Chapter 23 Wrong On Many Levels (1/2)

Stepping back from the destroyed camera, Tony turned the gun on Laz and brought it right to his face. Laz was scared and had no idea what he was doing.

”Two things,” Tony said, holding up a finger.

”One, never say you are going to kill someone. That's the shit that can be used against you if they ever find you or the body.”

”Two,” Tony said while holding up another finger.

”Don't talk. They can use your voice to identify you.”

”But I changed my voice.”

”I've seen better voice changers in cereal boxes.”

”Do they even make those anymore?”

”Shut up.” Tony brought the gun away from Laz's head and started looking around some more.

Laz walked over to look at the girl again, his face becoming darker and darker. He could feel his blood burning in anger. Even though he knew this was going on earlier, he didn't realize how much it would affect him to see it up close.

People don't react the same when they are somewhat disconnected to a situation as opposed to when they confront it up close. It's kind of like hearing a train derailed on the news and watching the footage of it while at home. Although the scenes may be disturbing, because you know you are in a safe and comfortable environment, it doesn't really affect your emotions much.

Now imagine if you were on the train when it derailed and experienced the entire tragedy up close. The way it would impact you would be far more profound and disturbing. Even seeing pictures of it afterwords would bring you back to that moment and haunt you.

This is kind of what Laz was feeling while looking at this unknown victim. Her face was so swollen, it was impossible to see what she looked like, but he felt she was probably quite beautiful before this.

Now she would be lucky if the scarring ever faded.

Laz had always lived in the light so his first view of the darkness was like a bucket of ice water. He felt like he was waking up from a dream and the one thing he felt the most was anger. He had never felt true anger like this before, the kind that makes your body shake.

He didn't know why, but he felt angry from deep inside and his blood was boiling in response.

”Don't bother trying to wake her, she's out cold for a while.”

”How do you know that?”

”Special K will knock you out all night.”

”Special K?”

”Google it, I don't have time to explain. Needless to say, I recognize my own product and I don't sell cheap shit.”

Although Laz was a little startled, he didn't show it. He didn't know what Tony was talking about but he figured the girl had been drugged and wasn't going to come to any time soon.

”So what now?”

”Now we go back up and wait for Lenny and his guys to get here. There is nothing we can do here.”

”We are just going to leave her?”

”We ain't moving her body if that's what your asking. The camera is dead so at least that will keep Joey occupied for a bit when he gets back. My guys should be here before he returns anyway and they will take care of things. Besides, we move her and he will probably bolt as soon as he figures it out.”

”You don't want to let him go?”

”It's already gotten to this point so he will know I had something to do with it cause I'm sure he won't think it was you or the old man. Last thing I need is cops knocking on my door. Move it.”

Laz walked past the beads and started heading for the door with Tony just a step behind him. He suddenly got a feeling and calming down his emotions, he focused his hearing outward.

Joey's van had just pulled into a parking space and stopped.

”Shit, he's already back,” Laz mumbled out loud. Tony heard him, but didn't process it for a moment. Once he did, his head snapped up right away and he looked at Laz.

”What?”

”Joey's back.”