Chapter 12
Rollins Leonard was at the funfair festival. He aimed at the stack of cans with an eye open, then shot at the bottom row, making the entire stack come crashing down.
He faced the owner of the stand, "Where's my teddy bear?"
The gamer smiled, "Impressive, here I was thinking I would go home rich with no single loss. How'd you learn how to shoot so well?"
Rollins placed the rifle at the counter and smirked at him, "I have a lot of enemies. You don't think I let them go free, do you?"
The gamer laughed at what he thought was a joke and handed a stuffed monkey to Rollins, "Try again some other time, would you son?"
Rollins nodded and walked away to where Daniella stood, "Here, for you."
Daniella faked a smile, "I wish you were always this nice."
Rollins gave a tiny laugh and handed the animal to her, "Sorry for flirting with you the other day. Never knew you were Andrew's girl."
Daniella swallowed her argument, "Speaking of Andrew, where is he?"
Rollins Leonard eyed the funfair, "He mentioned getting his gun, said he might need it, " he stopped when he noticed her fear, "Forget the violence he loves Daniella, I've known my pal for years. He's scared of killing someone and he has never told us to, he can't. However, from matters arising, I fear he might butcher Alex and burn whoever that masked man is."
Andrew appeared seconds later in black sweatpants, a matching polo and a black beanie.
Ugh, Dani thought, his negative kind of life, "Anyone could be at this funfair and it's big. How do we even start, just the three of us?"
Rollins checked his time, "Na-ah! We have dispersed tons of us around the area. Why else would you think I'm at a funfair?"
Andrew turned and walked down an aisle between carts and cargoes of various games. Daniella, along with Rollins, heeded to the silent command to follow. Then he got a message from Alfonso Raymond that made him suddenly turn left and walk faster. While Rollins became more alert, Daniella became afraid. If only she hadn't insisted on following.
Andrew only stopped his hot chase after God knows who when he found Alfonso holding a pistol towards a family of balloons, "Hey Andrew. I found one, the one who called himself Night. He owns the stand behind us right now."
Andrew turned carefully and remembered the monster with an eye, then turned back to Alfonso, "Tell the rest to go to the warehouse by the side of the big circle."
Alfonso got two ballons at once and tipped his hat as positive.
* * *
Being oblivious of where your attacks came from made them more annoying to bear. Night had his chin against the hard wall with his hands held together by strong fists at the back.
Andrew tightened his grip around Night's wrists and used his other hand to put a gun to his head, "Tell me everything there is to know about Eleanor's death."
Night grinned, "Andrew my boy. Long time no see. How you decided to pay me a visit..."
Andrew intensified his threat by filling the empty gun with bullets; the con was over. He then pushed it hard to Night's head, "Don't be foolish."
The man he held seemed to murmur something before he laughed, "Tell me that devil that hardened your heart so you could kill someone. I know you Andrew Stephen, the lad so cowardly to pull the trigger."
Andrew yanked away from him angrily and threw his gun. Burying his head in his hands, he seethed because he knew that Night was awfully right.
Night faced him and continued his motive to mock him, "You threaten to kill for those you love but can't hurt a fly my boy. You're still young and weak for this kind of life, still ignorant. I wonder what you would do to make me speak."
Andrew huffed in a smirk, "Oh really?"
* * *
Daniella gawked at the sight of Rollins rolling a stick with Night tied to it over a fire. He was roasting him.
After a long, determined while, Night screamed, "Fine. Fine... I'll talk. But on one condition."
Andrew stopped staring at the stick he was holding and frowned at Night, "I'm not the type who fulfills conditions others put before me Night."
He coughed, "I know. But please, at least save my neck and I'd tell you everything I know. This is torture Andrew please!"
Andrew frowned harder but a hand on his shoulder calmed him; Danielle's hand.
Sighing, he managed control, "What do you want?"
Night blurted immediately, "Please don't send me to jail with them. I know I would be mentioned but you... You have money, power. Do something. I don't wanna go to jail please my boy."
Andrew rolled his eyes and sighed again, "Impress me then."
Night swallowed and confessed, "Alex planned everything. He was still getting acquainted to us, having fun, when Ashley Thomas and his sister became a pain in the ass. He knew our ways, we never treat such issues merely. Our business is ..... Rivalry and... Guns. After managing to make him realise his hatred for Ashley, we followed her to Newyork and hired someone to kill her. Then..."
Andrew cut in calmly, "Who's the son of a bitch?"
Night shook off some sweat from his face, "The masked man."
"And who is the darn masked fool?!" Andrew squeaked with obvious irritation.
"Truth be told, " Night started, "I don't know. Alex told no one, not even me. At least he promised that to the dude. He wore the mask to every mission we had to execute. All we did was kidnap her, he played the cards."
Rollins rolled the stick over so Night faced the fire below him, "You swear you've got no information about this freak?"
He sobbed painfully and managed to answer, "I swear.. I swear. But one thing for sure is, he knows a lot about you Andrew. I can bet a fortune it's a close friend of yours."
Andrew studied him, realising he saw truth in his eyes.
After receiving a silent order from Andrew, Rollins untied Night.
Andrew then watched him shake on the floor, "I've got a job for you. I would not just save your neck, I'd pay you."
The sound of that made him forget his previous state of misery, "How much are we talking about here?"
Rollins pitched in with a frown, "Sure we can trust this guy Andrew?"
Andrew seemed to laugh, "Who's gonna end up in jail. If he plays deceit, we'll just have to consider it as a request to end his miserable life." Facing Night, he continued, "Decide your pay, double it and double it again. I'm sure it's not more than I can give."
Night grinned again, "Then your wish is my command."
Andrew smirked. To him, you could get anything with money.
* * *
Alex opened his door to find one of the most unexpected faces, "Night?"
Night smirked daintily, "I know, I know. You're surprised to see me and all but at least, welcome me in."
After a little more moment of frowning, Alex stepped aside as his unwanted visitor came in.
Noticing Night's wounds, he asked, "Who did this to you man. Look at you."
Night smiled, "I was about to ask you the exact same thing. Andrew really got you there huh?"
Alex rolled his eyes, "Forget that devil. What about you, I thought you quit fights."
Night celebrated inside as Alex started his dream topic. He had an almost toothless smile, "I did rider. Then here came Big-X from nowhere last night, laying his filthy fingers on me. Then I let the darkness all out again but nah... He had me straight on." Pausing, he smirked and continued, "But as always, I do not take it easy with matters like that. He just dug his own grave really."
Alex laughed, "Lemme guess, you came for a gun."
Night grinned as usual, "You haven't changed a bit from being so smart. But there's one thing."
Alex frowned, "What? Forgotten how to use a gun?"
"You mean forgotten how to breathe, " he replied, "What nonsense! But yunno, it's more interesting to beat up someone at his own game, a pistol fight."
Alex's heart rate had just increased to a little above normal, "You mean you just have to kill Big-X with a pistol?!"
"Certainly, " Night nodded.
Alex looked frightened, remembering the gun his sister was killed with, "You know I'm not a fan for pistols!"
Night's gaze dimmed, "Oh just as I feared. You're no more with the damn gun of three years ago, are you?"
Alex shivered slightly, the only evidence against him left, "I am, but you know if the police get their hands on that gun, I'll be in trouble."
Night narrowed his eyes at Alex, he knew he was getting through, "Don't you trust me. Besides, a lot of thingummies would get your fingerprints off the gun, even mine. They would never think it's yours. C'mon save me some pride and cash."
Alex thought about it for a while and walked into his room. After a while, he returned with something dusty, old and a little bloody. Night smiled and secretly put on the tricky gloves he'd gotten; the one with his skin's colour. His ticket to a whole fortune.