Page 48 of Mouse Trapped

Chapter 20

Mouse

“That the right house?”

Answering Blade, I tell him, “Yeah.”

“Lights are on. Looks like someone’s home.” Peg’s eyes are fixed on the one storey in front of us.

Blade grins evilly. “What we waiting for, then?”

I roll my eyes. “His wife to leave for work.” She works nights. I’ve already found that out.

“There’s movement,” Peg announces.

We all freeze. The front door opens, and out walks a woman. From the casually yelled ‘goodbye’ over her shoulder, I take it that’s the wife we’ve been waiting for.

We stay in place while the woman backs a car out of the garage, and then for a moment longer when she drives off. As her taillights disappear into the distance, the three of us straighten and move out from the bushes behind which we’ve been crouched.

Blade takes the lead, I don’t argue. Drummer was right, I tend to fight my battles from behind a desk rather than face to face. Not that I can’t hold my own if I need to, but the enforcer’s more used to this shit. I stand back as he knocks on the door.

Heavy footsteps reach us, then it’s opened by a man with a large paunch. His eyes narrow suspiciously.

“Mr Jenkins?”

“Who wants to know?”

Well, in my mind that confirms it. If he wasn’t, he’d have said upfront.

“Need to talk with you.”

“I’m busy.” As he goes to shut the door, Blade’s steel toe-capped boot prevents it closing. He pushes inside, forcing Jenkins to step back. Peg and I follow, Peg turning to close the door.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Jenkins’ eyes flicker between us, and sweat starts to appear on his brow. “I’d like you to leave before I call the cops.”

“Now, now,” Blade starts, his voice sounding amused. “Why would you do that when we’ve just popped around for a friendly chat.”

“I’ve got no money.”

The enforcer’s head shakes. “Not here for cash or to steal shit. Just want a conversation like I said.”

Jenkins’ eyes narrow. “Don’t know what we have to talk about. But you can say what you need to, then get out.”

While our target’s been talking, Peg’s been circling around to his back. Now his big meaty arms have Jenkins’ pinned. “Search him.” Peg jerks his chin to me.

Jenkins is kicking, trying to get free, but the sergeant-at-arms has got him in a firm hold. I find a gun tucked into his waistband, and relieve him of it fast. While I’ve been occupied, Blade’s taken out a knife. One of his favourites by the look of it. Jenkins stills when it’s laid against his cheek.

“That your wife who just left?” Blade casually asks.

“Yeah.” The whites of the man’s eyes are clearly visible. “She’ll be back in a minute. She’ll call the cops.”

“You’re lying.” Blade angles the flat of the blade, and slides it down Jenkins’ face to his throat.

“She’s gone to work,” he squeals as he corrects himself.

“Better.” Blade grins. It’s that evil one again. “Now my brother here wants to have a discussion with you. You’re going to listen, then do what we need done. You hear me? You do it right, then you’ll not see us again. Do anything else, and I’ll slice you into fuckin’ pieces.”

Peg asks nonchalantly, “Gonna cut his dick off, like you did to that other asshole?”