All Shadows Fall
15
Cliff stopped their stolen sedan four blocks from 1206 Stanton. They could still see the building from where they were. It was the tallest on the block, standing at a meager four stories amidst the squalor of crumbled tenements and garbage strewn lots. An overcast sky cried raindrops as Vlad and Koto left the vehicle. Cliff remained on standby, the engine still running.
?" One second. " Vlad called to Koto as he trotted back to the car to share a word with Cliff.
?" Take a drive around the block." He said, fishing around inside his stolen KE security jacket for a pen. " Wait 10 minutes and then make another pass. " Cliff nodded and watched Vlad scrawl something on a slip of paper. Vlad folded it neatly and then slid it to Cliff.
?" Come on man! We haven't got all day for this drek!" Koto yelled from down the block. Vlad gave the hairy man a short stare and then turned back to Cliff.
?" If things look bad, I don't want you to come back for us Cliff. I want you to call that number instead. Do you understand?"
?" I can't do dat fer ya chummer. I don't leave friends behind." Cliff shook his head.
?" You wouldn't be leaving us. If things go bad I may have to improvise on a way out. I can't afford to worry about you coming back to get us and us already being gone." Vlad reached into the car and put a hand on Cliff's shoulder. The Troll looked at the number and then looked at Vlad. He nodded. Vlad smiled and nodded too.
?"Vlad!" Koto called again.
?" Da kid seems mighty impatient." said Cliff.
?" Yeah," Vlad muttered absently. " I would be too if I were him." He nodded goodbye to Cliff and trotted towards Koto. The two of them went towards the run down building.