Chapter Fourteen: Destruction

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Canal Street was a bustle of activity, even with the heat of the afternoon sun blazing down in the clear sky, drying up all of the rain that Mother Nature had bestowed upon them the day before. Joseph lounged under a fig tree at a crowded café, a book propped open in his lap as he pretended to be pursuing it. Though his eyes continuously shifted to the bank across the street.

A rare breeze threaded its way through the streets and he lifted his hat to cool his sweating brow. he raked back his damp hair with his fingers before replacing his Stetson. This was it, the day they’d been planning for for three weeks, one week short of the usual time Riley took on hit jobs. They had tried their best to make up for lost time but Joseph wasn’t sure it was good enough. With every minute that passed he grew more uneasy. They weren’t ready for this; they hadn’t been able to secure enough inside help. Let alone enough Clan members to take down an entire bank.

Yet Riley hadn’t even considered demanding more time, whatever they were getting was worth the risk to him.

Joseph flipped another page of his book and glanced once more at the bank, just as a black coach pulled in front of it. A tall old man stepped out of it, a spring in his stride even though he was probably nearing seventy. The familiar feeling of guilt engulfed Joseph as he considered the fact that this man had no idea he was going to die today.

Leaving his book near the tree, Joseph jumped up and strode across the street. His eyes fixed on Marginy, who purposefully headed for the banks double doors. Joseph was right behind him when he entered the giant front room. A dozen stone pillars were set in lines of three and reached up to the thirty foot ceiling. The floor was gleaming white marble and the light from two large windows on the roof glimmered off the polished stone and lit the bank better than any number of candles could hope to.

Marginy crossed the length of the room, the clacking of his booted heels echoing in the quiet. He nodded at a man behind the gold barred counter and stopped to speak to a stern Spanish man that Joseph knew, from many days of watching, to be the manager of the bank, Antione Medina. Together they disappeared through a side door off the main room, Joseph hurried forward and caught the door before it could swing closed. He gently set it so that it only appeared shut and planted himself near it. Slipping a hand in his coat, to check that his revolver was still securely in it’s holster.

There was less than a dozen people in the bank, which was a relief to him. Fewer casualties were likely that way. The veterans of the Clan, Red and Turner, entered through the front doors next. Both dressed in expensive suits, one a deep green and the other soft grey. The two older men had been chosen for the most important part of the job; it was Joseph’s duty to get them to the target. The days and nights he’d spent mapping out the bank made this easy. All they had to do was follow the plan he’d outlined.

Joseph watched them out of the corner of his eye. They blended well with the regular bank customers, and no one even glanced their way as they briskly strode toward the door that Marginy had just gone through. Neither acknowledging Joseph as they passed him, the door closed with a soft click.

Once they had gone, Joseph crossed the room back to the front, the first act of his job accomplished. But getting Turner to the vault and Red to Marginy was the easy part.

Now they had to rob a bank.

*******

Crystal took Ben’s hand and carefully stepped from the coach. Her eyes squinted as she studied the bank that was blinding white in the midday sun. Not a pleasant sight when she knew who waited for her inside. Charles had sent her a note requesting that she make haste in getting to the bank. He had something terribly important to tell her. Never mind that she may have other matters to attend to, or that she wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and cry the day away. She couldn’t handle any more news– good or bad– after yesterday. She glanced down a the crumpled bit of paper in her hand, reading the hastily written note for the hundredth time.

My love, the letter began. Charles never addressed her as such, even in letters. Darling and dearest yes, but not ‘my love.’ What was he trying to say with such an intimacy?

She creased the paper into a tiny folded square and turned to the coach, beckoning her sister out. “Come along, Rose. I want to be gone from here before supper if you don’t mind.”

Rose’s head popped out of the coach before the rest of her and she took Ben’s hand to descend the steps. “I don’t see why I had to come, anyhow. Liza would have been just as acceptable.”

Crystal flipped open her parasol and lifted it to shade her face. “Yes, but Charles could easily dismiss Liza. You on the other hand are a more stubborn presence.”

“Crystal, how on earth would Charles manage to get you alone in a bank full of people?” Rose asked opening her parasol as well. “And why does he want you to meet him anyway?”

Crystal shrugged as they headed up the wide stone steps to the banks entrance. “All his note said was that he wanted to see me here immediately. It was rather poorly written, I could barely make out the words. I think it must be something important for him to write it so hastily.”

Rose glared at the doors they were walking towards as if it were their fault she was here.“Well it had better be, seeing as I had much better things to do besides escort you to a dreary bank.”

“Like what?” Crystal asked, pushing the door opened with one gloved hand.

“Like roll in the mud,” she said, stepping into the bank with a sour look on her face.

Crystal laughed as she followed her sister. “You’re so–”

“This is a hold up get on the floor. Now!”

*******

Joseph held his gun at arms length and slowly turned, scanning the bank for potential danger. Sam stood in the middle of the room shouting out instructions to the hostages. Seth, a hulking man with more bulk than bite, stood with Jeremy on the other side of the bank. Revolvers also drawn, they eyed the small crowd as everyone lowered themselves to the ground. Three of other members of the Clan, Morgan, Claiborne, and Howard, were stationed at the barred desks. Guns drawn as they demanded the teller load the rough cloth bags they supplied, full of cash. Two more men where posted outside to watch for police and stop anyone– if they so happened to escape– from alerting the authorities. While Michael waited behind the bank with a wagon loaded with cotton and enough room to get them all out of here undetected. So far, so good.

Slowly pacing around the bank, Joseph studied the fearful faces of those near him. Nobody would meet his gaze, as if afraid if they did so he would shoot them. Joseph hated this, the terror he caused in people. He always wanted to tell them it would be all right, that he wouldn’t hurt them, but that would be a lie. They could all die if they so much as sneezed.

“Joseph?”

The voice was barely a whisper, yet he heard it like a shout in his ear. It hit him in the gut with a sickening realization. Not here. Not now. He didn’t have to turn his head to know who had spoke. The caress of speech had become familiar to him over the past weeks. The sound now freezing him in his stride. Blood drained from his face as he reluctantly faced her.

*******

Crystal stared up at Joseph from where she and her sister had been directed to lay on the hard floor. The terror of being hostage to a robbery tripling as she realized he was a part of it. He had a revolver in his hand and a neckerchief pulled up over his tan face. Revealing only his green eyes. Eyes that darkened a shade when he looked at her.

“W– why is he coming over here?” Rose breathed beside her, watching Joseph advancing towards them. Crystal could see why her voice was shaky. He looked as the other robbers did, fierce, and unmerciful. Watching the people in the bank as if stalking their prey. But behind the mask of deadly intent she could see his fear . . .for her.

“Shh, it’s alright,” Crystal whispered back, not taking her eyes off Joseph as she covered her sister’s body with her own. She pushed Rose’s head down.{ri

Joseph scanned the bank cautiously before crouching down beside her. “What are you doing here?” he asked in a hushed voice. She could hear his rapid breathing against the cloth around his mouth. His eyes continued to skim the crowd, never meeting her gaze.

“Someone sent for me,” she said. “I didn’t know– you never told me– why are you here . . .?”Her head was spinning. She’d stumbled upon his secret and didn’t know how to take it, was her dream happening? Dread filled her stomach as she watched him.

“I knew this would happen,” he said half to himself it seemed. She could hear his teeth grinding together. “I knew it.”

“Can’t you stop them?” she asked, false hope coloring her words.

He finally met her gaze, a bleak look on his face. “No . . . I can’t.”

There was a soft shuffling sound behind them and Joseph spun on his heels as he stood. A man was fumbling for something in his coat pocket. Sweat dripped down his red forehead as he panted. In one swift motion Joseph was on top of him, his knee slamming in-between the man’s shoulder blades. He jerked his thick arms behind his back, revealing a small hand gun gripped tightly in sweating pudgy fingers.

“Trying to play the hero are we?” Joseph asked quietly, pressing his knee even harder into the thick flesh. He jerked the man’s arms backwards until he cried out, dropping the gun with a clatter. “I’d advise you not to try that again.”

The man nodded, his breath short and huffy, and Joseph dropped his arms and stepped off of him. He snatched the small hand gun from the ground and jammed it in his own coat pocket. He eyed those around him, a warning glint in his gaze. He then slowly turned back to Crystal, who was regarding him with lowered eyes. She wished she hadn’t witnessed the scene. She saw him glance at Rose, who was staring up at him with terror and disgust in her eyes. An ashamed expression crossed his face as he quickly looked back to Crystal, pleading in his eyes, as if begging her to understand.

She crawled to a sitting position and beckoned him back over, pulling Rose closer as she did so. Her sister buried her head in Crystal’s lap, whimpering as Joseph again knelt beside them.

“Listen to me,” he whispered hurriedly, never taking his gaze from the hostages for more than a moment. “I need you to just lay here, all right? Don’t do anything to bring attention to yourself. These men are dangerous and can’t be expected to show mercy if provoked. Don’t give them a reason to hurt you, please.”

She nodded. “But what about you? I’m– I’m afraid for you, Joseph. What if something goes wrong.” There was a tremor in her voice and her lower lip trembled violently.

Joseph chuckled resignedly, brushing his thumb over her bottom lip in a familiar gesture. “Something always goes wrong.”

He crossed the room, not looking back at her. She wondered if the look of unease on his face could possibly match the fear in her heart.

“I see you got my note.”

Crystal’s head jerked around at the rough low voice. Her eyes resting on a thickly built man with a gruesome scar that contorted half of his face, his cold gaze unsettling and familiar.

*******

Joseph turned at the sound of Sam’s voice, panic bubbling in his stomach. Sam stood over Crystal and her sister, a malicious look on his face. Joseph had to swallow a shout as Sam swiftly yanked Crystal to her feet and put his gun to her head. She let out a cry of protest, her sister screamed and was awarded by Sam’s boot plowing into her chest. Which sent her sprawling backward.

“How dare you?!” Crystal shrieked, bringing her hand back to attack her assailant. Only to have her wrist caught and twisted around her back to a near breaking point; Sam shoved the barrel of his gun harshly into the side of her face.

“I suggest you behave, sweetheart,” Sam said quietly, though by now he had the whole bank’s attention, his voice reverberated in the terrified silence.

Joseph took a step forward and halted, taking a step back. He didn’t know what to do the rage flooding his veins urged him to pull out his Bowie knife and cut Sam into a thousand pieces. Yet another, more logical sense, told him to hold his ground and stay calm. “Let her go, Snake, we have a job to do,” he said casually as he was able. Surprised that in his anger he’d even remembered to use code names.

Sam turned to Joseph with distorted grin on his face. “She look familiar to you, Kid?” he asked viciously, a satisfied glint in his eyes. “Riley thought you’d like to have her here to watch the show.”

Joseph felt the earth fall out from underneath his feet. Realizing know that this was his punishment. Riley knew he’d seen her again and now Crystal would die for his selfish mistakes. Why had he let it happen? and how could he stop it? He searched for the best course of action. He could feel all eyes upon him and glanced to see Jeremy watching him with a pitying look on his face. So they’d all been in on it, he thought. He turned back to Crystal and saw that her attention was focused on the girl in the corner, who hadn’t moved since Sam’s powerful blow.

“This is not a time for games, Snake. Let her go. We’ll deal with it later.”

Sam gave a hoarse laugh. “This ain’t about you, Kid. This here is on boss’s orders.”

Joseph’s gaze narrowed. “You’re lying.”

Sam shook his head. “You can ask him yourself. She’s part of the plan. A little extra to make this worthwhile.”

Joseph clenched his eyes tight for a moment, trying to stop his fury. How could this be happening? How was she connected?

Using the barrel of his gun, Sam tilted Crystal’s face toward him. She looked at Sam with disgust though the slight tremor in her lips and her short quick breathing revealed her fear. “Though I don’t see why I can’t have a little fun with her before we get down to business,” Sam said, nipping at Crystal’s ear with his yellow teeth. She cried out, and tried to get free of him but his brute strength was no match for her.

Joseph’s fist clutched tighter on the revolver he had unknowingly aimed at Sam. “I swear to God, Snake, if you don’t let her go . . .” He let the threat hang in the air. Nothing he could think of would suffice for what he intended to do to the rat faced man across from him after they got out of there. If they got out of there.

“Come on, Kid. let Snake have a little fun.” Came Howard’s voice from across the room. “God knows he can’t get some any other way. Hell even the whore’s won’t have him.”

“Why don’t you just shut up, Weasel?” Joseph spate at Howard. Never taking his eyes off Sam.

Sam laughed again, sounding more like a croaking frog. “This is what happens when you don’t follow the rules, Kid. Someone always gets hur– Ah, shit!”

Surprised, it took Joseph a moment to realize that Crystal had managed to stomp her heel into Sam’s right foot.

“You little bitch!” Sam howled, his rough voice vibrating off the stone ceiling. A collective cry emitted from those on the floor as he lashed out and struck Crystal across the face with his gun. She went sprawling backwards; her head connecting with marble. Blood immediately began trickling from the slash on her cheek.

“What the fuck is your problem, Snake?!” Joseph roared, dashing toward Sam with only one intent on his mind. However, his path was obscured by Seth, who gripped his arm with a strength Joseph couldn’t escape from. Though he tried.

“This is not the time,” Seth said quietly. “That girl is not worth your freedom.”

Joseph shook his head, wanting to disagree, but the words stuck in his throat like sand. He stared at Crystal’s unmoving body, relieved to see that her chest continued to rise in fall. Seth let him go when he stopped struggling. Cautiously backing away as if prepared to grab Joseph again if he moved.

“Get on the ground! I told you not to move!”

The entire bank’s attention was caught by Jeremy’s shouting. He had a pinned a young man to one of the giant pillars and had his gun pointed straight at his forehead. Squirts of scarlet splattering on the floor as Jeremy spit up the blood that trickled into his mouth as it gushed from his newly broken nose. The man whimpered as he slowly slid back to the floor, pleading for his life.

With a suddenness that made everyone flinch, Jeremy drove his foot into the side of the man’s head with all of his might. The thud of stiff leather against the man’s skull making it clear that the man wouldn’t wake anytime soon.

Joseph stared at Jeremy. Who was regarding the man at his feet blankly, he nudged the blonde head to the side with his boot, Joseph knew, to keep him from drowning in his own blood. He stepped away from the crimson puddle that was oozing across the floor and glanced at Joseph, who nodded in understanding. When someone caused that much trouble there was no choice but to make an example of them. Either that or have everyone think there was no consequence if they tried to fight back.

Joseph broke his gaze with Jeremy, and turned back to Sam who had walked over to where Crystal lay. He prodded her side with his boot and she moaned softly. Her eyes fluttering open then closed again. Joseph sensed Seth’s eyes watching him, ready to intervene if he tried to attack Sam again. He cursed his friend inwardly. Wishing he would let him pound Sam to a pulp like he wanted to, and planned to do if the old man was stupid enough to touch Crystal again.

Once more her eyes flickered open and she looked up at Sam with fear. When Sam didn’t move she slowly rose to a sitting position. Her gaze now upon her sister who still wasn’t showing signs of consciousness.

Sam squatted down beside her and jerked her head so that she was forced to look at him. “Never thought bein’ Joey’s whore would lead to this did ya?”

Joseph heard her intake of breath, but couldn’t see her expression. Only Sam’s evil grin. The violent smack of her hand cutting across his smiling face made everyone freeze. The terror of the robbery forgotten as they watched the scene before them. Sam toppled over at the blow. He landed on his backside, but quickly rose and retaliated. His scarred fist slamming into Crystal’s already bruised jaw.

Joseph bolted forward, narrowly missing Seth as he dived to stop him. He crashed to the floor as Joseph slipped from his reach.

Sam rose to his feet and landed a kick in Crystal’s side, her cry of pain enraged Joseph and he sprang at Sam. Ignoring the warning shouts of the Clan. They both went flying backwards. Joseph gaining the advantage when he landed on top of Sam, pounding his fists into every inch of the bastard’s thick flesh. The butt of Sam’s gun came crashing into the side of his head, momentarily blinding him. Next Joseph could see the revolver coming around for another shot. He quickly rolled away dodging the second blow, and jumped to his feet. His head spinning, the gash above his ear spilling blood, and clogging his hearing. He plowed his boot into Sam’s side, though Sam managed to flip his body away. Avoiding the brunt of the deadly strike, and losing his gun in the process. Joseph kicked it aside and started toward Sam once more. A long knife suddenly appeared in Sam’s large hand and he jumped to his feet, rushing at Joseph he slashed at him. Grazing his stomach and slicing his shirt. Joseph lunged for Sam, who ducked and scrambled across the sleek marble floor. He dived at Crystal and threw her over the top of him. The knife pressing dangerously into her white throat.

“Game’s over, Kid,” he said mockingly as he panted, echoing Joseph’s words from the day before. “I win.”

Joseph stepped back, hands in the air, glancing at Crystal. Her lids were heavy yet her eyes were aware of her surroundings. She looked up at him as if she wasn’t quite seeing him.{right

“You’re both gonna get us all killed,” Jeremy said sharply from across the room. Though he didn’t take his eyes from the now restless crowd around them. Seth too, was looking nervous. His gaze darted to every small movement the people made. Morgan and Claiborne were shouting at the bank clerks to go faster, sweat trickling down their foreheads. Their eyes flickered to the big clock on the ceiling, watching every passing second, while Howard fumbled with the ties of the two already loaded sacks.

This had definitely gotten out of hand.

Joseph backed away from Sam and Crystal, trying to get his head back on the job. Which was a lot harder with the violent throbbing from the hit he’d taken moments before. Sam pushed Crystal off of him and stood. Wiping blood off his face with his shirt sleeve, as he threw Joseph a glare that would chill a lesser man.

Crystal crawled to a pillar and slumped against it. Her eyes watching Joseph intently, as if afraid he would disappear if she looked away. He couldn’t stop his gaze from flickering to her every other second.

Suddenly the side door of the bank burst open and two men came tumbling out. The elder man Joseph recognized as Marginy, who was half carrying a middle-aged Spanish man whose white shirt was blood stained. Marginy collapsed to the floor, the weight of Medina’s body pulling him down. Blood was flowing from his face and the welt on his head and cuts on his knuckles pointed to the brawl that must have went awry.

No one moved as Marginy shouted for help, desperately pressing on Medina’s chest, presumably to stop the blood from flowing freely. Yet, whatever wound the manager had received had been lethal. Marginy let out a cry of despair. Sweat, blood and tears running together down his face as he bemoaned his friend’s death. The pound of foot steps interrupted Marginy’s wailing. Coming down the hall that the two men had just emerged from, Red appeared, holding his side. His hand scarlet as blood seeped through his fingers, hair sticking to his sweating face. He held his revolver tightly in his shaking free hand and raised it at Marginy.

“You devil!” Marginy shouted at him without fear. “Look what you’ve done.” He held up his blood stained hands for his attacker to see. “You will pay for the evil you have brought here today. All of you!” He turned, pointing an accusing finger at the Clan. Joseph had to lower his eyes, to ashamed to meet the old man’s strong gaze.

Marginy looked back to Red as if awaiting his sentencing. Neither fear nor pleading in his expression.

“Son of a bitch,” Red muttered. He pulled the trigger.

The gun went off like the sound of a cannon. Marginy fell back with a dull thud, the horrified silence afterward broken by one shrieking sob

“No!”

Joseph turned and saw Crystal rise to her feet with the help of the pillar, and with a strength that came only from will, she shoved off of it and rushed forward, he darted after her. Dread took hold of him like an iron fist. Red looked up at the woman rushing at him, not seeing that her eyes were focused on the dead man at his feet. Joseph saw Red’s face fill with alarm and he raised his gun at Crystal.

The shot exploded in his ears and heart and Joseph went numb. The entire world moved in slow motion. There was no sound but his own voice.

“Crys!”

She turned to him as if jerked backwards by the call of her name. Her eyes so wide and fearful she looked like a child. But there was no blood. No nothing. Red’s gun hadn’t gone off at all.

He felt something warm and wet against his skin, soaking into his shirt and jacket. He looked down at his ripped clothing and couldn’t figure out why there was so much blood on his chest. Were had it all come from?

The clatter of metal against marble sounded to his left and he glanced at the sobbing girl who was staring at him in horror. Though horror at what he’d done or what she’d done he wasn’t sure, his mind was too fuzzy. What had she done? how had she gotten Sam’s gun?

He pressed a hand to his chest and looked up at Crystal. Why did she look so scared? He wanted to tell her not to be afraid. He wanted to wipe away the tears that streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the blood.

Crys, he tried to say her name but it wouldn’t form on his lips. He didn’t feel the thump of his knees hitting the floor . . . Crys . . . Crystal . . .

“Joseph!”

*******

Please continue: "Chapter Fifteen: Margaret's Manor"