01:03
Episode 1: The Original Blueprints
Part 3
“This is a stupid place to meet,” Ned said. “We’re out where anyone can see us and there is no cover.”
Ned stood just inside the edge of a pasture in the far western Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth. Cars passed just to the south and each time one went by Ned froze and waited.
Violet sighed. “This is where the client wanted to meet. It’s not like we are doing a job.”
Violet stood beneath the bare limbs of an ancient oak, deep within the darkest shadow of the tree. A boil of crows lifted into the air from the bare branches, cawing to each other as they flew to the east.
“Christ, this is like a Hitchcock film,” Ned said.
“Hello,” said a scratchy voice from the darkness. Ned’s right hand went into his Glock 26 inside his jacket as he twirled round. Violet discreetly ensured the thirty-eight in her shoulder holster was clear of her own jacket.
“Don’t be alarmed Mr. Maxilla,” sad the voice “It is only me – Lynda Allingham. Your client. Please let go of your gun. I’d hate to have you try to shoot me before we had a chance to discuss business.”
Violet stepped out of the shadows and walked to the tiny woman. She could not have been more than four feet tall and in the darkness the client was nearly invisible. Violet offered her hand to Lynda who seemed to materilize from the night.
“I’m Violet Capagio, and you seem to know Ned” Violet nodded to Ned. “Since there aren’t any chairs or drinks or food to offer you I think we should get to business.”
“I agree,” replied Lynda. “What questions do you have?”
Ned came closer to the diminutive woman but remained out of easy reach.
“Who is our target?” he asked.
Lynda produced a large purple phone with an antenna on top like a young child’s fat purple crayon. She tapped the screen once and began to read from it.
“Dr. Paul Swanson in New Robbins Valley has a device we would like to retrieve and we’d like you to do the job.”
“You’d like us to steal something for you?”Ned said not hiding his contempt. “That’s not our line of work.”
“Mr. Maxilla,” Lynda said calmly, ” I assure you the item in question belongs to us.” She turned to Violet. “And I was assured by another of your associates named Capagio that you would be accommodating.”
Violet smiled. She knew her uncle was involved and that this tiny woman would not hesitate to bring him to bear if there were problems.
“I understand,” she said. “What does the item look like?”
“It is unique. Truly one of a kind,” said Lynda. “and the only thing of real value owned by Dr. Swanson.”
“Know it when I see it,” said Violet. “anyone we might need to kill?”
Lynda looked into Violet’s eyes for a moment, her expression unchanging except for a slight narrowing of her eyes that warned Violet that Lynda had seen her darkness. Lynda smiled, the first time she had observed that reaction, and the smile made Violet uneasy.
“You may use your discretion I suppose,” Lynda told her, “but there will be no extra compensation.”
Ned stepped a little closer. “Who do you represent? I like to know who I work for.”
“That isn’t important,” said Lynda.”Your associate will take care of the payments and I will be in touch to retrieve the item.”
A bright light shown into the clearing from the road and Ned turned to see what it was. The light faded without identification. When Ned turned back the tiny woman was gone. Violet stood facing the pasture.
“Did she just leave?” Ned asked. “Where did she go?”
Violet shook her head as if shaking free from a spell, turned and began walking back to the road. “This looks like a milk run,” she told Ned. “Nothing life changing. Let’s get a drink”
EPISODES
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