Pushed Too Far

"It's the cops. It's the cops," Jeff repeats.

Shoving the man aside, Luigi quickly fills the bag.

Jeff looks on in disbelief. "We don't have time to take anymore."

"I came here to take what he owes, and that's what I'm going to do." Luigi crams a handful of jewels into the bag.

Jeff looks towards the window to see two more officers stepping around the car. He turns and says, "There's three, and they're surrounding the house."

Grabbing the man's collar, Luigi pulls him in close and says, "Say or hint anything about our visit to the cops, and you will lose more than just this sack of dough."

The man nods, gulps, and says, "I won't say a word."

"Good, now open the door."

Mitch's hands are shaking as he reaches for the knob.

"Remember, open your mouth, and Bambii will pay you and all your family a visit."

"I…I won't say a word."

Taking a breath of courage, the man smiles, opens the door, and then says, "I'm sorry, officer. I tried putting something into my safe and accidentally set off the alarm."

'So, everything is fine here?" Jerry asks, taking a quick peek inside.

"Peachy keen, thanks for stopping by." Mitch tries to close the door.

Jerry, still not convinced, pushes it open. "You seem nervous tonight. Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. I just need a drink, that is all. It's been a hell of a day. Everything seemed to happen all at once. I'm sure you know how that goes, with you being in law enforcement and all."

Jerry couldn't count all the times a quiet, uneventful day turned into utter chaos as they were about to leave. Jerry glances inside again. "Well, if you're sure you're alright."

"I'm fine, just tired, is all." Mitch pretends to yawn. "Hell of a day, and tomorrow may be worse."

Jerry takes a few steps across the porch, turns, and asks. "Is that your GT out front?"

Mitch looks over, smiles, and says, "I wish, but I doubt I could even afford a tire on the thing with what I make." He glances at the fancy Sportster trying to figure out what to say next. "It belongs to my brothers. He came for a visit, which was nice because I hadn't seen him since Christmas. He has so much going on, with work, kids and all, we don't get to hang out much."

"The hotrod is nice."

Mitch nods. "It's his pride and joy. He rebuilt, painted it, and everything. I helped him out when I could get a little bro time in, you know."

Does he ever let you take it for a spin?"

"He says he'll let me drive it the day hell freezes over."

"That's not very nice of him. Especially after you put so much time into it."

Mitch shrugs. "I didn't do much. Besides, It's his baby. So I understand."

"You said he did all of that himself?"

"It took him two years, but he got it done."

Jerry chuckles. "I bet he's very particular about it, then."

Mitch laughs. "Oh, he is. A little bird poo on the car, and he goes nuts."

"I imagine I'd be like that too. Please let me know if your brother ever decides to sell."

Mitch nods. "I will, officer, goodnight."

Jerry walks to his car to find Joe and Rachel waiting for him. He looks back at the house and says, "Something fishy is going on in that house. I can feel it in my gut.

"You can't act on suspicion alone, Jerry."

Jerry runs his fingers through his hair. An annoying habit both he and Joe have. "I know. I know."

"Joe and I didn't see anything suspicious. Did we?"

"Just a guy in the den is enjoying his drink," Joe adds.

"So, maybe what he said is true."

Joe pats Jerry on the back. "People accidentally set off their alarm all the time."

"I suppose."

"Meet me at the office," Joe orders, climbing into his car.

Jerry eyes the fancy hot rod. "I wonder what I'll find when I run the plates. He's reaching for his radio when a dispatcher's voice echoes through the car. I guess my hunch will have to wait.

Closing the door, Mitch walks through the house, hoping his visitors have left, but he finds them relaxing in the living room, sipping on his expensive scotch. Glad they're making themselves at home.

Luigi smiles. He lifts his glass and says, "I'll let Bambini know what you did tonight. It'll win you some brownie points with him."

"Th…Thanks, I think."

The man grabs his bag as he stands. "If this isn't enough, we'll let you know." He sets his glass on the table, glances at Jeff, and adds, "Don't bother showing us to the door."

Mitch grabs the empty bottle from the bar and smashes it against the wall. "I should've done that to your heads, he thinks, watching his visitors pull away.

Both men are lost in their thoughts the entire trip home. Luigi is trying to decide what to do with his cut; Jeff is worried about the ongoings at home. He knows he can't do anything about it, but that doesn't stop him from worrying any less. Just keep doing what I'm doing, and we'll be able to go back to our everyday life soon, he thinks, but deep in his heart, he knows nothing will be the same again. How can it be after all I've done?

Luigi glances over at Jeff, smiles, and says, "I had my doubts about you, newbie, but you're shaping up pretty fast."

"Thanks?"

Luigi chuckles. Bambini might decide to keep you around, after all." The brakes squeak as they come to a stop. "See you tomorrow, rookie."

"I'll be looking forward to it." Jeff sneers.

Luigi laughs. "Sarcasm, I like it."

I'm a laugh a minute. Exhausted, Jeff crawls out of the car. Luigi's words echos in Jeff's head. Keep me around? What does that even mean? That they're not going to shoot me just yet? Why would he want to when they've got me under his thumb? The worst part is that I can't do a thing to stop it. Just like I can't do anything about the situation at the house. God, I hope this whole nightmare will be over soon. More exhausted than ever, he shuffles the rest of the way home.

A man jumps out of the bushes just as Jeff reaches his lawn. The man steps toward him, waving a long sharp blade around.

Frightened, Jeff throws his hands in the air as he jumps back.

The robber has a skeleton-thin body and a pale corpse-like face. His few remaining teeth are rotten and slithering. The invader's appearance and twitchy movements take Jeff back to that terrible day at the house.

"Give me all of your money, and no one will get hurt," the man says, jerking around.

Jeff reaches for his wallet but grabs his gun instead. It's hard to say what the meth head will do if I pull my gun. He glances at the man as events replay in Jeff's mind. Taken away from his family following the fatal shooting, he was shuffled to several foster homes, each worse than the last. Fed up with the abuse, Jeff decides to take his chances out on the street. He finds himself in Juvie shortly after, staying until he ages out.

His mom came back into his life shortly after he married Julie. It was Julie who insisted he meets with her. They have many hurdles to overcome, including childhood trauma, but they're slowly rebuilding their relationship. "I finally get my life in order, and Luigi decides to show."

"Give me all your money, or I'll gut you like a pig." The man yells.

Jeff suddenly recalls some things he did on the street to survive. He then remembers all the beatings he took and all the times he nearly died. He haded Juvenile hall but knows that's what probably saved his life. Jeff gulps and says, "I'm not that scared, kid, anymore." His daddy's harsh words replay in his mind. He'd been beaten up at school yet again. He was hoping for comfort but got criticism instead.

"You're nothing but a wuss, a waste of space. You need to get off the tit boy and grow a pair."

"Fuck you, dad, and all your criticism too."

The robber's slurred words bring him back to the present. "Hand it over, now," The man demands, nervously glancing around, unsure if the man he's robbing hasn't become delusional, talking to people who aren't even there.

Jeff glares at the mugger. Flashes from his life replay in his mind. Jeff shakes the horrid memories away. An internal switch seems to flip. I've been a victim of circumstance all my life. Well, that's going to end tonight. With pent-up rage shooting from his eyes, Jeff pulls the weapon from his pocket and points it toward the man's head. Straightening his posture, he cocks his gun and says, "You better leave before I blow what's left of your brain to smithereens."