Today
he was sweating more than usual. The cold, crisp, smoky air of late evening did
not help him a bit. He has been running the same route for last three months.
The lonesome park in the middle of this downtown area saw many joggers running
in and around the park. He looked
normal jogging on sidewalks and back alleys in his oversize grey hoodie.
He drew
a sharp breath of cold air. He looked down his watch only to confirm the time
he already knew. He knew where Robbie will be at this very moment. He knew the number of steps he will be taking before he can see his brother. All
his senses tingled like after a good high.
He jogged
to the armored truck in the side alley. He saw Robbie from the corner of his eyes. They were aware of the presence of two passing
women, one dog, two security cameras in addition to the two guards they knew were about
to step out of the door carrying the four bags of cash. Despite the protection of the hooded heads, they kept their necks arched at practiced angles.
Like synchronized dancers they brought out their tranquilizer gun as the guards stepped down from the last stair of the small revolving door and shot them. They grabbed one bag
each and dashed.
They
could hear commotion within seconds of their move. They continued the rehearsed
escape as each one of them turned in a different direction after leaving the dumpster
lined alley. They removed their hoods and walked unassumingly as soon as
they merged with the crowds of the main street to reach two different bus stops.
These
bus stops were chosen for their dirty, almost opaque broken newspaper dispensers. The back
of the bottom metal box was cut as a flap, to allow them to drop the bags and kick
them inside the dispenser. They boarded the next city bus at their respective bus stands with the guns still
jabbing their backs, listening to the cacophony of approaching sirens.
They
will go to their home and wait till morning. At 4:30 am like all days, their
mate will go about his job of distributing the newspapers to businesses and stands including loading dispensers. Only two of them will be emptied.
