A MAGICIAN'S TRICK 2

POV: Joseph weli

Location: New money

After a ten minutes drive on the busy street of NY city, Dominic drove into a place that was filled with the clatter of human conversation mixed with the noise of so many cars honking and moving at once. The sharp smell of habiscus, the faint smell of fresh cut grass and the clean fresh air that blew on your face made you knew that the place was beautiful while the some what distant smell of flour and various pastries reminded you of what the place was all about.

Cara: I still can't believe she named the place after that stupid comment you made to your friends.

You: But it is true isn't it? Macdonald's old money. This place is new money.

Cara: Well I can't argue that. I mean look at the size of this place. Can you believe that they now have a giant glowing sign that shows a man counting a bundle of new dollar bills?

Dom: is the food here that good?

You both turned to look at him with surprise written on your faces.

You/Cara: You have never tried new money special pie? That's it, we're buying.

Dominic navigated the car to a nearby window stall and you quickly pushed a button that made a bell ring inside the stall.

A few seconds later a bored teenage girl's voice rang out.

The voice: Welcome to new money where the food is always fresh. What would be your order?

You: (Jovially) Where the food is always fresh? Did darius come up with that?

The bored business tone dryed up instantly.

The voice: (exclaims) Uncle Joseph.

You started hearing the sounds of bolts being opened, the running feet's of someone drawing closer, the dull creak of a car door being opened and finally the warm embrace of a teenager's hug.

The voice: it's been so long uncle Joe. I missed you.

You: (Gently) I missed you too Anita. I really did.

Cara: Hi Anita.

Anita: Aunt Cara? You are here too? Now I know this will be a good day.

You: How has business been Anita?

Anita: Fine and boring as usual.

(Her tone then turned sly)

Although we had a major fight last week.

You: What happened?

Anita: Two customers with more muscles than brains decided to settle their dispute with fists.

Cara: (shocked) And you let them?

Anita: Are you kidding me?

(Proudly)

I made a lot of money betting on that fight.

Your sister turned towards you and you could feel her eyes burning an accusing hole through you.

You: I had nothing to do with that

Cara: (Sarcastically) I'm sure you didn't.

(She then turned towards Anita)

Can you please get my friend a plate of the special? I would also like to know if there any available table in the house?

Anita: Yes madame president

(She said with a sacastic bow)

Cara: Could you please don't call me that?

She rolled her eyes and then went back into the window stall. Minutes later you all could hear the loud conversation she began having with her brother.

Anita: Darius is there any table available? We have customers.

Darius: The last table was booked two hours ago and we still got six reservation customers coming in the next fifteen minutes. Tell them to take their food on the go.

Anita: I don't think they will take no for an answer.

Darius: Then they should have made their bookings earlier.

(His tone was getting angry)

Who are they? Goddamn vip?

Anita smiled

Anita: No. They are MVP.

There was a brief silence from the other end and then

Darius: Uncle Joseph?

Anita: Yep and aunt Cara too.

Darius: (nervously) Seriously? Why did you not tell me the minute they arrived?

Anita: am I not telling you now?

You heard a sharp intake of breath through the telephone.

Darius: Give me ten minutes to freshen up and then send them in.

He turned off the receiver.

Cara: Did you really need to do all that?

Anita: Of course I did.

(She said as she handed you two gold colored cards)

Do you know how funny he gets when he is flustered?

Cara turned towards you and shook her head lightly

Cara: You are bad influence brother. A very bad influence.

........

Ten minutes later, you were led by a very flustered combination of vanilla and strawberry perfumes, to a rooftop with ample breeze, space snacks wine and flowers.

You: did you people use the habiscus because you know it is my favorite flower?

Darius: Of course not uncle. We know how much you hate flattery so we would never flatter you that way.

He was trying his best to sound honest and serious but you were an expert in detecting lies and you know him well enough.

You: Well, wether or not you people did it for flattery, tell your mother that the place has a nice smell and that I like it very much.

Darius: Thank you uncle

You smoothly felt inside your pocket, brought out a cheaq book, write a bunch of numbers on it and finally cut out two pages and handed it both to Darius.

You: The one on top is for your school activities and the one under is for your.....after school activities.

The boy's smile rivaled the sun as he slowly made his way out.

Cara: You know you no longer have to brown nose him so you can get an extra pancake.

You: Old habbits die hard.

She then led you by the hand to a recliner chair and gently seated you on it.

You: Do you remember how we first met aunt beatrice?

Cara: Of course

(She sat down on her own recliner that was across from you)

Back then this place was just a small restaurant with crumbling walls and we were so hungry, after the orphanage closed down, that we thought we could sneak in. Things didn't go as planned and we ended up facing a burly angry woman with a shotgun. Lucky for us when the woman saw the two malnourished kids, she took pity on us and gave us the sweetest pie I have ever tasted. From then on we slept in her store, cleaned up the place and eat her pie whenever we did not hussle up enough money to eat something else.

Which reminds me, Last time I talked to aunt beatrice she said business was so poor that she was thinking of closing down so how then did this place become like this?

You: (Casually) A stupid salesman bragged to his co-workers about his aunt's pie and they decided to do the Christmas office gathering here. His aunt served her pie, his co-workers enjoyed it and all of a sudden he can't find an empty seat around here anymore.

Cara: So then he went to his aunt and talked her into giving him a rooftop access?

You shook your head

You: When I saw that the only way to get a table around here was to make a reservation, I went to Darius in order to make a reservation and come back later. However aunt beatrice saw me, made me an MVP customer and brought me to the rooftop. That's is where I have been eating ever since.

Cara: And you never brought Dominic here?

(She cried out in surprise)

You: Last time he came here he ended up gambling with Anita.

Cara: Did that end well?

You: A thirty years old man had to strip naked and run across the street because he lost a bet. Is that a good ending?

Cara: Depends on who you ask

You both burst into laughter

You: Don't take this the wrong way, but I am really glad your second term as president is finally coming to an end. You have been so busy with your worldwide nuclear missile disarming program that you berely have time for yourself.

Cara: I agree. The work around that project have been so tedious for me that I don't even remember the last time I cooked.

You: Any progress?

She smiled brightly

Cara: I have managed to convince every major country across the world that it is their best interest to stop a large scale production of nuclear missile for the time being.

You: And this is progress because?

Cara: Because with enough push, temporary can easily become permanent.

(She replied with a sly grin)

You: Any way what will you be doing after the elections are done?

Cara: I will get back to working on my fashion line. What about you? Are going to write a sequel to the magician's trick?

You shake your head

You: I don't know sis. I'm still thinking about it.

Cara: Come on Joseph. You have won every single award there is to win for that book and the TV adaptation made number one grossing movie in box office last year. Besides you promised everybody at a press conference that you would release a sequel.

You: I know sis. It's just that the book won't be the same with out anastasia in it.

Your sister stared at you for a few minutes with her mouth hanging open.

Cara: (yells) Are you fucking kidding me?

You don't want to write a sequel because the main villain of the first book won't be in it? What kind of fucked up cliche is that?

You: I know okay. It just that I can't find any character who would be able to make a good villain as anastasia.

Cara: What about goldfinger? He is always planning something.

You: You want gold finger to go up against Ethan? That man is nowhere near Ethan's level in terms of strength and charisma.

Cara: Yeah but he is head and shoulders over Ethan in terms of cunning and money. Isn't that all you need to be a good villain?

(She took a sip of wine)

Sometimes I feel like you modeled Ethan's character after yours.

You: You think I'm a self righteous prick who worries too much about honor?

Cara: No, I think you are a handsome and intelligent man who is not afraid to state your opinion.

You: Oh really? Well I modeled anastasia after you.

Cara: You think I'm a half demon bitch who tends to get obsessive?

You could hear the anoyance in her voice

You: You mean the beautiful, cunning woman with a penchant for schemes, manipulation and seduction? Yes.

Cara: Is that really what you think about me?

You were about to answer that, when you suddenly heard a loud sound from below.

You: did you hear that?

Cara: Yeah. It sounded like

(Her face turned dark)

Gunshot

Immediately the door to the rooftop flew open and three men, stinking of blood and gunpowder, entered the rooftop with the unmistakable sounds of rifles cocking.

The Boss: You really should have brought more of those men madame president. They were quite good at what they do. Can you believe that only five of them took out twenty five of my best men?

You could. Dominic was special forces and so we're most of the men in the bulldog security.

Cara: That just means your men are suckers. Who the fuck are you?

(She asked calmly)

The Boss: (sacastically) Oh me? I am just one of the poor downtrodden citizens that you are about to put out of business with your Fucking Peace Initiative.

Already your hand was slowly reaching for the revolver in your back pocket.

Cara: So you work for a missile contractor then?

Cara took a small sip of her wine and her left fingers began lightly tapping the table in an unusual mannet.

A countdown?

The Boss: of course I am. Who else do you think can afford the money to pay me?

10....9.....8

Cara: And how much is it? How much are getting paid?

The Boss: You think it is any of your damn business?

7.....6.....5

Cara: Of course it is. If you tell me how much it is I just might be able to triple it.

The Boss: No deal woman

4.....3....2

Cara: A shame. After all they are going to kill you once I am dead

(She sipped her wine)

The Boss: Excuse me?

1

Cara: Did you think they would let you walk away after you knew that they killed the president? They will make sure you are dead in order to bury their secret. Are ready for that part of the plan?

The man turned to look at his men for a split second but that became a fatal mistake.

As soon as his face was turned

0

Boom!!!!

You pulled out your revolver and shot him in the head.

His two companions were shocked but they quickly recovered and began firing at the recliner that you both have converted to a bullet shield.

A short but very intense fire fight broke out and your sister joined in with her pistol that even you did not noticed that she had brought.

Eventually even though the intruders had the advantage in weapons, you both had the advantage of Dominic's training and coordination. Before long both men lay dead on the floor with round bullet holes in their heads.

You: I told you that your peace project would earn you enemies.

Cara: At least whoever is trying to kill me did not skimp on the bill.

(She held up a rifle)

This is military grade right there.

Your ears were drawn to a loud unusual sound.

Tick.....tick....tick.....tick

You: Did you set an alarm sister?

(You asked with some confusion)

Cara: That does not sound like an alarm to me.

You both followed the source of the sound.....

to the suicide vest on the lead gunman's body.

Cara: Oh shit!!!! Run!! Run!!! Run!!!! Run!!!!!

BOOM!!!!