Fake Reflection

Matt sighed as he watched the passing scenery. It was Thursday, and it was going to be a long day, but he couldn’t postpone this job even if he wanted too. He sent Brian, and Tammy to watch the border. Matt went through all the phone recordings Chester sent him, and knew what kind of vehicle they will be in, and where they are going, just not what time. He’s just waiting for word when they cross. He has Zacky and Dan set up as road workers futher down the highway to force them into an unexpected detour set up just for them. He had the Berrys, Jimmy, Johnny, and Micah with him. He was a little upset he wasn’t going to get to see Jena today. Matt went ahead and gave her the day off. Cam and Evelyn would be the only ones at the house, and Evelyn’s time was going to be occupied by Lilly. He probably won’t see her till tonight, fast asleep in his bed.

JB pulled into the back parking lot of an Italian resturant, and parked. The owner of the place was a man named Raymond. American born, his parents Italian natives. Matt pulled out a folded up manila envelope from the glove box, and turned to the back seats, “Li,” he said getting the man’s attention, the reason for this job, “This is the 10 thousand you owe him,” he said handing Li the envelope, “If you walk out with your family or not detirminds what we do next.” he finished receiving a nod.

Jimmy opened the door, and stepped out so Li could get out before climbing back in. Matt rolled down his window as Li started to walk towards the backdoor. “Li,” he paused to look at him, “Don’t say a word about us.” Matt told him. Li nodded, and turned back to the door. He paid this man 50 grand to bring his wife and son to America, but 30 of that is over payment. Ray keeps uping the cost every time he pays him. This 10 grand will make it 40 thousand extra he’s paid him. Li rang the buzzer for the backdoor. The place is closed between 2 and 5 pm. Buisness is slow then, so Ray uses the time for his backdoor business. One of Ray’s men cracked the door open, Matt taking note that it opened out as he watched Li disappear inside.

They sat patiently for Li’s return. If he walked out with his family, then they would leave, and Li would only owe Avenged 10 grand, but if he didn’t, then well thing could get ugly. It was only about 15 minutes before Li came back out, alone. Matt climbed out of the SUV with the rest of the guys before Li could even get to the vehicle. “What did he say?” Matt asked him. “He said I needed another 15 thousand,” Li explained to him, “My son was sick, spent time in the hospital.” he finished. “I doubt that,” Matt said as they all walked to the backdoor, “Buzz’em again.” he told him as he motioned everyone else behind him, behind the door.

Li nodded, and did as he was told. He didn’t know what to expect, he just wanted his family home. Raymond’s guy cracked open the door again. Rocco was his name. His family has been here longer than Ray’s, mother American. “What do you want now?” he asked Li, but he didn’t get a chance to answer. Matt gripped the door in one hand, and yanked it open, landing a hard punch to Rocco’s eye, knocking him to the floor. “Avenged Sevenfold,” Matt said standing over him, looking down with a smirk, “Here to see the owner.” Rocco looked up at Shadows covering his eye, and nodding as he scrambled to his feet. They followed Rocco through another door into the kitchen of the restaurant. Two more men, Nicoli, and Marcelo, were sitting at a table playing some card game. They went for their guns when the group walked in, but the Berrys were faster than them. They motioned the two up with their guns, hanging back as they disarmed then men, and kept an eye on them.

Rocco lead the rest down a hall to the closed door of Raymond’s office. He opened it without knocking, and was immediately pulled back by Matt, and shoved towards Jimmy and Johnny. They took his gun, and Matt silently told them to stay with his hand before motioning Li and Micah to follow him. “I thought I told you not to disturb me?” Ray questioned, hearing the door open an close as he gazed out the window, his back turned. “I was never one to give a fuck.” Matt said calmly, crossing his arms, a smirk coming out when Ray whipped around wide-eye.

Shane watched the two with trained eyes. He was a little surprised he was chosen to come on this job, and not left on house duty. He can only assume shadows is trusting him more. Shane caught on quickly to what was going on here, and isn’t really sure what to expect. He just has to remember whose side he’s suppose to be on. Everything can be testified in court later. “Shadows,” Ray unenthusiastically greeted, “I suppose I have you to thank for bringing this nuisance to my door?” he asked glaring at Li. Li looked down, his hands folded nervously in front of him. “Don’t address him. You no longer have business with him.” Matt told him receiving a death glare from Ray. “That’s where you’re wrong,” Ray said walking to his desk, and casually sitting down, “He still owes me 15 for his son.” he told Shadows. “Yes that’s right, medical expenses,” Matt agreed, sitting across from Ray, “Tell me, do you have proof of this hospital stay?” he asked, smirking when Ray said nothing, “Surely you have discharge, diagnostic papers,” Matt pressed leaning forward in his seat a little, “Am I still wrong Raymond?” he asked cocking his head to the side slightly.

Shane could feel the tension growing as the two men stared at each other, Shadows looking slightly amused, Ray, not so much. “You have no say in what I do.” Ray said low, and Shane noticed him slip his hand into his blazer. “See now that’s where you’re wrong.” Matt told him leaning back, his smirk never fading. Something shiny caught the light, and Shane’s eyes narrowed at the chrome pistol in Ray’s hand as he pulled it out of his blazer. Shane was quick, and Matt’s eyes widened when he slammed Ray’s face down to the desk, and held it there. Matt continued to watch Micah’s sudden actions with confusion, wondering if he made the right choice bringing him along, but he wanted to trust him. That wonder and confusion quickly faded when when he slammed Ray’s hand on top of the desk, still gripping the gun. “Oh what were you going to do with that, Raymond?” Matt questioned, his smirk returning. “Nothing! I wasn’t going to do nothing with it.” he said, panic and fear finally making an appearance.

Shane kept him pinned, and yanked the gun from his hand. Matt gave him a nod to let him up. Shane pulled Ray to his feet by his hair before letting him go, but keeping his own gun pointed at him. “Li’s family, NOW.” Shadows demanded, all signs of amusement gone. Ray put his hands up, and nodded, stepping out from behind his desk. Shane kept the gun pressed to his back as they followed him out of the office. Ray seen Rocco, eye swollen shut, standing with two more men from Avenged outside his office. The three joined them as they continued into the kitchen. He saw the twins he’s heard about with Nicoli and Marcelo. No wonder they got in so easy. Ray stopped in front of a walk-in freezer, and Matt cocked a brow at him. Ray opened the door, and Matt followed him in. It looked like a regular walk-in, but looks can be deceiving. Ray walked to the bare back wall, and reached behind a shelf. He turned a latch, and gripped a handle, sliding a hidden door open.

Matt struggled to keep his cool as his eyes wondered around the hidden room. There had to be at least 50 people here, from all over the world. Men, women, children, all crammed in, working their fingers to the bone. Matt noticed some glance quickly at them, but none daring to look directly up. He stood next to Ray, fists tight as he took in the sight before letting a deceitful smile grace his lips. “Got yourself a nice little set up don’t you?” he asked feigning appreciation as he started to walk around the hot dirty room, four puny fans doing nothing to circulate the stale air. “Free labor, and they follow directions.” Ray said walking to Li’ family in a corner, and releasing their chains. “Go.” he growled pushing them to Li. He let a smile out, tears filling his eyes as they hurried to him. He scooped his son up in a tight hug, and kissed his wife’s cheek, happy to be able to finally take them home.

“You got what you came for, now leave.” Ray demanded. “How much you making off this?” Matt asked ignoring him as he continued to look around. He wasn’t done yet. “None of your business.” Ray hissed growing very irritated. “Wrong again,” Matt said walking over to him, “You’re fucking with my people. It’s every bit my business.” he told him, inches from Ray’s face. “They bring me in about 50 grand a month.” he told him. Matt let out a whistle, and stepped away from him. “Nice chunk of change for a month.” Matt said, again feigning appreciation as he stood next to Ray. “Guess everybody’s gotta make that money somehow.” Matt said flashing Ray a smile as his blood boiled inside. “Yeah.” Ray agreed, not returning Shadows smile. “Yeah,” Matt repeated looking back to the room of people, his smile fading as the rage flooded his eyes, “Not in my fucking country.” he growled, pulling out his gun, and putting one through Ray’s temple.

The room was silent, all eyes on Shadows as he casually tucked his gun away. He crouched over Ray’s body, and pulled the man’s keys from his pocket. He stood and faced Raymond’s men being held by his own. “Gentlemen, I suggest if you don’t want to end up like your boss, you stay quiet and cooperative.” he told them, receiving fast nod responses. Matt turned to face the people trapped here. Some looked afraid, others relieved. “Raise your hand if you can understand English.” Matt said, keeping his expression soft. Almost everyone raised their hand. There were a few children that didn’t, but that wasn’t going to be a problem. Matt nodded, and they lowered their hands. “Alright, I realize many of you are scared shitless right now, but if you remain calm and patient, I promise we’ll get you home to your families.” he told them with a comforting smile before turning back to his men, who were restraining Ray’s men to chairs.

Matt tossed Jimmy Ray’s keys, and he caught them in one hand, “Get them released,” he told him, and looked to Johnny, “Take a look at them. Something tells me they didn’t get the best of care.” he said. The two nodded, and Matt turned his attention to the three men in chairs, “Does he keep files on these people?” he asked. “In his office.” Nicoli answered quickly. Matt smirked at his fast response, and turned to the Berrys. He didn’t have to say anything, they left the kitchen to find the files in his office. Finally Matt looked to Micah, shock written all over his face as he stared at Ray’s lifeless body.

Matt walked over, and placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of his daze. “You alright?” he asked. Shane didn’t quite know how he was. He wasn’t expecting Shadows to just shoot the man in front of everyone. Shane looked at him with questioning eyes, saying the only thing he could think of, “Why?” Matt placed his other hand on his shoulder, and turned him to the people. “Look at them,” he started soft almost a whisper, “Exhausted, dehydrated, and malnourished. You think this is the kind of opportunity they were looking for coming here?” Matt asked, and Shane shook his head, “He was a parasite that needed to be terminated.” he finished releasing Micah’s shoulders. “But why not just turn him in?” Shane questioned further. He had to know, why, why does he do the things he does. Matt chuckled a little. The questions didn’t bother him, he knew they were coming. “Then all their suffering would have been in vain,” Matt explained, “All this pain just to be shipped back to the hell from which they came.”

Shane’s shock faded as he began to understand. He knew the way the system worked, and Shadows was right. Every last one of them would be deported. “Why do you do it?” he asked one final question. “Who else is going to? They need someone they can depend on, and if you want them to respect you, you need to respect them. Everyone is important, and without them we would be nothing,” Matt explained to him, the understanding becoming clear on his face, “They need to see they can trust us, depend on us when they need to the most, but they also need to know not to cross us,” he continued, glancing at Ray’s body, “Protect the innocent, and punish the corrupt, it’s the only way to stay sane in this world.” he finished as the Berrys came back with the files. Shane nodded. He knew what Shadows was talking about. Being a cop, he’s seen the horrors that plague people’s lives. It’s why he became a cop, to protect the innocent and punish the corrupt. Could they really be on the same side? “You cool man?” Matt asked stirring Shane from his thoughts. He looked at him knowing the double meaning behind the question. “Yeah.” he said, surprising himself with just how honest that statement was.

Matt smiled and patted his shoulder, “JB, keys!” he called over his shoulder, only looking back to catch them. Matt pulled out his wallet, and handed Micah the keys and one of his credit cards. “There’s a burger place around the corner, why don’t you go get these people some food. They look hungry.” he told him. Shane nodded, “Yeah alright, I’ll be right back.” he said heading for the door, and he would be. Just like he wouldn’t say anything about this, because something inside of him really didn’t want them to get in trouble for it.

Notes

Looks like someone is starting to see their side of things, but he's still going to struggle with it a little.
Thursday is going to be broken up into three chapters, next two I'm going to try really, really hard to get them up this week
No life mode....ON :)
Hope you enjoy. Thoughts? You know I love your comments <3