《The Manifest》Chapter 33

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Devon had the truck repainted and ready to go in less than twenty-four hours. Jerome had the new logo printed up and ready to attach to the truck in just a little over that time as well. Edgar could see the plan coming together and met Devon behind the Thai restaurant as he pulled into the back alley with his newly painted delivery truck. Edgar ran a hand across the side panel.

"Did you use the paint I asked you to apply?" Edgar asked.

"Yes, that shit is bloody expensive." Devon said as he hopped out of the truck, "But it's a good thing you're paying for all expenses."

"Not today." Edgar said as he pulled out a thick wad of cash from his pocket, "Today all expenses are on Uncle Sam. This is the payment Mrs. Johnson made for the necklace via the government's plastic. This will cover us for gas and food while we make the road trip to the three addresses Jerome gave us. All of them are less than two hour's drive from one another. We have to get going soon, we promised delivery within two days. Is Tank and his boys ready?"

"As ready as they're ever going to be." Devon answered as he started to put on the uniform. Edgar took off his coat and started to do the same. Both he and Devon were going to make the delivery together. Devon had prepared for this job by shaving off his beard and even cutting his hair. Combined with the light brown jumpsuit, there was no way anyone wouldn't suspect that he didn't do this job for a living. He usually didn't get this personal with a case, but considering what happened to his crew, Devon wasn't willing to put anyone else in the line of fire but himself over the next while. He was more than capable of taking care of himself and didn't feel the need to put anyone else in harm's way too soon after what happened at Tuck's office. Cyrus and the boys are tough enough to take care of themselves as well. Edgar was going to get his money's worth with that crew, as they were a very, very tough group of goons. He understood Edgar's reason for wanting them on this mission as too much muscle was never a bad thing especially when you're walking into what could be the proverbial lion's den.

He had to admit having Cyrus's men in the background and Cyrus himself watching over them made him feel a little safer going into this operation. This wasn't a first time for Edgar and Devon, but the last time they tried something this risky it didn't work out too well. With the money and the people in place, Devon was a little more confident that this one would work out a little bit better. They have their bases covered a little more than they did last time and have the muscle in case things go wrong. Edgar had definitely learned from his mistakes and things were bound to work out this time. Both men were determined and ready to kick ass. Hopefully no one would get hurt, but he was armed as usual, with a nice secret compartment in his truck that he modified himself. There were several weapons on that truck, so he was ready for anything.

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Edgar finished putting on his jumpsuit and looked back to Devon, "Don't say a single word. I know there are a few extra pounds."

"A few?" Devon repeated with a grin, "No comment..."

Jerome came down from his nest for the first time in days, and took a look at the truck. His logo was flawless and with it the truck looked completely legit. He turned to Edgar, "No chance I can change your mind about staying behind?"

"No dice, sport." Edgar said as he put on his light brown baseball cap, "We need you guys to stay here where it's safe."

He said as he hopped into the truck. Devon took the wheel because he was used to and more comfortable driving that behemoth.

"We'll keep in contact and let you know what happens." Devon reassured the young man. "For now we're going to stay silent until this whole thing is over."

"The last thing we want to do is tip off the wrong people." Edgar added, "Keep to yourself and keep activity to a minimum until we get back. Understood?"

Jerome seemed a little bummed out for being left on the sidelines but realized someone had to be left behind to hold the fort, "Aye, Aye." He replied with a mocking salute to go with his sarcasm.

Edgar was going to say something, but thought against it as he jumped in the truck and left. They had a lot of ground to cover and a few old com-padres to meet up with quickly. These people didn't like to be stood up and it was necessary for them to get to where they were going on time. As the truck was driving around, Edgar could tell that no one was questioning the legitimacy of their cover story. To them it was just another deliver truck clogging up an already congested city. But they never stayed in the city for long, as Devon hit the highway and booted out of town as quickly as they could. While on their way out there, Edgar couldn't help but strike up some conversation to kill a little time.

"Are you going to be all right with this plan, Devon?" Edgar inquired.

"I'll be all right, mate." Devon said, keeping his eyes on the road, "I'm just looking forward to breaking this whole stinking thing open and sticking it to those slimy buggers."

"I'm all for that too." Edgar said as he sat back and relaxed, "But we have to remain focused. We're not dealing with a normal adversary here. This was never a run of the mill bounty hunt."

"I get that, but this is personal now." Devon retorted as he dodged a few slow moving cars, "I don't shave my beard for just anything, and I'm eager to break this case big time so those bastards will get what they got coming to them."

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"Amen to that." Edgar confirmed, as he seemed to be dozing off a bit, "But we also have to satisfy our benefactor as well. I'm sure he'll be offering us another fat contract if we managed to solve this one for him. Just imagine how much money that crazy old fart would shell out when we start the search for one of his own?"

Devon got a shiver up his spine when he thought about that one. If the old man was willing to spend this much to find a complete stranger, than the idea of the number he would shell out for his own offspring was just too high to consider or comprehend at that given moment.

"I'm not sure what number it would be," Devon replied, "But I have a feeling it would definitely have a lot of zeroes after it."

"You got that right." Edgar said as he pointed to a sign, "This is our exit. Last chance bud, you sure you want to do this?"

"Absolutely." Devon replied without hesitation, "It's time to dish out a nice, cold, overdue serving of payback."

He pulled the truck off the highway and towards their rendezvous with someone they usually preferred not to do business with, but this time had to make an exception. As they drove into the parking lot of a vacant steel mill, the man they were looking to meet was in the lot sitting on the hood of his car. He represented many, but was there to do negotiations on his own. He was huffing on a massive cigar and was so biker he made Devon look like a shameless wannabe. With tattoos to spare and paint all the way up his arms, he looked like a walking work of Jackson Pollack. Once the truck pulled up, he seemed a bit confused but relaxed when he finally recognized the men in the uniformed.

"Damn, gentlemen." the man said as he got up off the hood of his car, "For a moment I thought you were fed-exing my payment to me. Nice costumes, are we going to a party? If I had known, then I would have dressed up too."

"Cut the bullshit, Cyrus." Edgar said as he stepped out of the truck, "You know this is the cover. You also know why we're here, and I'm sure this will motivate you to do as you're told." Edgar handed the man a piece of paper. It was a transaction slip that proved the money they agreed on had been wired to the account of his choosing.

The biker cracked a grin from behind his massive handlebar mustache, and then looked back up at the two men in their corny delivery costumes, "So you guys are for real on this, eh?"

"As real as a heart attack." Devon confirmed.

"This is just a down payment." Edgar continued, "More will be wired, ad I'll even toss in a bonus if you guys managed to accomplish the goals that we have set out for you. Are your people ready to go?"

"They're on their way to the towns you specified, with instructions to stay away from the target zone until we meet up with them." Cyrus replied as he unlocked his car, "So are you guys going to inform me what the hell this is about?"

"Not yet," Edgar said as he got back in the truck, "This is something personal and I'm not willing to go into detail about it just yet."

"Does this have something to do with Tuck?" Cyrus quickly asked, being the bright bloke that he was.

Edgar paused for a moment and then nodded, "It does, and that's why we're paying you the big bucks and working with you again. We want this handled by the right people who know what they're doing."

"We're on the same page." Cyrus concurred, "We'll do this right for you bud. For Tuck..."

Cyrus seemed to be a little pained by mentioning him, and Edgar knew why. Tuck was a good guy who got to the best of everyone, and you couldn't help but always like the guy no matter what he did or said. They all pulled out of the parking lot a few moments later and resumed traveling to their destination.

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