CHAPTER 5

Persephone: 15 Months Ago

Had to cool my heels in lockup for a time whilst the “financial arrangements” were made for my release. Wonder what the cop’s take was on the deal. No matter.

When the cell door finally opened it was filled with one of the biggest men I’ve ever seen. Seems to me I know this guy from somewhere, but my head’s still muzzy from the kicking, and being used as a battering ram. When I said “through the door” earlier I meant just that. Ow. Hurts even to think on it.

“Let’s Go, McAllister. We don’t want to keep the boss waiting, now do we?,” the man-mountain rumbled.

The trip to Barty’s place is free of conversation which suits me just fine. I’m content to simply try to keep my brains from leakin’ out my ears. The way my right ear keeps ringin’ I’m hopin’ the eardrum ain’t busted, that whole side of my head is swoll-up and prolly sportin’ a boot-shaped bruise. I ever figger out who done it I’m gonna tear off his leg and beat him to death with it.

I’m ushered into an elevator on the ground floor of a fairly decrepit-lookin’ warehouse. Business must be good, there’s plenty of crates in various sizes and shapes, loaders movin’ stuff around. Legit cover for the dirtier side of things? Likely enough, I’d seen similar before.

Barty’s office, now, this is sumthin’ else. Posh pretty well covers it. Framed pictures on the walls, big shiny desk, hell, there’s even a potted plant over by the window. Guess crime pays pretty well around here.

“Mr. McAllister, please, come in, sit down,” Barty says, coming out from behind the desk.”May I get you something, a drink perhaps?”

“Water, and a pain-killer’d be great, thanks.”

This ain’t right. He bails me outta the local greybar, now I’m sittin’ here bein’ treated like I’m an honored guest. Wait for the hook, it’s gotta be there.

“Jacob. May I call you Jacob?” he asked, returning to his desk.

“Just Jake is fine, sir. “

“Of course. Jake, then. You are no doubt wondering why I would trouble myself to pay the bill of a man that I don’t know from Adam?”

“It’d crossed my mind.”

“But you see, I do know you. A man in my position keeps his ear to the ground, as they say. I know that you have haunted most, if not all of the local watering holes, seeking employment. And, that success has been elusive. I know that on several occasions you have resorted to......what is the fraise....”taking down” members of our local gutter trash so you could afford a decent meal. Your handling of that would-be rapist on C street was quite masterful”.

C street? There weren’t any witnesses to that but me, the whore, and the perp.

“You see, I’ve been watching you, Jake. Oh, not personally, merely keeping tabs on your efforts. I knew that eventually you would become desperate enough to go to Sam’s. Once there, well, it was a small matter to have Mr. Smiley there ,” he pointed behind me, “ kick off that vulgar brawl which landed you in the pokey, and now here. Which reminds me,” he said, tapping a finger against his chin, “Sam’s re-decorating costs seem to climb each time he hosts one of my little soirees. I must have a word with him about that.”

“You’ll forgive me, Mr. Barty, if I’m not tracking on all this too well,” I said. “Head’s still a bit fuzzy. Seems like a lot of effort to go to when ya just could’ve hired me straight up, no need for all the subterfuge.”

“Ah, but there you are wrong, sir, “he said, smiling. “ The papers you signed for your release are, in essence, an indenture. I OWN you now.”

Hook, line, AND sinker.

Sumbitch.