When Perfect Meets Crazy

45 - The end of an era

We decided to walk and talk. We were heading to the trapdoor. Townsend wanted to make the bust immediately provided it ended up being what we hoped it was. He wanted to verify now while the matches for the day were still going on, then come back later with his men if it checked out.

Hopefully, there would be documented information implicating all the players involved wherever that trapdoor led. According to Townsend, that was how these things supposedly worked. Apparently, it was custom to keep blackmail material in case anyone tried to turn against the rest.

“Last time I was here, I was in a hurry to leave and I got lost following this group of guys. I thought they were heading out but I ended up losing sight of them. That’s how I eventually found you that day.” I pointed to Ian.

He nodded, listening with unwavering attention.

“I didn’t think there was more to it obviously. If anything I wanted to put the whole experience behind me so I didn’t even consider the possibility of it being something sketchy. I already had a stalker on me. I wasn’t going to go look for more trouble. Until I found out the whole story. Then, I looked back and started considering the theory but... I wasn’t really invested.” I shrugged deprecatingly. “It wasn’t my business and I didn’t know I could trust you so I kept the theory to myself.”

Ian muttered something along the lines of you and your theories. The look Townsend shot him in response could only be described as ‘shut the hell up.’

“Anyway, I got know you over time.” I shrugged, shooting Ian a small smile. “You said you were having trouble so I decided to... test the theory. That’s why I came today.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me? I could’ve done it. You didn’t have to put yourself in danger,” he chastised, looking at me like no matter how hard he tried, he’d never have me pegged.

I liked the idea a little more than I should have.

“If the theory proved to be true, good but if it didn’t, I didn’t want to send you on a wild goose chase. You know, give you false hope and all that. Especially when you were already feeling so low,” I answered.

“You’re smart,” Townsend grudgingly admitted.

“Here,” I announced, stopping in front of the trapdoor.

“You sure?” Townsend asked skeptically.

I rolled my eyes. They really never learn.

Sighing, I awkwardly placed my hands where the man had placed his. It wasn’t overly obvious from my pose that I was trying to do something. I had to admit, whoever came up with it was quite smart. If someone came around at that moment, I’d look like I had my hands against the wall, trying to catch my breath or steady myself. Not at all like I was trying to open the door to a room that housed a drug trade headquarters.

“What are you doing?” Ian inquired. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” Townsend seconded.

Soon enough, a small patch slid open and the dial was revealed.

“How did you do that?” Townsend hissed, taking a step back.

Ian, for all he was worth, had his mouth hanging open. I rolled my eyes.

“Maybe if you did a little less talking and a little more watching, you’d figure it out,” I countered, turning the dial the way I had seen it done earlier with my hand covered by my cloth.

I’d seen a few crime scenes and I didn’t want my prints there when the FBI did its sweep. Eight o’clock. Ten o’clock. Four o’clock. Two o’clock.