Neurotic Noir, Chapter 15: "Tony" (451 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 2 on 8 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by RyuFu (View user info) at 2006-08-16 13:26:58 EDT
Chapter 1 - "Hole in the Head": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75075
Chapter 2 - "Perceptive Goth": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75152
Chapter 3 - "Sex and Tattoos": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75460
Chapter 4 - "Shpatë Dragua": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75602
Chapter 5 - "A Kiss for Each": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75721
Chapter 6 - "Cracked Safe/Broken Levee": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75913
Chapter 7 - "Coming Into Focus": http://www.ubersite.com/m/76074
Chapter 8 - "Finally 20/20": http://www.ubersite.com/m/76136
Chapter 9 - "Phase I Revisited": http://www.ubersite.com/m/77936
Chapter 10 - "Phase II": http://www.ubersite.com/m/78093
Chapter 11 - "A Grudge Resolved": http://www.ubersite.com/m/78170
Chapter 12 - "A Truthful Reunion": http://www.ubersite.com/m/78312
Chapter 13 - "Revelation at the Green Flamingo": http://www.ubersite.com/m/83516
Chapter 14 - "Rubik's Cube": http://www.ubersite.com/m/83593
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The bouncer at the Green Flamingo looked like Steve Urkel compared to Jimmy and James's personal bodyguard. This older-looking little black dude in front of me looks like Steve Urkel compared to ANYBODY. In a previous life there would be absolutely no reason for me to be sitting at opposite ends of a long conference table with this guy. But that previous life ended a while back, pretty much at the same time that I witnessed my parents' brutal murder. In this life, I talk to Urkel. Well, he prefers to be called Tony.
"It's a pleasure to see you, Jack Desh. My name is Tony."
"I know your fucking name. I didn't kill off your idiot bodyguards over 10 flights of stairs to meet a stranger."
"Yes, I'm well aware of the thrashing you put on my forces. Luckily, the Pantheon's funds are more than adequate to recruit new...agents. There are plenty of people waiting to get their chance to join, you know."
Who the hell is this guy? The "thrashing" I put on his forces? "Adequate" funds? The Vin I remember would never have associated with this guy. All of a sudden I just want some slow-motion footage of a bullet going through this asshole's skull.
"Look, Tony, just cut the crap, ok? I have this big-ass cowboy gun that I've been meaning to use on the right people. You look like the right people. Tell me what I want to know and maybe we can negotiate some terms."
This is sort of a bluff on my part. The walls on either side of the table have closed doors and my imagination won't let me think of what could possibly be behind them.
"Jack, sit down." For a nerdy-looking wimpy dude, he sure maintains an authoritative tone. "Would you care for some coffee? Espresso, perhaps?"
"Uh, sure. Double." I doubt he'll poison it--this kind of business usually results in a more "hands-on" approach to killing in my experience.
"Bella, darling. Would you please fetch me two double espressos? One for myself and one for my gracious guest."
Holy shit! What's that joke about white women only dating black guys? This bitch is beautiful! And she's required to wear skin-tight patent leather shorts and matching top and boots, for some reason. Is she meant to be a distraction? It doesn't look like much English comes out of her mouth, but I'm sure Tony doesn't use her for what comes out so much as...dammit! She IS a distraction...where's my head? Right--task at hand, task at hand.
"Tony, look, just tell me how you're involved with Vin and--"
"Sh, sh! I like to watch Bella at work. You may enjoy the view as well..."
Looking over my shoulder, I can see what this guy's talking about. Apparently, making coffee for guests requires her to change into an even skimpier ensemble. Lace, lace and lace. Her lack of clothing is more prevalent than the churning of the machine.
Is this guy just eccentric? He doesn't appear to be signalling to any hidden snipers or anything. What's his deal? Is he just a horny, unsatisfied middle-aged man? Nah, chicks dig power, and his power is second only to Vin in the fucked up hierarchy of this city. In any case, I shouldn't let myself get distracted, not in this environment. Guard up. But Bella's curves...NO! Lilly would pound me to the ground. Okay. Wait, just one more look. Okay. Ah, the coffee's ready.
"Shoo-gar?"
"Umm, excuse me, Miss Bella?"
"You want shoo-gar for espresso, yes?"
"Oh, yeah, I'll...whoa! Yeah, I'll have a couple."
Man, she took out a handful of individually wrapped sugar lumps from her bra...granted, she doesn't have any real pockets on her. And I could have sworn they stopped making sugar lumps a long time ago.
"I geev you three."
"Nah, that's really--"
"One for good luck, yes?"
"Yeah, sure..."
Jeez, her hands are clammy as hell! I figured she would be uncomfortable in her outfit, but she seems nervous about something else. She unwrapped the first two sugar lumps and dropped them in a tiny cup of steaming espresso, but she's putting the third one right in my hand--and gripping me tight. And making some serious eye contact.
"For good luck."
I never knew sugar lumps to be symbols of luck, but then, I've learned a lot in the past few days. Her eyes are creeping me out. She's not coming on to me or anything...it's like she's trying to tell me something. What a weird broad. I'll keep this sugar lump in my pocket until...well, that's strange.
It's no sugar lump.
It's no accident either. There's a reason Bella insisted that I take it. From what I can tell, it's a little block of wood, probably with something carved into it. I don't think this is the place to be inspecting it, though. I have to find out more about this Bella chick. I'm thinking she's on my side, but you can never be sure. Something tells me I shouldn't shoot anybody in this room yet.
"Fine hostess you have there, Tony."
"Thank you. How is the espresso?"
"Fine. Hot. Just like I like it."
"You know, a real man drinks it straight."
"I need a little sugar every now and then."
"What man doesn't?"
"A eunuch?"
"Cute." He's not taking his eyes off me either. Not even while sipping his drink. It's pretty creepy. "But enough small talk. You passed my test, besting several high-level Pantheon operatives to get to me. As your reward, I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge."
What a fuckface. It feels like there's poison ivy on my trigger finger and he knows it. He's being a passive-aggressive patronizing fuck and it's getting on my nerves.
"Yeah, umm, first question: who the fuck are you?"
"You already know me. My name is Tony."
"I know your name; I don't know who you ARE."
"Very well. My name is simply 'Tony,' and I am second-in-command to Vin in Black Pantheon. I handle the more...ah, business-oriented affairs in the organization. Additionally, I serve Vin in an advisory capacity on several fronts."
"Fronts?"
"Fronts. Areas. Subjects. You know, finances, social development, etc."
"Oh. Okay. So you're pretty much at the core of all the corruption in this city. Sweet. Now tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now."
Man, that's a creepy look on his face. He's staring me down to intimidate me and it's kind of working. Whoa, one of the lenses in his glasses is way stronger than the other. That's a nasty scar on that side of his face too...hard to make out against his dark skin. Wait, he looks kind of familiar...
"Jack, you will not kill me right now because I have set up the proper defenses, both in this room and in this organization. If you attempt to kill me, you might as well put the gun to your own head, because that will be the only way to guarantee yourself a swift death. You cannot kill me because you have already 'killed' me..."
Wait a minute...
"...and I eventually rose from that tragedy stronger and more dedicated than before."
Oh crap, I think I'm fucked.
"Before you 'killed' me, I was called Taulant Nezaj, father of Vincent. Ever since that car crash, I go by the more respectable Tony Morris, father of Vin."
Crap. I must look like I've seen a ghost.
User Reviews
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2006-08-30 22:12:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You are officially invited to D-Prime Madness III: http://www.ubersite.com/m/92455 (although anyone CAN join.)
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-08-17 04:20:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If you have the time: http://www.ubersite.com/u/Stagger_Lee/l/noir
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-08-17 04:19:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This still rocks. Keep them coming.
Submitted by goferforhire (user info) at 2006-08-16 20:45:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
indeed
Submitted by Coleslaw_Murphy (user info) at 2006-08-16 17:08:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm liking, so far, how you did the dialogue. Not only the content, but the presentation (single-spaced, no unnecessary "so-and-so said"). It does something for the flow of the story.
Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2006-08-16 14:33:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good enough to make me go back and read all the previous posts, come the next time I'm supposed to be reviewing the auditor's assessment of our financial keying processes.
Man, are my priorities are sorted or what?
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2006-08-16 14:20:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What does a Jewish drum solo sound like?
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2006-08-16 14:05:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I had a great drum solo in my head the entire time I was reading this.