the next

Vincent Cortez strolled down the alley, not unlike every other night around 10 o'clock. His steel-toes boots came down heavily on the asphalt. He wore a trenchcoat and had it bundled tight. It was a chilly evening and had been raining most of the day. Fat Tony had given his this assignment weeks ago, but Vinny had not been able to complete it. The assignment was to take out a dealer that was stealing the profits of the family. Word had it that the dealer was supposed to be down this alley, but he must have gotten wind that Vinny was looking for him. And when Vinny was looking for someone, it never was good. Tonight seemed like every other night in Vincent's life, mostly boring but with the sense in the back of his mind that something would happen. Every step reminded him that if this job was not done soon, his life might be endangered. Every shadow provoked him, every sound made him glance over his shoulder. The gun in his pocket felt heavy, even though he carried it with him everywhere. He look down the alley and saw a figure, his heart skipped a beat. The figure did not appear to see him. He approached cautiously, formulating a plan in his racing mind. When he got close enough to him, he put up both of his hands as a gesture of peace. The man called out "Are you a cop?" Vinny could truthfully answer back "No" "Are you armed?" the man asked with some fear in his voice. "Yeah," Vinny said "everyone's gotta be careful, especially this time of night." "Too true, bro" the man said back, almost relieved. He didn't suspect a thing. When Vincent got to him he said, "you don't happen to be the rabbit, do you?" "Perhaps," said the man, "it depends on who's asking." Vinny seized his opportunity, "a good friend of Jack's" he said. "Jack?" the man asked. "you mean Jackie-boy," "yeah," said Vinny back (Jackie-boy, was at the bottom of a lake, courtesy of Vinny himself.) Then he stepped up to the man and looked into his face, he saw the scar on his cheek and knew it was him. Vinny's fist connected with rabbit's face, and he hit the ground. Rabbit looked up and the last thing he ever saw was the bottom of a steel toed boot coming down upon his face.