Shortly after dinner, Olivia announced that she was going to take a “long hot bath”. I knew what she meant by that. She would probably read in the tub and more than likely fall asleep.
I saw this as an opportunity and jumped at it.
I stood up from the sofa and lazily stretched my arms over my head. “I’m bored.” I announced. “I think I might walk down the street for a coffee.”
Thomas nodded. “That actually seems like a good idea. It’s been a long day. I could use a coffee… Do you mind if I tag along?”
I shrugged. “No, it’s cool.” I replied. “I’ll just go and tell Olivia, okay?”
Thomas nodded, standing and straightening his glasses.
I walked quickly down the hall and lightly knocked on the bathroom door. “Liv? Thomas and I are going for a walk. We’re going to grab a coffee… do you want anything?” I offered.
“No thanks,” Olivia answered from the other side of the door. “But thanks for offering!”
“No problem. We won’t be too long.”
I left the door way and found Thomas already putting his coat on. I shoved my feet into my doc martens and yanked on my leather coat. “If you don’t mind, I have to stop someplace first. It shouldn’t take too long…”
“Yeah, no problem.” Thomas replied trustingly.
We stepped into the elevator and rode in silence to the ground floor.
“So where are we going?” Thomas asked finally once we stepped out into the snowy street.
“I just have to stop in and see an old friend. I have to pick something up.” I mused.
“Okay, cool.” Thomas replied, trustingly.
I shoved my hands deep into the pocket of my jacket, hunching my shoulders against the cool winter wind that blew between the buildings.
Thomas removed a pair of gloves from the pockets of his coat and shoved his hands into them. We walked for twenty minutes, before finding our way to an alley just off the main street. Thomas was looking around anxiously, confused at where we were and where we were going.
I ducked into a doorway, and led the way up a narrow set of stairs.
“Where are we?” Thomas asked finally.
“We’ll just be a minute, I promise.” I replied.
“We’re not going to get stabbed, are we?” Thomas asked. I knew he was at least partially joking.
“No,” I answered. “Or at least I won’t.” I replied with a smirk.
Thomas swallowed thickly.
I knocked loudly, three times on the door, until I heard the person inside grunt a “Come in!”
I pushed open the door and stepped in, Thomas close at my heels.
Jimmy was sitting on an old mattress on the floor, smoking a cigarette. There were empty beer bottles and drug paraphernalia scattered all over the tiny apartment floor.
Pinkie was sipping on a bottle of beer and sitting on a stack of milk crates probably stolen from the Chinese restaurant below.
Pinkie narrowed her eyes at me. “What do you want?” She demanded.
Jimmy grinned hugely, standing and swaying slightly. “Now Pinkie, is that any way to treat a guest? What’s your poison tonight, bro? Are you hear for some product?”
I could practically feel Thomas tensing behind me.
“No, actually. You and I have some unfinished business to attend to.” I supplied.
“No we don’t.” Pinkie argued. “We have nothing more to say to you. We don’t owe you anything.” She spat.
“Oh, on the contrary. I moved a lot of product for the both of you. I fronted you both money to keep you from having your legs broken by your suppliers. I sold more than half of your perks for you in the last year. And above all, I kept your ass out of jail.” I turned to Pinkie and pointed an accusing finger. “I kept your ass from getting kicked out of school.”
Pinkie rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. “Whatever. School blows, I quit anyway.”
Jimmy’s face hardened and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, so? I didn’t ask you to do any of those things. You did them all on your own, man.” Jimmy shrugged.
“Right. And I can also go straight to the cops right now and tell them about your little illegal operation going on here. I actually have a pretty good rapport with them right now. In fact, I’ve been cleared of all charges and I bet my good friend Officer Locke would love to have someone to chase after now that I’m in the clear.”
Pinkie’s jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t dare.” She sneered.
“Oh you bet I would. Unless we can come to some kind of an agreement…” I mused.
“No way. We aren’t giving you one cent!” Pinkie cried.
“Pinkie.” Jimmy warned. “I’m sure we can handle this.”
Pinkie plopped down on her milk crates, angrily crossing her legs and her arms.
“Now, what is it you want?” Jimmy asked. “How about we go back into a little business now that your legal issues are over? We can split everything fifty-fifty.”
“No deal, Jimmy. I want what’s owed to me.” I pressed.
Jimmy sighed. “And what is that?”
“The way I figure it, you should owe me at least five bones.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“No way. Absolutely not!” Pinkie cried.
Jimmy lifted one hand and immediately silenced her.
“No can do.” Jimmy smirked.
I growled, gritting my teeth. I dropped my arms and stalked over to Jimmy. I swung my right hand and my fist connected with his lower jaw. Jimmy reeled sideways from the impact and from being partially intoxicated.
I shoved him hard into the brick wall behind him. I pinned him there. “You owe me. And I want what I deserve. I took a lot of heat for you. I boosted your sales and put myself through hell and back for you. And you did nothing.” I growled.
“No!” Thomas argued. I turned briefly to see that his arms were wrapped tightly around Pinkie’s waist. She was struggling to break free of his grasp and rescue Jimmy.
I was surprised that Thomas had stepped in to help me. I was even more surprised that Thomas seemed to be holding his own.
Jimmy struggled against me, but I held his arm tightly.
He sighed. “Fine! Fine!” He cried. “I don’t have your five grand.”
“You’d better get it then.”
Jimmy tried to struggle again, but I pressed him harder against the wall.
“The best I can do is two and a half. I’ve got the cash, it’s yours. Just let go and call us even.” Jimmy argued.
I considered this. I shoved Jimmy hard, one last time. “Fine.” I said through gritted teeth.
Jimmy straightened up and adjusted his denim jacket.
I extended my hand to shake, and he glared at it for a minute.
“Don’t make me kick your ass again. I’ll do it.” I warned.
Jimmy sighed, and stuck his hand in mine in a brief and hesitant shake.
I glanced at Thomas and nodded. He slowly released Pinkie, who shoved him hard then stormed out of the room.
I folded my arms over my chest and waited for Thomas. He straightened his denim jacket. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“I have places to go, Jim.” I lifted my chin in the direction of his mattress. I knew where he kept his money.
Jimmy’s smile faded. He crossed the room and dropped down onto the mattress on the floor and dug underneath the mattress. He finally produced an old battered cigar box. He lifted the lid and produced a wad of cash.
I heard the floor creak as Thomas shifted his weight from foot to foot.
Jimmy surrendered the wad of cash to me. “It’s all there. Do you want to count it?”
I shook my head. “I’ll trust you. I shouldn’t, but this time I’ll trust you.” I mused, shoving the cash into my pocket.
“We’re done here, Hanson. You do know that, right?” Jimmy demanded.
I knew immediately what he meant. “Yeah.” I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
I turned to Thomas and nodded.
I made sure he went out the door first in case Jimmy decided to retaliate and come at us. I followed Thomas out of the room and shut the door behind us.
Thomas led the way down the stairs and I followed him out onto the street.
We walked down to the main street, passing shops and restaurants.
Thomas stopped me suddenly. “Did… Did that just happen?” He asked.
I smirked. “Yeah, actually it did.”
“We…. Were we just involved in a shake down?” He asked, frowning.
I chuckled. “If you want to call it that, sure.” I mused.
“But… wait, what was that all about?” He demanded. “I don’t get it.”
I drew in a deep breath. “Back when I was friends with them… I used to get high with them, and they would let me score for free usually. But eventually, I started out-sourcing for them… in a way.”
“So you sold drugs for them?” Thomas asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m not proud of it, but I did… And they owed me. They owed me huge. They’re lucky I let them off this light.” I mused.
Thomas shook his head. “Am I going to end up on an episode of ‘Cops’?”
I chuckled. “No, no. At least I don’t think so…” I mused.
Thomas nodded. “Okay, good.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Then in that case, you can buy the coffee.”
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