Chapter 1

Back

I sighed as I sat up. A smile formed on my face as I looked at Tina’s small tight ass as she laid beside me. I gave it a sharp smack and was rewarded by an ouch. “You gotta go.”

The tenth grader rolled onto her side facing me. “Why?” she whined. That’s one thing I didn’t miss from high school girls, the constant drama. Still, they have better pussy than the wives did at Bragg. High school pussy is tight and with a few words to its owner it’s easy to get. Plus, you don’t have Staff Sergeant’s trying to kick your ass for porking their wives.

“I have a shift in a few hours, and I need to shower and eat.”

Tina tried to put herself into a sexy pose and said, “Can’t I stay here instead? I’ll have a surprise for you when you get home.”

I almost laughed in her face. I told her, “Yeah, half my shit will be gone. You have to get your own dope money.”

She sat up and pushed her firm tits into my arm as she kissed my neck and whispered, “C’mon baby, I only need ten more dollars.”

I shrugged her off and looked at her. “Are you gonna leave or do I have to throw you out?”

Her face got red and she jumped out of bed and threw her clothes on. “Fine!” She snarled. “I have soccer practice anyway. Why do you always have to be an asshole? I give it up any time you ask.”

“You need to quit fucking with dope and focus on graduating.”

Tina snorted, “Like anyone graduates here.” She stomped from the room and made sure to slam my front door on her way out.

On a whim, I picked up my pants from the floor and pulled out my wallet. A quick peek showed that two fives and a twenty were gone. “Well, I know somebody who is taking it in the ass next time.” I murmured. I pitched it on the bed and went to shower.

On the way to work, I stopped at Momma Marie’s Deli and picked up a meatball sub. Momma makes her own mustard and mayonnaise. It is out of this world. The spices she uses in the meatballs deliver a very distinctive flavor. I try to eat there once or twice a week.

In any event, I got to work and started on the line. Since I got out of the army, I’ve worked my way up to Quality Inspector for the wood dining chairs. That means once a chair is finished, I give it a once over to make sure there’s no defects. I hand it off to the packing crew. If it’s bad, I set it aside for repair or recycling. The spot came with a nice bump in pay and isn’t as boring as the other positions.

During lunch, Andy, my supervisor, stopped by my table. I greeted him. “Hey, Andy. What’s up?”

He shrugged and said “Not much. Mr. Rico has a job for you on Saturday if you want.”

I took a bite of sub and chewed as I thought. Mr. Rico was always good for a couple of hundred. Swallowing, I said: “Sure.”

Andy grinned and said, “Great! Go by his office on Saturday morning, and he’ll show you what he wants.” He glanced at the clock and said. “We only have a few more minutes before break is over. So I’ll let you get to it. Remember, you’re going to line five for the rest of the day.”

“Got it.” I wolfed down the rest of my food and cleaned up my area right before the bell rang.

Saturday morning the weather was perfect for hiking. Instead, I was in a suit walking up to the manager’s pod on a construction site. Mr. Rico insisted that anyone working for him had to wear a suit and tie. He’s strict that his people look their best. His company was building a large medical complex. Since it was a multi-year project, he had moved his office here for the duration.

The inside of the pod was as fine as any office you’d find in New York. Mr. Rico has style. I walked up to the receptionist. “Hello, Bethany, I’m here to see Mr. Rico, please.”

She smiled up at me. I swear if that big titted bitch wasn’t his niece I’d fuck the shit out of her. “Certainly, Mr. Baird.” She said. “Let me tell him you’re here.” After a quick call, she said, “Go on in.”

“Mr. Rico.”

He got up and shook my hand before waving me to a seat. “How have you been, Mark?”

“I’m doing well. Yourself?”

“Everything is good. I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes before I give you your assignment.”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. Rico looked at me a moment then said, “I’ve been very pleased with your work for me. If you complete this job with the same efficiency, I would like to bring you on full time.”

“Sir?”

“It’s something for you to think about. You’ll have expanded duties, but you’ll start at forty grand, plus benefits, including a clothing allowance. We’ll get you some fine suits. A man in a good suit feels like a million dollars and if you feel like a million you’ll perform like a million.”

“Thank you, sir,” I sputtered.

Mr. Rico grinned and said, “Not only that, we’ll upgrade your apartment. I’ll get you in one of my residential buildings for two hundred more than you pay now.”

I was speechless. This was the opportunity of a life time, and I couldn’t say shit. Mr. Rico laughed. “You don’t have to answer now. I can wait until you finish this job.”

I nodded.

He got serious. “This,” he said as he handed me a paper, “Is the address to Dawson’s Grocery. Mr. Dawson will be there in about an hour. He owes me seven grand. When you come back, I want to see seven grand or Dawson in the hospital. Instead of the usual two-fifty, I’ll pay you four.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Mr. Rico shrugged, “Dawson’s is next to Sal’s territory and Sal’s been giving me shit. I don’t expect any problems, but there could be. Are you OK with that? I can send Reggie with you if you like.”

I shook my head. “No sir, I got it covered.”

“Good, I expect you to be back at one.”

I stood and offered my hand. We shook and I left.

Dawson’s turned out to be a small mom and pop type of grocery. I walked in like I owned the place.

A skinny cashier said, “Can I help you?”

I waved as I walked by him. “I’m here to see Dawson.”

“Wait! You can’t go back th...” His voice faded out when I went into the office. Mr. Dawson was an older man with a ring of white hair and a dome top. He was sitting at the desk.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“Mr. Rico sent me to pick-up your payment, Sir. I need seven thousand dollars.”

Mr. Dawson scoffed. “I’ve already paid the loan and four thousand in interest. He’s not getting another dime.”

I felt my face slide into the death mask as my heart froze. I walked to the side of his chair and towered over him. “Are you sure you won’t reconsider, Mr. Dawson?” Mr. Rico insists that we speak respectfully to everyone.

The old man trembled then firmed up. He spoke one crisp word. “No.”

I grabbed his chin and yanked it up until I was staring him in the eyes. “If you make a sound sir, I will kill you.”

Mr. Dawson’s eyes widened as his face paled. I had noticed he was left-handed, so I grabbed his right forearm and pushed it to the desktop with my left hand. I pulled an Asp from under my coat with my right and extended it with a flick of my wrist. Tears formed in Mr. Dawson’s eyes when he heard the “schlict” of the Asp’s opening.

I placed the ball of the tip of the Asp against his left temple. “Not a single sound. Understand?”

The old man nodded. I felt him tense as I raised the Asp. Mr. Dawson gave a muffled whine as the ball of the Asp crushed the smaller bones of his wrist. I hit it twice more for good measure. The old man had huddled over and broken out into a sweat. I raised his chin with the Asp. “You now owe nine thousand. You will have the money when I come back Tuesday.” The old man nodded. “Now, where are the camera tapes?”

The old man gestured with his good hand toward a cabinet. I spun the Asp in my hand and slammed it ball first into the old man’s desk causing it to close. I slipped it back into its holster as I walked to the cabinet. A search showed that the camera recorder was an ancient VCR. I pulled the tape and made sure there was no SD card on the unit. When I was satisfied, I closed the cabinet and stood in front of Mr. Dawson’s desk. I tapped his desk with the video tape and said. “Sir, you understand the penalties will be much more severe if Mr. Rico is not paid on Tuesday?”

Mr. Dawson nodded.

I said, “Good day, Sir.” and walked out. I was almost to my car when a man I had passed said “Hey, cocksucker.” I spun and saw a muzzle pointed at my face and then a flash.

I sat up with a start, breathing like I had run seven miles. It was a dark night like I was on patrol. I about shit myself when a man’s voice said, “Hello.” My head snapped towards the voice. A sand nigger was sitting across a small fire from me. Wait, he’s the wrong color to be a sand nigger. He’s dressed kinda like one.

“How did I get back to Afghanistan?”

“Afghana? There is no such place here.”

I spun myself towards the man. “What do you mean?”

The man picked up a wooden bowl and handed it to me. “Eat, you have been asleep since last night.”

The smell of some type of bean soup made me ravenous. I sipped from the bowl. The soup was about what you’d expect, but I was starved. The man watched as I ate. I looked him over. He was older than me by at least fifteen years, but his movements were smooth and easy. He showed no fear or worry. There was a heavy staff within his reach.

I slowed down and savored the bean juice. I dipped the wooden spoon and tasted the beans. There was the taste of salt and a few spices I didn’t recognize. “What did you mean that there’s no such place?”