The Plan Part 5

                                                                  5

We pulled up a few houses before the one with all the money.  I placed my gun in my pants pocket and led the way, locking my car as I got out.  Kurt and Charlie were already out but Lou had a tough time wiggling out of the back.  He finally caught up with us, already out of breath.  His obesity seemed to be catching up with him.

"Lou, the salads, remember?  Maybe you should avoid the Italian food and try some Subways."  I kindly remarked.  Lou continued keeping up with me as he responded in small gasps.

"Don't worry about me Frankie," Lou said snapping back at me.  I didn't like his tone as he continued.  "I'm going on a strict diet this Monday.  So I'm enjoying my food this weekend.  Is that ok with you?"   I glanced his way, unimpressed at what he'd told me.  I had more important things to think of.

The house seemed quiet.  Two cars were parked in the cracked cement driveway.  Scanning the front yard I could see a broken bike, some crushed beer cans and other garbage scattered about on a browned lawn which was mostly sand and rocks.  The front door looked to be closed.  I told my partners to move fast.  We approached the door and surprisingly it was unlocked so we allowed ourselves in.  Lou went in first with his gun raised. 

Upon entering we heard a TV in the living room to our immediate left. The short foyer allowed us all to move quickly from room to room.  It didn't take long to find Frantz and Napp's. They were both on the sofa, watching some rap music channel and finishing a Bong hit from one huge pipe with long tube like tentacles hanging down.

"Don't you move," I said, as I came around Lou who took up a big spot on the living room rug.  I had these two punks in my sights.  They looked young. Two black males wearing red gang colors which I assumed from their tattoos, they were representing the Crips gang.  From what I knew they were a dangerous and formidable group.  Frantz was the gang's top member and a great earner.  He made his way up doing some gang beatings and a few murders that were never pinned on him.  I know these things because I have a rat situated in the gang.  That's how I came to find out about the money.

"Where is it Frantz?" I said.  He looked up at me angry, like he wanted to pop a cap in me right now.  "Where's the money you owe Nicky for the gambling you did over the phone.  You owe him ten grand.  My boys and I are here ready to collect, ugly or not.  It's your choice."   But before I could finish speaking, Napp's pulled out his gun.  This scared Lou and Kurt and all I could hear was loud bangs and an overwhelming smell of gunpowder suffocating my nostrils.

Clouds of smoke were making for a screen as everyone scattered into hiding.  I found a spot behind a recliner, trying to locate the others at the same time.  My mind was racing; heart pounding like it was going to explode out of my chest.  As the smoke and gunshots started to clear, I peeked out to see Frantz and Napps were not moving.  Napps was spread out across the floor his head in a pool of blood with what looked like pieces of skull scattered about.  Frantz was still in the same spot when I first entered, except his shirt was full of blood.

Pulling myself up, looking for any entry wounds on my body, I was thankful not to have been hit by any stray bullets. I couldn't say the same for Kurt.  He didn't look good.  And then from the corner of my eye I saw Frantz move.  He was still alive.  I ran towards him, my arm stretched outward with my gun pointing straight at him.

"Get up you piece of shit.  Downstairs, open the safe now."  Frantz didn't whisper a word; he just did as I told him, leading me out of the living room.  Charlie and Lou were ok, shaken but not mortally wounded and quickly joined me.  They didn't say a word yet.  But I knew sooner or later they would, once they were able to gather their thoughts.  For now they followed me without a single comment as Frantz led us downstairs into the basement.

There it was in the corner, the safe full of money.   The solid steel object with the combination lock just waiting to be opened.  I saw my first obstacle. That's where two hundred grand was.  Within my reach, I pushed Frantz towards the grey steel and told him to open it if he wanted to live.   Lou and Charlie had their guns on him too, anticipating what they would find inside. 

Frantz opened the safe without saying a word and pulled out a black duffle bag stuffed with cash.

"Shit, Frankie, there's got to be over fifty grand there," Lou said leaning over the bag, his stomach hanging out of his pants so it almost touched the money tumbling over the top.  Not a pretty sight for my eyes, so I pushed my way in and grabbed the bag, pushing in the stacks of cash and zipping it shut.

"Ok Frantz you did well, unfortunately your services are no longer needed," I said, before shooting him in the head.  He fell quickly, silently, without a second of hesitation.  He was dead.  Lou and Charlie looked over at me stunned at my actions.  I knew what they were thinking.  How could I do something like this?  They're also probably wondering how much money was just stuffed back into this black bag. 

I needed to talk to them.  Let them know how my plan will end.  So I explained it to both of them that the cash was more than ten grand but we needed to get out of here right away.  And we were to leave everything untouched, including Kurt.  I didn't want any evidence pointing to us.  Let the cops think it was a drug deal gone sour.  I didn't care as long as I had the money.  Besides, if anyone heard the shots earlier, the cops may be on their way.  But this is a rough area.  This kind of stuff happens all the time.  It may give us the break we need to get away.

Charlie and Lou agreed, following me out to the car.  Nobody seemed to be watching as we drove away.  Continuing to a remote location, a McDonald's parking lot, I briefed them about my plan and how it was done.  Nicky would get his money and we'd keep the rest.  Charlie was so happy he couldn't contain the excitement.  It shined right through him as he watched me feeling the money in the bag.  Lou was leaning up from the back, smiling and asking when we could split it.  I told him we needed to wait a while, let things cool down first than we can split it evenly.   They both nodded, agreeing to my idea.

I dropped Lou off at his home first, waving goodbye as he walked towards his front door.  I didn't trust the fat bastard.  Something told me if the police lights were shining on his big mug, he'd crack, squealing like a pig and give Charlie and me up. ‘You can't spend the money while sitting in some jail cell doing time,' I thought.  Glancing over to my right at Charlie, I watched him carefully as he still kept counting some of the green stacks with a big grin on his face.

"Frankie there has to be a little over two mill in here man, this is crazy."

"I told you Charlie, we're going to be rich.  And once the cops close the case of a drug deal gone bad, we can start spending away."  Charlie smiled back at me.  I gave him a smile as well, driving him home next.  I didn't trust him either.  If push came to shove, he'd give me up too.  I'm not sure what to do next.  One thing I am sure of though, it's time to come up with a new plan!

                                                To be continued

Part 6:

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