East Harlem, NYC
18/01/2016 10:50am

"What can I say, Zeke is a busy guy." Shauna said, leaning against the door frame.

"Busy? Really, Shauna?" Paul snapped.

The woman merely shrugged at the four assassins. There was a shuffling noise inside the appartment and finally the door opened fully to reveal a dishevelled looking man. His hair was ratty and tangled. He didn't bother to neaten up his appearance, instead he motioned for the assassins to enter. They followed him in.

The appartment wasn't too disimilar to its owner. Under the dirty window was an old, battered couch. Syringes were piled in a corner, but Zeke didn't seem to notice. He dragged a hand over his face.

"Did Vinnie send ya?" He asked.

"Yeah, Vinnie sent us. He said you owed him some money." John said.

"I owed that boy's father money. Far as I can tell that debt is null and void now his daddy's dead." Zeke chuckled.

"It's funny. Vinnie said you'd say that." Paul smirked.

"Oh, did he now. So, you came here, like good, little dogs." Zeke glanced at Shauna.

She didn't look impressed by him insulting trained killers. She had stepped back, probably to avoid being caught in the crossfire. She glanced over at the assassins then back to Zeke. He was swaying a little and she realised he hadn't had a hit this morning.

"Anyways, go back to Vinnie and tell him that I won't be paying him a cent," Zeke hissed. "Shauna, pass me my needle."

She walked over to the small table. George reached over and passed her the needle, offering a friendly smile. She accepted it without thinking and walked over, handing it to Zeke. He snatched it without so much as a thanks. Shauna guessed they'd go back and tell Vinnie, but normally Vinnie would have sent Dani or Nikki for things like this. It seemed a waste of time to send the assassins.

Zeke sank onto the couch, tying the belt round his arm and tapping the vein. He inserted the needle into his skin and Shauna felt sick suddenly. She looked up at John and he smirked at her. Her eyes flew to the syringe just as Zeke pressed it down, letting the drugs into his system. He leaned back, sighing.

"W-what did you give him?" She asked, taking a deep breath.

"Just enough ricin to kill him." George said.

"The best part about ricin is that it's untraceable. We'll be back for the money in," John looked at his phone. "Six to twelve hours. He'll be dead by then."

Shauna didn't watch them go, instead she slumped onto the floor and scrambled over to Zeke, removing the needle, tossing it away.

************************

Midtown Starbucks
18/01/2016 11:15am

"He would normally send me to deal with Zeke." Dani sighed, sipping his drink.

Annaliese nodded, taking a long gulp of her smoothie and looking out the window, watching the people walking up and down the street. She leaned on her elbows, watching a group of tourists stroll by.

"Zeke's been dodging paying part of his cut from the drugs he sells." She replied, looking back at Dani.

"He's a shifty motherfucker." Nikki said, sitting in the booth, and opening the plastic container for his sandwich.

He proceeded to tear the crusts off and put them back in the plastic case and taking a bite. Dani watched and he shrugged, taking the crusts and eating them.

"I think it's funny how quick the assassins are to act." Nikki said, glancing at Annaliese.

"They're calculating just like Andy and his group." She said, summarising it.

Dani snorted out a laugh then, "Nah, I reckon they just need girlfriends, or something."

*************************

GreenView Heights
18/01/2016 12:30am

Kacee POV

My luck may have been in today. I had an application form for a local cafe and I was eager to fill it in. On my way home, I rewarded myself with a Starbucks. I pushed open the door and nearly crashed into a tall girl with long, black hair.

"Oops, sorry." I smiled.

"No problem, dude." She grinned, holding the door for me.

I went to the counter and joined the small queue of people, flicking through my application. Someone tugged my hair and I whirled round.

"Neighbour girl." John smiled.

I was alarmed to see him here. I don't know why I was so shocked by this. He obviously had a life and went out and bought coffee like everyone else.

"Sorry, you scared me." I murmured.

"Consider it revenge for the other day, love." He said.

"You said I didn't scare you." I shot back.

The queue moved forward and I turned to tell the girl my order. She was very smiley and once I'd finished I stepped to the side to wait for my order. I watched John. He was wearing a pair of black skinnies and a jacket. I hadn't noticed it before but he was wearing a pair of black framed, square glasses that oddly suited him.

I didn't think he'd approach me again, but he came to stand next to me. This was a new development. I fiddled with my own small glasses to give my nervous hands something to do. There was no need to be anxious though. He had to wait for his order too and then he'd probably leave. I wasn't a particularly interesting girl.

The girl behind the counter called my name and I stepped forward, paying her and taking my latte. Would it be weird to wait for him? He probably didn't want me hanging around him like some awkward geek. He went and accepted his order and caught up to me, walking next to me.
We left Starbucks and continued walking up the street.

"You don't have to walk with me." I said, staring at the sidewalk.

"Trying to get rid of me." He smirked.

"N-no, not at all. I'm not that interesting to be fair." I said, taking a sip of my drink, then regretting it because it was like molten lava in a polystyrene cup.

"Well, let me find out how interesting you are." John said.

I smiled at that and we carried on walking. My face heated up when he had to move closer to avoid a group of girls with shopping bags on their arms. His arm brushed against my shoulder.

"So, can I guess what brings you to Manhattan?" He asked, playfully.

"You probably will anyways." I laughed.

"Are you on the run?"

"No."

He shrugged at my slightly offended expression. I was on the run from Dad if that counted for anything. I hadn't heard from Rochelle yet to arrange my Dad's visit.

"Ok, not on the run, but aren't you a bit young to be living on your own?" He said.

"Young? I'm eighteen. Besides, speak for yourself." I grinned, taking a victory drink from my latte.

"Wow, eighteen, practically an adult. And I'm twenty-five for your information." John replied.

I laughed at his tone and shook my head. By this time we were nearly home. The doorman opened the glass door for us and we walked in. Once we got to our floor, my phone buzzed and I pulled it out my pocket. Rochelle's name was on the screen.

"And who is Rochelle?" John asked.

"She's my Mum's PA," I chuckled. "She's nice."

We wnt to our own doors and I glanced over at him and he smiled again. My heart lurched and I forced a very giddy smile. I nearly dropped my keys because of how slick my palms were.

"See you round." John chuckled, and he unlocked his door, disappearing into his appartment.

I unlocked my door and shut it, pulling out my phone. I rang Rochelle back and she picked up straight away.

"Hello, Kacee. Just ringing to arrange your Dad's visit." She chirped.

"Awesome, that's great." I said, groaning internally at the thought.

"Try not to sound too eager," She snorted out a laugh. "Is this Saturday all right for you?"

"Yeah, sure. Is Mum coming too?" I asked, hoping my Mum would. It was better with Mum there if that was even possible.

"Yeah, she's coming too." Rochelle confirmed.

I breathed a sigh of relief and chatted to Rochelle for a few minutes then let her get on with her day. I slumped on the couch and started to fill out my application form.

Notes