THIRTEEN

Hank appreciated Katie and her parents being there during the service for his dead. Katie had comforted him, held his hand as he cried all the way during the speeches. Not many people had shown up. His dad had always been too busy inventing stuff to start or maintain many friendships. He had no family. Hank felt a bit bad about his little tiff with Katie the night before. That hadn’t changed his mind though. He needed to avenge his father’s death. And that was why he was in one the seediest places in the city.

The alley behind the Miller Club was known to be a place where illegal deals were struck. Contact was made inside, the goods were paid for and delivered behind it. Usually it was drugs, sometimes something else. Something even more deadly.

Hank was feeling quite some unease, talking to the big, bald guy in a leather jacket and the Latino guy with a scarred face in the alley there. It was a necessity though.

Bald Guy said, “Show me the money and I will show you the piece.”

Hank nodded. He got an envelope out of his jacket. He opened it, showing the money it contained.

“Gimme,” Bald Guy said.

“I may be young, I’m not stupid,” Hank said. He tried to sound tough but couldn’t exactly hide how dry his throat was. “You show me the piece now first.”

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Bald Guy chuckled. “Nice, kid. Santiago, show him the thing.”

The Latino’s hand went into his jacket. When it came out it was holding a futuristic looking gun.

“There it is. Hundred percent alien technology. This one will blast anything to pieces.”

“Prove it works,” Hank said.

Santiago grinned. He pointed the gun at Hank, who almost wet his pants. Santiago fired, an energy blast whizzing by Hank. Hank turned, watching the blast fly and hit a garbage container. Nothing but metal dust was left of it.

“Satisfied?” Santiago asked.

Hank nodded. Bald Guy grabbed the envelope from Hank and counted the money.

That’s when the sirens sounded.

“You set us up!” Bald Guy screamed at Hank.

“No, I swear I didn’t!” Hank said.

Santiago pointed the blaster at Hank. “I will kill you for that!”

A loud crack. Santiago dropped the gun, blood spilling from his chest.

Hank turned, identifying the source of the gunshot. It was Sergeant Epps, holding a smoking pistol. He was flanked by six other policemen.

“Freeze, all of you!” Epps said. “You’re all under arrest!”

Bald Guy grabbed Hank, using him as a shield. “I’ll kill the kid if you don’t let me go.”

Epps said, “You saw what I did to your buddy. I’m a very excellent shot. You want me to shoot you through the head? I don’t do negotiations with scum.” He lined Bald Guy up in his line of sight.

Hank felt the sweat run down his body. He started to shake. Epps seemed to be pretty sure of himself. But it looked like a pretty difficult shot to make. Epps might hit Bald Guy, but he might also take off his ear.

Bald Guy’s grip loosened. “All right, you got me. Don’t shoot.”

A cop grabbed Hank, pulling him with him. He was pushed against the wall and cuffed while they did the same to Bald Guy. He understood trouble had just started now.