5-1

By Jay Nystrom

       The air hung thick and still as waves of heat rose shimmering from the asphalt. The steady shuffling of feet across the parking lot promised that despite the oppressive summer sun a large crowd was guaranteed at the track. Most of the people who passed through the turnstile were here for a fun day of horseracing at the local track, however five of them were here for a different reason. Five people who had nothing more in common then a debt owed, that and the shared anonymity of a nickname derived from birds. Despite his considerable and well toned girth the man called Hummingbird was quick with his feet and his wits. Hummingbird made his way across the lot and nervously shifted his eyes beneath the brim of his fedora, he wiped away the powder from his palms with a handkerchief. He would probably be late for the first race but his timing guaranteed a mostly empty lot.  He was here to collect for a job he had performed for his boss, he never understood the need to launder money through the racetrack but it was of little concern to him. Soon enough he would be a made man and that was all that mattered to him.
    At the very same time Goose was already seated in a lower row of bleachers with a great view of the finish line, not that it mattered much because he already knew the outcome. Never the less it was great to be back, he often came with his late father when he was just a child. As he took an offered smoke from the cigarette vendor he saw Nightingale walk to her seat a few rows down. She was wearing a wide brimmed hat with a large flower gaudily glued to the side, he had only seen her one other time but he was instantly smitten by her astounding grace and beauty. ‘Maybe’ he thought to himself, ‘after this is all said and done I’ll ask her to dinner. We already have something in common so I’ll have a conversation starter. Yes, I think I’ll do it, why not? What do I have to lose?”
    Nightingale glanced from behind her glasses towards the man she knew as Goose, he was staring at her just like he had the night they passed each other in the back room of the pool hall where she worked. She guessed that he too was here to bet on a certain horse that was a sure thing. She sat down and tried her best to deal with the unbearable heat for the next few races so she could get her money and leave. She hoped he wouldn’t try to engage her.
    The last two men had come together and were just now on the betting floor, Raven and Heron pretended to study the tote board intently despite the fixed nature of the second race. The two men were nearly identical in size and shape, both were on the smaller side with almost no fat on their bodies. The two were known around town as tough customers who ran numbers in the ghetto, a fair pair but not known to take shit from anyone. Heron was amusing himself by reading the colorful names of the competing horses: War Machine, Good or Glue (that one elicited a chuckle), Superluminal, Try as He Might, Divine Intervention, and the one he was really looking for, Sterling Stanley. He took his spot in line and prepared to lay down his large bet, the cashier repeated the horses name and odds to make sure all was correct, “Sterling Stanley at five-to-one.” Heron nodded confirmation and in a few minutes and a few people back Raven would repeat the bet. Both would come out with a whole lot of money in their pockets and smiles across their faces.
    While the first race was pretty exciting for the five connected people the second race held little surprise as Sterling Stanley made an amazing come from behind victory in the home stretch to steal the win from Good or Glue. The five people nonchalantly made an early exit despite the remaining races and went to collect their substantial winnings from the cashier. A few other people where in line to collect winnings from the early races, but one by one the big winners were led to a different area altogether with heightened security. Only six people were led to this area, all but one knew they would be making this much money. The first man entered into a room by himself, through the briefly open door Nightingale could see a cashier flanked by two armed guards with another door beyond. The five exchanged a quick glance, maybe all of them had the same thought, maybe all were about to give in to the greed. The door opened and the man walked away with a small bag full of money, Hummingbird decided to make the move.
    He rushed into the room past Nightingale gently pushing her aside, the guards put their hands to their guns. Hummingbird began to speak quickly, “Sorry babe I just gotta get my money real quick, there’s a train I gotta catch.” The guards began to relax a bit at the explanation, the guard behind the door opened the safe room too early and Hummingbird charged to block him from closing it. Feeling that an opportunity was about to pass Heron and Raven rushed the confused guards as Goose closed the door behind him. The guards were barely able to draw their guns before they both were tackled to the ground, a few punches from Raven subdued the first guard while Heron used the butt of the pistol to take out the other. The five looked to each other in wide eyed lust, despite the lack of not knowing each other they knew that a heist was just started. Hummingbird beckoned the others to the safe room using the frightened cashier’s chair to prop open the door. The cashier was shoved to the floor by Goose and Heron with the gun pushed against the nape of his neck, the others sprang to action. The room was filled with stacks of cash and Hummingbird filled bags as fast as he could. The money was split evenly between the impromptu crew and a silent moment was exchanged. The cashier was knocked unconscious and thrown into the cash room with the two guards, the five people began to hide the money on themselves. Heron and Raven simultaneously said, “Kansas City” and having the only two guns in the room leveled them and opened fire, the other three people had no time to react and fell to the floor in heaps of blood and cash.
    Heron and Raven quickly grabbed as much cash as they could, the shots would alert more guards. They peeked out the door and saw it was clear, they ran out towards the parking lot. Through the turnstiles they passed several policemen who were hurrying the other direction, they paid little heed to the two men leaving the area. A few other officers blanketed the lot but the duo snuck deftly around cars, any road blocks would be easy to crash through in their heavy beast of a car. They found their vehicle and slithered in, Heron stuck the key in the ignition and turned the car over.
    The explosion rocked the entire race grounds and in the parking lot a rainstorm of blood fell to the ground as burning bills gently fluttered down. The sun began to set in the distance and the sky glowed in beautiful shades of purple in pink.

End
  
  

Crying Stars

This ended up being a little like a sugar skull which was not my intent, but that's okay. It is what it is.