Excerpt:
Roy walked up. He looked over at a tough looking man sporting a buzz cut. The man wore a suit with the arms cut tight to reveal he had muscles. Then he looked at another man seated at a different table with a similar haircut and suit. They weren’t twins. They probably weren’t related. But they had the same look.
Roy poked Deven. “They are still here?”
Deven said, “Irish Coffee light on the Irish but heavy on the sugary donuts to dunk into the coffee. I figure Dolly had them pegged right.”
“Yeah, many of my customers had them pegged the same way. That is the reason this place is almost empty right now.”
Steed looked around. He discreetly eyed the men and even more discreetly pulled out his phone and took a picture of each man. He sent a text message.
Roy asked, “Do you think people finding out who you are is the reason they are here?”
“My father is mostly legitimate now.”
“That is what they all say.”
“I guess.” Steed took a drink of his beer and broke off part of a pretzel to put in his mouth. “So, Roy, what is your story.”
Hearthville Serial 3
What Happened To Victor:
A Paranormal Suspense Gangster Horror
By Charles Peters
Copyright 2019
All Rights Reserved
This Story is Not Free, Purchase For Your Kindle, $2.99
Unit Price – e2 – (Paid by Informal Community buying eBooks and making purchases after clicking a link on sayata.net/m/. If you have cookies turned on and the click is tracked then even if it is not the product you clicked on, I will get credit for whatever product you put in shopping cart and purchase. See in top Menu Tip Jar / Content Goals. Also see Shop.)
Chapter 13
After Roger left to go back to Atlanta, Steed returned to the Purple Bird Billiard Club. Clyde and Don had already left. Dolly had gone. Wade and Tiffany had gone. The place was a lot less crowed than earlier.
Steed walked up to the bar and sat down. There was no one on either side of him.
Deven walked up. He asked, “What can I get you?”
“A beer. A pack of pretzels.” Steed pushed the money across the bar to Deven. Deven quickly got him the beer and pretzels.
Behind the bar Deven pulled up a stool across from Steed. Deven said, “I am sorry about earlier. I pretended I didn’t know you because I thought that way I would not lose my temper. But then I lost it. Really lost it. I am sorry.”
“Not a big deal. I knew you knew me. We are both around the Duddley home enough at the same time, even though we never spoke other than a nod.” Steed thought Deven might provide more insight into Victor. It bothered him that Victor didn’t know who he was. And Steed was almost sure that unlike Deven, Victor was not pretending. But then again after the game Deven played, Steed kind of wondered if he was wrong. “So you are good friends with Victor?”
“I am not his best friend. If he had a list, I probably would not even make the top twenty but yeah Victor is a friend. I don’t have many friends. On my list he would definitely be among the top 3.”
“Victor has always been popular. I am going to tell you some stuff later, but it is important to me that you do not tell Victor or use the information to hurt Victor.”
“I would never intentionally hurt Victor. Now you. If I were to start dwelling on Trish, I might go crazy again. I am not sure I would trust me with any of your secrets.”
“Oh yeah. I am going to trust you.”
Deven nodded. “So you saw me on Chaturbate. That is kind of embarrassing. Do you often look at dudes?”
Steed laughed. “You were right there on the front page with 3,000 viewers. I was looking for a girl to watch while jerking off and there you were. Curiosity got the better of me so I did watch you a little bit. I even tipped you 1000 tokens.”
“I thank you.”
“Sure.”
Roy walked up. He looked over at a tough looking man sporting a buzz cut. The man wore a suit with the arms cut tight to reveal he had muscles. Then he looked at another man seated at a different table with a similar haircut and suit. They weren’t twins. They probably weren’t related. But they had the same look.
Roy poked Deven. “They are still here?”
Deven said, “Irish Coffee light on the Irish but heavy on the sugary donuts to dunk into the coffee. I figure Dolly had them pegged right.”
“Yeah, many of my customers had them pegged the same way. That is the reason this place is almost empty right now.”
Steed looked around. He discreetly eyed the men and even more discreetly pulled out his phone and took a picture of each man. He sent a text message.
Roy asked, “Do you think people finding out who you are is the reason they are here?”
This Story is Not Free, Purchase For Your Kindle, $2.99
“My father is mostly legitimate now.”
“That is what they all say.”
“I guess.” Steed took a drink of his beer and broke off part of a pretzel to put in his mouth. “So, Roy, what is your story.”
“I used to box.”
“Really.”
“Yeah, I worked in a warehouse. I put things in boxes.”
“Funny.”
“I had a good day in Las Vegas and bought this billiard hall.”
“Oh. So you own the place. I wasn’t sure. Tell me more about you.”
“I was once married. We were in a car wreck. I survived. She didn’t. When I heard about Jossette, it brought back memories. Eventually we all die, but death is hard when you love someone.”
Steed nodded. “Yeah. There is not a day I don’t miss my cousin. Roger and I weren’t as close as I was to Jossette. But I love him. I would like to get closer to him.”
“Sure. I was an only child and so were my parents. Growing up, I didn’t have many friends. That is the reason I like owning this place. Being here gets me closer to people. My customers are characters, but I like them. That is mostly. Well. Some days I hate them all. But generally they are fun.”
“I like this place. I thought there might be someone in here to hustle a game or two of blackjack in the back. I don’t see anyone.”
Roy whispered, “The law is in here.”
[contentcards url=”https://sayata.net/m/product/elite-cocktail-shaker-set-bartender-kit-by-barillio-24-oz-stainless-steel-martini-mixer-muddler-mixing-spoon-jigger-2-liquor-pourers-velvet-bag-recipes-booklet-ebook/” target=”_blank”]
“I noticed the men you were talking about. I am pretty sure Dolly was wrong. They are trying to do that look though, that is for sure.”
“Well, they have definitely hurt my business. Some people come through that door. They look at those two men. Then they turn around and scoot the hell out of here.”
“Some gangsters son I am. I hadn’t even noticed them until you and Deven started talking about them. But let us change the subject.”
Deven asked, “So is the invitation to sleep at your place real.”
“Yeah.”
“But you aren’t planning on anything kinky, right?”
Steed laughed. “I am not gay. I am not bisexual. Earl suggested it because I guess he has plans with your mom and I said yeah. I meant yeah. I am not your enemy. I would like to be your friend. But just friends. No weirdness; not that there is anything wrong with being gay or bi.”
Roy said, “Ah shucks. Spoil my fantasy of you two having sex.”
Deven said, “I am straight.”
“Son, sure you are. Just keep telling yourself that.”
Deven smiled. “Whatever. Is it okay if I go on and clock out? Business doesn’t look like it is going to pick back up.”
Roy said, “You two go on and buy yourselves some whip cream and strawberries and lots of lube.”
Deven rolled his eyes and laughed. “I am pretty certain that I am going to crash and sleep. Since Trish broke up with me I doubt that I have slept more than two hours.”
Steed said, “Yeah. I have to work tomorrow. Another day. More unhappy customers bringing their cars back. So I am going to crash also. But Deven, before bed, there is something that I want to talk to you about.”
Deven said, “Sure.”
Roy said, “Yeah, I wouldn’t talk about anything important right now. This place has got ears.”
One of the men stood up. He walked over to the bar. He unfolded a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the bar. On the paper was a picture of a man. “We are looking for this guy. He robbed a bank and there are reports that he is in the area.”
Roy looked at the circular. “Can I keep the paper?”
“Sure.”
The other man walked over. He tugged at his dick and shook his leg.
Steed looked at the picture. He recognized the man in the picture as Paulstir McCluskey. He worked for Steed’s father. In a knowing smirk, Steed nodded at the man.
Roy pulled a black magic marker from a glass on the bar. Roy took the picture from the man’s hand. In big letters he wrote on the picture. “Bank Robber.” He planned to hang it on the bulletin board on the far wall, at the end of the bar, before the corridor to the bathrooms. Steed took the picture from Roy. He took the magic marker from Roy. He scratched through what Roy had written. He flipped the picture over. On the back of the picture Steed wrote, “Accountant.”
Roy and Deven both looked at what Steed had written. They glanced at Steed and then they stared at the man. They both wondered what the hell was happening.
Steed said, “Paulstir would never rob a bank. The man is afraid of his own shadow.”
“I say he did.”
“I say you are a liar.”
“I could arrest you.”
“I’ve already sent a text message to a hit man. If they don’t hear back from me, you and your friend are dead. I strongly suggest you tell me the real reason you are after Paulstir and then get the fuck out of here.”
“You don’t know who you are messing with.”
“Your boss is Keith Racoon who is the Mayor of Backdoor. You have no jurisdiction in Hearthville are anywhere for that matter. You work for the Mayor but you are not regular police. Why are you after Paulstir McCluskey?”
Both men stared at Steed. One of the men said, “Jess, who the fuck is this little clown who looks like he crawled out of a vampire movie?”
The man called Jess said, “Keith Jr., I don’t know. He said, he has already contacted a hit man who will kill us if we try to arrest him.”
The man called Keith Jr. said, “He must be crazy. He is cute though. I bet he has a tight little ass.”
Steed said, “I imagine even a thimble wouldn’t be tight around your little pecker. I am going to ask you one more time why you are pretending Paulster is a bank robber and then if you don’t give me an answer, I am going to beat hell out of you.”
“You and whose army?”
Lilly Bare came into Purple Bird. She looked around. She saw Roy and Deven had scared looks on their faces. She saw Steed was looking angry. Furious. She also realized the place was nearly empty. “What is going on?”
Steed said, “These two clowns out of Backdoor are trying to saying Paulster McCluskie robbed a bank. There is no way he robbed a bank. He is an accountant for my father.”
The man called Jess’ mouth fell open. “Your father is Arthur Ramsey.”
Steed realized there was something odd about the man’s expression when he said that. Steed asked, “Why are you after Paulster McCluskie?”
“Shit. Keith Jr.. Let us get the hell out of here.”
“If Paulster is arrested or killed, you two are dead men. I hope you understand that. If I see any flyer anywhere suggesting Paulster is a bank robber, you two are corpses. Do you understand?”
Steed grabbed a bottle off the bar and broke the bottle against the edge of wooden counter. He grabbed the man called Keith Jr. and flipped him around to point the jagged glass to his throat. Steed asked, “Do you understand?”
The man called Jess said, “Yeah, we understand. The all points bulletin for Paulster will be lifted. There was no bank robbery. It was just a misunderstanding.”
Steed shoved the man called Keith Jr. Into the arms of the man called Jess. “I don’t guess you will tell me what this was all about.”
“Paulster owes Mayor Keith Racoon some money. A gambling debt. We didn’t know that Paulster works for Arthur Ramsey.”
“Liar. You figured out who I am when I said that Paulster works for my father.”
The man called Jess said, “At first we didn’t know.”
“If Paulster says he owes Mr. Raccon money, my father will pay the debt. But you leave Paulster alone.”
The man called Keith Jr. said, “Good enough.”
Steed said, “Get out of here.”
The man called Jess and the man called Keith began walking. The man called Keith reached for a donut off his table near the door. The man called Jess slapped his hand away from the table and they kept walking. They rushed out the door.
Lilly walked over to the bar. She gave Steed a look. “I see your father raised a tough guy. I never realized you could handle yourself so well.”
Steed put the broken bottle in a trash can that Deven had brought around. “No. Victor and Jossette raised a tough guy. My mother and father bullied a scared kid who didn’t have a clue.”
Steed and Deven began to clean up the mess from where Steed had broken the bottle.
[contentcards url=”https://sayata.net/m/product/usb-podcast-condenser-microphone-192khz-24bit-uhuru-professional-pc-streaming-cardioid-microphone-kit-with-boom-arm-shock-mount-pop-filter-and-windscreen-for-broadcasting-recording-youtube/” target=”_blank”]
Lilly asked, “Victor?”
“Victor Duddley.”
LIlly said, “I have never met Victor. I have seen him around from time to time but we have never been introduced.” Lilly changed the subject. “I was going to shoot pool with Clyde Jr. And Don but I see they are not here.”
Steed said, “Deven and I were just fixing to head out. I would like to play pool with you some time but I really do need to get out of here.”
“I accept the rain check.”
“Cool.”
With a few towels Deven soaked up the liquor on the bar and the floor.
Roy said, “I will mop it up. Don’t worry about it.” Roy took the towels and tossed them into a bucket that Deven had. “You can go on and leave with Steed.”
Deven said, “Thanks.”
Deven and Steed left.
Lilly sat down on a bar stool. She ordered beer and pretzels. “It looks like your business got ruined today.”
“Yeah. Everyone thought those clowns from Backdoor were state law or someone Daniel had brought in to clean my establishment up.”
Lilly said, “I didn’t realize Steed is tough. He kind of comes across as soft.”
Roy said, “He is a good kid. I only learned today that Arthur Ramsey is his father. That kind of shocked me. Roger Ogelby was in here earlier with Steed. You know, they are cousins.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“Until today, I didn’t know. I also didn’t know that Jossette Ogelby is dead. That news kind of broke my heart.”
“Yeah, it was at Jossette’s funeral that Steed’s mom Rachel tried to kill herself. That is how she ended up in the Hearthville Mental Institution.”
Roy said, “Well. But for you, I don’t have any customers so what do you say that you and I shoot some pool.”
“That sounds like a winner. But I must warn you, I am good.”
“Hell yeah. I’ve seen you play.” Roy cleared his throat. “Have I ever thanked you and Johnny for being my first customers.”
“Roy, you never have to thank us for anything. That you are a thorn in the side of our cousin Daniel is thanks enough.”
Roy laughed. “Daniel is a character. But he is a good guy. Nothing like those clowns from Backdoor.”
“Don’t be fooled. Johnny and I love Daniel but he can be something else.”
“I am going to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
“Steed told those Backdoor clowns that he had sent a text message to a hit man and that if he were arrested that the hit man had orders to kill them. Do you think that was a bluff?”
“Probably not.”
“Does that make him a bad guy?”
“Would letting them threaten him and his friend have made him a good guy?”
“I guess not. But to text a hitman! My God!”
Lilly laughed. “I don’t think I could be trusted with my own personal hitman. Bitch just pulled in front of me to beat me to a parking space. Okay. I am calling my hitman. Bitch just entered speedy checkout line with her shopping cart full. Okay. Let me call my hitman.” Lilly laughed.
Roy laughed. “Remind me to never make you or Steed angry.”