Todd Mitchell Douglass
Mitch made his way quickly through the concrete jungle he had called home his whole life. He jogged through back alleys, vaulted over trash cans, hopped fences, and even cut through an apartment building or two. Xibalba may have been a bad scene, but it was home and Mitch knew it like the back side of his hand. On his way there he wondered what was so special about this delivery. Well whatever it is, four grand! I can buy a dirt bike or somethin’ with that kind of cash! How awesome would THAT be! Mitch had a wide grin on his face as he jogged down the sidewalk. He dodged past an old woman with groceries who got a little frazzled by the close call. “Damn it, Mitch!” He knew he was getting close to where his uncle Rick lived. “Sorry Miss Routan!” He called back as he continued jogging away.
A minute or so later he was out in front of his uncle’s apartment door. He was slightly more out of breath than normal, probably because of the cold. He knocked twice. “What’s the password?” A voice called from the inside. Uncle Rick, always with the password. “Come on uncle Rick, it’s me, Mitch.” He said, catching his breath a little. “I said, what’s the password?” The voice called again, this time closer to the door. This joke is seriously getting old. Mitch sighed. “Fuck the police…..” He stated a little dryly. The door flew open. “That’s my Mitchy!” Mitch was grabbed on the shoulders and pulled in by a rather tall, yet skinny man with black hair and a goatee. He looked to be in his mid to late thirties and was wearing a white suit with a blue silk button up undershirt. “How’s my favorite nephew?” He said as he led Mitch inside and ruffled his hair. “Still wearing that crazy skeleton hoodie I see, when you gunna grow up and get some fancy duds like a real player?” Mitch broke free and fixed his hair. “What like you?” The man grinned. “Oh, that’s cold Mitchy, how can you be like that to your favorite uncle?” Mitch finished fixing his hair. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. So, what’s this delivery? I remember on the phone you said I’d make five grand?” Then man grinned at his nephew and walked over to the table in the middle of the rather furnished apartment.
After waving for the kid to sit down, he pulled himself a chair. “Good try Mitchy, but we both know it was four grand.” He pulled a cigarette out of his coat pocket and lit it. “Well what’s the deal then?” Mitch asked anxiously. “Well…” Rick took a puff of his cigarette. “…this ones actually really important Mitchy. Not even I know all the details. What I do know is that this needs to happen, right. No screw ups. You can handle it right?” Mitch grinned. “Oh, my favorite uncle Rick. If you didn’t know I could handle it, you wouldn’t have called me in the first place.” He said, mocking his uncle a little. The man let out a little laugh then got up and retrieved something from the other room. When he got back his face was quite serious “Alright then, here’s the package.” He laid a black briefcase flat on the table. Mitch looked at the case. It was plain, nearly all black, and probably phony leather. However the most distinguishing feature was the golden lock on the side. “What is it?” Mitch asked absentmindedly. “It’s a briefcase, what’s it look like Mitchy? Don’t ask what’s inside it, I don’t even know.” He’s acting kinda’ weird about this one. Four grand. Well, uncle Rick wouldn’t give me anything he didn’t think I could handle.
Rick sat back down, he had finished his cigarette and he mashed it into an ashtray that was sitting near the edge of the table. “Alright Mitchy, here’s the job. You know the mall near the south end of Avalon?” Rick paused. “Yeah, the one near that big billboard advertising for deep see fishing out of Pacifica Beach?” Rick nodded. “Yeah. This briefcase needs to be under the bench closest to the north entrance at eleven fifty five on the dot. No sooner, no later.” “Why not twelve?” Rick frowned. “I don’t know Mitchy! I told ya‘, I really don’t know a lot of the details on this one.” Mitch leaned back in the chair. “Damn, sorry. Just makes more sense to me to have it at twelve.” Rick scratched his head. “Well, it doesn’t matter. It just has to be there at eleven fifty five exactly, ok?” Mitch answered. “Yeah I got it.” Rick frowned. “You sure?” Mitch leaned forward. “I told ya’, I got it. I, got, it.” Rick nodded. “Ok, sorry Mitchy. It’s just this is really important.” “Yeah, you already said that. I know.” Rick dug into his pocket. “Well just make sure you stick to the time on this watch.” He handed Mitch a cheap looking digital watch. Mitch put it on. “Ok…”
Rick leaned back. “Got all that?” Mitch grinned. “Yea, eleven fifty five, south Avalon mall, under the bench at the north entrance.” Mitch looked his uncle in the eyes. Ok, now for business. Just like you always taught me. “ Now, what about payment. Just like normal, right? Half now, half after?” Rick laughed. “Ha, yeah right. You want me to give you two thousand dollars just like that? No, all after.” A little bluff…. Mitch started to take off the watch. “Well, I guess you’ll just have to find somebody else….” Rick laughed louder. “That’s my nephew!” He held up his hands. “Ok, ok stop. How about this?” He got up and went over to a small safe that was sitting on a shelf. Grabbing a couple of rolls of money, he tossed them to Mitch. “There’s four hundred. That’s what you get paid for a normal delivery. The rest comes after, when you come back.” Mitch held the rolls up and looked them over, …I knew he was good for it… then grinned. “Yeah, alright, I guess this’ll do.”
Rick grinned at his nephew. “And on top of that. After you do this job, I think you might be ready to meet some of my friends from up town.” Mitch looked over at Rick excitedly. “You mean I could join the Machiavellies?!” Finally! Hell Yeah! Next stop, a badass supersport bike and a duplex on the upper side of town! Rick raised an eyebrow at his nephew. “How bout we see if they like you first?” Mitch grinned. “Come on uncle Rick if they are able to put up with you, how could they possibly not like me?” Rick rushed over to his nephew gave him a few playful boxing slaps. “Ha! Cut it out!” Mitch laughed, trying defend and retaliate against his uncle. After a couple of seconds, Rick helped Mitch up out of the chair. “Alright, you best get going.” He glanced at the watch on the boy’s wrist. “It’s almost nine forty. Best to get up there before the drop off time.” Mitch grabbed the briefcase and started towards the door. “No worries, I got this easy.”
Mitch knew he would have plenty of time to make it to south Avalon from here, even on foot. Rick called out to him as he was walking down the hallway. “No busses or cabs! Like always!” Mitch turned back calling out. “Do I ever?!” I figured he woulda’ realized by now that I hate cars… Then he continued down the stairs. He made his way onto the street. Rick opened a window and called out. “And call me right after it’s done! Ok?!” Mitch waved over his back and started down the street at brisk walking pace. Four grand and an invitation to the Machiavellies, here I come!