A storm creeped in while they were out, and the rain was falling so hard that Jackie and Lauren decided to stop at a diner to stay dry. Inside they asked for a table and ordered coffee only. Soon the rain picked up even more, thunder roared and clouds of incredible size rolled in. Flashes of lightning turned heads and caused more than a few gasps from the crowd of soaked travelers gathered inside. But Jackie and Lauren paid no mind to the lightning, or to the man with the mustache and strange scar on his face staring at them from across the diner.

“Don’t you think we should be heading out?” Jackie asked.

“Once the storm lets up. Can’t risk anything,” Lauren replied.

Lauren then called over the waitress.

“Hey, can I get another cup? And can you make sure it’s hot this time?”

“It’s gonna cost us if we’re late,” said Jackie.

“True. But it’s too risky to drive in this.”

The waitress came back with a hot cup.

“I’ve thrown it in the microwave. Let’s hope that’s hot enough for you.”

“Well it’s not piss cold like last time,” Lauren said. “So thanks.”

While they waited Jackie built a tower of creamers, and Lauren looked out the window into the lot. She watched their car closely. Then she spotted a red pickup, the same one that’d been following them a few miles back.

“Jackie, we should go.”

“What? The storm’s hardly let up.”

Rain beat at the window.

“Jackie, get up…”

Before Lauren could insist, the man slid into the booth next to Jackie and pressed a gun against her leg.

“Good to see you ladies again,” he said. “I imagine you’re on your way to Lee’s?”

Lauren recognized the man from Lee’s a few nights before. He called himself the Jackal, and was one of the dozen other cliche looking guys with bulging muscles and cigars who called themselves bounty hunters. It didn’t surprise her that he’d try to nab the Package during delivery, a practice that Lee explicitly forbid.

“I know you’ve got the Package over in that car of yours. Nice job. Now hand over the keys, and maybe I won’t spray your friend’s brains over this nice family sitting behind us.”

Jackie froze and stared over at Lauren. “Lauren, maybe we let this one go…”

“Let what go, Jackie?”

“You really shouldn’t play smart,” the Jackal said.

“Now how am I being smart?” Lauren said, reaching into her boot for a knife.

“Hold up lady. Hands where I can see them.”

“As you say!” Lauren said, raising her hands to the table.

“Good. Now I’m not going to ask – “

But the Jackal didn’t finish that thought. Lauren’s coffee hit him square in the face, nearly melted his eyes it felt like. He dropped the gun. Then Jackie picked it up, put the barrel to his head and fired. People shrieked, scattered, dropped silverware. Outside, the rain finally slowed.