by Mike Ryan
“Uh, no offense, Mr. Ames, but the last time I got in a car with you, I almost got the stuffing beat out of me. I’m not so keen on doing that again.”
Ames put his hand up, still smiling, looking like he was about to burst with good news. “Oh, let’s let the past go and move on from that. Surely we can both forget about those despicable times.”
Franks scrunched his eyebrows together, not sure he was hearing right. “Uh, what exactly do you want?”
“Come in and we’ll talk about it.”
“Umm, I’m not really sure that’s a good idea.”
The smile suddenly vanished from Ames’ face. “It wasn’t a request, Mr. Franks. I would strongly appreciate you accompanying me in this car for a little bit.”
The driver leaned back, making sure Franks could see the gun pointed straight at him. “Now would be nice.”
Franks took a gulp as he saw the barrel of the gun. He sighed, mentally getting himself ready for the pain that he was sure was coming his way. “Well, I guess since you put it that way.” Franks climbed in the back seat and closed the door. He tried to sit right against the door and not get too close to his host.
“Just drive, Charlie,” Ames said. “I’ll let you know when to stop.” The car pulled back onto the road again. Franks looked out the window, not at all looking forward to the ride. “So, I guess you know by now that you’re meeting was a plant by me.”
“Uh, yeah, I was starting to get that feeling.”
“Sorry about that, but I assumed you wouldn’t want to meet me any other way.”
“You got that right.”
“We got off on the wrong foot before, Eddie. Can I call you Eddie?”
“Well—”
“Good. So like I said, let’s forget about everything that happened before. Don’t even think about it. Pretend it never happened.”
“Why?”
“Because I made a mistake with you, Eddie. It’s tough for me to admit making mistakes, sometimes, because I so rarely do. But I’m man enough to admit I made one with you. What do you think about that?”
“Well, I—”
“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, I made a mistake with not only you, but also with Jacobs.”
“You did?”
“Absolutely. I tried to impose my will physically and intimidate, instead of working with you guys and trying to come to an understanding, an agreement.”
Franks still wasn’t quite sure what the man was trying to get at. “Yeah?”
“I want to make amends.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely. What would you say to having an extra ten thousand dollars in your bank account?”
“Uh… say what?”
Ames nodded. “That’s right. Ten thousand dollars, yours for the taking.”
Franks’ eyes almost bulged out of his head. He couldn’t believe this whole conversation. “And, uh, who do I gotta kill for it?”
Ames nodded, gently tapping his knee. “That’s funny, Eddie. You’re a funny guy. But no, nobody needs to get hurt in order for you to collect this money.”
“Then what’s it for?”
“Well, the answer’s twofold.”
“It’s what?”
“It’s partly as a gesture of good faith, hoping that we can let the issues that plagued us before, just let them fade away. Consider it a payment for my reckless and thoughtless actions from the past.”
“Uh, OK?”
“And secondly, you’re a man of information, right?”
“Yeah, man, I mean, I get my share of—”
“Of course you do. Anyway, you’re a man with many contacts. Probably even rivaling myself in that regard.”
“Well I would—”
“Anyway, in return for this ten thousand, I would appreciate you revealing to me any insider knowledge you have on Butch Summers.”
“A little tit-for-tat, eh?”
“Precisely. There’s a war brewing in this city for control over it, Eddie. The lines are being drawn. The sides are being formed. It won’t be too long before a winner is declared. A few months perhaps, maybe longer. But I intend to be the one who comes out on top. It would be wise for you to choose the winning side.”
“Well, I don’t know about all that, man, I mean, I’m not exactly on anybody’s side.”
Ames cleared his throat. “Perhaps I have not made myself clear. You now have two options from here on out. You can either work with me, in which case this money will be yours, and future payments will be as well, and we can forget about all that nonsense that happened before. Once Butch is officially out of the way and I’m the undisputed king of the city, I can put you on my payroll. You won’t have to live in the shadows anymore. You can be respectable again.”
“And the second option?”
“You can continue down your current path and align with Butch, or align with no one at all, but once all this is over, and I’m still standing, you will no longer have a place here.”
“Whatcha mean?”
“I mean that from now on, there are no more independent contractors working in this city. You either work for me and my best interests, or you don’t work here at all.” Franks looked at him curiously. Ames sensed that the man was having trouble processing his words, so he tried to clear them up even further. “If that’s not plain enough for you, Eddie, I’ll go one step further. From this day forward, everyone in this city, they either work for me, or they are declared my enemy. Enemies are placed on a list and will be systematically checked off one by one.”
Franks coughed. “When you say checked off, you mean…?”
“I mean until they are eliminated. Or decide to leave on their own accord. So you, and everyone else here, must take sides. You’re either with me or you’re not. If you’re not, well, I’ll give you a reasonable amount of time to leave.”
“Which would be?”
“Three days.”
“Three days?”
“And then if we see your face again, we will immediately blow it off.”
“Uh, oh. Oh. Well, that’s not appealing at all.”
“As it shouldn’t be. I would hope that’s not the choice you make, Eddie. After thinking about it these last few days and weeks, I’ve come to the decision that you would be a really valuable source of information for me. I really think we could be good friends, don’t you agree?”
“Well, I don’t—”
“Anyway, I hope you come to the right decision. There’s only one winning candidate here. And that’s me.”
“Umm, just for laughs and all, you know, how does, uh, how does Jacobs fit into all this? He’s not exactly—”
“Well, I would love to make him the same offer.” Ames smiled. “I doubt he’d be willing to meet with me, however.”
“You got that right.”
“Unless you could arrange it.”
Franks shook his head. “No. No, I don’t think I could.”
Ames smiled again. “I wouldn’t expect you to. But I would love to have him in my organization. Eddie, just think of it. You, him, me, all working together. We’d be like the dream team. We’d be unstoppable. We could conquer anybody that’s put before us. Just think of it.”
Franks looked up at the roof of the car. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m thinking of it.”
Ames thought he was starting to get to him. He needed to amp up the pressure just a little bit. Sweeten the pot. “Eddie, what would you say to an additional one million dollars in your bank account?”
Franks did a double take. “Say what now?”
Ames closed his eyes for a second and nodded. “That’s right. One million dollars. Just for you.”
“And what do I gotta do for that?”
“If you could… persuade Jacobs to join us. He could be my second-in-command. He’s an extraordinary man, no doubt about it. But he needs purpose. I can give him that. I can give him whatever he wants. I can even give him what he wants most.”
“Which is?”
“I can get him Mallette. That’s what he really craves, isn’t it? To be the one who sticks a knife into that guy? I can make that happen.”
“How?”
“That’s for me to figure out. But I can do it. And I can make sure that Jacobs has that opportunity.”
“And for this I get a million dollars?”
“Absolutely. The same day he agrees to join me, I’ll wire it into your account personally. Think of everything you can do with a million dollars.”
Franks grinned. “I’m thinking about it.”
“And…” Ames leaned over towards his guest. “I hear you like the ladies a little bit.”
Franks’ face lit up. “A little bit? Do I like the ladies? Puhlease, man. The ladies flock to me like a deer flocks to honey.”
Ames looked confused. “A deer… never mind. Anyway, what do you like? Older, younger, lighter, darker, what’s your taste?”
“Man, I like them all. Give them all to me. I do not discriminate with the ladies. If they are looking fine, I am aiming to please!”
“Just so happens I know a few who might just happen to be looking for a man like you.”
Franks looked like a kid on Christmas morning. “Oh yeah? A man like me, huh?”
“Absolutely. How’s your heart holding up? Any issues? ‘Cause a few of them like to get a little rowdy if you know what I mean.”
Franks smiled. “Oh, nothing wrong with this old ticker, man, nothing wrong at all. I like them rowdy anyways. As a matter of fact, the rowdier the better. Especially if you can get a couple of them at a time?”
“A couple of them; that’s the only way they operate.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I can set something up for you if you want. But only if you’re willing to play ball with me. I sincerely doubt Butch could make you offers like this. And it beats trying to scrape together a living on the street.”
“That it does, that it does.”
“So what do you say? Sound good?”
“It does sound pretty good, I must admit.”
“And to show you I’m a man of good faith, you don’t even need to give me an answer today.”
“I don’t?”
“No. I’m confident you’ll come to the right conclusion. You’ll see the big picture. Go home, think about it for a day or two, then get back to me.”
“Oh. Well, OK. I can do that.”
Ames leaned forward to talk to the driver. “Charlie, stop the car up here and let our friend and future coworker out.”
The driver pulled over, eventually stopping at the same exact spot where they picked up Franks. Frank opened the door to get out.
“I look forward to our next conversation, Mr. Franks. I’m sure it will be a profitable one as well.”
Franks smiled then got out of the car. He stood there at the corner for a few moments until the car Ames was in drove off. As they drove, Ames leaned forward to speak to his driver.
“Is everything in place?” Ames asked.
“Just got a message from the boys. They’ve got him in sight. They’ll tail him wherever he goes.”
Ames sat back in his seat, pleased to hear it. “Excellent. Now let’s see where Mr. Franks goes and who he talks to. Maybe we’ll even be lucky enough to find out where Brett Jacobs lives.” Ames sadistically smiled. “Now wouldn’t that be good news for us?”
9
Jacobs was outside, having some training sessions with Gunner. They were just about through when he heard his phone ring. He went over to the patio table and picked it up.
“You would not believe what just happened to me, man. You would not believe it.”
“I wouldn’t?”
“Man, I almost don’t believe it myself. To think, that that man just strolled up on there and took me for a ride and then did all that smooth talking and whatnot, just to see what I was thinking about the stuff and then the other stuff, man, I just don’t believe it.”
“What…”
“I mean, what does he think he’s doing? Who does he think he’s talking to? Huh? Huh? Would you answer me that?”
“I would love---”
“Because I still can’t figure it out. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I got out of that car, man, and I still don’t know what happened.”
“Makes two of us.”
“I don’t get why he thinks this would actually even work. I mean, I actually do kind of get it, ‘cause he thinks he can just sprinkle a whole bunch of dollar bills all over the place and get what he wants. He’s that kind of guy, you know?”
“Uh, I guess?”
“And then trying to appeal to me with them ladies. I mean… well, that part was really pretty good. Actually, the million dollar part was pretty good too. Actually, if it wasn’t for who was offering, I really would think pretty seriously about taking the offer, you know what I mean?”
“Uh, no, not really. You’re just talking without making a whole lot of sense.”
“Ain’t you been listening to a word I’ve been saying?”
“Yeah, but you’re doing that rambling thing again. You’re talking and talking, but not with any context. All I got out of it so far is that someone made you an offer.”
“Oh. I gotta repeat all that again?”
Jacobs took a deep breath. “Just the important parts. And try not to leave out any significant details. Take it slow. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll know what you’re talking about this time.”
“I was standing on a corner, waiting to meet my contact, who said he had info about Wilson Ames.”
“Yeah?”
“Only he never showed. But you know who did show?”
“Let me guess. Wilson Ames?”
“You know it, man. The whole thing was a sham. Ames got the word out to get the word out to me, so I’d be there, so he could come in and start jive-talking,” Franks said.
“About?”
“Making me an offer. Said he wanted to forget the past. Wanted me to be on his team. Said from now on, if you’re not on his team, you’re on his hit list. Said there’s no other way. You either work for him, or you have to get out of town, or you’ll be dead.”
“Really? Interesting threat.”
“And he means it too, man. He means every word.”
“Maybe he intends to try,” Jacobs said.
“He’s building up his troops for the war with Butch, man. I mean, I really think he’s going all out on this.”
“It’s to be expected.”
“You know what ain’t expected? He wants me to work for him. Said if I agree to join him, I get an additional ten thousand bucks in my pocket.”
“Nice.”
“Can you believe that? That man tied me up and almost beat me to within an inch of my life, and he honestly thinks I can just forget that and go work for him?”
“Well, maybe he thought you could be bought off.”
“Man, he obviously doesn’t know me at all. I cannot be bought!” Franks said.
“You can’t?”
“Well, mostly. I mean, not always. I mean, well, it depends on the circumstances, I guess. I mean, maybe it’s happened a few times before. But not with someone who kidnapped me!”
“Anything else he offer?”
“Oh, yeah.” Franks started giggling. “He offered me a bunch of beautiful ladies to keep the chilly night air away, if you know what I mean.”
“Uh, yeah, I think I get the picture.”
“I mean, that was a real tempting offer, you know?”
“I’m sure you had a hard time turning it down,” Jacobs said.
“Well, I didn’t exactly turn anything down yet.”
“You didn’t?”
“No, man, he gave me a few days to think about it.”
“Nice of him.”
“Yeah, the creep. Anyway, he also offered me a million-dollar bonus. You know what that’s for?”
“I have a guess.”
“Well, if your guess is bringing you into the
fold, then you’re the grand prize winner.”
“That’s what I figured.”
“He said you could be his number two. He also said he knows what you want most.”
“Which is?”
“To finish off Mallette, what else?”
“So?”
“He said he could make that happen for you.”
“How?” Jacobs asked.
“I don’t know. Never said. Probably saving that for a meeting with you.”
“He’s bluffing. He’s got nothing.”
“I dunno, man, maybe, maybe not. Never can tell with a man like that.”
“I’m not interested in any deals with him. If I take out Mallette, I can do it on my own terms without help from him.”
“So, uh, I guess that means you don’t wanna take his deal?”
“Are you serious?”
“Well, I’m just checking, man, just checking,” Franks said. “I mean, a million dollars for me is a serious payday.”
“And how long do you think you’d be able to enjoy it?”
“Whatcha mean?”
“He’ll give you the money and then arrange for you to have an accident a few weeks later and get his money back,” Jacobs said.
“You really think he’d do something as sneaky as that?”
“Who are we talking about?”
“Oh, yeah, right. You’re right.” Franks sighed. “Man, I know it’s… that million dollars, man, just thinking about it… whew, sends shivers right down my spine, you know?”
“I’m sure.”
“Umm, we got another problem though.”
“What’s that?”
“He said if we don’t join him, we’re on his list.”
“So? How’s that any different than now? We’re already on his list. Nothing changes. You think if he saw me right now he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot? It’s just him trying to intimidate.”
“But what about me, man? I got contacts all over the place. Any one of them dudes might set me up for him. Like today. Sure, it’s cool for you to sit still; you don’t talk to anyone, anyway. I’m the one who gets all the info for you. I’m the one who’s gotta stick my neck out there.”
“Then leave town for a while.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then stop complaining,” Jacobs said.
“What am I gonna do?”
