Hauling Ash

by Tonia Brown

  Special Agent Frank Wallace kissed the Colt his wife Martha had given him so long ago, then set out to end this once and for all.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  The More the Merrier

  Back in the den of sin

  “This is it,” Walter said. “I’m sorry I got you into this, son. I should’ve put my money in the bank like a normal asshole.”

  “Not at all,” Otto said. “You did what you thought was right.”

  “I led you here.”

  “Is he talking to me?” Maloney asked from his seat on the couch. “Because I know he isn’t fucking talking smack at me.”

  “He ain’t,” Penny said. “Not everyone is interested in talking to you. Or hearing your nasty mouth.” She turned to Otto and said, “Otto, please tell Walter I’m sorry. I wish I could help you.”

  “Walter can hear you,” Otto said. “He just can’t talk back to you.”

  “He can see you too,” Walter said, leaning over to peer down the woman’s dress.

  “Ah,” Penny said. She looked out into the room, at nothing in particular. “Walter, I’m Penny. I am the woman you’ve heard so much about.” She winked at Otto. “Apparently, too much.”

  “Sorry about that,” Otto said.

  “I’m not,” Walter said.

  “Walter, I’m glad to have met your nephew. I just wish Otto had never found that money.”

  “Me too,” Walter said.

  “What the fuck are you going on about?” Maloney asked.

  “Nonya,” Penny said. “As in nonya business.”

  “Again,” Walter said, “I really like this gal.”

  “So do I,” Otto said.

  “What did he say?” Penny said.

  “Walter said he appreciates your concern,” Otto said. “He also said don’t feel bad. You didn’t have anything to do with this. And thanks for offering his nephew comfort in his hour of need.”

  “Hey,” Walter said. “I didn’t say that.”

  “Aw,” Penny said. “He sounds nice. I see where you get it from now. I hate I didn’t get to meet him in the flesh.”

  “I hate I didn’t get to see more of your fle—” Walter started.

  “Yes, well,” Otto said, “he said thanks for that.”

  “Hey!” Maloney shouted. “I asked what the fuck you two are talking about!”

  “It’s not what they are talking about,” Banjo said. “It’s who they are talking to.”

  “If you must know,” Penny said, “we are talking to Walter. Isn’t that right, Otto?”

  Otto smiled sheepishly. Telling Penny about Walter was one thing. Having the woman put it on display for the mob was another.

  “Walter?” Banjo asked. He cocked his head in surprise. “You mean Waldorf’s dead uncle?”

  Maloney chuckled at the suggestion, which spilled over into a full blown laugh. “You have got to be fucking me. You shitheads think you are talking to a dead man? Well, that’s about right up your fucking alley, since you’re both gonna be dead in a few minutes.”

  Penny ignored Maloney’s laughing mock. “Well, I think Walter sounds wonderful.”

  “Walter, huh?” Maloney asked. “Banjo, you still got that little present the asshole at the mortuary gave you?”

  Banjo nodded to his boss. “Yes, sir. I have it right here.”

  Otto perked up at that. There was only one asshole in a mortuary that Otto knew of. “What did Mr. Gerald give you?”

  Mr. Banjo leaned into the bathroom and pulled something from the same bag that held Finster.

  Otto recognized the velvet sack in seconds. “Oh. My. God.”

  “What is it?” Penny said.

  “It’s me,” Walter said.

  “It’s Walter,” Otto said.

  “Damn,” Maloney said, snatching the sack away from Banjo. “You’re good. Or did your dead friend tell you this was him?”

  “What are you going to do with him?” Otto said.

  Maloney opened the velvet sack and removed the thick, plastic bag inside. “A plastic bag? Shit, man, I thought you liked your uncle. What a disrespectful thing to do to a dead guy.”

  “It’s an industry standard, you moron,” Penny said. “Everyone goes in a plastic bag, to keep dipshits like you from poking around in Grandma’s ashes.”

  “I don’t remember asking a whore her opinion.” Maloney opened the bag of ashes and poked his finger around inside.

  “Stop it,” Otto said.

  “Or what?” Maloney laughed again. “Your dead uncle gonna haunt me instead?” Maloney poked around in the bag some more. “You know what I never got? How come they look like this? I’ve set tons of guys on fire, and they never look like this. They get all charred, like an overcooked steak.”

  “Geesh,” Walter said. “What a class act. You’d think he’d talk sweet while he was fingering ya.”

  “Well?” Maloney said. He waggled the bag in Otto’s face, dropping bits of Walter in Otto’s lap. “What makes your uncle so special?”

  Otto turned his head away to keep from breathing in the remains of his dead uncle. “The Cremulator.”

  “The what?”

  “It’s a grinder. Once we are done cremating the corpse, we sweep out the retort and place the remains into the Cremulator. The machine pulverizes the remaining bones into what you have there.”

  “Bullshit. You’re making that shit up.”

  “He’s not,” Penny said.

  “I didn’t fucking ask you,” Maloney said. He stared down into the plastic bag again. “So you grind fucking corpses into this shit?”

  “Yes.”

  Maloney sneered. “That is sick. You’re sick.”

  “Yes, whatever,” Otto said. “I’m sick because I keep people from seeing large chunks of their dead relative’s bones. And I suppose you’re not sick even though you set full grown men on fire while they are still alive? Now, put the ashes down and let’s finish this.”

  “And pass up a chance like this? No way.” Maloney snapped his fingers at Banjo. “Turn ‘em around to the balcony. I want him to watch every fucking moment of this.”

  Banjo grabbed Otto’s chair and spun him around to face the balcony at the back of the room, then did the same with Penny. Maloney was already there, opening the bay doors and stepping out into the cool, night air.

  “Every moment of what?” Otto asked. “What are you doing with Walter?”

  Maloney breathed deeply and patted his chest with his free hand. “Mmm, nice night. Good and breezy. Perfect for this sort of thing.”

  “What sort of thing?”

  “Aw, Toney,” Penny said. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Maloney said. “Yeah, I would.”

  “What would he do?” Otto said.

  “That’s kind of a harsh thing to do,” Mr. Banjo said.

  “You keep out of this,” Maloney said.

  “What is harsh to do?” Otto asked.

  A look of concern stole Penny’s beauty for a brief, sorrowful moment. “Come on, Toney. Please don’t do this to him.”

  “Do what?” Otto said.

  Sporting a malicious grin, Maloney held up the bag of ashes and shook them ever so slightly, letting a small bit spill forth. The steady breeze picked up the soft ash and carried it away into the night.

  “Oh, no,” Otto said. He felt the color drain from his face as he realized what Maloney intended to do with Walter. Regardless of his final goal, despite the fact that he had himself intended to do the very same thing the mobster was now doing, Otto didn’t want it to happen anymore. Especially not now. “Please, I’ll tell you whatever you want. Just don’t dump Walter like that.”

  “Where’s my fucking money?” Maloney asked.

  “I don’t know!”

  “I’m going to tear this ship apart after I kill you. Come on and save me the fucking trouble.” Maloney let a little more of Walter slip out of the pouch and into the cool air. “Tell me where you hid it, or kiss your uncle’s ash
es goodbye.”

  “Walter?” Otto said.

  “Don’t give in to him, son,” Walter said.

  “He’s going to throw you away.”

  “Yeah, but he don’t know that’s exactly what we came here to do. It’s perfect. He has zero leverage. No money, no dog, and now no me.”

  “I won’t have you either.” Tears stood in Otto’s eyes, ready to break the border of his sorrow and sweep down his tired face. “I’m scared and I can’t do this by myself. I need you.”

  Walter stared at Otto in silence.

  “Please, Walter,” Otto begged. His grief slipped over his burning cheeks and dripped from his quivering chin. “I know money has always been more important to you than anything or anyone, but please don’t leave me here to die alone.”

  “No,” Walter said, his face growing hard and cruel.

  Otto hung his head in defeat. The miser in Walter won out, as always. “Fine. Go then.”

  “I meant you’re wrong,” Walter said. “I always loved you more than money. I loved you more than I even loved myself. I just never took the time to tell you. I know I was an old curmudgeon, a tightfisted miser and a fucking son of a bitch, yet you were always important to me. Even if I never said it.”

  Otto sniffed as he raised his face again. “I love you too, Walter.”

  “I hate to say this son. I threw the money overboard. I knew that monkey would just kill you the moment you gave it to him, feds or no feds. So I tossed the lot to buy you some time. You have to admit, you’re still here.”

  This didn’t come as a surprise to Otto. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. “Thanks. I figured as much.” Otto heard a soft sniffle to his right, and looked to find Penny weeping almost as hard as he.

  Even Mr. Banjo was wiping at his damp eyes.

  Maloney had the only dry eyes in the house.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” Maloney said from the balcony. “That was the gayest crock of shit I have ever heard.”

  “That’s because you ain’t got no heart,” Penny said.

  “Shut up!” Maloney raced back into the room and struck Penny with a backhanded blow hard enough to send her chair wobbling back and forth. He dropped the ashes on the floor and reached out to grab Otto by a handful of hair. Maloney pressed something cold and sharp against Otto’s throat. “Where is my fucking money!”

  “Walter threw it overboard,” Otto said calmly.

  “Liar! Bullshit! Where is my fucking money!”

  “Maybe you left it in your other fucking pants,” someone said.

  ****

  “I was wondering when you’d show up,” Maloney said.

  “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Frank said.

  “I see tweedle dumb and tweedle dipshit couldn’t keep their hands on your slippery ass.”

  “Good help is hard to find. Isn’t that what you always say?” Frank tightened his grip on the Colt as he closed the door behind himself. “I am a little surprised at your lack of professionalism. You would think that if you were planning on torturing a man to death over the location of a missing quarter of a million dollars, you would take the time to lock the door first.”

  Maloney shot a burning look to his man Banjo. “This is why I wanted Jones on the door, you asshat.”

  Banjo raised his hands. “Hey, you were the last one in. You could’ve locked it back.”

  That didn’t sit well with the boss man. He snarled and sneered, muttering obscenities under his breath before he said, “So, how where you planning on doing this?”

  “Well,” Frank said, “I am the one with the gun, so let’s start with you letting go and backing off of our friend there.”

  “I don’t think so.” Maloney lifted his free hand to flash a switchblade at Frank, then lowered it to Waldorf’s throat once more. “One more step and I’ll cut his fucking throat.”

  Frank gritted his teeth. “I swear, Maloney. You do it and I will blow you to kingdom come.”

  “And end your perfect career with my corpse instead of my confession? I don’t think so.” Maloney twisted his handful of Waldorf’s hair.

  Waldorf whimpered.

  “Things never change,” Maloney said. “This little shit’s death will just be another bit of collateral damage. It won’t change a god-damned thing between us. You’re never going to get me. You’re never going to put me away. It’s always been a fantasy, Franklin. You’ve been living a lie. The bad guys always win and the good guys get fed their own balls. Because that’s the real fucking world.”

  Frank nodded. “I might not get to put you away, but I promise, I will kill you if you hurt him.”

  “You don’t have the balls.”

  Frank held his aim steady. “Try me.”

  Maloney glared at Frank.

  “You’re right,” Frank said. “I’ll never get you where I want you. Yet you have me right where you want me.”

  “Damn right I fucking do” Maloney said.

  “So, take me.”

  Maloney started at the offer. “What?”

  “Take me instead of him. You want me? Say the word, and I’m yours. You have to let Waldorf walk away from this. He hasn’t done anything.”

  “He fucked with my money.”

  “It was all an accident. Look at him, he’s scared out of his mind. You let him walk and you will never hear from him again. I can guarantee that. Let him walk and you can do whatever you want to me.”

  “Fine,” Maloney said without hesitation. “Drop the gun and I’ll let your friend here go.”

  “I have your word?”

  “Don’t trust him,” Lane said. “He’s a lying snake and a son of a—”

  Maloney backhanded the whore into silence.

  “Drop your fucking gun and I will let the man go,” Maloney said.

  Frank supposed that was as close to a promise as he was going to get from the likes of Maloney. He slowly lowered the Colt to the floor and raised his hands over his head.

  Maloney nodded to Banjo. “Grab his fucking gun.”

  Banjo did as asked, snatching the Colt from the floor and training it on Frank.

  “Such a fucking disappointment,” Maloney said with a laugh. “All these years and it ends over some fucking moron’s life? You don’t deserve to play this game anymore, Franklin. Do it, Banjo. Kill him.”

  “You said you would let Waldorf go,” Banjo said.

  “I know what I said, dingdong,” Maloney said. “Shoot that fucking asshole so I can get back to dealing with this one.”

  Banjo flexed his fists around the gun and set his jaw. “You told him you would let Waldorf go. You gave him your word.”

  “You don’t make the fucking rules!” Maloney screamed. “I do! You do what I fucking pay you to do and you shut the fuck up about it.” He waved his knife in the air between them. “I am sick of hearing about your bullshit morals and goddamned honor. You think you’re so fucking special? In the end you are no different from every other hired thug. You’re just another shit stain. Do your fucking job and kill him.”

  Frank looked Mr. Banjo in the eye and waited.

  ****

  “No,” Banjo said.

  “What did you say?” Maloney said.

  “You heard me.” Banjo swung the gun toward Maloney. “I said no.”

  Banjo wasn’t sure what possessed him. All he knew was he was he had come to the end of his tether as far as Maloney was concerned. First the man smacked around Penny like she was some punching bag, and now he wanted to break a deal? Banjo may not be the most moral man on the planet, but when he gave someone his word, he did his best to follow through. He once gave Maloney his word; now he knew better.

  “Your word is worthless,” Banjo said.

  “Everyone’s word is worthless,” Maloney said. “Words are bullshit. People only understand two things.” Maloney held up his fists. “Now stop fucking around and shoot the goddamned cop. I need a shower.”

  “I said no.”

 
“No?”

  “Let the mortician go.”

  “Or what? What are you going to do about, you piece of shi—”

  The gun jumped to life in Banjo’s hand before he even realized he had fired the damned thing. Maloney twisted back from the impact, stumbling over a chair and hitting the ground with a sweet and solid thud. Blood pooled around the man’s left leg, the meat of his calf spread open like a blooming flower.

  “You fucking shot me!” Maloney yelled.

  “You shot him?” Otto said.

  “I do believe I did,” Banjo said.

  “Why?” Otto said.

  “Why in the fuck would you do that?” Maloney asked as he raised his bloody hands in front of him.

  “I think everyone here knows the answer to that.” He stepped closer to stand over Maloney, and raised the gun once more. “The real question is, what keeps me from shooting you in the head?”

  Maloney forced a weak smile. “Your word?”

  “Words are bullshit.”

  “Don’t,” Wallace said.

  “Come on, man,” Banjo said. “It’s what we all want.”

  “No. I want him to face justice, not an execution.”

  “It’s what he deserves.”

  “You don’t get to decide that.”

  “Then who does? Men like you?”

  “No, men like you. You’re better than this. Better than him.”

  “I thought I was a ruthless killer.”

  “Benjamin,” Penny said.

  “Don’t,” Banjo said. “Not now.”

  “Benjamin, look at me.”

  Banjo turned slightly to look out of the corner of his eye at her.

  “My offer still stands,” she said.

  He smirked. “Is that so?”

  “Yes.”

  “What fucking offer?” Maloney said.

  Banjo ignored the man. “I suppose if I take it, you would want me to spare him?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. You know Frank is right. Toney needs to face justice for what he has done. A quick death is too good for him.”

  “Uncle Walter agrees,” Waldorf said.