Part 9 (2/2)

Needles parked the white van in front of Western Federal Bank and turned to Aaron. ”Do you remember what I told you?”

Aaron went over his short list of duties list in his mind. ”Yes sir,” he said.

”Okay, take your position.”

Aaron climbed into the driver's seat, and he and Needles pulled on their masks. Beeks pondered Souther's decision to send a young boy with them on a job.

”You think you can handle this, boy?” he asked.

Aaron peered out from behind his polka-dots. ”I don't know. I'm pretty scared.”

Beeks laughed. ”You should be, boy. I'd be too if I was you.”

”Check your radios,” Needles said, and they did. ”Okay ... let's move out.”

Needles and Beeks shouldered their gear and entered the bank through the front entrance. Aaron stayed behind, clutching his walkie-talkie, watching the street from his seat in the van.

After ten minutes, Aaron grew restless. He checked the mirrors again and his heart jumped into his throat. A police cruiser was heading his way, and fast, lights blazing.

”Oh, c.r.a.p!” he said, fumbling for the TALK b.u.t.ton on his radio. He pictured all of them being cuffed with zip ties and hauled off to jail. But the cruiser simply blew past him and turned left, away from the bank. Aaron took in a deep breath, leaned back in his seat, and exhaled slowly.

BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! The bank's alarm had gone off. Aaron sat bolt upright and promptly dropped his walkie-talkie. ”d.a.m.n it!” he said as he groped between the seats. He retrieved his radio and looked up just in time to see the thugs burst out of the bank dragging loaded duffel bags. He started the van then jumped in back and rolled the side door open. The thugs tossed the loot inside and jumped into the front seats.

Needles smoked the tires, and the gang made their getaway.

Beeks turned to Aaron, breathing hard. ”Tell me this ain't fun, boy!” he said, flas.h.i.+ng a huge white smile.

Aaron was totally pumped. He fist b.u.mped Beeks and grinned ear to ear.

Riding high on the successful heist, Needles decided to make a day of it. He filled up the van at the nearest gas station, and then he and Beeks took Aaron with them on an afternoon crime spree that would have made Clyde Barrow proud.

City Heights Bank ... robbed.

North Park Savings and Loan ... cleaned out.

Bank of Nations ... fleeced.

Under Needles's skilled leaders.h.i.+p, every job ran like clockwork. They finished up the day with a van load of cash and a young teenage boy whose life had, once again, been changed forever.

Chapter 28.

Pay Day It was just after 5 p.m. when the white van rolled into the cannery. Everyone got out, and Beeks began unloading the haul.

Aaron was overflowing with adrenaline; he walked circles to contain himself. ”That was incredible!” he said, high-fiving Needles. ”What a rus.h.!.+”

Souther had been waiting for them. He dumped the contents of one of the fat duffel bags onto a table.

Cash ... piles of it.

”Good job, boys,” he said. He counted out several stacks of $100s for his thugs, then picked up a bundle of $5 bills and tossed them to Aaron.

Aaron caught the money with both hands and his eyes bugged out. ”Whoa,” he said. ”What's this?” He figured he held $500 in his hands.

”That's your cut,” Souther said, as if it were obvious.

”You're kidding,” Aaron said. He certainly hadn't expected to get paid today, and $500 was more than his family's food budget for a month.

”You earned it,” Souther said. ”There's plenty more where that came from if you play your cards right.” He stuffed the rest of the cash back into the duffel bag. ”Let me know if you want to blow some of it on a wh.o.r.e, okay? I can arrange it.”

Needles and Beeks laughed knowingly, but Aaron only gave up a sheepish grin.

Souther could back his statement up, of course, having spent countless nights over the years in the company of hookers, and he proceeded to share some of his t.i.tillating wh.o.r.e stories with the group.

Aaron was riveted, gripped by a raging torrent of hormones, and he lapped up every last syllable. Souther got a charge out of seeing his reactions, and he teased him with ever expanding layers of graphic detail.

Souther concluded his thrilling monologue with an anecdote that had even Needles and Beeks blus.h.i.+ng. Then he paused a he had left out one very important detail regarding his knowledge of the business of prost.i.tution. A secret he'd been keeping (even from Needles and Beeks) for nearly ten years, now. But he decided not to mention it a not yet at least.

”I'll bet your mother could use some cash of her own,” he said at last, looking for another reaction from Aaron.

The left-field comment confused Aaron and left him feeling queasy, his enthusiasm shriveling. ”What's that supposed to mean?” he said.

”Forget about it,” Souther said casually. He had gotten what he wanted.

Aaron felt a sudden aversion toward the money. He tossed the bundle of bills on the table like so much rotten meat.

His cell phone lay on the table. Souther picked it up and handed it to him. ”Here,” he said. ”I believe that's yours.”

The odd gesture only served to confuse Aaron further. He searched Souther's eyes for a long moment then slipped the phone into his pocket.

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