Prologue
John was pulling into his driveway. He had spent the better half of the day in his shop. He just wanted to get to his apartment and pass out for the day, maybe drink a beer or two. However, his evening was going to be interrupted by a text message, He saw the ID and knew he couldn’t ignore it. He sighed and opened it.
Yo, we need new tags. One of our rides got busted. We need to turn one in our collection passable.
That’s fine. Just don’t take it out, ill get it figured out in the morning.
No not fine. The boss wants us on a job tonight, and we need those tags.
Can’t you just use one of the other vehicles?
No. get back to the shop and get to work.
John sighed there would be no passing out for him. He had walked up the steps and was just outside his door when it happened. He did a 180 and head back to his car. If he hurried he could have it done before maybe 3 am.
He reluctantly walked the steps. His brain already wondering what tags he could pull that the government wouldn’t think twice about. Older cars were preferable. A man he didn’t recognize walked past him on the stairwell. As they passed, they bumped shoulders by accident.
“Im sorry my mistake.” the man said.
“Well watch where you’re going shitbag.” John responded. He wasn’t really paying attention, in fact he could have avoided it easily if he was. But if this idiot was apologizing he might as well make him feel it.
He continued down the stairwell, until finally he reached his car. He reached into his pocket to text his companion that he was on his way. He couldn’t find it in his coat pocket however. He shrugged his shoulders. It didn’t really matter, they’d come at some point for it. Maybe he’d get some sleep at the shop. He inserted the key into the drive and started the ignition.
From inside a car not far from johns a man saw the car explode in a giant fireball. His window was down but he rolled it up as he felt a wave of heat on his face. It was uncomfortable but he was far enough away that it didn’t hurt. He started his own car and went a ways before pulling into a McDonald not far. He smiled to himself as he pulled out John greenbacks phone from his pocket, He plugged a cord into it which was connected to a decryption algorithm stored in a hard drive in his backpack. He tapped his knife at his waist while the decryption worked its magic to get past his pass code. 9926. Not a horrible pass code. He opened up the now deceased johns messages and searched the last messages. He had intended for john to blow up in the early morning like he always did. Something had changed. He had gone back to the car meaning he had been told to by someone he couldn’t say no to. Someone like who the man hunted like animals.
A single name. Indie. Not much to go off of. But by the looks of it indie was going to meet John at the shop. Presumably at his own shop. He could use this. He checked his bag. He didn’t have any more explosives but there was probably gasoline inside the shop. After all, whats an auto mechanic shop without gasoline.
A few hours later, Indie was smoking a cigarette. It wasn’t his usual brand, he had run out and needed some from his guys. He wasn’t happy with it however. As a result he was grumpy and mad, and looking for someone to vent it on.
Finally he got a text. He checked his phone:
Sorry for the wait. Your tags are ready. If you want me to drop them off you’ll need to tell me where your at, otherwise feel free to pick them up.
Indie thought it a little strange the text message. He shrugged maybe he could tell Indie was waiting to rip someone’s head off. Either way he wasn’t going to tell him where they were. That was stupid. He responded:
I’ll pick them up. See you in a half hour. They better work.
He told all the guys that he was going. He drove over there and he immediately noticed the lights were off in johns shop. He wondered about it for a bit but shrugged it off. He was probably catching some sleep. It was late.
He got out and walked inside the shop. The first thing he noticed was the odor of gasoline.
“Yo man what the fuck is that smell?!” he yelled.
Then he saw a sign: pardon the smell we are getting it cleaned.
He shook his head “these tags better be worth it!”
He stormed inside towards johns office. He better in there to answer for the troubles.
But he wasn’t inside. It was empty. Only his desk and lamp.
“Son of a, WHERE ARE YOU-” he had turned around in the doorway just as a blade passed over his throat. Before he could see the figure back away into the shadows. It was only then that he realized he could no longer speak he pressed a hand to his throat and tried to gasp for air. Blood was pouring and his neck was making a sound like a cut tire.
He fell to his knees. He was in shock. He didn’t know what to do. From behind him he felt someone kick him down onto his face. He put his arms forward to try and stop his fall but he felt like his arms were weak and they collapsed under his weight. He felt someone rummaging through his pockets and take something. His phone maybe?
He found he didn’t care. He felt his eyes going black. He opened his eyes and saw red flames dancing around the shop then he closed his eyes. One last time.
Mystery
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