Kill Tone

by Lance Winkless

  “You’ve been through there then? I thought you just dealt a bit to your friends?”

  “I did, but I’ve been doing a bit more lately. I’ve been through that door once and it scared the shit out of me.”

  Jack’s nerves flare up and he is tempted to take Rouben up on his offer and help himself to another shot to settle them. Before he decides one way or the other, Daryl makes his decision for him.

  “Don’t even think about having another shot. That’s what they want; they want to loosen your lips. Just pretend to pour us another.”

  Jack takes his advice, going about acting that he pours them another drink and they both go through the motions of downing them. As Jack’s glass comes down, his eyes lock onto someone in the bar area across from them. It was the silver-sequined short dress reflecting the light like a mirror ball that first drew his eyes in, and they then travelled down her long legs to the silver high heels the woman is wearing. Only then did his eyes travel up to the woman’s face and his heart jumped a beat as Veronica stared back at him.

  Suddenly self-conscious but unable to take his eyes off her beauty, Jack is like a rabbit caught in the headlights, not able to do anything but look at her.

  The moment seems to last a lifetime, but it is only a couple of seconds before Veronica looks away and starts talking to her female friend standing next to her.

  “Do you know her? She is way out of your league.” Jack only just registers Daryl talking to him. “Jack?”

  Jack pulls himself together enough to answer. “I think I’ve met her before somewhere, but you’re right she is out of my league.” Jack decides to keep the truth to himself.

  “She is something else, isn’t she? I’ve seen her in here a couple of times recently. What I wouldn’t give to spend the night with her, or her friend for that matter.”

  “Alright, steady on!” Jack snaps slightly at Daryl, his jealousy nearly giving him away.

  “Calm down, I was just saying. I’ve never seen her with a man anyway, probably a lesbian,” Daryl jokes.

  Jack is flustered, wanting to go over and talk to her, even though the thought of that scares him more than his imminent meeting. He can’t take his eyes off her. She is a vision, her hips moving to the beat of the music and her foot tapping as she continues to talk to her friend who is also gorgeous, not that Jack has noticed her. Is this where they met last night? Why can’t he remember meeting her? Jack had almost resigned himself to the fact that he would probably never see her again and yet here she is, across the room from him in all her glory, more stunning than he could possibly remember. She glances at Jack again.

  “Are you okay, Jack?” Daryl asks. “You had better get your head back in the game and off the pussy!”

  Daryl is right of course, so Jack blinks once as if to take a snapshot of Veronica before she looks away again. He then drags his eyes away from her. If she is still here after the meeting, he will go over to her; where is the harm in that? If he doesn’t, he will regret it. He is sure of that if nothing else.

  “How long do you think they will be?” Jack asks.

  “It looks like we have movement now,” Daryl responds.

  He is right, the door at the back is opening and Rouben is emerging. He comes straight over to their table, pours himself another shot and downs it without ceremony.

  “Follow me please, gentlemen,” he says as he puts his glass back down onto the table.

  The two men get up. Jack takes one last look at Veronica, who is looking at him again. He gives her his best smile and then turns to follow Rouben and Daryl.

  ∼∼∼

  “Who is that you keep looking at in the VIP area?” Rose shouts over the music to Veronica.

  “Nobody, why?”

  “Why, because you keep looking at him. Is it the man from last night?” Veronica doesn’t answer. “It is, isn’t it? I thought you said you didn’t know him and it was all a big mistake, that you were drunk?”

  “I didn’t know him. I was drunk and it was a mistake. I didn’t expect to see him here tonight,” Veronica defends herself.

  “It’s just a coincidence then, you dark horse,” Rose pretends to tease her, but actually, she is very interested to find out what happened.

  “Yes, it’s a coincidence, Rose, now stop giving me the third degree. Let’s just enjoy ourselves. We are celebrating your new job after all.”

  “I’m sorry, I thought I’d be up for a good dance and a drink tonight, but I’m not feeling it. It’s pretty dead in here.”

  “It’s expensive too,” Veronica points out as she tries to look over to Jack again without Rose noticing. An impossible task.

  “Spent all your money last night, did you? I bet you're tired?”

  “I’m fine, I did spend a lot though.”

  “Didn’t he buy you your drinks?” Rose asks.

  “Honestly, I can’t remember, I don’t know why I came in here, to be honest?”

  “I can guess because Martin wanted to. Your gay best friend doesn’t know when to stop partying.”

  “No, no, he doesn’t. I haven’t heard from him today.”

  “Probably in recovery.”

  “Yes, probably,” Veronica agrees. “Oh my God, I love this track!” Veronica exclaims as another song cuts in from the DJ.

  “Who is it?” Rose asks, already knowing the answer.

  “It’s the new one from Lady Kai, I love her!”

  “Yes, I know you do, you’ve told me before once or twice,” Rose shouts sarcastically as Veronica’s hips sway in time to the music and Rose watches admiringly.

  “Oh shit, that reminds me, I nearly forgot!” Veronica shouts looking at her phone in her hand. “I met someone else here last night and he said he would send me two passes to the Kill Tone festival. Lady Kai is playing there this weekend. He said he’s working there and would email them to me.”

  Rose watches Veronica as she urgently looks into her phone to see if this mysterious other man has emailed her. Veronica really is a whirlwind that Rose can’t help but adore.

  “He has! He’s sent me two passes to see Lady Kai—VIP passes!” Veronica shouts excitedly and looks at Rose, her face beaming. “You’ve got to come with me Rose, say you will?”

  “Who has sent you passes?”

  “There was a man, I think his name was Bobby and a woman, they were here last night. Martin got talking to them and then I did. They said that they were working at the festival and then later he said he would email me some passes to go and he has. You will come won’t you, Rose, it’s on Friday?”

  Rose pretends to ponder whether to go with her friend, teasing her, but of course, she agrees and Veronica squeals in delight, hugging Rose.

  “Listen, shall we call it a night? We have had a celebratory drink and it’s rubbish in here. Why don’t we go back to mine for a drink and save our money for the festival?” Rose asks, hoping Veronica agrees. Rose would love to have Veronica all to herself for a while. She looks so beautiful tonight.

  “I don’t know, shall we have one more and see if it gets any better?” Veronica replies, still beaming and again glancing over to the VIP area, where she sees Jack get up from his chair, smile at her and then walk towards the back.

  “One more then,” Rose replies, disappointed. “I’ll go and get them.”

  “Thanks,” Veronica replies as Rose takes the short trip to the bar.

  Veronica is a little disappointed to see Jack leave and wonders where he is going to in the back of the club. Maybe he will be back when he is finished whatever it is? Veronica isn’t used to waking up in strangers’ beds or apartments for that matter. She isn’t used to getting so drunk and recalls she made a quick exit as soon as she felt up to it. The apartment was a bit of a state, but he seemed okay and she had enjoyed their interlude in between their sleep. She enjoyed it very much.

  ∼∼∼

  Jack’s trepidation builds as Rouben leads them through some dimly lit corridors with matt-black painted walls. Ot
her corridors branch off from the one they are walking down, like a rabbit warren. The back of the club is a total contrast to the glamorous surrounding they have just left, and it’s hard to believe they are in the same building. Some of the walls were vibrating in time with the boom of the base when they first came through the door, but now Jack can hardly hear the music that will be still blasting out somewhere behind him.

  Eventually, the corridor ends and Rouben turns left to open a door that Jack hadn’t noticed, what with it being painted the same black as the walls.

  Daryl and Jack follow Rouben into the room, which is not a great size and is again done out in black. A few boxes scattered around and a toolbox suggest that the room is used for storage and odd jobs. The only furniture inside is a dirty wooden workbench with an ominous-looking vice mounted on it.

  Two menacing men are standing inside, presumably waiting for their arrival. One of the men is standing behind them against the rear wall; he has to be over six foot tall, but his height doesn’t detract from his muscular physique, which is considerable. His rugged face sports a thick black beard and he is dressed from head to toe in black, looking like he could be one of the bouncers from the club.

  The other man is in the centre of the room next to the workbench, and even though he is almost as menacing, he’s older than the other. He has a grey distinguished beard and is very smartly dressed in an expensive suit, but unlike Rouben, his shirt has an impeccably smart tie finishing it off.

  “Jack,” Rouben says taking the floor. “May I introduce you to my father Dmitri Ivanov? And, father, I believe you know Daryl.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Mr Ivanov,” Jack says and goes to shake Ivanov’s hand, but he doesn’t move to reciprocate.

  “I’m sorry, my father doesn’t shake hands,” Rouben interjects.

  “Yes, of course,” Jack says awkwardly, pulling his hand in, his uneasiness rising.

  “Please excuse,” Ivanov says in a broken English and a heavy Russian accent. “I meet a lot of persons and my chest is not so good with the germs.”

  “I completely understand, Mr Ivanov, you can’t be too careful nowadays.”

  “No, and also please, if you don’t mind, Andrei would like to check your body,” Ivanov says, confusing Jack.

  The rugged man at the back steps towards Jack and motions for him to raise his arms. Jack, suddenly understands and raises his arms so that Andrei can pat him down. From behind Andrei’s back appears a black wand device and he proceeds to run it around Jack’s body without touching him once.

  “He is clean,” Andrei announces when he has finished his sweep.

  “Very good, we can get to business then,” Ivanov says. “My son tells me that you are in business to buy some merchandise, is this correct, Jack?”

  “Yes, Mr Ivanov.”

  “Good I think we can help you, please tell me what you want and where you are going to sell this merchandise? I hope you understand I have to make sure your selling won’t affect our business.”

  “Absolutely, Mr Ivanov. I want to buy MDMA pills from you that I can sell at the upcoming Kill Tone Festival, that is taking place just outside the city. I don’t believe we will have a conflict of interest,” Jack informs Ivanov.

  “Indeed not. How you get pills inside?”

  “I have made arrangements with some security staff.”

  “Very good. Sounds like good plan, no? My son also tells me that you are short of capital for your… endeavour. But this, we sort out. You are friend of Daryl’s? And so our friend.”

  “Thank you, Mr Ivanov.”

  “We have new pill, new recipe, is very good, get you high but more… safer, yes?”

  “I understand, that sounds very good,” Jack says.

  “How many of pills, you would like?”

  “I was hoping to be able to get five thousand, Mr Ivanov.”

  “Five thousand? Not so many. You have ten thousand. Five you sell and pay, the other five, if you don’t sell, you give back. Sale or return, very good deal, yes?”

  “That sounds very fair, Mr Ivanov, thank you.”

  “I will leave my son to arrange the details with you if you don’t mind? I have other business to attend to.”

  “Of course I don’t mind, Mr Ivanov.”

  “Good luck with your endeavour, Jack. I see you are smart businessman. I am sure you buy your young daughter something nice soon, yes?” Ivanov says, looking Jack right in the eye.

  “Definitely, thank you again, Mr Ivanov,” Jack says, trying not to show his shock and worry at the Russian gangster mentioning his daughter. Jack realises that Ivanov has done it deliberately; it serves as a warning to him that he expects to get his money, and there will be consequences if he doesn’t.

  Rouben follows his father through the door as he leaves and closes it behind them. Jack looks at Daryl who has stood in silence just behind him for the duration of the meeting. He has a stony look on his face and Jack can tell that he wants to get out of this room as much as he does. Jack knew the meeting would be tough, but he has never felt so intimated and scared in his life. Ivanov was very cordial, how can someone be so intimidating and pleasant at the same time? Making underhanded threats directed at your daughter is how, he thinks.

  Jack is having doubts about whether this was a good idea at all, but knows this isn’t a situation where you can change your mind. He’s in, all the way.

  Rouben comes back through the door and gets straight down to business with Jack. He takes the down-payment off Jack and informs him exactly where and when the goods will be delivered later that same night. Jack doesn’t question the arrangements; he is relieved that the price hasn’t changed and wants to draw the meeting to a close, but the meeting isn’t quite over, not yet.

  “My father likes you, Jack,” Rouben tells him as he puts his hand on Jack’s shoulder and squeezes it in a powerful grip. “Don’t make him regret it. I don’t like to see my father upset, you understand?”

  “Of course, Rouben, I won’t let him down,” Jack replies with fear coursing through his body, trying not to wince from the pain in his shoulder. Rouben keeps Jack in his grip a moment longer before he finally releases him.

  “Good, I know you won’t, my friend,” Rouben says as he now pats Jack on the shoulder. “I trust you will sell the full quantity of the merchandise and bring our money here this time next week, agreed?”

  “Agreed, I will be here next week.” What else can Jack do but agree?

  “Excellent, so we can share another drink to celebrate. Now please, I will show you out so that you can get to the pickup point and receive your delivery.”

  Rouben turns opens the door again and Jack and Daryl follow him out, back into the dim corridor. Foolishly, Jack thinks that they will go back through the club and he hopes that Veronica will still be there. Even now, with his fear only just starting to subside, he wonders if he will be able to see her and possibly get her phone number before he has to go.

  He doesn’t get the chance, since Rouben does not go back to the club; he takes them to another door, pushes it open and before he knows it, Jack is standing in an alleyway at the back of the club, next to empty beer barrels and rubbish.

  ∼∼∼

  Rose comes back with two large gin and tonics for them and they both quickly fish the straws into their mouths. The two women have been friends since they worked in an office together, an office they have both left and Rose is about to move on to another job.

  The large gins don’t last long. “What do you think, shall we go?” Rose asks.

  “Yes, I’m ready, let’s save it for the weekend!” Veronica agrees. There is no sign of Jack returning.

  “Let’s go back to mine for a nightcap. Neither of us has work in the morning and it’s just around the corner.”

  “Okay, as long as you don’t mind if I fall asleep?” Veronica jokes.

  “Of course not,” Rose says.

  Putting their glasses down onto the nearest table, the two wom
en make their way to the exit. Rose literally does live around the corner and it isn’t long before she is pushing her key into the door of her second-floor apartment. They slide out of their heels as soon as they are through the door and go into the kitchen.

  “What do you want to drink?” Rose asks.

  “I think I’m just going to have a water, if that’s okay with you? I think I’ve had enough to drink over the last two nights. I’m feeling quite drunk.”

  “Okay, I’m going to have another gin. You go through and put the TV on in the bedroom and I’ll bring the drinks.”

  When Rose arrives with the drinks, Veronica is sitting on the bed with her back against the headboard, the TV on very quietly, but her eyes are shut.

  “Are you asleep already?” Rose asks.

  “No, just resting my eyes. My feet and back are aching.”

  “I’m not surprised after last night. Give me a minute and I’ll rub your feet for you,” Rose volunteers.

  “Oh, that would be amazing,” Veronica says, to Rose’s delight.

  Rose uses the bathroom and then comes back into the bedroom, an excitement rising inside her. She and Veronica are the best of friends, but what Veronica doesn’t know is that Rose wishes they were more than just friends. She adores Veronica; she is beautiful, intelligent, so much fun to be around and she has an innocence about her. Rose just can’t help herself. She would never jeopardise their friendship but Rose has feelings that go beyond friendship. They confuse her. She doesn’t consider herself to be a lesbian and has never been with another woman, has had plenty of boyfriends and she likes boys.

  But Veronica transcends sexuality. She is a beautiful person and whilst Rose wishes for so much more, the prospect of giving her a foot massage fills her with joy.

  “Are you still with us?” Rose asks.

  “Yes, I’m still here, I’m looking forward to my foot rub and debating what to wear on Friday,” Veronica giggles.

  “Good, then you can unzip my dress for me.”

  Veronica opens her eyes as Rose sits on the bed next to her, with her back to her. She moves Rose’s blonde, straight hair over to one side and then pulls the zip of her dress down. Veronica watches as Rose pulls her dress down over her thighs and steps out of it. Rose has a gorgeous body and Veronica is slightly jealous of the tone she manages to get from her workouts at the gym. Rose is braless under her dress and Veronica is fascinated by her small boobs and nipples that seem overly hard. Rose turns and moves towards her chest of drawers and Veronica feels a wetness in her knickers as Rose bends to look inside the drawer. Her bending accentuates her ass, framed in a small red thong, looking both hard and soft at the same time. Veronica has to admit to herself that she is disappointed when Rose slips on her nightie and covers herself up.