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JAX AND MIKEY
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JAX AND MIKEY CRANE dragged Jack Murphy into the alley. He looked like Rocky Balboa after fifteen rounds with Apollo Creed. Jax dropped Murphy like a stone, his arms bending in positions they shouldn't. Mikey got down on his haunches directly in front of him. He leaned forward and smiled.
“Where is the key?” Mikey said.
“I don't have it,” Murphy said.
“Jax,” Mikey said to his twin brother.
Jax picked Murphy up from the ground and lifted him over his head. Holding him by the legs, Jax tipped Murphy upside down. A safe deposit box key dropped from one of Murphy's pockets and clanged onto the pavement.
Mikey bent over and picked up the key. “Well,” he said, “what do we have here?”
“I forgot it was in my pocket,” Murphy said. His face was red as a tomato with the blood rushing to his head.
“It is unfortunate you lied to us,” Mikey said. “We could have avoided this unfortunate incident if you had only told us the truth.”
Jax eased Murphy onto the ground. He was on his back looking up at the brutes. He wondered if this was it? Was this how he was going to die?
“You have the key,” Murphy said. “All the money is in the safe deposit box. Every penny. Just let me go. I'll disappear.”
“You'll disappear, alright,” Mikey said. He turned to his brother. “Okay, Jax, finish him.”
“No loose ends,” Jax said to Mikey.
“Never leave loose ends,” Mikey replied.
Jax stepped forward, bent over, and picked Murphy up by his collar.
“Hold him,” Jax said as he shoved Murphy into Mikey's arms.
Jax had once been a good boxer. Both of the brothers had been. Jax, though, had a heightened killer instinct. It was hard to make a career in the ring, so now Jax unleashed all his rage and strength in back-rooms and alleyways.
The beatings were criminal. And lethal. Just as it had been for their latest victim. Jack Murphy was silent and motionless when Jax finished with him.
“Give me a hand,” Mikey said.
Jax grabbed Murphy's legs. Mikey held him under his limp and twisted arms. They hoisted Murphy's body and tossed him into a dumpster. Mikey closed the lid.
The two brothers took off latex gloves, balled them up, and threw them into a backpack. Mikey picked up the bag and slung it over his right shoulder.
Jax wiped his sweaty hands with a handkerchief. He folded the linen cloth and shoved it into his back pants pocket.
“IHOP?” Jax said.
“Yeah, little brother. Let's eat.”
Mikey pocketed the safe deposit box key. The two brothers exited the alley and made their way up the dark street toward their car.