Chapter 5

“Heroin!” Emma shouted. “He couldn’t have started us with weed?”

“You need to stop watching the history channel, weeds been legal for decades, there’s no market in it.” Lucas responded, trying to remain calm for Emma’s sake. He didn’t look at her though, he feared she would sense his anxiety. “Oliver gave us Elijah’s contacts, so we’ll start there.”

“What then Luke?” She responded, “exchange the profits for products and do it again? It’ll never end that way.” He didn’t know what to say, she was right. Now that this door was open, it would never shut without force. Either he could shut it, or wait for Oliver to. The latter wasn’t much of an option seeing as how it ended for Elijah.

“Well we need to start somewhere, I’ll call some of the contacts.” He said with his false confidence back in place. He went into his bedroom and tapped the corner of his dresser. A holo-phone appeared and he began reviewing the contact list Oliver had given him. None of the contacts had real names, just nick names or gang references. He called the first one on the list. After a few moments a woman appeared virtually in front of him.

“How’d you get this number?” She asked.

“Our business associate in the chop shop is no longer in commission. I’m your new contact, Lewis.” Lucas responded. She hung up on him. ‘This is going to be harder than I thought.’ He thought to himself, just when the holo-phone began ringing. “Hello.” He said, and the woman re-appeared, however not alone. She had a very old man beside her. Lucas thought they made an odd partnership. She was tall, slender, and youthful. Her hair was short and straight with slight waves. The man looked as though he died yesterday and had forgotten about it today. His hair was missing except for a few patches, and his face looked as though it had endured enough use for two life times.

The man whispered in-audibly for the holo-phone and the woman said for him, “What happened to Elijah?”

“He has been decommissioned. Please no longer speak of him.” Lucas said coldly.

The old man whispered again and the woman said, “Come to the tunnel south of fifth. 6pm. Alone.”

“I actually work wi-“ the call had ended before he could mention Emma. It was 5:30 now and fifth avenue was about 20 minutes away. Without thinking it over too much he walked out of his bedroom, headed for the door. He looked towards Emma without missing a step and let her know that he’d be back soon. She looked as confused as he expected, but he would explain the urgency when he got back.

Lucas got into his Audi and drove as fast as he could to the tunnel. He made it there at 5:52. It looked quite desolate, which made Lucas nervous, but he thought it made for a good place to discuss things of this nature. His head remained on a swivel for two minutes, until the three passenger doors to his car opened simultaneously. Lucas looked at each of the open doors, trying to gather what was happening. As quickly as the doors opened, they closed again, the vehicle now near fully occupied.

The rear passenger door opened, one of the figures got out, the old man squeezed into the middle and the removed figure got back in, closing the door behind it. The old man was the only person besides Lucas not wearing a mask.

“Lewis is it?” The old man asked in a struggling voice.

“Ye-“ Lucas began to answer when he was hit in the head.

“Don’t lie to him!” Shouted a woman’s voice from the front passenger seat.

“Now now Lily. None of that, yet.” The old man said calmly, still struggling through each word. The masked woman looked at the old man with a gaze distinguishable through her disguise, but said nothing. “It would be unwise to lie to us again Lucas.” He continued, nodding towards the woman he called Lily.

“How do you know my-“ Lucas began to ask when he was hit in the head again. “Right no questio- . Ow what the fuck!”

“Stop talking, and listen.” Lily said. The old man gave her a gaze similar to her earlier one.

“You will address me as The Sensei. You will never refer to me. Nod if you understand.” The Sensei said. Lucas nodded. “You know, holo-phones are a great tool. It allows for one to feel another’s presence from any distance. With a few extra tools, one can make their virtual presence a bit more hard wired. It’s best you only invite trust worthy companions into your home, virtual or not Lucas.” He lifted his wrinkled hand with great effort and opened it flat. Emma’s hologram protruded upwards from it.

“Don’t touch-“

“Stop talking!” Lily yelled. Lucas reached towards his waistband. Before his hand was half way there, he felt cold steel press the back of his neck. It was the masked figure to the left of The Sensei. Lily placed her hand on Lucas’ stomach, staring at his eyes. She inched towards his waistband never deflecting her gaze. Lucas gasped as her hand went into his pants, and a few seconds later she removed his glock.

“This woman is of great concern to our business.” The Sensei said referring to the hologram of Emma. Lucas tried to make his face show his questioning. “She looks to rise above those who have acquired footing in this industry.”

“She doesn’t even want to be in this industry.” Lucas responded, flinching towards the end of his sentence.

“You think with your penis a lot don’t you?” Lily asked in a mocking tone.

“Fuck yo-“ she hit him again.

“She is right.” The Sensei said, “You don’t see what’s in front of you because you choose not to.”

“Maybe you can explain it without giving me brain damage.” Lucas responded while rubbing his head.

“Oliver and Emma are setting you up idiot!” Lily shouted.

“I already know Oliver is trying to screw me. Why would Emma? And why would I believe you?” Lucas didn’t understand how they even knew about Emma.

“You will need time to collect your thoughts. We’ll contact you for the next meeting.” Said the Sensei, more exhausted sounding than ever. The masked figure with the gun pointed at Lucas hit him upside the head with it. Fifteen minutes later Lucas woke, alone in the desolate area surrounding the tunnel.