“I coulda been eatin a cheese steak right now but you had to be a dick and try to blow my head off.” Jerry was thinking about that cheese steak. He had been for the past fifteen minutes, “Why didn’t we get breakfast before the robbery.”

Artimus butted in, “You make me sick, a lot of people died today, good men who I work with, and all you can think about is food. You guys better hope only one of us lives through this, cause if not I plan to make your stay in jail hell.” Ty squinted his eyes at Artimus, trying to figure out the man behind the badge.

“We did get breakfast Jerry, we all met at Marge’s Diner. I just didn’t invite you because I knew you had no money and I wasn’t about to pay for your food.” Ty said in a serious tone, trying to ignore the dissecting stare Artimus was giving him. Him and Ty had been glaring at each other most of the day.

“You were just about to rob a bank and you didn’t wanna pay for your friend? What a cheapskate.” Artimus’s mouth was hanging open not knowing how to point out their stupidity next.

“Jerry don’t give a fuck he wasn’t included, I bought him dinner two nights ago.” Ty mouthed back. An angry look came to Jerry’s face.

“You dropped me off at a soup kitchen dick!” Jerry hollered. Artimus snickered to himself at this remark, and then the three said nothing for a while. For a moment they thought they heard a solo pair of footsteps down in the main factory section of the warehouse. None of the men knew they could hold their arms up for so long. It was an interesting process, almost in an instant since they are first raised; the tiredness comes, followed by burning. Somehow the adrenaline and determination allowed them to fight through the pain, and all three were now in the zone. Their arms had become virtually numb, stuck in their extended positions. Only their fingers twitched on occasion and rubbed the trigger or grip.

“So what’s your name cop.” Jerry’s voice broke the silence this time. A long pause came and he waited patiently for it.

“Artimus.”
“Artimus?” Jerry asked.
“That’s what I said dirt bag. So if you don’t like it kiss my ass, because I don’t give a damn.” Artimus was getting frustrated with his two enemies.

“Sorry man. I’m Jerry, you prolly guessed that. And the other guy who used to be my friend is Ty. We went to high school together and now we plan on killing each other. It’s a mutual friendship.”

Ty laughed, “You don’t even know what that word means, I had to let you cheat off me back then just so you’d pass the tests.”

“You gave me the wrong answers though.” Jerry said, Ty opened his mouth to counter, but reconsidered. Too many times had he helped out Jerry, but he always balanced it out by screwing him over in the end. He couldn’t deny it.

“I used to cheat a lot on tests believe it or not.” Artimus broke in, talking in a low voice.

“No!” Ty exclaimed with extreme sarcasm.

“Yea, but I was different back then. Reckless like you guys. My old man made me join the force. Never thought it would change me, but the first time I saw my life on the line, everything was different.”

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