Life Of Crime

Caleb

"Caleb! Caleb!" I turned at the sound of my name and looked up. At the entrance to the alley stood a tall woman with curly, red hair and striking green eyes.

"Don't go shouting my name like that," I warned, casting a quick glance around.

"Relex, this place is as deserted as it always is. No one ever dares come here 'cept you."

"Okay. And what you doing here anyway, Annie? I'm guessing the cobras want me?"

"That's right," Annie replied.

"Okay. Where am I meeting them?"

"Down at their third base."

"Okay. Thanks for your help, Annie."

"Any time Caleb. I owe you my life and you know where to find me if you need more help." With that, Annie took off and I headed down to the cobra's third base.

Tiny

Tiny sighed and sipped on a water Killer had given her. His phone went off and he picked it up. After a short conversation he stepped out of the bar. Tiny watched him and shifted her feet. He came back in a few minutes later,

"We gotta go." he said, she nodded and followed him out the door. "They said you need to see if he can get information like we need before they agree to the Kadikoy thing. Said you need to think up something."

"That should be easy." She said sarcasticly. "How bout just see if he can figure out what the Kadikoy's first hit will be. Whose on the top of their list."

"Other then you?" Killer laughed,

"Sure." They pulled up into a small store. She walked in and nodded to the owner he smiled and led her back to an old store room that had a bunch of guitars. She picked one up and sarted playing on it as she waited for Caleb to get there. Killer had said he was coming.

"What do you think of this kid?" Killer asked her,

"He's smart, knows how to get the information he wants, Kevin would've liked him, alot. To bad he didn't get to meet him, Kevin would've recruited him just as fast as he could." She smiled,

"I guess in a way he did." Killer laughed. She nodded and looked down at the guitar. It was a good one.

Caleb

I entered the guitar store and pretended to look at an old, broken guitar that hung on the wall in one corner. The store keeper's shadow fell across me and I countered to three before speaking.

"You got more guitars in the back?" I asked. The store keeper gasped and gulped.

"The back rooms are um... restricted areas," He stammered.

"I know," I replied.

"Oh. Umm. Then right this way..." I turned and followed the man to a small room. Upon entering he cleared his throat and then stepped aside. Tiny was there, stood beside Killer.

"You wanted me?" I asked as Tiny waved the store keeper away.

"Yeah. We need some information. Up for the job?"

Tiny

Caleb sat down, and Tiny set the guitar back on the stand.

"I need the top five that the Kadikoys are going after." She said, "Other then me."

"Why do you need this?" He asked looking a guitar over.

"To keep my gang safe, it is a way to see what you are able to find out for us." She replied,

"So, it is more of a test." He smiled.

"I never said that," She replied, Killer's phone rang and he stepped out of the room. "So, you have the full trust of him."

"How do you know that?" Caleb asked,

"He doesn't leave me alone with anyone, other then Kevin and Antonio." She replied, "So will you do this?"

Caleb

"Of course," I replied with a grin. "Piece of cake. What's my time limit?"

"Umm. Shall we say two days?" Tiny hesitated.

"Two days?" I repeated.

"Well I suppose three would be okay..." I laughed and shook my head in disbelief.

"Two days? I'll see you in two hours," I replied. I put the guitar down and strode from the shop, nodding to Killer as I passed him. He nodded back before returning to his phone conversation.

It took me just under ten minutes to reach the right house. Well, I say house but it was more of a small, wooden shack and the door ws opened by a ragged young boy.

"Your father in?" I asked. The boy nodded and silently led me into the building.

"What you doin' 'ere Cal?" A broad shouldered man demanded.

"Come to cash in a favor, Keith. I need information on the Kadikoys. You still watch them?"

"No. But the boy does. Direct your questions to him." I turned to the lad and knelt down so that I could look into his deep, saphire eyes.

"You know who's on top of the Kadikoy's death list?" I asked. The boy nodded. I took out a handful of coins.

"We don't need yer charity!" Keith shouted across the room.

"You took it last time. And besides. It's for the information," I replied. The boy nodded again and took the coins before holding his hand out. I handed him a note book and pen. He wrote down a few lines on the top sheet, tore it off, folded it and then handed me each of the items seperately. I didn't bother to look at the piece of paper. I knew he'd have it right. Instead I smiled, thanked the both of them and left with more than an hour to spare. Enough time for a drink, I mused but decided against it. Returning now would be so much more impressive.

Tiny

Killer walked in and looked at Tiny.

"We leavin?" He aske,d

"No, he says he'll be back in two hours, we'll give him that." She replied smiling, Killer rolled his eyes and sat down closing his eyes. Not more then thrity minutes later Caleb walked back in with some paper.

"Well I'll be, that was faster then two hours." Killer laughed,

"Not bad, not bad at all." She smiled, "So, you know how to get your information."

"Here are the names." He handed her the paper and she opened it. Her's was on the top, then Killers, then a few other men.

"Not surprising, Killer your after me." She smiled,

"Bring it." He laughed,

Caleb

"So you got another test?" I asked.

"No. I think this is sufficient. You think you can gain Kurokawa's trust?" Tiny asked.

"I don't know but it's worth a try. They need all the new members they can get with this war in the planning and if it doesn't work, I'm just another body in some cold, dark alley but at least I got no need for goodbyes." The two looked uncomfortable but I grinned to show them that it was okay and received half hearted smiles in return.

"Okay then. Keep in touch," Killer said with a nod that clearly meant goodbye and I hope I see you again but I probably wont. I nodded back. That same nod.

"I'll send Annie," I promised. "The red head."

Tiny

Tiny watched him leave,

"Do you think he'll survive?" She asked,

"Sure enough," Killer replied standing up. "Lets get back to the apartment and savage what we can." She nodded, though she had wished Caleb would come back with the information not Annie, course it would be safer with Annie. She followed Killer to the car suddenly tired.

She ran her fingers over the top of her head and through her hair, leaning against the back of the booth. Her eyes sat upon Tylar after she sighed, thinking of what exactly she should say. Finally, she decided on a few questions she wanted to be answered.


"First, tell me who you are." He obviously wasn't from a rival gang, or else he would have let Ronny kill her.


"Tylar." He said it with a that's all you need to know tone.


"Ok, Tylar," She emphasized his name seductively, "Why did you keep that idiot from killing me? I mean, I'm thankful yes, but why?" Kurokawa swirled her drink around inside it's glass and took a sip as she awaited his response.

Tylar

I was wondering the same thing myself. I mean, what better way to prevent the war that the kadikoy were going to start? Glancing down at my hand I became transfixed by the deep cut across my palm and watched as the blood began to dry but then flaked away with every slight movement. That was bring though and the girl in front of me. Now she was interesting.

"For you to die would have been a waste of a life." I shrugged and she waited for me to elaborate further but when I didn't, her lips folded into a pretty pout.

"You got a gang, Tylar?" She asked. I rolled up the sleeve of my shirt and showed her the bare upper arm. "That doesn't answer the question. Some gangs put the tattoo in different places."

"You're a perceptive woman," I remarked. "And you're right, I have a tattoo but you wouldn't see any significance in it."

Althea stood next to Ronny and waited for Danny to open the door. It was still cold outside and she had no idea what time it was. She lost track after the shooting. They both stood there another moment until the door to the house slowly opened and Danny's figure appeared in the doorway.

"Hey Danny, can we come in?" Ronny's voice was low, almost a whisper.

"Yeah, sure. Come on in."

Danny opened the door all of the way and Althea and Ronny entered the house, stepping into Danny's living room. The place was big, no surprise. Most of the Eagles' members had money. And those that didn't, well, they had attitude. Once both Althea and Ronny where competely inside, Danny closed the door behind him. The house was dark, and only one light could be seen coming from the kitchen.

"Dan, could you turn another light on or something?" Althea looked in the direction she thought Danny was.

"Oh, sorry. Give me a minute..."

Footsteps were heard and then light flooded the room.

"That better?"

Althea stared at Danny, smiling. "Much."

Danny was one of few guys in the gang that she had dared hook up with while with Brian. And she did it for two reasons: 1.) Danny wasn't bad looking, and 2.) He was trustworthy. She knew that Ronny had made the right decision coming to Danny.

Tanya

I spent most of the night with Tony, cooling off. He was really worried. Maria stayed with me for the rest of the night. Nobody needed me flying off the handle over a race. There would be another next year, and Kurokawa would more than likely take up my offer again.

I went to the garage at about 1 a.m. and washed and waxed the Viper. I finished and slid into the driver's seat. I drove to the Darks' burial ground and went up to the tallest hill. I stood in front of a black marble tomb labeled "Harkin." This was where I'd be buried, alongside my parents and brother. They had always been the leaders of the Darks, and strong leaders at that. It was hereditary to have a passion for the race, and I held that gene in every fiber of my being.

"Tanya?"

((I'll write more in later. You can write with it if you want, or leave it for me...))

Danny finally woke up from his waken sleep and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Long story, Danny." Ronny said.

"Well, I'd like to hear it!"

Althea looked away. "We killed someone. A Kadikoy."

"WHAT?"

They were silent.

"Tell me! Why the hell did you do it?"

They were silent.

"Don't tell me, I don't even want to know. Why didn't you guys go to Brian?"

"He's dead."

Danny looked astonished. He turned around towards the living room, looked out the window, and cursed.

"So now you want me to protect you?"

Althea stood up. "Yes. And if you won't, then we'll just have to go somewhere else. We just thought you will."

He paced up and down the room. "Well...it's a hard decision, Althea. One night. One night only. Then. we'll just have to see. Kurokawa knows who I am and where I live. You remember, my father was a Kadikoy."

"Thank you so much, Danny. You truly saved us."

---

Kurokawa leaned against the wall lining the outside of the booth, propping her left arm on the table. She slowly ran her finger around the edge of the glass, a sad, low song screeched out over the room, but it was drowned out by the thumping music. Her mind was dwelling on Tylar and his "insignificant" tattoo.


"I don't plan on killing those two, in case you were wondering." Her eyes turned to him as she spoke, his brows raised high upon his head as she said this.


"That's a surprise." He said humorously.


"Oh, don't be surprised. If they so much as step foot in this club, I will kill them." Kurokawa said this with a casual tone, raising her drink to her lips and taking another sip of her drink.

Tiny

"When did you last talk to Tanya?" Killer asked,

"At the funneral," She replied,

"The head of the East Eagles, or whatever that gang was called was killed." He said,

"HOW?" Tiny demanded looking at him.

"He tried to kill some kid and he shot him. It wasn't like it was a planned thing though, Brian went looking to kill him." Tiny sat back down and smiled, she had never really talked to anyone from that gang, but that might mean they were against the Kadikoys.

"Do you know where Tanya is?" She asked,

"Yup," He replied,

"You know the directions?"

"Yea, but I don't know if it would be safe just to show up."

"Killer, I haven't talked to her in a bit so lets go talk to her." Tiny smiled, he nodded and drove off.