Chapter 1

It was dark and still when Lucas woke in his bedroom. The covers were like warm clouds, and he was engulfed. He didn’t want to get out of bed, but knew that he had quite the day ahead of him. After a few minutes of debating with himself, Lucas rose from his bed with the covers still wrapped around him and walked over to the window. This was a moment he wanted to soak in. He absorbed the chill radiating from the hard floor, and allowed the warmth of the covers to spread through his body. The sun was starting to peak up from the horizon, and the smell of coffee was looming from the automatic coffee maker in the kitchen. Lucas particularly enjoys sun rises more than sun sets, he believes the beginning is more beautiful than the end, filled with possibility.

This moment could last forever if it were up to Lucas, but time continues as it always has and always will, and the moment was interrupted by a loud buzzing. He threw his blanket back on the bed and made his way to the holo-screen to see who’s at the door.

“Come on buzz me in, it’s fuckin’ freezing out here.” said the woman who’s upper body was protruding from the screen. Lucas swiped across the holo-screen, making it buzz for a second time, and the woman’s hologram disappeared. Lucas went to the coffee maker and poured two cups. Moments later the door opened, and the woman entered Lucas’ apartment.

“I brought you brecky.” she said with a tight smile as she set a brown paper bag on the counter and picked up one of the cups. “You always make the best coffee, you know that?”

“Alright, Emma, what do you want?” Lucas asked with a hint of seriousness in his voice, but also smiling.

“To spoil you, is that so hard to believe?” Emma responded. “But since you asked, a million dollars wouldn’t be so bad.” They chuckled together, kissed, and started unpacking the food from the brown paper bag.

“We need to eat fast if we’re gonna get you that million today. What’d you get me?” asked Lucas, rubbing his hands together. He looked as though he was ready to eat the wrappers and all.

“The usual; bacon breakfast burrito, extra potato, extra bacon, light egg. Just like you like it.” Emma told him in a sing song kind of way. She was always bubbly, especially after her morning coffee.

Lucas smiled from ear to ear. “And for you, let me guess; ham and egg, no potato, extra cheese?”

“Do you want a second guess?” she responded slyly. Lucas shook his head with his cheeks full like a chipmunk. “Well, I like to change things up a bit sometimes. I got sausage, egg, and ham, light potato and extra cheese.” She took a rather large bite.

“That was going to be my second guess.” he said with his mouth still half full. “Eat faster though, we need to get going.”

“Why are you in such a rush? We’re not even meeting Oliver ‘till 10:00. We have all morning. Enjoy your food.”

“Oliver’s not our first stop.” He took a sip of coffee. “Ben’s got an early bird for me. We’ll meet him, pick it up, and drop it with Elijah before meeting Oliver.”

She washed her current bite down with the last of her coffee. “What’s Ben got this time?”

“2067 G wagon.” he replied between chewing, crumpling the burrito wrapper. “That was delicious, thank you. I’m gonna change then we’ll head out.” He kissed Emma and went back to his bedroom. Lucas kept a meticulously clean apartment. It was well decorated with beautiful pieces of furniture, that complimented each other well, and abstract yet gorgeous paintings and sculptures. The sun, still on a steady rise, only made the apartment feel more beautiful and alive. Lucas admired this beauty on many mornings, sometimes with Emma and sometimes without, but that beauty left his mind this morning when the holo-screen buzzed.

He changed quickly into a t-shirt and hoodie, some jeans, and his favorite white pair of Air Curry 22’s. After dressing he opened his sock drawer and rummaged through it until he pulled out his Glock 30. He racked the slide back to ensure the chamber was empty, put the loaded clip in, and stuffed the gun in his waist band. Before heading back to the dining room he examined himself in the mirror. He never remembered looking this tired before. His eyes were slightly sunken and darkened. His hair was getting longer and shaggier than he preferred it to be, and he hadn’t shaved his face in at least three days. ‘If I can just get through today.’ he thought to himself.

“Come on, I thought you said we were in a hurry, let’s gooo!” Emma shouted as she let herself in the bedroom. She smacked Lucas’ butt and made an awkward imitation of a lion’s roar. “You ready?”

Lucas starred at her. Emma was beautiful. She had long strawberry blonde hair with golden streaks. She was tall with an hour glass figure. She was wearing a pair of jeans, a faux wool sweater, and a long scarf. What Lucas enjoyed most about how Emma looked was her perfect smile and wide eyes.

“I’m ready. You know you really need to get an Animal Planet subscription. You make terrible animal noises.” he said with a smirk as he picked her up and spun around.

Emma stopped laughing and attempted a serious face.

“I make, the BEST animal noises.”

.

Lucas and Emma made their way out of the elevator and through the small lobby. Once they were near enough the door they were greeted by Ernest, the virtual doorman.

“Always a pleasure to see the most beautiful couple in the building. Please have a pleasant day.” said Ernest as he motioned towards the door and it slid open.

“Awe, you are too sweet Ernest, thank you.” Emma exclaimed.

“He’s programmed to say that. Aren’t you Ernest?” Lucas said somewhat bitterly.

Ernest smiled, placed a hand across his chest, and raised the other saying, “Yes sir, it is implemented in my programming, which is to say I fully believe it when I tell you.”

Lucas chuckled, “You got me. Sorry Ernest, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Not to worry sir, I wish the most pleasant of days for you and Ms Emma.”

As they exited the building Ernest’s form had vanished again. The air was frigid but warming up as the sun’s light had consumed the city. There was a slight breeze, and faint sounds of birds chirping in the distance. Lucas grabbed Emma’s hand and they began walking.

“Where’s Ben want us to meet him?” Emma asked.

Lucas quickly responded, “Burger Queen.” His strides were long but Emma didn’t have trouble keeping up. Walking wasn’t unusual for them and their line of work, although Lucas did have a car that he loved dearly. It was a pristine, quantum grey, fully loaded, 2018 Audi S8 with only 45,000 miles. He liked keeping the mileage low, it was a vintage after all. “Only two more blocks.”

“I know where Burger Queen is you goof.” Emma chuckled.

They turned a corner and were in the Burger Queen parking lot. The parking spots nearest the dumpster housed two vehicles. The vehicle closest to the dumpster was a brand new, pearly white, full electric, full a.i. 2067 Mercedes G Wagon. Directly next to the G Wagon was a rusty red, dilapidated, slammed, 2022 Honda Civic.

Standing in front of both vehicles was Ben, a middle aged man whose cologne severely overpowered the stench of the garbage nearby. He was wearing an Adidas track suit, a well worn pair of Gucci loafers, entirely too much gold spanning from his fingers to his neck, and a pair of Versace sunglasses. He had pepper grey hair that seemed as though it were permed and then slicked back.

“Come on, come on. Time is money now, I got the keys.” Ben exclaimed as he grabbed Lucas by the arm and wrapped his other arm around him for a quick greeting.

“It’s ready? You cleaned the VIN?” Lucas asked with a definitive urgency.

“Whatd’ya think I am, some sort of amateur?” Ben asked shaking his head, “Of course this shits clean. Doing this since you were in your daddy’s sack and you disrespect me like this.”

“Fuck you Benny. You almost got me caught up with that hot shit last time. So I’ll ask you again, is the VIN cleaned?” Lucas asked again quietly, this time with fire growing in his eyes.

Ben swallowed and took a breath before responding, “Yeah, cleaned it myself Luke. It’s good, no trace.” Lucas snatched the keys from Ben and started towards the G Wagon holding Emma’s hand.

“And don’t call me Luke, you’re not family.” Lucas said sternly towards Ben before spitting at him. Ben hurried to his Civic while Lucas opened the door for Emma. Once Emma was in the G Wagon Lucas walked around to the operator side and got in.

“Welcome, Operator. To begin operation please state your destination.” Said the vehicle through it’s sound system.

“Ya-ya’s Chop’s on 64th.” Lucas responded. The G Wagon started up silently and began driving. He looked over at Emma, “Beautiful isn’t it? Llama skin seating with diamond hand stitching. Heated seats and precision climate control.”

“It’s lovely.” Emma said dreamily, spinning her seat around slowly.

“Right? But can you really call it a car? I mean, there’s no steering wheel. No pedals. Just an emergency shut off switch.”

“It’s optimal for safety,” Emma responded, “it’s beautiful, and I love it.”

“You know, they have a holo-phone built right into the dash.” Lucas told Emma.

“Activating holo-phone. Operator, who would you like to call?” asked the vehicle.

“Cancel holo-phone!” Lucas exclaimed quickly as Emma snickered.