Avoid if triggered by misplaced apostrophe's. (![]() ![]() @ 2009-06-16 21:59:00 |
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Entry tags: | chas, deacon, nia, npc |
Miami and Manor, afternoon and evening.
The flight down had been good - business class was essential for someone Freddie's size - but he was glad when it was over. Now they had forty-eight hours to go over their plans, schedule stops to refuel the car and themselves, and generally get some rest. There would be precious little sleeping while they were on the road.
The lock up Deacon had hired was comfortable enough. There was a cool air blower and fan, camp beds, even a small refrigerator. Freddie sucked down half a can of soda and continued to wire in the radar detector he had brought down with him.
"We're gonna need more than this," he said, setting the can down beside him. "I don't work well dehydrated." He grinned at Deacon who rolled his eyes.
"Well guess it's a good thing there's a liquor store down the street huh," he said and got his wallet. "Oh no, don't bother giving me cash, I'll buy," he added as he stepped out the door, the sarcasm thick.
Freddie chuckled and continued to work until he heard a rattle at the door and a muffled call. Grunting he got out of the car and ambled to the door to open it a crack.
"Forget your key?" he asked. There was a sharp hiss and he staggered back as blinding pain erupted in his eyes and sinuses. He pawed at his face then grunted as a watery shape stepped forward and hit him hard in the gut. Freddie gave a roar of fury and hit back but there was another hiss and his open mouth began to burn as well. He fell, gagging, curled up as a boot to the ribs jolted him onto his side and made a grab for his attackers' leg.
But there were more of them. One was certainly enjoying giving him a kicking but he could hear sounds, awful sounds, from over by the car - the shocking hiss of air from tyres, the shatter of glass, the scrape of metal.
He tried to get up, but his eyes were closed, his breath aching in his lungs and he just didn't have the strength.
It had taken longer than Deacon had planned to get what they needed. The store had been busy and then there had been an issue with the cash register so by the time Deacon was walking back up to the garage it had been a good thirty minutes.
He shifted the clinking paper bag into his left arm and dug into his pocket for his keys.
"Freddie get the damn door," he called but got no answer and grumbled, finally managing to get the door opened. "That place has the dumbest people workin'...."
The scene that met him had him frozen in place for half a second then the bag hit the floor, bottles breaking inside, and Deacon was dropping to his knees at Freddie's side.
"Freddie? Jesus, talk to me man!"
Freddie groaned coming out of his huddle. "Deac?" he whispered, his voice feeling as though it was tearing its way out. "Look out, Deac - least two of 'em. Watch your back."
Deacon's eyes darted around the room but there was no one there. His eyes fell on the Aston Martin and he swore repeatedly then pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Need to get you to the hospital," he said, dialing 911.
"S'mace," Freddie husked. "S'all right. Coupla broke ribs mebbe. Shit - Deac - the car."
"Don't worry about the car," Deacon said, though he was sick to his stomach because of it. A 911 operator answered and Deacon gave her the address and information quickly. They didn't really need cops poking around but Deacon had come prepared with fake IDs for them both.
"They're on their way," he said, yanking off his shirt and using it to staunch the blood flow from Freddie's nose.
Freddie coughed and spat more blood. "Back pocket," he said. "Wallet - take the cash out, scatter the rest. Say it was a mugging." He coughed again and groaned. "Deac - what you gonna do?"
"I'll figure it out," he said, getting Freddie's wallet and scattering its contents, tucking the cash itself into his own wallet. He could hear the sirens approaching now and looked around again real fast, making sure nothing he couldn't explain was visible.
"Shit man I'm sorry," he said, furious that this had happened. "Did you see 'em at all? Know who it was?"
"They hit me with the mace as soon as I opened the door," Freddie whispered. "Just saw shapes, that's all. They didn't speak. Shit - Deacon - you can't do this alone. Even if you can get the car fixed."
Deacon looked at the car again. "It can't be," he admitted, voice tight. "Not in time. But there's the Challenger ... and Charlie...."
And no he was NOT happy about that idea.
"You call him," Freddie whispered. "Sooner the better. Maybe - maybe he can fly down? With the other car?" Sirens wailed outside, blue lights were flashing through the open door and voices called. "Call him soon as these guys're gone," Freddie ordered.
"I will, now shuddup," Deacon said, trying to smile, and then yelled for the medics who came hurrying in. He quickly got out of their way and went to the police officer that had shown up with them, telling him about the mugging, giving him their current identities, and all the info the man asked for.
He rode with them to the hospital, making sure Freddie was in okay and giving the admitting office insurance information that went along with the ID Freddie had in his wallet. When there was nothing else he could do he stepped outside and pulled out his phone again.
It took a full ten minutes for him to finally decide this was the only way and he dialed Charlie's number.
Nia had spent a lovely afternoon 'gardening' and Charlie was bathing her before dinner when the phone rang. Bella picked it up, saw who was ringing and shouted to Charlie then answered the phone.
"Deacon, dear," she said. "How's the trip going?"
"Hey, Bella," Deacon said, keeping his voice light. "It's goin' okay. Nia bein' good for you two?"
"She's being very good," Bella assured him carrying the phone through to the nursery bathroom. "Misses you of course and asks when you'll be home. Charlie's just bathing her. We've been gardening and quite a bit of the garden stuck."
Charlie looked up as he heard her voice, and he smiled as she mouthed 'Deacon' at him. He passed Nia her toys then stood and sat on the edge of the bath.
"Here's Charlie now," Bella said and handed him the phone.
"Hey," Charlie said, "thanks for calling. How are you?"
"Been better," Deacon admitted and sighed. "Freddie was jumped. I'm at the hospital with him now. The car is totaled. I need you Charlie."
"What?" Charlie demanded. "But what happened? Oh God, is he much hurt Deacon?"
"Who's hurt?" Bella asked then frowned as Charlie shushed her.
"Cracked a few ribs, mace in the face. He'll be okay but not in time to drive. And the car...." He swore. "The car is all but gone. Charlie I need you down here. I need the Challenger and I need you as my co-driver. We don't have much time."
"Good grief," Charlie said. He looked at his mother and she nodded.
"If he needs you, you have to go," she said. "Nia and I will be fine."
"Hear that, D?" Charlie said, his voice cracking. "Have I got the best mum in the world or what?"
"Most amazing woman ever. Gonna treat her like a queen when we get back." He ran a hand through his hair and moved further from the door and any possible listeners. "You get packed - lightly. In my office, in the fire proof safe, is a box with your name. There's several fake IDs in there made up for you. Everything you need for each one should be bound together - driver's license, social security, credit cards, insurance cards. Grab one and text me with the name. I'm gonna arrange for the car to be shipped down here under that name. Don't have time for you to drive it. I know a place that'll fly 'em down for the right amount of money."
"I'll do that now," Charlie said. "Damn! Oh, I hope Freddie's all right. And the car!! How on earth did they find you? No - no time for natter. I'll go and get that stuff now. Look - take care. I don't want anything happening to you."
"Be careful, Deacon," Bella called.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Deacon said - for both Charlie and Bella's benefit. "You just get me the name quick so I can get this done. And be ready to go at a moments notice. I'm gettin' you on the first flight. Be careful, Charlie. No matter what."
"I will," Charlie promised. "No matter what, D," and he ended the call with a sigh. "Oh shit," he said.
"You do whatever it was Deacon just asked you to do," Bella said, heading for his bedroom door, "while I pack an overnight bag for you."
"Thanks, Mum," Charlie said. "Five minutes, okay? Then I promise I'll tell you what's going on. I think it might be handy if someone else knows."
"That's sensible, dear," Bella said. "Hurry back now."
Charlie made for the office at a run, punched in the code on the door panel then waited for the green light before entering. "Office office office, safe safe safe," he chanted as he darted into the room, opened a cupboard and moved a box. There was the safe. It was the work of a moment to open it and he took out a thick carboard box with a tight fitting lid. "Ooh!" He stared at the contents, rifled through the neat little packages and took one out. "Dan Livingston," he said. "As good as any other name!" And he sat back on his heels to text the name through.
The text arrived and Deacon glanced at the name, nodding in approval, and made a few quick phone calls. This was going to cost a pretty penny but there was no choice. Ten minutes later he called Charlie again and listed off the name of the airport, who he was to talk to and what time he had to be there.
"The car should have everything it needs ready to go. I've got fuel and a few other goodies here that we can salvage from the Aston Martin. By the time you arrive I'll have them out of the old car and ready to put in the new one. This is gonna be tight but if we hurry I think we'll make it."
Charlie glanced at his watch and grunted as he locked the office again. "Right," he said. "You've got Livingstone's number, yeah?" There had been a new sim card in with the papers. "I'll swap over before I leave the apartment. See you - gah - tomorrow lunchtime."
"Yeah. See you then. Be careful, Mouse," Deacon said again then hung up. He had a lot of work to do.