“I don’t see it that way.”
“You were lucky!” Kenig starts to puff up like a blowfish.
“Best to back off, Viktor, or I’ll show you just how lucky I can get.” I’m already sick of these mooks. They’ve ruined my buzz.
Kenig pokes a forefinger resembling a nightstick in my chest, the grin on his face enough to tell me he has romantic thoughts about throwing hands with me. “I break you, big man.”
I head butt him. When Viktor’s nose explodes blood he stumbles back, hands covering up his injured area. I grab his shoulders and follow with a flying knee into his solar plexus. Viktor drops in a gasping, croaking pile to the ground. I’m turned to Alexi in a split second. He had begun reaching inside his coat but stopped when we locked eyes. Fiialkov dropped his hands.
“I don’t like being handled.”
“I apologize for Viktor. My proposition was for a great deal of money being made on a rematch where the outcome would be less of a gamble. The odds against Van would be three to one or higher.”
“I respect your business sense, but like I told those two conmen at the warehouse, I don’t do that type of work.”
“Very well. Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to take a break as mentioned earlier. It may be difficult in the future for you to fight in this area. I believe the sporting event will be under new management.”
“I have a day job. One more thing, Mr. Fiialkov – if you send a hitter after me make sure they get the job done. I live by the feud.”
“Our business is concluded, Mr. Harding. No reason for any further incidents. Would you assist me with my colleague’s?”
“Drive your car over. I’ll load them for you.” I’m nice because I need to think this through. It might be preventative maintenance if I thinned the Russian mob out before they decide I’m a risk to their operations.
Fiialkov nods in agreement. He jogs across the street and drives his shiny black Ford Expedition in front of the bar. “Keep your hands on the steering wheel, Mr. Fiialkov.”
I pick up the now snoring Mikhail and put him in the back. I collect his 9mm Ruger during the process. Viktor is in bad shape. He’s turning a little blue in the dim lighting. I loosen his clothing while listening closely to his rasping gulps for air. When I think it’s safe to move him I start slapping his face lightly to get his attention. He snorts unbecomingly but his eyes begin to blink blearily up at me without recognition.
“C’mon, Viktor. Alexi is waiting.” I grab his clothing in a bundled ball at the front before heaving him up to his feet. I can dead-lift over six hundred pounds. His clothing rips a little before Viktor gets his sea legs. I deposit him in the front passenger seat while slipping his Sig 9mm from its holster. I might need a couple throwaways for future interactions with my mob buddies. When Viktor’s belted in I close his door. Fiialkov waits until I walk around to his window.
“Thank you, Mr. Harding.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Fiialkov.” He has a great poker face. I’m reading nothing. The Expedition speeds away. I go back to the bar. My hand aches again. My buzz is gone and I have Viktor’s blood all over me. Damn it! Inside, Tess is seated at the bar. She and Marla look up when I walk in. “Can I bum a towel, Marla?”
Marla wrings out a towel with hot water on it without a word. She throws it over the bar while Tess starts in on me.
“John! You’re spattered with blood. Good Lord!” Tess runs over to the door. She peeks outside looking for bodies.
“I need another quick Bud and Beam, Marla.”
She puts the drinks in front of me, peering for damage on my face. “It looks like your business meeting was a little one sided.”
“The negotiations were messy but surprisingly tilted in my favor.” I threw the towel into her trash can behind the bar before downing the double and draining the beer in a couple of gulps with Marla laughing. Better.
Tess is back glowering at me as if I had somehow caused the whole thing.
“When Red here told me you were in a meeting I went in the back to get you some backup but they’re all plastered,” Marla explains, patting my hand. “Can I get a short version of what happened for storytelling time?”
“No.”
“Fine. You force me to rely on my security camera replay.”
“Shit.” I shrug as Marla giggles delightedly. I put another twenty on the bar but she pushes it back.
“You’re covered, Champ.”
“Tip.” I leave the twenty and take Tess’s arm. “We’re really going this time. I promise.”
“It’s always a pleasure, John. I’ll go round up the OPD around the corner and let them catch up on current events with my security tape. That’ll sober them a little before the cab gets here.”
“That’s just… mean.”
“Get out of here. I have to close.”
Tess stayed silent while I kept my eyes open for more incidental meetings. We reached her car without interruption. When Tess had her BMW on the way to my house, she took her now famous pre-Harding conversation deep breath.
“I can’t take you anywhere.”
She gets a chuckle out of me. I wasn’t prepared for humor. “The Russians seem reasonable.”
“Yeah, that’s why you were drenched in blood. You’re all brothers now, right?”
“We have an understanding. I don’t take a dive for anyone so they want me to take a break from fighting. The Russians want to discredit the promoters you saw me talking to and take over the operation. They recorded the conversation with Bonasera and Alexander trying to get me to take a dive.”
“That’s how the councilmen became so well informed.” Tess patted my knee. “I’m glad they want you to quit. Tonight was the worst.”
“No, Afghanistan in the winter and summer is the worst. Tonight was a cakewalk.”
“I…I hadn’t thought of it that way. Did you kill anyone outside the bar?”
“I did not.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Want to meet Tommy and me at the Buttercup at eleven. You could even pick me up.”
“Will we always need an escort?”
“I thought tonight cooled your romantic thoughts about me.”
“You’re brutal, dangerous, mysterious, and I’m an idiot. When you knocked that guy out and told the others you’d kill them if they touched me… I got goose-bumps.”
She’s so cute. I’m her knight in shining armor again. “You are a little nutty. I believe you had the right instincts about our relationship. It should be all business. I piss you off nearly every time we get together. The business proposition’s a real one, Tess, if you’re still thinking it over.”
Another Harding conversational sigh. “I’m thinking it over. The thought of us working together might have as many drawbacks as a romance.”
“We’ve worked together. What kind of drawbacks are you talking about?”
“That you piss me off nearly every time we’re together and I don’t know a damn thing about you.”
I need Tess for my business enterprise with Tommy. She’s the main reason I began thinking of it. I could get another lawyer with courtroom skills but I doubt it would be as pleasant a working relationship. Finding out her involvement with Denny revved up my mistrust syndrome. Since I don’t trust anyone but Tommy anyway I figured it was okay. I like to keep things simple. Lately, everything’s complicated.
“I can hear the gears spinning noisily inside your head, John.”
“I need you in my business enterprise. Otherwise, it will be just another leg-breaker gig without a legitimate side. There is a plus to you signing on. You won’t have to negotiate with Tommy anymore.”
Tess laughed. “That does almost make the whole thing worth it. The pirate will be negotiating for me. It would be a gamble. I’m in line to make partner at the firm.”
“I can’t argue with you about that. I know where a certain clandestine section of government will be seeking civilian help if you’re in with me. Let’s fa
ce it. The firm you work for will be negotiating with us for services just like now. Your firm constantly gets themselves into trouble with their bond department. They treat it like an oddity they have to put up with. It’s not. With better screening coupled with reputation, we would spend very little time chasing down skips. Me and Tommy make a lot of money off skips from numerous bond operations that don’t even have a law department. We don’t do a lot of detective work but we could.”
“Yeah, you as Phillip Marlowe – I don’t think so.”
“I can be subtle.”
“You’re about as subtle as a hand grenade.”
“That hurt, Tess.” She’s giggling knowing how hurt I am. “I meant sometimes it’s how you ask the questions that get results.”
“See! I knew it. Leg breaking is not subtle, John.”
“I wasn’t referring to violence. Look. Me and Tommy know the Bay Area underbelly better than anyone. In the past, we’ve known where to find a skip before you even asked us to take a contract on them. I’ve always brought the skip in without much damage too. You already know I have language skills. Our chances are good at a very lucrative tourist escort service in addition to bond enforcement.”
Tess turned onto my street and parked in front. Deserted and quiet for a change, I didn’t see any welcoming committees in the neighborhood. She looked over at me, hair partially covering her face in a very enticing pose. I noticed her skirt inching up as she turned. A moment later my blood’s pumping south. I do like redheads, especially this particularly duplicitous one next to me. She strokes her hand over my thigh, generating enough heat under her touch to raise the temp in the car a couple degrees.
“I might be lured into this business proposition depending on the perks.”
“I’m willing to negotiate.”
She pats my leg and straightens. “Good. I’ll pick you up at 10:30. Nighty-night.”
Next thing I know I’m standing on the sidewalk with my equipment Denny left in Tess’s trunk wondering what happened to the negotiations. My house is in one piece so I take a long hot shower, pop a few Ibuprofen, and hit the sack. My last thought before sleep is if someone wanted me dead this would be the best shot they’re likely to have. What a night.
I smell coffee with anticipation before leaping out of bed in full defensive mode. I check over the equipment Government Inc. left with me I didn’t have time to stow. Then it hits me. My houseguest Jafar made the coffee. It’s a quarter to ten. A long sleep in for me. I take stock of the damage Rankin did. I’m black and blue up both sides of my rib cage. The back of my head’s throbbing at the spot Rankin bounced me during the takedown. Other than that, I’m peachy. I keep the extra special James Bond type cell-phone out on the bed. The other equipment I put in my safe. Minutes later, dressed in t-shirt and jeans, it’s time to reconnoiter my kitchen.
Tess is standing at my kitchen counter wearing only sheer tan stockings, black thong, push up black bra, and black high heels. Oh my God, she looked good. She glanced over her shoulder at me real innocent like.
“It looks like you decided to go commando,” Tess joked, staring at the front of my pants.
“I didn’t think I would be having special company other than Jafar. First question – where is he? Second question – how’d you get in here? Third – what the hell are you tryin’ to do to me?” I readjusted myself as I sat down at the kitchen table. Tess laughs her butt off at my questions. “Are you making some kind of statement?”
“Sort of. I wanted to try on mysterious for a change.” Tess walked over with my coffee. She put the full cup and saucer on the table in front of me by leaning over my shoulder. After setting the cup down, Tess worked her hands over my shoulders. “You’re so tense. Am I bothering you?”
“You know what you’re doin’. We have a brunch date with Tommy. Remember? Go on. Sit down and drink your coffee, Tess.”
“Playing hard to get?” Tess returned to the counter for her coffee cup and saucer.
“I’m not playing.” She has me. I don’t get surprised often. I’m surprised.
Tess sat down across from me with a sigh. “I came over at nine-thirty. Jafar was on his way out to meet his Mom. Anisa told me she’s very happy with Jafar moving in with you. He almost refused to allow me in to wait for you without checking first.”
Jafar climbs a couple of rungs on my trust meter. He’d be near the top if Tess had gotten booted to the curb while he woke me up. I’ll talk to him about it. “He was following orders.”
“I figured as much. Anyway, he let me in and I decided to make you coffee.” Tess traces her finger over my forearm while cocking her head to the side. “How’d I do in the surprise department?”
“Five by five.”
“I’ve decided to take you up on your business proposition.”
“And the perks?”
“I’ll draw up a partnership agreement for you and Tommy to look over.”
“Is that your negotiating outfit? It’s very effective.”
“Are the negotiations starting?”
C’mon Harding, you’ve seen scantily clad beautiful redheads sitting across from you at the breakfast table many times before. Yeah… right. This thing with Tess is bad business. She knows it. I know it. So, how come I’m shoving back out of my chair? Shit! “We don’t have much negotiating time.”
Tess meets me half way around the table. Her breath catches when I snatch her up in my arms like a child and head for the bedroom. “We can… cover some… some of the high points.”
We did cover a few.
* * *
Tommy looks up from his paper when Tess and I walk into the Buttercup. One short glance at us, he starts laughing. I try giving him my killer clown stare but that only makes him laugh harder. My friend Tommy makes leaps in judgment for a living. He prides himself on being accurate in his assessments ninety-five percent of the time. The prick.
“Is he laughing at us?” Tess’s mouth forms into a thin line of ill will.
“Best to ignore him when he gets like this.”
Tommy leaps out of his chair holding the one next to him out for Tess to sit down in. Tess tries a brief stare down with him but gives it up when Tommy shuns her with his left hand spread next to his face while still cackling away. Tess sighs and sits down. I take the chair opposite the joker.
“Sorry we’re late, T. I slept in until ten. If Tess hadn’t come over and made coffee I’d still be in bed.” Tommy assumes his interested professorial persona with a concerned nod of his head. He’s eating this up. If he wasn’t like my own damn flesh and blood brother I’d break one of his fingers. Tess surprises me for a second time.
“Okay, Sands, I drove over to Harding’s house, made coffee, stripped and then seduced him. Happy now?”
Tommy patted her hand. “That’s my girl. You two have made my morning. Anyway, I was just reading the paper while sipping my latte. I bet you two worked up an appetite.”
“Don’t push your luck, T.”
Tommy chuckles and gestures at the matronly dark skinned woman approaching with a huge smile on her face. “Debbie told me our meal’s on the house, John. It seems our favorite waitress won a grand last night on the fight.”
“John Harding!” Debbie gives me a big hug. “That was one nasty mess last night.”
“You were there, Deb?”
“I got there about the time old man Korlos showed that Russian Sasquatch his sap. I’d already bet a few hundred on you. It was all I could do to go in and watch the fight. I nearly had a stroke when he charged you.” Debbie laughs, head shaking at her recollection. She hands us each a menu. “Good Lord almighty but you busted him up on that one.”
“Rankin’s strategy was flawed.”
“Yeah it was! Hi Tess. I saw you over there last night. Want some coffee?”
“Could I have some decaf tea this morning, Deb? Tommy’s annoying me and I need to stay calm.”
“How about you, champ?” Debbie looks at me while swatting Tommy
’s shoulder.
“Coffee for me.”
“No need to get physical, Mrs.” Tommy rubs his shoulder with comedic perfection.
“You behave, T. I’ll bring the drinks while you decide on your orders.”
After Debbie walked away, Tommy got down to business. “Word’s out our fight promoters tried to put the fix in for a rematch between you and Rankin. I’m hearing the usual garble about raids and pickup fights being a threat to the citizenry… bad for Oakland’s image… attracts the criminal element… blah… blah… blah.”
“Oakland has an image?”
“You don’t sound too surprised, my brother. Do you know something I don’t?”
“The Russians tried to muscle John last night at the Warehouse Bar, Tommy.”
“Oh my, I knew I should have come along with you. You’re still alive so I’m thinking the Cold War might be starting back up.” Tommy holds up a hand, silently gesturing for a moment to come up with his own discernments. Debbie serves our coffee and tea. She takes the menus out of our hands.
“Rye toast, corn flakes, orange juice,” Debbie says pointing at me. “Mushroom omelet with cheddar for you Tess. Bacon, eggs over easy, biscuits, and hash browns for the annoying cholesterol machine, right?”
“Damn woman, you could at least let us say it.”
“Right, T?” Debbie repeats.
“Whatever… I’m thinking of taking my business elsewhere.”
“Oh wahhhhh. How about you two?”
“Right as rain with me, Deb. Make it a big orange juice.”
“I’ve never even ordered a mushroom omelet before. Now I can’t think of anything else. Are you glamoring me, Deb?”
Debbie laughs. “I’m hooked on that damn ‘True Blood’ vamp show too. I’ll be back shortly with the food.”
Tommy leans over the table conspiratorially. “The Russians are bucking Bonasera and Alexander out of the back alley fight game. They had the same lame idea involving you taking a dive. You explained in your usual lighthearted manner about us not doing that type of work. How many casualties?”
Hard Case: Boxed Set Books 1,2 & 3 (John Harding Books) Page 9
