Song: “Female Robbery” by The Neighborhood

They could kill me and make it all go away. I knew it, they knew it, the whole damn city knew it.

Not just could. Were going to. I knew that, too. Dragging my brother out to this overpass was just for—I don’t know. Dramatic effect? Artistic flair?

Hell, they could’ve just burned down my whole damn house, and that would’ve achieved the same ends—but they fancied themselves more surgical than that. They were squeaky clean; they didn’t leave loose ends. At least, that’s what their bosses thought—and what my video would disprove.

Dave would be here, alone, with the video, at midnight. I knew this because he’d followed all their other instructions—otherwise I’d have lost an ear or a finger by now.

They’d kill Dave and then me, and then they’d put us in Dave’s car, douse it with gasoline—most likely from that gas can I’d seen in the back of their SUV—and then, oops, drop a match. I’d seen enough of their handiwork to know this with certainty. Boy, if I could place one last bet, I’d bet against me.

The way I figured, I had, oh, 13 minutes left, so when Rob pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat, I figured I might as well try to bum a smoke.

He looked me dead in the eye as he dumped the entire pack out and ground them into the dirt with his boot.

We’re at that level of petty, I see. It seems excessive, if you ask me—that shit’s expensive—but hey, I guess when people get used to collecting information from you, they get a little peeved when you try to turn the tables.

Noted.

Headlights pulled up 12 minutes early, and I resented Dave for being in such a hurry to get to our funeral—but I guess if I can’t even smoke, we might as well get on with it.

The passenger door snapped open while the car was still running. 7 pops, like whacking giant water balloons with a hammer, followed, and Rob crumpled to the ground. So did the other guys.

No way that’s Dave. I guess my payday came early.

I picked up one of Rob’s cigarettes before it could get ruined by the blood.

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