“Okay, boys, split. I’ll handle this from here on in. Miggy, you stay with me.” To the others, he waved the meat cleaver and shouted, “Stay close but out of sight.”

Miggy dropped to his haunches at Santiago’s feet. He looked up at him, worry lines etched in his dirty face. They were identical to the worry lines he saw etched in his childhood friend’s face. They’d been like brothers, living on the streets since the age of ten or before, two throwaway kids society didn’t know about or want. They’d lived by their wits and did whatever they had to do to survive. From day one, they’d had each other’s back, and as Miggy said, he never expected that to change.

Alonzo had big dreams, which he shared with Miggy in the dark of night. Someday they’d score big. Someday the Scorpions would be so feared, even the police would respect them and leave them alone. Someday there would be so much money, they wouldn’t know what to do with it all. Someday they’d live in luxury, with showers that never ran out of hot water, soap that smelled like flowers, clean clothes, silk sheets on real beds, and the finest food and liquor.

Someday.

That someday was supposed to be now except for a few minor glitches. Every plan ran into a few glitches along the way.

Miggy was tired of waiting for someday to arrive. He wanted it all now. He knew that Alonzo was tired of waiting too. The two of them had talked and whispered to each other in the middle of the night that Hot Shot was the answer they’d been waiting for. Miggy believed, and so did Alonzo. And it had almost happened. And then it all went to hell in a handbasket in a matter of seconds, and they were right back to square one. The here and now. He hated it. Sometimes life sucked, and sometimes it really sucked, and this time it really really sucked. But, Miggy consoled himself, they still had one ace in the hole. Like Alonzo said, you never show your hand until the last second, and that’s when you hit them right between their squinty eyes. Alonzo was always right. He could almost feel those silk sheets. Almost.

Alonzo and Miggy both heard the sound of the car at the same moment. Alonzo squared his shoulders. Miggy jumped to his feet and hustled to stand behind Alonzo as a show of strength. He held a lead pipe in his right hand.

“Remember now, he has the money, but we have the upper hand. Let me do all the talking. Where’s your gun?” Alonzo hissed.

“Back of my jeans. Where’s yours?”

“Same place. No more talking. Remember, we’re going to make nice. At first.” Alonzo’s tone of voice was full of menace.

“I don’t like this,” Miggy mumbled.

“Get over it. Be cool. How many times do I have to tell you, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. He came to us, we did not go to him. We have the power in this situation.”