Chapter 12: Water, Wrecks, and Waiting

"They're on the move" Nikki said casually as her and Ethan rode in the car across town.

Ethan sighed. "The three of them should be kept busy with that key for a little while I'm sure. Hey do you think the blood splatter is a nice touch on the front of the car there?"

Nikki glanced out the window at the hood before shrugging. "I could go either way on it. Its nice contrast of colors but when it dries its not going to look so good anymore."

Ethan sighed. "You're right, I'll fix it" He then veered the car into someones yard who just happen to have their sprinklers on. The water sprayed the car and before long, water was dripping from everywhere but the splatter was gone.

"Hey Ethan, maybe you can close the windows next time you do something like that!" Nikki said as she started to squeeze the water out of her hair.

Ethan nodded. "Maybe.......Maybe Not"

Returning to the road, they continued to head across town. It wasn't more then a few minutes before they pulled up to a run down apartment. The windows were barred up and multiple signs of half a dozen security companies advertising that this property was protected by them. Ethan laughed. "Zane was always obsessed with security."

Nikki smirked "Prepare for ramming speed!" Ethan pulled the car around to face part of the fence surrounding the property. There was a good bit of distance between the car and the fence, enough for decent acceleration and ramming speed. "Commence!" she yelled followed by Ethan flooring the gas pedal. A few seconds later, the car went soaring through the fence landing miraculously on its wheels in the yard.

Zane came running out of the apartment with his hands in the air. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ethan stuck his head out the open window and said "We were trying to get in to your yard."

Zane's jaw dropped a little bit before saying "Not only is it unlocked but the damn gate is wide open leading into the yard". He pointed at the open gate a couple yards away from the new hole in the fence Ethan's car had just created.

Ethan looked over at the gate and then back at Zane. "There's no showmanship in using the gate, is there?"

Zane groaned. "Fine! What do you want anyways?"

Ethan got out of the car and moved to the trunk. "Your services have been less then satisfactory" he said as he pulled the rocket launcher out of the trunk and fired it at the front window of the apartment. Zane dove out of the way as the rocket passed within a foot of him. The rocket exploded creating a huge hole in the side of the building.

An alarm immediately started to sound. After a couple seconds, a rope made of tied together sheets descended rapidly out of the hole. Moments later, three cats came climbing down the rope and darted to the car. Nikki opened the passenger door and the cats climbed into the back seat.

"I was only watching them as a favor for that woman that was at your house" Zane said as he got up from the ground. "At least I thought it was your house. In hind sight, she did act strangely the whole time I was there."

Ethan laughed. "Yeah Anna is the evil twin of my wife, they look exactly alike. Except for the goatee. My wife is out of town this week and Anna was just taking advantage of that fact."

Zane walked over to the car to face Ethan directly. "I'll be over tommorrow to pick up that body."

Ethan replied "We've got three now, I trust you'll be able to help us with that."

Zane nodded. "Do me a favor and use the gate on your way out."

Ethan nodded and climbed back into the car. He spun the car around in the yard kicking up dirt as it went and drove the car out the open gate.

Nikki laughed, pointed to the back seat and said "Cleopatra wants to know what took you so long?"