A car pulled up to an apartment with a stone façade. A few patches stood bare, dark holes opening in the apartment’s face. The driver squinted up at the apartment, confused. “The hell…?”

Jacket pulled high and hat pulled low, a man with slicked-back hair emerged from the apartment, a briefcase tucked under one arm. He glanced up from behind black glasses and nodded at the driver, sliding into the back seat. A black facemask hid his mouth, his jacket’s collar turned up high around his face.

The driver chuckled. Looking in the rearview mirror, he shook his head at Stoneheart. “I know I’m not David, but you can say hello.”

The man in the backseat crossed his arms and said nothing.

“Alright, alright, I got it, Your Majesty Stoneheart. Anything you need?”

He glanced up. “A gun.”

“A gun? What’s a spiffy super like you going to do with a pathetic weapon for normals?” the man scoffed.

“Fun.”

“You’re going to do fun…?” The man squinted in the rearview mirror.

Stoneheart’s dark glasses stared back at him, deadpan.

“Alright, alright. We’re in a mood tonight, huh?” the man muttered to himself, pulling away from the curb.

The man in the backseat ignored him, fiddling with his phone instead.

Shaking his head, the driver drove on. The car remained in complete silence. After a minute, the driver reached for his radio. “I’m putting on classic rock, okay? It’s almost classical.”

Stoneheart nodded, distracted.

Watching Stoneheart, the driver shook his head. To himself, he muttered, “Really bad day, huh?”

The car wound through the city. At last, it pulled up to the rear of the Central Square storefronts. The driver turned back, looking at Stoneheart. “You serious about the gun?”

Stoneheart nodded.

The driver wrinkled his nose. He dug through the glove box, then handed Stoneheart a pistol. “Though I don’t know why you’re so scared. Plenty of stone around, right?”

“Never hurts to be cautious.” Stoneheart ejected the magazine and checked the bullets. Nodding to himself, he clicked it shut and tucked it into the back of his pants.

Turning around in the driver’s seat, the driver stared at Stoneheart. “Right, well, I filed off the serial, but I know what my gun looks like. It better make its way back to me at the end of the day.”

Stoneheart nodded. He climbed out of the car and vanished into the bar’s rear entrance.

The driver hesitated a moment, then pressed his lips together. “That thing’s about to be a murder weapon, isn’t it. Good thing it ain’t registered to me.” Shaking his head, he drove off, leaving the restaurant behind.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Levi, in his Stoneheart disguise, sauntered into the backrooms. He grinned under his mask. First step, complete. And an unexpected bonus from a friendly driver. Nodding to himself, he touched the weapon stuffed in his back pocket.

As he wound through the rear space, a man approached him. He hunkered in his jacket and gave the man a nod, moving to pass him by.

Instead, a hand wound around his shoulders. The man squeezed his arm, then frowned. “Ian, my man. You’re a scarecrow! You not eating?”

Levi stared at the floor. He grunted.

“You didn’t even like that bitch. C’mon. Get over her already!”

Another grunt.

The man stared at Levi for a moment, then harrumphed. “What, getting too big to remember who got you where you are? Remember, I’m the one who put you in front of Alpha’s eyes. I sacrificed men to get you that commendation you needed. It’s thanks to me that you’re one of his deputies. Now, I appreciate you looking the other way for us, but man, you fall into a funk, you stop taking the cases where my boys are involved…we don’t want to go there, do we?”

An uncomfortable silence stretched. Levi stood still, ignoring the man as best he could.

At last, the man laughed. He patted Levi’s shoulder again and pushed off. “Find her killer fast and get back to work, Ian, my friend. I’m counting on you.”

Levi stood completely still until the man retreated, silently watching him from the other side of his shades. Only when the door closed behind him did Levi solemnly lift his hand and extend a middle finger at the man’s back. He pointed it at the door. “You’re on my list.”

With that, he turned away and marched toward the serving area.

From the kitchen, he peered out at the seating area. People sat at the tables, chatting to one another or fiddling with the silverware, waiting for their leader to emerge. In the rear, a man in hot pink sat ramrod-straight, staring dead ahead, shivering ever so slightly.

“Hey! It’s Highlighter Pink!” Levi murmured to himself, pleased. He glanced around, then exited the back of the bar. Looping around to the front, he casually slid in the entrance. One or two of the men glanced dismissively in his direction.

He came up beside Highlighter Pink and leaned in. “Hello there, Highlighter Pink! Long time no see, my good friend!”

Highlighter Pink jumped. He whirled, then stared. “What happened to you? Did a clown attack your face with foundation? Also, that isn’t my name.”

“You remember me! Great. I knew we had a connection. Listen carefully. I’m about to give you the chance of a lifetime, so take this seriously.”

Highlighter Pink frowned. He nodded once, then leaned in.

I love how serious it is. He’s so easy to mess with! Delighted, Levi’s grin only widened. In his quietest voice, he whispered, “Shit is about to go down.”

Highlighter Pink stiffened. “By that, you mean…an attack?”

Levi nodded. “I like you, so I’m going to give you two choices. Take my side, and help me catch these criminals in a crossfire. Or get the hell out of here, which I totally understand, it’s your choice to make, I respect those who value their lives, caveat: we won’t be friends the next time we meet.”

“Wait—you’re about to—”

“Don’t sweat the details, my dude. Sides. Pick ‘em.”

Highlighter Pink hesitated, casting his eyes around the room, then nodded. “I’m on your side.”

“Based. You’ll back up to the entrance when I pop off. No one gets outside. Understand?”

Tense as a piano wire, Highlighter Pink nodded sharply.

Giving him a friendly pat on the back, Levi headed up to the front of the room. At the very front, he pushed his way behind the bar, then spun on his heel and turned to face the room. Slamming his hands down on the bar, he lowered his mask and grinned at the room. “Hello, everyone. Welcome. I’m Stoneheart, and I’ve been commissioning you to find my girlfriend’s killer.”

The roughs stared back at him. In the back of the room, Highlighter Pink sat even more upright than before, all but thrumming in anticipation.

Levi leaned forward, fingertips on the bartop, spreading his hands as he leaned. “I’m here today to tell you that’s all over. No more need. I’m good. Vengeance sated.”

Dead silence. At last, one of the men sniffed and tilted his head, looking up at Levi. “That’s it, then? That’s all?”

“Yep! That’s it!” Levi beamed down at them.

The man wrinkled his nose. Lifting a hand, he rubbed his chin, then flicked his eyes at Levi. “Where’s our money, then?”

Levi laughed. In one fluid motion, he drew the gun and leveled it at the man. “Do you accept the lead standard?”

The man’s eyes widened. He threw his hands up, startled.

BAM!