Thread: Hitting the Streets (Att: JTM and STs only)

JTM finally grabs a 12 pack case from the cooler shutting the door. He walks up to the counter setting it down paying for it and enough for filling up his tank. He glances out the convenience store door from time to time to see that his bike and Mackenzie are safe.

“Thanks man. Keep the change.”

He walks out the front door moving over to his bike. He sets the beer on the ground. He pulls the gas pump into his tank filling it up. He puts the gas cap back on his bike putting the pump back too.

“After you Mackenzie.”

He waits for her to get back on the bike. He goes over to where he set his beer down starting to pick it up as he sees a car start slowing down to drive by them. Then he notices a shotgun come out from the window.

“Get down, Mackenzie!!!”

Mackenzie starts to take cover by bouncing off the bike hiding behind it. He instinctively reacts placing his beer and himself between his bike and her. A shot fires out their way. The very poor shotgun blast impacts one thing as the car speeds off, JTM’s beer blowing it to pieces. He stands there alcohol and broken glass covering him, Mackenzie and his bike. He looks over to Mackenzie checking her out without touching her.

“You all right, Mackenzie? Did you get hit? Motherfucking gangers.”

Mackenzie stands up, brushing glass off herself, and glares in the direction of where the car went. "I'm fine."

She looks at JTM. "You okay?" She shakes her head. "Your beer is toast." She sniffs at her clothes that got splattered with beer. "Nice." She glances around to ensure that there is no others surprises lingering.

“Cool. Yeah I’m fine Mackenzie. You get used to it after awhile, but man why’d they have to go and kill my beer. I know for a fact I didn’t fucking piss em off.”

He starts shaking the glass off him as the convenient store owner comes running out with a baseball bat screaming at them.

“We better get the fuck out of here, Mackenzie. The streets are getting more restless every night lately. Something’s been stirring em up.”

He clears off the bike seat the best he can before the guy can get to them.

“After you.”

He waits for her to get on the bike, starting the bike kicking the stand up blowing dust in the guy’s face as they head out. He looks back at the guy who is jumping up and down totally pissed.

“Shit. That was close, Mackenzie. Don’t worry about the beer smell either. I can clean that up over at my place if you want. No prob. Quick wash and dry. I think I got some spare clothes you can use in the closet too.I don’t want to piss off Kendov..you know. Now where to? Or do you wanna head home? I gotta fucked up feeling it’s gonna get much worse out here tonight. Your call though. A deal’s a deal you know.”

Mackenzie leans forward to talk with him as they take off. "I'm not made of glass...I'm glad I didn't get shot, but why was the store owner mad at us? We didn't do anything?"

She shakes her head. "How about meeting some of the people you deal with down here? Think that's a possibility? If not, I'm sure there's more to see. I'm not going to get scared off at the first sign of trouble." Her face is determined.

“Dunno…maybe he thinks WE brought trouble there with the fucking gangers, who fucking knows? I told you the streets have been flaky lately already Mackenzie.”

He punches the bike to their next destination pulling up to one of his favorite spots, a place called Darby’s. He kicks the stand down, getting off the bike looking at her while she gets off the bike.

“Now like I told you before, let me do all the talking when we go in there…got it, just let me open the door for ya.”

He turns towards the place opening the door inward to hear that familiar ring of the bell overhead start ringing as he enters. Inside this place you see a short stocky man with a gruff beard behind a counter opening up his register counting many “crisp” $100 bills that look very familiar….like you’ve seen JTM carry on him. His stogie half gone turning to face JTM, a very unhappy look on his face. Around this place you see shelves half stocked, as if they had been completely cleaned out of wilderness equipment and army surplus. Several guns are missing from behind him in a locked gun case.

“Sup, Darby.”

Darby: “What the fuck do you want now, JTM? You practically cleaned me out last time. Who told ya you could bring a broad in here when we do biz? (counting his money puffing away on the cigar) You know the rules on how I do biz, JTM you stupid fuck.…one on one after hours, period. She your new main squeeze now? She aint a fucking pig is she?“

“Now chill out Darby. I paid you well for that rush order. So don’t go fucking harping on me or this broad. No she aint the fucking po-po."

Thank god iI didn't bring Fitzy here.

"She’s got a fucking name too. Darby this is Mackenzie. Mackenzie, this is Darby. He’s the guy I mainly go to for the ridiculous things people ask me for. If this guy aint got it here, he knows somebody who does. Aint that right Darby?”

Darby: “Yeah, this motherfucker asks for the weirdest shit all the goddamn time. Good for my biz. Taxing on my heart to get everything he wants, when he wants it. He’s always in a goddamn hurry to get it. So how was Brazil anyway? You get any mosquito bites?”

“Nah. I didn’t Darby…you sick bastard. I didn’t come for biz this time though, that’s next week, remember?. Get it right. Now Mackenzie might have some biz for you, I don’t know….you’d have to fucking ask her about that.”

JTM turns to look at Mackenzie. Darby continues counting his money waiting for her to speak. His main focus currently on the money, never making eye contact with her, and the cigar that is ashing down slowly.

Mackenzie looks slightly amused at the banter back and forth, not taking offense to anything said. She looks around at Darby's shop and and when JTM mentions she might have business for him, she gets a shocked feeling.

Keeping a neutral expression on her face, she looks at Darby and shrugs. "Well, JTM seems to think you can get him what he needs or direct him in the right area. JTM and I run in similar circles...similar requests. I asked him to point me in the right direction for future purchases."

Mackenzie looks at JTM, her expression hard. "If you fuck me over, you know what will happen. He better be as good as you are saying." JTM can tell she is using her intimidation. It is halfway coming across to JTM as a bluff for Darby's sake, but partially serious too.

JTM nods as Mackenzie speaks agreeing with her all the way.

“Yeah, that’s right Darby. She’s got things that you wouldn’t believe, that would set you up for life. Bank on it.”

JTM sees her turn his way with a “what the fuck” look on his face, his hands up in defense.

“Look what the fuck more do you want? (Noticeable slight wink) you wanted the man I go to…..there he is…so you can do biz with him now...that cool with you Darby?”

Darby nods close to finishing counting the money watching the huge ash fall off the cigar hitting the floor.

Darby: “Yeah I like her style of the way she just put you in your place JTM. (gruff laughter) Besides if she’s doing biz with me. I don’t have to see your ugly mug hanging around here all the time making me drop whatever the hell I’m doing. Beautiful females attract more biz anyway. What have you ever brought me JTM, grief and heart attacks all the time for those huge orders, but I bet she wouldn’t. She’d keep it simple, aint that right Mackenzie? Why you hanging around this street trash anyway? He’s got a rep around here, just a really BAD one…you knew that didn’t ya? Looking forward to future biz Mackenzie, just leave JTM behind next time, will ya? JTM your order should be on time as usual. You better be here to pick it up.”

He puts out his cigar in the ashtray now looking over at them directly.

Darby: “Well if either of you aint got any biz for me, why don’t ya hit the road and come back when you do. You know. (reaching under his counter for something) Beat it.”

JTM stares blankly at Darby’s attitude looking over at Mackenzie shocked.

“You heard the man, Mackenzie. Peace out, Darby. Let’s roll.”

He turns to walk out of Darby’s place.

Mackenzie nods to Darby. "Looking forward to it as well." She pulls out two fifties from her pocket and tosses it on the counter. She gives him a slight wink. "For having to deal with his ass tonight." She gestures a thumb to JTM as he is walking out. She turns and leaves the building.

Once outside, Mackenzie keeps a straight face as she hops on the bike. Once they pull away, JTM can hear a chuckling coming from her. "That was fun. What's next?"

Darby takes her money and puts it in the register as they leave.

JTM looks at Mackenzie outside.

“That fucking Darby. Go ahead, laugh it up, Mackenzie, why don’t ya. Hold on tight. Where we’re going, watch your wallet. Don’t fucking flash the cash.”

He watches he happily get on his bike. He hops on it too, starting the bike up, kicking the kickstand up going to their next destination. He rides off down some darker alleyways coming to where the slums have no good buildings standing. He passes by some barrels and some homeless people putting their hands up by the fire to keep warm.

“See, Mackenzie. This is what they call Skid Row around here. Poor people down on their luck. Wasting away in the slums fighting for what little they can find. All of them trying to crawl back into some semblance of a good existence but failing miserably at it. Death toll can get real high out here. You know who’s gonna miss one homeless person you know. I don’t drive around here much, let alone stop the bike otherwise they’d take it from me period. You don’t believe me, watch this.”

He makes sure to keep some distance away with his bike, still slowing a bit to get close to the bums but able to speed away as he chucks a $100 at the four bums. They scurry away from the barrel going for the money. Four bums in a knock down drag out fight till eventually one has beaten the others down to claim the $100 prize.

“They are fucking piranha around here. Strip you fucking clean or kill ya if they wanted to. That’s pretty much what I can show you tonight, Mackenzie, but the streets are always jumping and moving around. So I’m gonna take us back to my place.”

He drives back into the “better slum region” of the Pit driving closer back to his house finally seeing a familiar place, his home at last. He pulls his bike in the driveway clicking the garage door opener, waving to his nosy neighbors as he makes it so she can get off the bike while he stays on it.

“Now you get what I’m saying about the streets being deadly, Mackenzie. You don’t watch your ass around here, you’re fucking dead. Now you need a lift home or wherever you’re headed. I can drop you off wherever or if you’d prefer to walk, that’s fine by me.”