We take off in the direction of our meeting spot. It takes about 15 minutes to get there, which is every second we had to spare, so I grab a .22 from Barker and shove it into the front of my slacks, underneath my coat. The minute the car stops, I leap out and jog up the short trail of shrubbery to the red sandlot where a rusty warhorse is resting in the warm Hawaiian sun.
“I’m meant to go in alone.” I look back to Barker, running in a panic after me.
“Sir—“
“He texted me last night. Didn’t want to say anything, but here we are.”
“We’ll wait outside. Holler if you need us.”
“Thank you.” I pat his arm firmly and turn back to the warehouse before taking cautious steps to the door. I knock a few times, but there’s no answer. It’s a miracle they’re running late because I would have definitely pissed some people off. It’s two minutes past, and I decide to just wait inside, as per the instructions last night. I give Barker a look, and he nods as I slip inside.
It’s much colder where the sun doesn’t touch, and a breeze carries through the dark, empty warehouse. I don’t waste my time wondering about it much because I’m too busy going over what I’m going to say in my mind.
We want peace in this new era. Nothing but mutual benefits for both parties. I’m asking for Agent Fine’s location to be revealed for us to remain on good terms.
Fuck. Are we on good terms? Not really…
Okay. Scratch that.
We want to establish peace between our gangs. There’s power in…
Fuck, I don’t know. I sound like Vince or some shit.
I check my gold Versace watch. Twenty minutes have passed already. My phone hasn’t alerted me of any notifications, but I check just in case. Nope. Nothing. Interesting.
Maybe I should step back outside, see how the boys are doing and what Barker thinks is wise. I open the door, and the sun hits the back of my eyes as I step into the light. I look around and attempt to spot Barker in the bushes or something, but I don’t see him.
“Barker?” I call and step out a little further. Before I can take another step, something cold, heavy, sharp, and immensely painful cracks down on my skull with such force that I’m immediately in total darkness.
For a while, I’m lost. Floating in nothingness, pain throbbing in the back of my head with the beeps of something far off. Am I in the hospital? No. I know what a heart monitor beep sounds like, and this is more piercing, like a warning.
It's growing louder with each second until I’m cognizant that I’m no longer floating. My body begins to spin and recalibrate until everything is buzzing. My fingertips are on fire, my head aching the worst I’ve ever felt. I’m aware of the dirt holding my body up, but I’m even more aware of the darkness. I think I let out a groan that echos. Is it in my head that it’s echoing?
“Oh great! You’re up!” This voice is not who I expected, but it too is echoing, and I can’t quite put everything together. Why is Jack with me? Where are we? How did we get here?
I force my eyes open to see him standing over me, stony skies above his head that tell me we’re in some sort of cave.
“Am I dead?”
“No. But I thought you were when they carried you in here.”
“They?” I rub my eyes and begin to sit up, but he stops me.
“Your head was busted, and you were limp.” He holds a hand on my chest.
“My suit?”
“Bloody.” I grit my teeth, which hurts my head worse, but whoever hit me is about to pay for more than just the expense of my suit.
“Who is,they?” I ask again, infuriated that he won’t let me stand.
“The Russians.” Jack’s eyes go solemn, and I know there’s more he isn’t telling me.
“Where—“
“In a mineshaft.” He points to something beside me. “And those are bars keeping us locked in here.”
“Let’s fucking pick the lock.” I sit up against his persistence, and he moves his hand when he knows I’m not giving up. The second I rise, I see what’s behind him, and I grit the soil with my tingling hands.