The Night of Bad Luck[Open]

[Ethan Parker (DELETED 11617)]

The alarm clock chirped loudly for several minutes before Ethan finally dragged himself from the warm bed. He stood staring at the clock bundled in as many blankets as he could manage. It was cold and the old brick and mortar building had only one source of heat. A small pot belly fireplace that had died down hours ago. The place was falling apart at the seams and he was sure he was paying way too much in rent but it had a rustic feel he had come to love. He stoked the fire and set about his morning rituals. How exactly he had come to end up in Harper Rock was a little beyond him. It was like three weeks ago he had just woken up one morning and bam, he was here. In the short time he had been around Harper Rock had treated him well. He had practically fallen into his current housing and after a week or so of bribes and sweet talking he had even found a reliable chop shop. The linchpin of his trade up until now he had kept his head low and concentrated on discreet low end cars. Tonight though, tonight was going to be different. Tonight he was hunting big game, something flashy, maybe something foreign. The possibilities were endless and he could barely keep from bouncing off the walls. Besides, he desperately needed the money.

He dressed with a little extra pep in his step and hit the auto-dial on the cellphone. “Jimbo!” Jimmy Shultz was his childhood friend and partner in crime. A bit of a odd ball and savant Jimmy was the only person Ethan trusted in the entire world. “I hate when you call me that Ethan.” Ethan locked the door behind him and went down the stairs two at a time. “Yeah, I know. Grab your gear and be ready in fifteen, tonight we hunt.” Jimmy let out a long groan and hung up the phone. Ethan slipped the phone in his pocket and climbed into the driver seat of the old Toyota. “Aye, ho Silver away!” He cried lurching the car down the city street. Jimmy was waiting at the sidewalk when he pulled up. “Hey beautiful, how much?” Ethan called out swinging the passenger door open. Jimmy gave him a not so amused look. “Very funny Ethan, couldn't you own a car that at least had heat?” Ethan gave him a look of shock before rubbing the dash. “Shhh baby, he didn't mean anything by it. He's just jealous of our love.” he cooed at the car.

Ethan and Jimmy went about their usually daily routine. They debated over the merits and qualities of a good Star-Trek captain over breakfast at a local greasy spoon diner. The afternoon spent purchasing equipment and tools from a rather shady pawn shop that they would need for their evening activities. “I'm just saying, we got a good thing going.” Ethan shook his head turning down the side street. His eyes focused on scouting parking garages and private buildings. “Nope, not letting you talk me out of it this time. I want a real challenge Jimmy.” He whined parking the car outside of a condo high rise watching cars leave and enter the parking structure. “Fine, but I swear if this ends up like Chicago.” Ethan felt a sting in his chest and shook his head. “This won't be anything like Chicago. Now quiet man, the game is afoot.”

Six hours and they had come up with squat. The sun had just started to set and Ethan was growing more and more impatient. “Come on Jimmy let's just go walk it real quick.” Jimmy shook his head “we haven't seen anything good all day. Let's just grab a set and call it a day.” Ethan shook his head and climbed out of the car. He grabbed his bag from the backseat and headed for the building. Jimmy reluctantly followed him and they both dived behind a beam as they entered. “Cameras Ethan, now what?” Ethan looked at him from behind the mask he had bought earlier in the day. “Really Ethan? Nixon, you had to choose Nixon?” Ethan couldn't stifle the giggle. “I got Kennedy or Lincoln.” Jimmy reluctantly took the Lincoln mask. “Good choice.” They walked the aisles of park cars before Ethan found it. “Jack pot! Jimmy!” He waved him over. It was a newer model Porche 911, not his first choice but worth a pretty penny. It took a little longer than what Ethan was use too but eventually the car roared to life. He struck a pose in front of the camera “I'm not a crook.” He said in his best Nixon impression before climbing into the driver seat. “Just couldn't resist could you?” Ethan didn't justify that with an answer. “Who's car do you think this is?” Ethan shrugged his shoulders. “Probably some old guy with too much money.”

Ray-ray Castillo was probably Ethan's least favorite person. He didn't like his smug, I'm better than you attitude but the man was usually a fair businessman and ran the only chop shop Ethan knew about. “What do you mean two grand?” Ethan asked annoyed. “This car is easily worth ten if not fifteen.” Ray leaned against the workbench crossing his arms across his chest. “Listen America, you don't like it? Take it somewhere else.” Ethan let his temper flair kicking a small toolbox. “Why you trying to screw me?” Two burly figures stepped forward and Ethan knew it was a fight he wouldn't win. He shook his head “Come on Jimmy.” Ethan slammed through the gears of the car peeling out of the garage and down the street. Ray waited until they where out of view. “Get me whoever owns that car on the phone. One way or another I want those two off my streets tonight.”

Ethan pushed the car as hard as he could. His night had gone from good to utter crap. They had struck out, lost a business associate(if he could be called that), and was driving around aimlessly in a stolen car. Eventually they had found a out of the way place. They wiped the car down and headed back to the city on foot. “Drinks?” Jimmy asked talking for the first time since they left Ray's. Ethan nodded as they hopped on the subway. He felt a shiver run down his spine and he looked around the empty car. “You okay?” Jimmy looked up at him curiously. Ethan chewed his lower lip for a second. “Yeah, nothing. Just.....yeah. Yeah it was nothing.” He tried to convince himself that it was just the cold getting to him.

Ethan spent the rest of the night looking over his shoulder. He couldn't shake the feeling like he was being followed. Maybe he was just being paranoid. But, maybe. “Let's call it a night Jimbo.” They made their way through the snow to the nearest rail platform. Ethan had learn to trust his gut, they where being followed. Was it cops? Had he slipped up somehow? Or maybe one of Ray's cronies? “Cops?” Jimmy asked. So he maybe wasn't just being paranoid. “Not sure. The usual?” Jimmy nodded. Minutes passed and finally the subway pulled up to the platform. They waited and finally at the last possible moment before the doors closed Jimmy slipped onto the subway and Ethan turned heading away from the platform. Hopefully whoever was following them would make the choice to follow Ethan. He forced himself to walk at a regular pace as he headed down the sidewalk. “Paranoid, I'm just being paranoid.” He muttered to himself reassuringly.

Was he though?

[Kira]

Kira had been out, going through a store. The normal items she needed, cat and dog food. She heard someone's phone go off and started speaking.

"Take him out, eh? Yeah I can do that. A Porche? I'll keep a lookout." the man hung up the phone, quickly paid for his snacks.

Kira looked over the shelf at the man for a moment. Was this gang related? She bit her bottom lip. Well, she was curious now. When he left the store, she followed after him. She sent Dave a message about picking up the animal food, that she found a distraction while she was out.

She got a text back saying 'Don't be getting into trouble.' She eyed the text and huffed at it. She was starting to get bored, following this man around until he seemed to spot what he was looking for. Two men leaving a car. She really didn't know one car from the other considering she was unable to drive one without crashing into something, she would stick to her motorcycle. Though it looked like a nice car, why leave it there? Hmm, was it stolen?

The man followed the two up to the subway, one got on at the last second while the other walked off in which the man followed after that one. So this must be his target. It was the rare time she was glad she floated above the ground so her heels didn't make any sounds while stalking.

The man had gotten close enough to the other to pull out his gun. She frowned, she really hated cowards. She quickly rushed forward to his side, "Hey mister...that's not very nice." she said, the man looked over, a little shocked at first. She went to grab the arm that was holding the gun only to be hit with a power. Her body froze up, "God damn blood thief.." she growled. Well, she didn't hate them, she had human friends who were blood thieves, she however really hated that power. He either took a wild guess at what she was or he saw her fangs.

He quickly started to fire at his target before Kira was able to gain control over her body again. She used shadow strike as fast as she could as reaching for her own weapon would take too long. The man doubled over from the slash. She followed it up with Harmful Illusion just because he pissed her off. He held his head and screamed. She picked up the gun and took it apart.