Family Business

Idiot

1am Thursday May 30th The Golden Rice Bowl, Lehigh Valley Route 22.

Richie swings the Honda CBR into a small retail outlet consisting of four businesses. The first a launderette, the second a liquor store and sandwiched between it and a fast food joint, the Golden Rice Bowl chinese takeaway. He parks in front of the liquor store. To the side of the fast food joint parked are some vehicles with a mix of young couples and late night truckers getting a late snack.

He enters the Chinese takeaway, the three plastic red tables with red plastic chairs are all empty. On the service counter are two cheap brass plated dragons. He rings a service bell. A slender petite Asian lady in her mid fifties appears from behind a yellow plastic curtain "Yes, what can I get you" she asks.

"I'm here to speak with "Huan". The lady disappears behind the curtain. A few moments a stocky Asian man appears, a vicious glare on his face, which warns Richie, he is someone not to mess with. "What you want?" asks Huan in his broken English.

"I was told to speak with you about the Iphone. He opens up his leather jacket to show it. Huan nods and points to a white door saying WC " Go in there".

Henry enters into the door way. there is one Door with W.C. Noted in it. Suddenly a door beside it opens and outcomes Huan carrying a knife "No funny business" he warns, suddenly Richie begins to regret cashing in on the phone. He nods. "Follow" instructs Huan. At the end of the hallway is a stair case, the walk up and enter a small room full of electronic devices, all Richie assumed are hot. He hands the Iphone to Huan, he hoped for six hundred dollars, he wants to make as much money as possible from Prudence, six hundred dollars in Mexico will go along way.

He watches as Huan's eyes enlarge, "Out, Out, Out" roars Huan "Out Out Out" he throws the phone at Richie. Richie begins to walk outwards facing an angry Huan. He is terrified and confused "I don't understand, its original".

"Out, Out Out" Roars Huan Louder as he dead stares at Richie. Richie's hairs rise on the back of his neck "It's top of the range, I am not trying to cheat you".

Huan spits curses at him in mandarin "it is on, police trace, out out out out!!".

The colour drains from Richie's face, he feels his tummy rumble with anxiety. He speed marches out of the takeaway. He feels nauseous 'Fuck' he says to himself 'Fuck, fuck fuck, how could I be so stupid!'. His stomach cramps more, as images of the police out chasing him, or worse a chopper in the air. He had to get rid of it. 'Fuck' he repeats. Puts on his helmet, his hands shake as he switches on the ignition, he feels he is going to get sick but he can't here, he can't draw attention to himself. He drives out, he can't get the thought that the police might be tailing him. After a few hundred metres he pulls in and gets sick, his stomach still rumbles. He gets back on the bike and drives. While he has the phone he can't stop, he can't go towards the hideout. He stops again and puts in google maps search for truck rest stop. He is in luck, nearest one is three miles away.

He takes off again, his heart racing, he sweats with worry every time he meets a vehicle that its the police. He slows down outside the truck stop. He parks up by some wooden benches and switches off the engine. His heart pounds with anxiety, he is unsure what he is going to do. He scans the vehicles parked up. He eyes up a white Mack Semi truck, with a trailer carrying a large yacht, however any attempts to off load the phone is ruined by a group of truckers standing and admiring a brand new metallic blue Peterbilt semi. He turns towards the 24 hour gas station, a Telecoms truck is getting refuelled. He watches the driver, a tall slender African American male as he pumps the gasoline into the truck. He holds the phone to his ear and pretends to be talking on it, slowly walking over and back. The guy puts the pump gun back into its holder and goes to walk into the store. Richie takes the phone, quicky looks around and throws it into the back of the truck.

His feet feel like they are weighted with lead, the faster he moves the slower he feels he is going. The search for his keys in his pocket feel like an impossible challenge, his senses now malfunctioning. His stomach still aches the anxiety, the fear that he has made a huge mistake. He sees the guy walking out of the store. His hand trembles as he starts the bike, he wants to go before a description of the bike can be taken. It roars into life and he drives off.