temptation a little.” Tanner winked. "What, you don’t like a little alone time with a cute thing like me?” she batted, dramatically so.
“Honestly, you’re too old for me.”
“Hey, I’m fucking insulted. I’m cute as hell and carrying cash.”
“This whole thing just feels like a trap. High school kids, parents money. Cops flipped you, something is wrong. I’m out of here.”
“Yea, I... don’t know that you are, Joe.” Tanner smiled.
“Look, if you were a little more my style, a little less cocky and didn’t give off a huge vibe like you’re wearing a wire, maybe we could hang out, but I’m leaving.” He said, turning the knob and realizing it was locked. He sighed, leaning back with annoyance. Turning and raising his shirt to flash the 45 tucked in his holster. Tanner casually drew her pistol and pointed it at his crotch and grinned.
“You really shouldn’t flash what you can’t unsnap in a hurry. Now you’re gonna hold perfectly still, or I’m putting a hollowpoint in your dick, got it buddy?” Tanner asked as Joe slowly held his hands up and Tanner unsnapped and removed the 45.
“What is this, a robbery or a bust?” Joe asked. “Take the gun, It’s not registered in my name. I got nothing on me. Petty cash, some cigarettes, You got no proof I did anything except trespassing, which you are too. Bust me on a 200 dollar fine, bitch.”
“I’m not with the cops, dumbass. And I’m not robbing…well I am technically robbing you now, just the gun, that’s not the main point here. This is a sweet piece actually. Uncle bought this for ya?” Tanner said applying the silencer to Carrie and tucking the 45 in her belt, covering with her shirt.
“What do you want? You got my gun, my smokes, I didn’t bring any pills, you got no evidence I did anything.” He asked as Tanner got out the thermal binoculars, checking him head to toe with a big cheesy grin.
“Well, you made one mistake. You’re just too damn hot to throw back.” She said with a sinister tone. “It’s playtime.”
“Put the gun down…let’s play fair.” Joe instigated.
“You’re bigger than me, I kinda prefer not playing fair. So…” she clapped devilishly. “Let’s play a game called fun with duct tape.”