The Permutation

Apex (Part 1) Jordan

"Hmmm, no deal," he said, "You'd make one piss poor Poker player, I don't care how smart you are. I've got all the cards Squirt. Besides, you said yourself you don't know where the money is, so why give away all my bargaining chips for something that isn't even a sure thing. Not on your life kiddo."

"I lied," Jordan said, biting her lip, "I know where the money is."

"Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner. Now that's how you bargain. My new counter-offer: I let you all go, and leave town like none of this ugliness ever happened. Don't try pulling a fast one, that's the best deal you're gonna get. I want you to know how generous I'm being, my employers have a strict no witnesses policy."

Jordan grimaced at how callous someone could be about throwing away human lives, she'd thought people like that only existed in stories. Pure evil just a far away concept, so the heroes could overcome them.

"Okay, please put the gun away. We'll do what you say."

"That sounds reasonable, I don't imagine you lot being able to put up much of a fight anyways. 

Let's cut to the chase shall we? The sooner I get the smell of manure and unwashed farmers out of my nostrils the better."

"Did you see that big screen out there, with that little building in the vacant lot?"

"Yeah, you couldn't miss that thing if you tried."

"It's been abandoned since we got here, my mom hid the money in there. In the ceiling."

As Jordan surrendered, a light momentarily gleamed in the window behind Uncle Tony's head. The light of the porch glinted off Derek's braces, his perpetual grin plastered on his face. He held a finger to his lips as if to Shhh Jordan.

"It looks like we're taking a field trip boys!" Tony called throughout the house.

While Tony was distracted, Jordan motioned to Derek to leave. She shook her head and mouthed 'Get out of here.'

Derek gave Jordan two thumbs up and disappeared into the night. Jordan breathed a sigh of relief, and Tony noticed.

"The truth will set you free. Your Pops actually told me that one. Weird huh? I miss that man. He had a good head on his shoulders, reminded me about the human side of things every once and awhile. Call him the angel on my shoulder if you will. You're going to be like him some day I can feel it, you both know when you're outmatched and outclassed. That's wisdom right there. Look at me go, I'm rambling again. It's rare I get to talk to someone with actual substance. If you're ever in New York, give me a call, all this'll be water under the bridge."

"Maybe for you, but I'll never forget what you did."

And I don't know how, but I'll make sure you pay. 

"Suit yourself, I probably woulda felt that way too, if my Pops hadn't been an abusive drunk that beat the shit out of me every chance he got," Tony said. He was still smiling, but the skin around his eyes had hardened a bit.

Two of the suited henchmen flanked either side of the couch. A red-headed one with freckles, red face, and a bulbous nose yanked Christopher to his feet. The other had wore a short sleeved suit to expose with the tapestry of tattoos that encased both of his arms. The man with the tattoos was a little gentler with Diana, but not by much.

Neither of the thugs grabbed Jordan because of Uncle Tony's twisted respect for Jordan. The fourth goon tromped his way down the stairs, he had so much muscle that it crowded out all his features, giving him squinty eyes and ears that looked tiny in proportion to his massive face.