No Muss, No Fuss

Happy Thursday, crime slicksters. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where the girls are hot, the drinks are cold, and the hardboiled-pulp-noir action is non-stop, right here, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 44 of BABY HEISTER, robbery-homicide chief Darryl Rooker sets up his task force in downtown LA with a view to finding Doc and Kelsey's gang's safe house. Meanwhile, Kelsey and the gang plot their next bank job ... where Kelsey's parents were killed trying to rob it ...


INT. ABANDONED GROCERY STORE - DAY
The task force headquarters.
A big, wide open space now filled
with a couple dozen COPS
sitting at makeshift desks.

Darryl Rooker stands in front
of a giant map of Los Angeles.

Flint Cole is next to him,
sipping coffee.

DARRYL
I’m sure you all know
detective Flint Cole --
who just brought in two of
Doc Hazard’s gang from
the armored car job
in Palm Springs.

Flint smirks. Nods.
A smattering of applause.

DARRYL
As you all know, the rest of the gang
are holed up somewhere around here
in an abandoned warehouse.
Detective Luna is working on
identifying the owners of each building --

A burly HISPANIC COP raises his hand.

DARRYL
And then his team is going
to go building to building.
The rest of you are going to split up
into pairs and patrol the area
in twelve-hour shifts around the clock.

A smattering of murmuring
and groans all around.

DARRYL
Let me remind you that THIS GANG
was responsible for the recent riots
which cost the city MILLIONS
of dollars in damages.
(looks at Flint)
Do you have anything to add, Cole?

FLINT
(raises his cup)
Let’s be careful out there.

INT. DOC’S LOFT - DINING AREA - DAY
Everyone sits around the giant table.
Atlas stands, points at a map
spread out in the middle.

ATLAS
This here’s the store next to the bank.
We got the windows blacked out,
and scaffolding in front of it
with one of those construction walls
in front of that.
(points)
We wheel the Dumpster out the front door,
then into the bank --

KELSEY
Excuse me. Can I ask you something?

ATLAS
Yeah, sure.

KELSEY
Your plan is to take the money
after it’s been delivered?

HELMUT
Yeah. What’s your point?

KELSEY
Well, the money’s being delivered
by armored car, right?

ATLAS
Yeah --

KELSEY
Then why not grab the dough
before it goes in the bank?
The can arrives in the back alley, right?

ATLAS
Yeah --

KELSEY
Wouldn’t that simpler?

HELMUT
I guess --

KELSEY
(stands, points on the map)
We have the Dumpster already
waiting in the alley here,
which saves time.
All we gotta do is scramble
their radio signal,
smoke ‘em out
and fill it with cash.

SIMON
Fuckin’ brilliant.

JO
That’s our Kelsey.

DOC
Escape or hole up?

KELSEY
Escape. We jack the truck that delivers
the Dumpster when it gets delivered.
Then after we load it up, we drive it
to a semi we’ve got stashed nearby.
No muss, no fuss.
(off their looks)
Holing up next door would be stupid.
Cops are gonna comb EVERY inch of the area.
(beat)
Any questions?