Once in the car, we just sat there for a minute to cool down, engines still hot from exhilaration. I said to Dollar Bill, “What am I going to do tomorrow?” It’s all I could think of to say at that point.

“Let’s just see what he does. For now, let’s just assume that things are going to go on as normal. He’ll probably get desperate and either do something really stupid or he’ll realize that he’s screwed up and want to take our offer since it’s all he’s got right now.”

I don’t really remember the conversation on the way back to the store- it’s a blur. I was kind of in shock, kind of scared, and kind of excited all at once. I still had those Cannoli sitting in a neatly wrapped box on the floorboard of the car but I didn’t feel like eating them yet. I was too nervy, too wired on the last fifteen minutes to even want one of my favorite sweets during the fifteen minute drive back to the store. I’d eat them once we got there, while we played a game or two of LORD OF THE RINGS: THE CONFRONTATION. Just to settle down, just to make things seem normal and safe and the way they were before.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I knew something was wrong right away. The Kid, Hot Karl, Phat Joe, Pacer, Tiny, Big Red and several of the store regulars were standing out front looking worried. The lights were off. There was a locksmith changing the lock on the front door. And The Barrister was inside counting the money in the drawer, with two very large men I had never seen before flanking him. He brought protection to ensure that we didn’t interfere with his coup.

Dollar Bill actually asked me, “Do you think I should bring my gun?” He had a concealed carry permit and a Sig Sauer P220 under the seat of his Jaguar at all times. Unarmed, we stormed in. Our “What the hell do you think you’re doing” garnered probably the most irritating response humanly possible. The Barrister looked up from counting the money and said with a kind of smugness only real villains can muster-

“I’m sorry gentlemen, the store is closed.”

I went around the counter because my day bag was back there and my intention was to get it and leave so we could get on the phone with Dollar Bill’s lawyer. At that point, I wasn’t even really thinking about how I had some 300-400 games of my personal collection there, let alone all of my miniatures, CCG collections, DVDs, CDs, and thousands of dollars worth of other personal property, which was essentially being stolen from me- along with the store and everything else therein which I had worked my ass to build.

The Barrister blocked my way.

“Employees only.” he said.

“You’re a real motherfucker.” I said.