An Ollie Apple Flash- Leo

Just an Ollie Apple Novella…

Name: Leonardo (Leo)  Medina

Age: 32

Relationship: Retired thief/ CEO of Jailbird, Inc./ Ollies high school crush

I walked into my office building located in a brownstone in Harlem. It was early October and the chill outside was a nice change from the sweltering NYC heat we had going on only weeks before. I was in unbearable pain. It was unbearable for many reasons; First, I had a lot of work to catch up on. Secondly, the girl that I wanted was ignoring all my calls and thirdly, I was still recovering from an almost fatal gunshot wound and had to walk around with a cane.

I’m Leo Medina, ex-thief and co-founder of Jailbird, Inc.

I’ve had a tough year and going back to work is just not what I really wanted to do. This past summer I was chased by a crazy ex-lover and dragged a lot of people through my mess. Now here I am, barely healed and trying to jump back into business. I just wanted to keep busy.

Jailbird, Inc. was my baby. It was a company I started to help ex-inmates turn their technological ideas into reality. Albert Signa was my business partner. We met years ago when we were both released and looking for work. We were both at the unemployment office, applying to anything and everything. We bonded and now Albert ran the funding side of the company, while I helped our team with technical and software support.

We began this company because we both knew first-hand how difficult it is to get your life together after being released. It took a minute for me to find my footing (In a legal way), and with very little help and resources.

In the last couple of years, as a company we were building momentum and buzz. Then I met Cameron Ramirez and she was able to buy me and bring me back into illegal work. I hacked into her rivals account and was able to steal millions of dollars for her. But that brought nothing but misery.

I shook my head, trying to bring my mind back to the present.

It was still super early, and I was the first one in. The first floor of our office was made up of open cubicles for the workers, while mine and Albert’s office were located upstairs.

Slowly but surely, I made my way upstairs to the second floor. Once I hit the landing, I saw light peeking out from Albert’s office. In all the years, I’ve never known Albert to be early. I looked at my watch, it was barely 6am. That was…odd.

The stairs and floors were old hardwood and they squeaked in certain spots. I inched closer to the door, hearing mumbling, and the floor squeaked.

The mumbling stopped, and I stood so still. I think I stopped breathing for a minute.

The mumbling started again and I heard a couple of voices. I was trying to decide whether to knock or just go to my office. I stopped again when I heard a crash and a grunt. I bolted into the bathroom off to my right, when the door opened and a man and woman I didn’t recognized walked out, with a computer in hand.  I hadn’t turned on any lights, so it was hard to see their faces.

The woman turned towards the man, “Did we get everything? You think all the account information is on the computer?” she whispered.

“Babe stop worrying, I saw Albert type everything on here.”

She walked up to him, “You’re so smart babe. I can’t believe how easy this was. Once we wipe the accounts out, we’ll have enough money to start over!” she squealed excitedly.

I peeked out and saw them sharing a kiss. He gave her one more quick peck and motioned her towards the step, “We gotta go, I heard them talking about how Leo comes back today. They said he likes to be early.”

Does this guy work here?! His voice did sound a little familiar.

The woman was the first to go down the stairs. I decided to step out of the shadows, trying to get out the bathroom to my office to call for help, but that made the floor squeak and my presence known.

The man turned at the sound of the squeak and saw me. He began rushing towards me like an angry bull. I hit him in the head with my cane. He tumbled down the stairs.

“What the hell?!” the woman yelled.

She ran up to him, “Danny! Are you okay?”

He let out a groan, as she looked up and her eyes met mine, “Who the hell are you?!” she looked afraid, which told me that she never really been part of a robbery or that my cane was really that badass.

“I own this building.” I nodded towards the computer that was discarded on the floor, “And because I own this building that’s my computer you and your boyfriend are trying to steal.”

She looked down at the laptop as if she just remembered. She looked back at her partner, “Hey get up.” She sounded more annoyed now than worried.

The guy groaned and sat up slowly, rubbing his head, “What happened?”

She nodded in my direction, “He hit you.” She said.

The guy looked up and I finally saw his face for the first time since climbing those stairs, “Danny?!” I said with shock.

Danny was the younger brother of Alex Benitez. Alex was the reason I got into a whole mess with Cameron. She knew that he was involved in the stealing her diamond. Because of that she had him killed. She thought I was the mastermind behind the whole diamond heist, but in all actuality, it was Alex.

I haven’t seen Danny in so many years, last time I saw him we were both in Sing Sing,

He was a young, tall, husky guy, with light skin, dark eyes and a buzz cut.

“Leo?! What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I work here, what are you doing here?” I asked, my voice showing no emotion. I didn’t want to give him the impression that he was scot free.

Danny was on the floor but remained quiet, not fully making eye contact. Probably thinking of an excuse. I looked at the woman, “Who are you?”

She sat up straighter, “I’m Danny’s girlfriend, Lisa.”

“Well Danny’s girlfriend Lisa, I suggest you take Danny and get out of here. You guys leave with no problem and I won’t call the cops.” I warned them. I was an ex-thief and didn’t trust the police, but I would call them just to prove a point.

Lisa was a pretty girl, petite with dark hair, almond shaped eyes. Her long dark hair reminded of someone that I longed for, but I shook my head hoping that memory would fall out. She was about to respond when she was interrupted by Danny, “Leo, I can’t leave the computer. I need help and you owe me. Because of you my brother was murdered.”

I looked down at Danny. He looked different from the last time I saw him. When were in prison and talking about our future he seemed young, hopeful and determined. Now laying in front of me was a scared and worried kid. He was a big guy, but he was much skinnier than I remembered. His eyes were dark hallows probably from lack of sleep.

Obviously, he blamed me for his brother’s death, but he didn’t know the full story and I doubt that through his grief he would understand.

I knew he needed help, so I wasn’t going to call the cops, that wasn’t going to help.

I sighed, “Danny…I’m not the reason Cameron had your brother murdered.” I began to walk down the steps, “But I can help you.”

I got closer with the intention of sitting down beside him, but he took the opportunity to jump on top of me and punch me in the jaw.

His pounce hurt more than his punch.

My back on the stairs, I struggled to get him off me. I got shot in the chest a couple months prior and could feel the pain where the bullet had penetrated. I head butted him and he rolled off. I grabbed my cane that was right beside me and whacked him again, this time on the shoulder.

As much pain that I was in, I managed to get up the stairs again and run into my room. I knew that hidden in the desk drawer was a gun.

I grabbed it and limped my way back to the stairs. I looked down and Lisa was trying to get Danny up. I began to march down the stairs and walk straight to the laptop that laid on the floor in disregard.

Lisa kicked my hand as I bent down to grab the laptop. I recovered just as she went to grab the computer and pushed her to the ground. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I didn’t want to lose my money. Danny wobbled to his feet and looked my way. His eyes filled with anger he charged towards me. From the floor, Lisa tried to stop him, “Come on Danny! Let’s just go!

I clenched my jaw and prepared for battle. Danny wasn’t in the state of mind where he could listen to reason. He was already gone, intent on getting whatever was on that laptop. He was really working on my nerves. I wasn’t afraid of him or what he might do to me, I was just annoyed. If anyone needed to be bitch slapped, it was Danny.

I looked down at the gun I had in hand.

I had a choice, shoot or not shoot?

I decided to move out the way and hit him again with my cane. I think shooting would’ve caused more problems than I can handle.

I knew Danny before, this wasn’t like him.

“Danny Imma need you to stop.” I said, keeping my voice even, hoping to calm him.

“Danny listen to him! We don’t need the laptop, let’s just go.” Lisa said from the bottom landing of the stairs.

Danny looked like a hot sweaty mess, “Hey, I said we could help you.” I said, still trying to reassure him.

“Just like you helped my brother?!” he yelled.

I didn’t want to agitate him more than what he already was, so I kept quiet and he continued, “I need money. This was supposed to be easy.”

I let out a laugh, “It’s only easy if you planned it out correctly. Did you secure the buildings schedule and routines? Did you plan for the unexpected?” I couldn’t help my tone, I knew the answers as I asked the questions.

Danny looked at me as if I had grown another head. He didn’t go to Sing Sing for robbery. I believed he made it there for a drug-related crime. So, his clueless expression told me that no, he did not plan this at all.

Typical.

Everyone thought that being a thief was easy. You take from whomever and that’s it. But an actual heist, no matter how big or small, takes planning and precision. It was a fucking art form. A science that only the talented and hungry understand.

Danny was desperate and that steered him in the wrong direction. In my old lifestyle, desperation was your enemy.

I looked out the window and the sun just started to come up. For some reason, my gut kept telling me to take my phone out my pocket and dial the one person I didn’t want to call but knew would help. Plus, I didn’t want to alarm him, “What was the computer going to do for you?” I asked, really puzzled. They both just stared at me.

I sighed, “Well what did you think was supposed to happen?” I asked.   

He closed his eyes, seeming to calm himself, “I came in with a friend of mine for help setting up an idea for a smart phone game. Albert said he can help and went on about how you guys fund things and I just thought, why not just take the money and start a new life.”

I nodded my understanding, “You know we give you the money for your idea? We help you in that. We only profit if you do. How does the computer help you?” I asked for what seemed like the millionth time.

He turned to look at Lisa, and I tried to ignore the ginormous bump on the back of his head.

Danny turned back to me, “The laptop has account information that I thought we could use to break into the account.”

I began to nod my understanding, “You could’ve just recruited a hacker. They could access the accounts from any computer.” I don’t know why I was explaining this to him.

Before he could respond there was commotion at the front door.

“Freeze! NYPD!”

Now I was pissed. I sighed, dropped my gun and raised my hands knowing the deal, “You didn’t even cut the alarm?” I asked Danny, who looked as if he saw a ghost. He was probably violating his parole and just realized what was about to happen.

Cops swarmed in and I saw a familiar face.

He made a beeline for me, “Leo, I thought you learned your lesson from the last time. Gun shot didn’t make you change your ways?” Detective Nolan Smith didn’t even crack a smile.

“I own this building, those two were trespassing.”

Nolan looked down, “And that gun? Is it yours?”

I clenched my jaw, trying to prevent myself from saying what I actually wanted to say, “I have a permit for it in my office upstairs.”

Nolan raised an eyebrow, “You can put your hands down.” I followed his orders.

Nolan was a cop who helped Ollie and I. I hated him because I knew that he had feelings for Ollie. And I hated him more everyday because he was hanging around her a little too much for my liking. But there was nothing I could do. She made it clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me. Because of rhe pain I caused her, I was trying to respect her decision. But that didn’t mean I stopped hating Nolan. He was my competition and he won.

And that killed me.

Officers swarmed in and began to frisk Danny. I looked to his way. He looked helpless. I didn’t want to ask Nolan for a favor, but I swallowed my pride and asked anyway, “Nolan, I want to ask you to do me a favor.”

“And why would I do you a favor?”

I ignored his response and continued, “I don’t want to press any charges against him. I think he’s in a rough spot. Desperation can cause a man to do crazy things.”

“Like drag an innocent woman through unnecessary drama to save himself?” he quipped.

I really wanted to knock his teeth in.

I closed my eyes and steadied my breath, “He’s on parole Nolan. This is my place of business. I own this fucking building. I don’t want to press charges and ruin his life further. I want to help him.”

“You own this brownstone?” he asked, completely skeptical, “Was the money you used yours or was it stolen money you accumulated over the years?”

I didn’t say anything.

Without taking his eyes off of me he addressed his colleagues, “Hold on guys, Mr. Medina is the owner and he says there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Over the course of the next twenty minutes, officers took all of our statements. We all made up stories that kind of sounded similar enough that they decided not to take anyone in.

I told Danny and Lisa to go to my office and we can discuss the ramifications of trying to steal from me.

The officers began to file out.

I called out to Nolan before he made his exit.

I cleared my throat not sure if I should ask the question but I did anyway, “Is she okay?”

Being the asshole that he was Nolan answered in the only way he could, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“You don’t have to tell her you saw me.”

He smiled, “Don’t worry I won’t.”

With that, he walked out into the brisk autumn morning.

Probably going to see the girl I missed.

And I was here. Wondering if I did the right thing.

 *To read more about Leo, Order “The Lawyer and the Thief” available on amazon in ebook and paperback.