Chapter 12 - Taking Down the Adds

Gamer Vocabulary:

Adds: They are the additional monsters/bad guys that show up when fighting the bosses.

Chase looked at his second in command with irritation. “What do you mean they’re already here?” He demanded, growing dangerously angry. He leaned forward in his overstuffed chair trying his best to remain calm.

“They want things settled as soon as possible or that’s what Marco told me,” Alex replied. “Apparently they all think this deal with the girl is going to take you down,” he clarified.

Chase’s upper lip curled in a scowl. Traitorous rats all of them, he thought with heated rage. After all the money, he had earned them. This was how they repay him.

“There is no way in hell that little mouse is going to be taking me down. The mere suggestion of it is hilarious,” he sneered. Alex gave him a nod in agreement, but Chase could see the doubt in his eyes. It made him only angrier.

“Well let’s not keep the boys waiting,” Chase said getting up from his chair and leaving the luxurious office. He walked into the large meeting room. Marco stood and gave Chase a smug look. The type of look that a kid got when he knew perfectly just what he had gotten for Christmas before he even opened a single gift and it was everything he wanted. Chase smiled at the Italian before him and controlled his urge to break the man’s neck right then and there.

“Marco good to see you, it’s been so long,” Chase told him with a cheerful tone. He knew Marco was using the mouse to try and take over Chase’s operation. Too bad for him, Chase thought. There was no way in hell he was going to allow that to happen. “So you what has you all so eager to push forward our meeting,” he demanded keeping a smile on his face.

“Well,” Marco started. “We are all concerned with this nasty business of the murder investigation. It’s a week half away and you still have a live witness on your hands.”

“We want to make sure that everything is in order. You know in case the worst happens,” another stated with a heavy Bronx accent.

“Right,” Chase said slowly eyeing the men before him. Some couldn’t hold his gaze and shifted uncomfortably in their chairs while others returned his gaze with defiance. They were starting to not fear him and fear was the only thing that ensured survival in his world. He was losing the faith his men had in him and all because of the mouse! He had to put an end to this and do it now, no matter what the cost.

“Well I’m here to tell you all something,” Chase started continuing his intense stare at all of them. “I’m not going down; the girl will be dead when I find her. That’s when not if. By some freak chance, she actually makes it to trial the girl is such a stuttering mess that my lawyer will have no trouble tearing her to pieces. I will not have any of you seconds guessing me, and in case you have forgotten I’m still Chase Hancock.”

With that he pulled out his pair of guns and opened fire on those he deemed a threat. Starting with the fat guy from the Bronx, he shot them down then turned to Marco, who pathetically expected his guards to step in and protection him. Too bad for Marco Chase had them bought after months. A morbid smile crossed his face as he unloaded the rest of his bullets into the Italian enjoying every single moment, he had wanted to do this for a long time.

When his guns were empty and Marco lay dead in a pool of his own blood, Chase turned to the remaining crime lords. “Anyone else have any doubts about if I’m still the same Chase or if I’ve gone soft,” he demanded.

They shook their heads fearfully and Chase smiled. “Good, we’ll meet in three weeks as I had originally said,” he growled at them then left the room.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about. Good show boss,” Alex cheered.

Chase gave him a small smile as they returned to his office, pleased he had also dispelled the doubt his second in command was having as well. “Get Jack to clean up the mess and bring me, Mike and Billy,” he ordered and Alex quickly left the room.

Chase sat back down into his overstuff chair wiping his hands free of gunpowder and a few spots of blood. Once the guys arrived, Chase leaned back into his chair. “I want the mouse found and exterminated and I want it now.”

“We’ve been trying sir, but she’s disappeared! We’ve been tracking everything! She doesn’t talk to her foster family or the guy that works at her father’s company. Hell, the damn bitch doesn’t even own a cell phone,” Billy explained.

“Who the hell doesn’t own a cell phone?” Alex asked with a look of disbelief. Billy shrugged and Chase wanted to throw them both out of the window.

“There is no trace as to where she is gone or what she’s doing now,” Mike explained. “If we don’t get someone to rat out the mouse...” he started but didn’t finish that thought.

“There must be a way,” Chase demanded slamming his fist on the table. “And you two are going to find it if you want to live out this year. Do I make myself clear?” He snarled at them. Both men paled and nodded. “Good now get out of here and find her!”

Someone had to know where Hunter had taken his mouse, and everyone had a price in the end. It was one week until the court date and still no word on the mouse. It was getting harder and harder to keep his men in check. Chase hated to admit it, but he was starting to get desperate. If he didn’t find the girl soon, he’d be the one that ended up dead. He couldn’t let that happen, not now, not tomorrow, not ever.

“Hey Boss, you’ll never believe it.” Alex said a few hours later, “I got the answer of your problems right here. Got a guy that says he knows where the mouse is.”

“Send him in,” Chase said coolly when inside he was nearly jumping for joy, hoping like hell it was true. Alex nodded and left returning few minutes later with Chase’s guards and another man. He felt doubt and skepticism run through him as he recognized the man. “Sit,” Chase demanded and the man sat down. “You seriously expect me to believe you’re going to rat out the mouse,” Chase demanded at once, he didn’t have time to lose on playing games.

“Believe what you want, that’s not my problem but if you want the girl and the cop then I’m the only one who can help,” the man told him.

“Why would you betray the mouse and the cop?” Chase demanded.

“Why does it matter?” the man shot back.

“I say it matters so it matters,” Chase yelled at him leaning forward, his trigger finger was starting to get that itch, the type of itch that can only be scratched by taking someone’s life.

“Fine, I have fifteen million good reasons to rat them out. One little nasty deed and I’ll be spending the rest of my years on some Mediterranean beach with some bronzed beauty hanging off my arm.”

Chase could see the greed and want in his eyes. It was a look Chase understood well and believed in. Chase smiled and leaned back into his chair. “You give me the mouse and I’ll promise you it will be the finest beach on the entire Mediterranean coast. If you give me them both I’ll make sure you have the two most beautiful bronzed beauties hanging off each arm,” Chase told him.

The man smiled an eager smile. “You’re in luck Hancock, I happen to know just where exactly they are at and if it couldn’t be better, and it’s a nice, secluded house on the edge of the woods. A great place to take care of business without having any more intrusions,” the man explained sounding almost giddy.

Chase gave the man a small cold smile. “Sounds good, so start talking.”

“No so fast Hancock, I’m not an idiot,” the man demanded back. “I’m not just going to spill it all out for you here and now to have you kill as soon as I’m finished! We’re going to have to work out some kind of agreement,” the man told him.

“Alright, we’ll work something out. Lucky for you,” Chase told him harshly. Right now he’d pay double what he was offering just to get his hands on the mouse.