Black Market Merchant

Benny and Sadie headed back downstairs after helping Zane back to his room and started to look for Lisa and the girls. They could hear some silly noises coming from inside the tunnel, and once they were closer to the metal doors, they could tell the girls were having lots of fun.

"Seems like they managed to cheer Hanna up some." Benny remarked giving a light chuckle. Going inside the tunnel, they followed the silly sounds and soon joined up with the others.

"So, I see they found the lights interesting." Sadie said crossing her arms exaggeratedly and glancing from the girls to Lisa.

"Well, can you blame them? The echoes are pretty good." Lisa said with a grin. Thinking to herself Lisa remarked, “I wish at times I could enjoy the simplest things just as these children do. Ignorance truly is bliss!”

"So now what?" Sadie asked. "Are we going to just play around or are you going to do something productive?"

"Aw, come on. We were having fun." Lisa said pretending to be childish. "But you are right, let's go outside and talk some. Girls let's go now. You can look out from the dam again, as long as Rachel doesn't lean over the edge to far."

"Fine." Rachel huffed. "My voice was getting sore anyway."

Everyone soon left the tunnel and Lisa locked the doors once again. The three girls went back towards the dam to mess around, while the adults watched from the back of the building. The wind wasn't that strong here and the suns heat bouncing off the rusting metal wall felt nice in the cool air.

"Well now I get to really start helping Hanna out by killing that man, Joe Swanson. It might not be easy, but I can manage him." Lisa started off the conversation.

"Wait, you are going to kill him?" Sadie asked sounding surprised. "I mean, that's not unheard of in Match Fighting, in fact its sadly common. Yet how is that supposed to help little Hanna?"

"Oh, that's right. I haven't told you Hanna’s story. Let's sit down on these pallets, it's a longish story." Lisa said sitting down on the ancient look wood pallets. Sadie and Benny joined her, though both were careful to find a spot on the old wood without any splinters.

Lisa and Benny took turns retailing the story of Hanna's family's capture and murder. That the culprits were all Mad Dog members, including the Boss, Martinez. How Hanna then had escaped from them sending dogs after her and how she wandered around alone until Lisa saved her from the puddle and returned her safely back home. Benny added parts about who her parents were and how nice they were to everyone in the community.

By the time they had finish the story Sadie had mixed feelings and expressions to match. "That's just horrible! I knew the gangsters were mean people, but to kill Hanna's parents for no reason at all and send dogs after Hanna! That's just going to far."

"Yes, it is. Yet justice shall prevail." Benny said defiantly. "I am sure, Lisa, you have some plan in mind?"

"I think so. Two or three possible plans in fact." Lisa replied giving a nod. "Hanna is the only one that knows what the rest of the men look like that are responsible for the murders. Besides the two we just met; the others are still unknown to us. I did see their boss, Martinez, but only from above. So, I didn't get a good look at his face. To fix this quickly Hanna needs to be there at the Arena to identify them while I am fighting. She's also found a way into the gangster’s compound, along with some of her friends. As I am fighting them, she can watch from a window, looking into the Arena and then tell me who is responsible."

"Hmm, that might work, but won't that make it hard to see all of those people from far away peering through a window? Won't she be at risk of getting caught snooping around too?" Benny replied. "Also, why was she sneaking into the compound anyway? She should know better."

"You should ask her about that. I did tell her not to do it again. That's just too dangerous for kids to be doing." Lisa said agreeing with Benny. "As for the plan, that's only the first option. The other is that while Hanna is wearing a mask and simple disguise, she can sit with Sadie and be able to see everyone from much closer. However, that’s not all that much safer. At least from the window she can escape quickly out of the compound."

"I wouldn't let anyone hurt Hanna while she was with me." Sadie remarked.

"I could also try to get into the compound too. I can't let the little girl be in danger like that." Benny said looking fondly in the three girl’s direction. "All my children and grandchildren have long left this town and I haven't seen them in ages. So, I've considered Hanna to be like a grandchild to me. Especially now that the Marshals are gone."

"I understand how you feel, but the hole Hanna and her friends found is much too small for you to crawl through." Lisa replied. "Besides, I have something else for you and Zane, if he's in better condition later on, to try and do for me inside the Arena."

The two adults looked at Lisa curiously. Lisa then continued explaining, seeing that she had their attention. "I am hopelessly low on money. To get this dam running like it needs too, money is a must have. I only have a small amount on my person at the moment for funding the dam’s renovations. To fix that problem I want you, Benny and Zane, to take some of my money around the Arena and bet it all on me. Try to do it with as many people as you can. I will win and that is a guarantee. Then when I do win, I’ll share a portion of the winnings with you two, that way we all will be making a lot of money!"

Benny scratched his head in thought. "But Lisa, this town is poor. How are there going to be that many people there that have money to spare?"

"That won't be an issue." Lisa replied giving a mischievous grin. "The gangster’s compound is, I think, an illegal betting ring of sorts. This is somehow allowed by the MFA betting rules and the place is frequented by extraordinarily rich people from out of town, possibly out of state, that come here to buy illegal items or properties."

"You don't say?!" Benny said as his face lit up. "If I were still a cop, I would have used that information to make the biggest illegal bust of my career, if it's true."

"I always thought that market area was kind of odd." Sadie replied. "I had always seen richly dressed people there and always wondered why they were here. I never really messed around near them though. I was too busy working."

"All right then, I like that second plan better. That way I can be closer to Hanna just in case and me making money by betting would be much better than selling metal scraps for pennies." Benny said giving a nod. "Would it be possible for John and Richard to join us?"

"Later on, for sure. It would make the betting lest conspicuous.” Lisa replied, then she was reminded of Xander. “However, showing up with a large group of people might make us stand out too much. So, let just make it you, Zane and Hanna for now."

As the conversation drew to a close, the three girls started making their return to the adults. Rachel was the first to return.

"I saw a big bird actually fly under us!" Rachel called out breathlessly. "I can't believe we are higher than birds on that wall."

"Yes, it is amazing indeed." Lisa said with a chuckle seeing the girl’s delight. The other two girls caught up just then. "Well now that the plans are made, its time you girls should be going home. I bet by the time you return it will be nearly dinnertime."

"Can't we stay here and eat?" Hanna asked, there was a bit of disappointment lingering in her eyes.

"I would love let you all stay, but I have absolutely no food at all! I need to go into the forest to catch some." Lisa replied brushing a hand on Hanna's cheek.

Then there came a light rumbling noise from Sadie's stomach, and everyone heard it. The girls giggled and Sadie's face flushed.

"See? We hadn't eaten since yesterday and that wasn't much either." Lisa replied also stifling a bit of laughter. "Benny it was good to see you. Tell Joan that her patient is recovering and if she wants to come over at any time, that would be fine."

"I will do that." Benny replied. "Alright girls, say your goodbyes."

"Bye Miss Lisa!" Clair and Rachel said in unison.

Hanna couldn't say goodbye. The words caught in her throat and it felt as if she was about to choke. She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Lisa's high waistline, squeezing tightly. Just being around Aunt Lisa seemed to take a lot of pressure of her chest.

Lisa put a hand on Hanna's back and the other patted her head. "Don't worry Hanna. It's not for good. We will see each other really soon."

Lisa pushed Hanna back some and squatted down to look Hanna in the eye. Hanna's bottom lip was quivering slightly as Lisa looked at the little girl. The wind tugged gently at the two women’s hair gently for a moment.

Then with a calm voice Lisa spoke again. "The next time we see those men, it will be their last. Your parents will rest easy soon."

The cold, yet comforting, gaze of Lisa's grey eyes put an end to Hanna's lip quivering. Hanna knew that just from that steely look, everything was going to be alright. Hanna then nodded slowly and turned to leave with her friends and Benny.

"Take care you two." Benny said and the three girls waved goodbye.

The two ladies returned the wave and watched them leave the area. Soon the group had left out of sight down the hill and back into town.

"So, what's next?" Sadie said breaking the silence.

"We need to check the snares and eat. I know you're definitely hungry!" Lisa said turning to go towards the forest on the other side of the dam.

“My tummy was not that loud.” Sadie objected as she followed closely behind. "Benny mentioned that we should find a refrigerator, since we have electricity. Is that possible?"

"Sounds good to me. We could look through those storage units to find one." Lisa said pointing back over her shoulder with her thumb. "I had been meaning to look through them anyway. They might have some good stuff."

"Alright, but what about after we do that? We still have plenty of time before next week’s fight with Golem." Sadie asked again. At this moment they were crossing the dam and were nearly halfway across.

Lisa slowed down and looked at the east side of the river. "Well, we still need to learn more about Zane. He said that he was a Black Rats member. If he was injured and forced to escape in the river, then we need to know about what's going on over there. We wouldn’t want trouble coming our way unexpectedly."

The wind picked up and tossed Lisa's hair violently behind her. Squinting against the sunlight she could see multiple black dots circling above the plumes of smoke rising ominously. The smoke was thick, black, and coming from several places all over the eastern part of town. A familiar sent then wafted into Lisa’s nose; the smell of burning rubber and flesh. "I smell a big opportunity coming from there. Just as those birds smell the battle that likely took place."

"Birds? Battle?" Sadie remarked and covered her eyes from the sun light to look at the birds.

Lisa had a faraway look as she spoke. "Yep, where there was war there's always three things: death, money and opportunity."