Andrew Price - Without A Hitch

Corbin smiled. “No, everything’s fine. We got the uranium last week, and this week we arranged a discount on a shipment of guns. I just have to figure out how we’re going to transport that much melted cheese.”

“You’re a funny guy. That’s what I like about you.”

“Be still my beating heart, was that a compliment?”

Molly visibly pondered Corbin’s question before responding. “Sure, why not?”

Corbin laughed. “In that event, thank you, and may I say I too enjoy our chats.”

“‘Enjoy’? Let’s not get carried away!” Molly laughed. “So, it must be frustrating working with your little friend?”

“Is that a dick joke?”

Molly choked, almost spitting coffee onto the table. “Uh. . no.”

“Then I’d ask what you mean, but I suspect you’ll tell me anyways. Hence, I’ll save my breath.”

“He’s not the most reliable fellow, is he? At least, not for your scheme.” Molly meant Beckett, and she said “scheme” like she knew exactly what they had planned.

“Who would you recommend as a replacement?”

“ If you’re asking?”

“Oh, I am.”

“I would rule out T, of course.” Molly referred to Theresa as “T” ever since she learned it deeply annoyed Theresa. “She’s a little too murderous.” Molly leaned toward Corbin and whispered, “plus I hear she drinks.” She resumed in her normal voice. “I wouldn’t use Kak either, at least not as your spokesman. Stuart follows instructions well. Of course, he’ll follow anyone’s instructions. That could become problematic once the cops start barking out commands. I wouldn’t use anyone from upstairs, unless you plan to infiltrate an old folks home.”

“What about you?”

“Me?! Oh, no, no, no, my schedule’s booked. Otherwise, I’d help. I’m sure you understand?”

“It is the thought that counts.”

“I like to think so,” Molly said, smiling broadly. She sipped her coffee.

“So, what’s your verdict?”

Molly laughed. “Oh, it won’t be my verdict you have to worry about.”

“Cute.”

“I sure am,” Molly replied, causing Corbin to groan. “How’s yourfriend taking his new-found fame? I hope I didn’t upset him too much,” Molly asked disingenuously.

“Nah, what’s a little schadenfreude among friends?”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Did you say ‘glad’ or ‘sad’?”

Molly shrugged her shoulders. “Tomato, tom ah to.”

Corbin looked at his watch. “I should probably get back to the office. You coming?”

“Sure, I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble your buddy’s causing now.”

That night Corbin sat on his couch practicing his guitar. An ancient Roman landscape hung over the couch. A book shelf spanned the opposite wall, before ending at the television, which sat diagonally in the corner before the glass door leading to the balcony. It was a warm night, so the door to his balcony was open. He was practicing a piece he often thought of playing at Blue’s bar, but never had. While Blue never told Corbin what he could or couldn’t play, Corbin refrained from playing music the audience wouldn’t recognize, and no one knew this piece. No one, that is, except Corbin and Mrs. Tuttle, who occasionally heard it through her walls.

The phone rang. Corbin knew who it was without looking. “Vez. Did you get my message?”

“What is it with this guy?” Alvarez sounded annoyed.

“He’s stressed out.”

“He doesn’t hold the franchise.”

“He’s got a family, a wife and two kids, so he’s not used to taking risks. He’s worked himself up about what’ll happen if he gets caught. It’s making him manic, lots of highs and lows. He just needs to blow off some steam. He’ll be ok.”

Alvarez remained unconvinced. “He’s a loose cannon. We can’t have that. I won’t have that.”

“He’ll get over it,” Corbin stated.

“He better get over it, and soon.”

“He will.”

“I mean it. This guy better be reliable. I won’t go to jail because he can’t carry his own weight,” Alvarez growled.

Corbin became annoyed. “I’ve said he’s reliable and that’s that.”

“That’s not that-”

“That is that, end of discussion,” Corbin said, cutting Alvarez off.

“No! Not this time. He better get his shit together or I swear I’ll-”

“You’ll what?!” Corbin demanded.

“If he screws this up, I swear I’ll kill him.”

“What the hell is wrong with you two?!” Corbin’s voice grew deep and menacing. “I’m sick of these games! It’s time to get serious. I don’t want to hear any more crap from either of you about setting anyone up or killing anyone. That’s bullshit, and it tells me you’re not taking this seriously.” Corbin pausedbefore suddenly continuing: “I don’t know if you’ve been watching too many movies or playing too many video games, but this isn’t some fucking B-movie melodrama. In real life, you don’t solve your problems with murder. Death is the fucking end.”

Alvarez started to speak, but stopped himself.

“Listen man,” Corbin’s tone became more conciliatory, “when you say you want to kill him, that tells me you’re not grasping how seriously we need to take this project if we’re going to pull this off. If we start playing around, we’re gonna make all our worst fears come true. I can guarantee that. Now, can I trust you?”

An uncomfortable silence passed before Alvarez replied. “You can trust me. I’ll do my job. You don’t have to worry about me .”

“Cool. And I’ll take care of Beckett. You have my word.”

“Good enough. Hey, what do you think about getting the cell phones in D.C. the day before? That could save us time and give us a chance to open more bank accounts.”

“I thought about that, but we need phones with local numbers to match the local addresses. I’ve seen phones that let you choose a number, but you have to sign up for those. We’re better off picking up anonymous prepaid phones locally.”

“How many do we need?”

“I figure we can get away with six total. I’ve drawn up a color-coded matrix. When you buy the phones, mark them with the colored stickers I’ll give you. Then, when you go into each bank, use the matrix to decide which phone to take with you.”

“I’m never going to remember six new numbers,” Alvarez said doubtfully.

“You don’t have to. Write the phone number for each phone on the colored sticker.”

“Won’t that look suspicious if I don’t know my own phone number?”

“You’re new in town. That’s why you’re opening the new account. That’s also why all the lease agreements and utility bills will be dated from the end of May, same with the licenses.”

“I’ve got a question. What do I do if Beckett comes into the bank while I’m in there?”

“If he does that, then you have my permission to kill him. Just make sure it’s a painful death.”

Alvarez laughed. “Seriously, what do I do if he freaks out?”

“If he freaks out, you’ve got to calm him down. Make eye contact and hold it. Speak firmly and directly with no emotion. He plays off emotion. Keep telling him to calm down. Don’t threaten him or swear at him. He reacts poorly to that.”

“Got it.”

“If he walks into a bank and you haven’t opened the account yet, excuse yourself. Walk over and shake his hand like he’s some old friend you haven’t seen in a while. Then escort him out. Do not open the account. Once he’s on video, that bank becomes poison to us.”

“What if he walks in after I get the account open?” Alvarez asked.

“Just walk him outside and mark the form so we know which bank it was. We’ll close the account through the mail. Hopefully, no one will figure out that account was part of the project.”