Getting Ugly by Mike McCrary Page A

about doing what they are doing. Bosko mutters, “Cocksucking…” before being silenced by Buster’s bullet between the eyes. A plum of blood pops as Bosko’s body is blown back over his chair.
    Buster and Talley scan the room for Doren. The cowboys from hell slip into a side bedroom, where they find Doren sitting up in bed, enjoying soup. Doren looks them over, acknowledges his fate. He knew this day would come. Rarely do people like Doren die naturally. He says, “Just do it.”
    Done.
    Buster and Talley remove their masks, quickly moving back to the living room. They tear away their coveralls, revealing blazers and slacks that look a lot like private security garb. Much like the uniforms the dead goons in the hallway were wearing, actually. They exit into the hallway, where they stand on either side of the penthouse doors with 9mms drawn as if they are about to go into the room for the first time. They wait. Buster rolls his eyes, impatient as hell. Talley knows his brother and instructs him, “Wait for it.” Buster’s eyes dance, his impulsive streak running wild as he spits out, “Fucking useless security shit stains.”
    “Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”
    “You shut up.”
    Elevator dings.
    Buster and Talley get into character, snapping on the looks of panicked, dumbfounded, dipshit security guards. They start with the heavy breathing and plant looks of fear and concern on their faces. A team of security guards pours out of the elevator with guns drawn. Everything about them is identical to Buster and Talley. The lead guard slips up next to them, looks them over. He doesn’t recognize them, but they are wearing the correct uniform and a good supervisor tries to avoid looking like an idiot at all costs. “What happened?”
    The two brothers give the performance of a lifetime. Talley pants like a mutt, fakes terror and stutters while saying, “I think…I think…they’re still in there, sir.” Buster squeaks out, “They’re armed, sir.” The lead guard puts a calming hand on Buster’s shoulder. Buster looks into his eyes and nods.
I’ll be strong for you sir.
The lead guard motions for the rest of the team to move in around the door. As they do, Buster and Talley slip back toward the elevator. The lead guard address whoever he thinks is in the room in his best movie badass voice. “Okay, let’s not get anybody hurt.”
    The elevator door closes.
    Buster and Talley are gone baby gone. In the elevator, Buster giggles.
That was enjoyable.
Talley pulls out the GPS monitor that’s tracking their brother, Rasnick.
    “Where the fuck are they?” asks Buster.
    Talley scrunches his nose. “They keep going in circles. It’s like they’re…”

13
    “L ost?”
    Rasnick stares out in the wilderness. “Fucking lost? You have no clue where we are?”
    The bus of an SUV cruises down a one-lane road that snakes through a seemingly endless patch of dense woods. The crew fills the three rows of Chevy seating, Patience nestled in Pike’s lap. A lot of pissed off looks fire in Brobee’s direction, and he tries to hide the truth as he rides shotgun, Rasnick at the wheel.
    “I’m not lost.”
    “Really? Fantastic. Where are we?” snaps Rasnick.
    “We’re close.”
    “Bullshit,” snorts Vig. On cue Oleg chimes in, “Fucking bullshit, man.”
    Brobee can’t believe this; he knows what he saw dammit. “It was dark as shit that night. Take it easy, you animals, I’ll find it.”
    Pike fidgets, annoyed. This makes Patience annoyed. She barks, “This is a joke, right?” Leon keeps to himself, but his face says it all.
Fuck me.
His mind even drifts to a place that thinks his office building security gig maybe wasn’t all that bad.
    Brobee is completely flustered. “Look, goddammit, I trying here. I’m trying, damn, ok?”
    Chats jams a knife into the headrest next to his ear. Leon looks to Chats then taps Brobee. “Think he’s saying trying is for pussies.” Leon leans into Chats. “Close?” Chats