12:54 AMC
"Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" - Cage the Elephant

Author's Note: I don't remember what I was going to type in this section... Oh, wait. Some adult and drug related situations depicted. Read at your own discretion. Most of this chapter was proof read a few days ago but since it's typed out on notepad there's no room for spell or grammar check. Also, this will very likely be the last peice in this series. As I mentioned in my last chapter, the chpaters will get grittier and in some cases more violent and disturbing. I'm sorry for anyone who even cared to read this thing and enjoy it.
Missed a chapter? Catch up here:
CHAPTER ONE: In Passing
CHAPTER TWO: Nicki Boy
CHAPTER THREE: Russian Red
At the end of each chapter there is a link leading to the next. That said, enjoy:

CHAPTER FOUR: Hoyt Douglas

The following day, Cam and I returned to take care of the business at the old house. We were questioned by local authorities and gave permission for them to search the place. It was already clean so there was nothing to fear. After four hours of searching, they found nothing but continued their surveillance with regular police rounds. We grew accustomed to their passing by and even waved and conversed with a select few officers. It was mostly just to humor them, but converse we did. Some days I would spend entirely at the old house with Cam or Mojo and other days at Cam's Mum's place. After a while, we slowly developed a monotonous routine.

We took extra care in always knowing where we all were and what we were doing at any given time. Nicki was no worry, he spent all of his days in the lab. He was like Frankenstein down there, trying to make his daemon come to life. There were days where he wouldn't even come up for lunch. My worry increased after I wandered down there without his consent and found him half asleep on his desk. He hadn't eaten in two days and his skin was beginning to look sallow from the lack of sunshine and proper nutrition. Perhaps that little mixture of malnutrition and stress was doing more than we imagined. It took me nearly two hours to finally convince him to stick to a regular eating schedule so everyday, at 1 in the afternoon, he would take a break where I would make him something to eat or order out for him. At dinner time, we took turns sending plates down to him because he absolutely refused to leave his work. He was such a lucky bastard, there never used to be an extra bathroom down there. It was Mojo's idea to make the extra room down there when he began working with Cam. Both of them put the work in for it, Cam financially and Mojo physically. Such a lucky bastard. Close bathroom and room service. The boy practically lived down there.

By the sixth day, I could see Nicki's appearance begin to change and take it's toll on Cam's psyche. He'd spend hours hovering around Nicki, offering whatever help and suggestions he could. Cam, given he was experienced with other hallucinagens and their properties thanks to Uncle Cheetah's sound teaching and three years of college based chemistry, spent more time with Nicki until they were a duo. In the end, Mojo and I were left to run the business and make sure whatever money was owed, was paid. We took shifts running surveillance on both houses which, in the end, was unnecessary given that the surveillance calmed down significantly. I did notice that some of the neighbors withdrew from our presence after that incident though, not very many wanted to be in the same vicinity as us for long periods of time. Only the real gossipers would stick around and try to get info from us. We, of course, had nothing to give.

With surveillance over and an airy absence with nothing but a casual "hello" and "thanks for the grub" from both Nicki and Cam, Mojo and I began strategizing "just in case," Mojo always said but that wasn't fully it. We were just bored: no collections were due until Friday, surveillance was practically dead, the house was clean, hell, even the damn toilet gleamed, the fridge had been overstocked, the scientists had been fed, there was literally nothing to do. We let Frankenstein and Igor know we were heading out and spoke to some of Mojo's favourite heads. One man, who owed Mojo for saving his ass from a "sticky deal back in the day," was a weapons expert in the army. He'd served from 1988 to 2000, even serving in that civil war in Somalia back in '93. If there was anyone we could go to for weapons, it was this man. Hoyt was his named, Hoyt Douglas. Watching him and Mojo together, they almost reminded me of veterans that hadn't seen each other since when they met in the Vietnam War; both curious as to whether the other friendly stranger survived and being more than relieved to find them at home, alive and well. I merely played the sidelines, watching and listening until I was noticed.

"Who's this pretty little lady, Jay. Oh ho ho, don't tell me we haven't seen each other that long! Mary finally had a kid?!" Mary was Mojo's more than unsavory sister. She wasn't necessarily ugly-looking but her attitude made it hard to get used to her. She was as mean as they come.
Mojo chuckled and pulled me over to him like a proud father, "This here is Emmeline! She's the newbie I was telling you about. This girl may look young but I tell ya', she's got the eyes of an eagle, this one does. If Annie Oakley believed in reincarnation, well by God, I found her." I began feeling incredibly self conscious after Mojo's little speech and shied away a little into Mojo's massive arm.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Emmeline. My name's Hoyt Douglas and I'll be your supplier from now on." He stretched out his hand in expectation.
"Hello, sir." I met his with mine and felt the roughness of his palm. Convincing myself that it was a lack of moisture, I blocked my wild ideas and got back on the ball.

Mojo explained most of the situation to Hoyt while I wandered around his office. I wanted to give them room to catch up and feel less obligated to include me in the situation. I listened but not with as much enthusiasm as Mojo. The office, or den, whatever it was, was semi dark. Only a small desk lamp made enough light for us to function and not trip over our own feet. A simple cherry desk sat in the middle of the room with two, old leather chairs in front of it. One of which, Mojo hardly fit into. The walls were lined with framed magazines of, I'm guessing, Hoyt's favourite articles regarding guns and the war. Several snapshots were thrown onto the wall to break the monotony of the texts, one of which caught my attention. It was a picture of a young man, looking off to the side with an impish grin on his face. The sea was of the clearest blue behind him as he eased a peanut or something into his mouth. I sort of giggled at the look on his face, and his somewhat large ears framed by a buzz cut. Enough of the shoulders were caught in the picture to see his camoflouge uniform. He was a soldier. The picture, despite its age, looked like it belonged in a Time magazine article. Both men reacted to my stifled giggle and turned to look at me.

"I'm sorry." I replied quickly and strayed away from the picture.
Hoyt made that same impish grin from the photograph, making the two images click in my mind. The boy was him. Maybe my face revealed what I was thinking because he and Mojo only laughed right out.
"This girl's funny, James. Observant, ain't she? I'm guessing you figured out who that was?" He asked pointing at the photograph behind me.
"You?" I said quietly, somewhat ashamed.
"Yup. I was on my way to Africa in that one. Another soldier took that one and sent it home to my parents. God Bless him, I never saw him after that picture." I saw a little sadness cloud his features for a few seconds like he was seeing something else in another time. He quickly composed himself and looked up at Mojo and I.
"Well, Jay, this was a rather interesting meeting and I will say you convinced me. If you need anything else, let me know and I'll be there faster than a jack rabbit on the run." They shook hands while Hoyt led us to the door.
"And you, little lady," he said to me, winking, "keep those skills in check. I want to see you again soon." He gave me that impish little grin again and I couldn't help but laugh. Mojo gave him another quick shake and hug, then followed me down the front steps.

"I knew he'd like you," he said while he wrapped his python of an arm around my shoulders. I almost feared I would collapse under the weight. "Then again, he likes a lot of women... Whatever. Just don't tell Nicki," he continued, giving me a gentle squeeze on the arm. About as gentle a squeeze as he was capable of, anyway.
"So is he in?" I asked.
"Oh, he's definitely in. He's one of our brood. Lives for the action, kills for adventure. We should start a gang."
"Whatever!" I rolled my eyes at the comment. Though we might've joked all the way home, I still felt nervous. As much as the action excited us, there was always the possibility of it going drastically wrong. Worst case scenario: one of us might not make it. I shuddered to even think about it.

CHAPTER FIVE: Cherry Gloss
undetermined date.

Fiction: 08/02/09 | Posted By: blu moon | 0 comments | Personal