Another segment, seeing as how Clansman asked so nicely...
Ten
I turned towards the voice, hesitant, glancing back towards the side door.
“Beaumont? That you? How’d you get out here so fast?”
He chuckled.
“It’s a little thing called a front door, Luke, you should try it sometime instead of climbing through windows and lurking round rear exits. Normal people use them all the time, so I’m told.”
“Less of the wise cracks. What do you want?”
Either Beaumont had moved closer or my eyes were adjusting to the gloom but I realised he was holding a small calibre automatic. He gestured with it, his voice sounding almost apologetic.
“This? Purely a bargaining tool, designed to get your attention. Now kindly toss whatever firearm you’re carrying over here. Slow movements, if you please.”
It was my turn to smile and I spread my arms wide.
“I don’t carry a gun, Marcus, everyone knows that. The law won’t give me a permit and I’d lose my P-I licence toot suite if they caught me packing. Frisk me if you want.”
“Cut the B-S, Helath, you reek of gun smoke. It was obvious despite those Havana’s Dorn was smoking, but if you want to do it the hard way that’s fine by me.”
Despite his size I didn’t have him pegged as someone who enjoyed the rough stuff, so I could see this leaning towards a disabling shot to the leg. I tensed up, wondering if it was worthwhile trying to jump him, when another voice spoke from behind me.
“Drop the gun, pal, if you know what’s good for you.”
It was a Latino accent and I sensed rather than saw the looming presence of The Professor over my left shoulder. Beaumont coughed and took a step back, although his gun didn’t waver. It was obvious The Professor was armed, and while I didn’t know what kind of firearm the former boxer favoured, given his bulk it was probably along the lines of a three inch mortar. Beaumont cleared his throat and his self-confident tone had gone.
“Tell your friends to back off, Helath. One step closer and I put you down.”
I laughed, almost, and jerked a thumb towards The Professor.
“Does this look like a man who cares? Forget it, Beaumont, the tough guy act doesn’t suit you. These guys are the real deal and if you don’t play this just right we’re both dead men. I suggest you do as numbnuts here says and drop your piece.”
There was one of those pauses when Fate tosses a coin. I took a deep breath and half turned my head away, fearing the worst.
Beaumont dropped his pistol and held up his hands.
“OK, OK, I’m cool! This is just a personal beef between me and Helath. He was cheating at poker and I wanted my money back, that’s all!”
I let the lie slide as Beaumont was a complication I really didn’t need, whatever he was after. Raul appeared at my other shoulder, removing a silver toothpick and gesturing with it while he spoke.
“Amazes me you’ve lived this long, shamus, if a pussycat like this can get the drop on you. Just as well Mr Gramsci put the word out and Slavik let us know where you were. Now, all this unpleasantness is real fun to watch, but we need Helath in one piece, so you…” he pointed at Beaumont, “…can look him up later. Capishe?”
The negro didn’t hesitate, and was gone. The Professor moved round to cover me with a 12-guage while Raul retrieved the discarded automatic and patted me down. I wasn’t exactly overjoyed at being rescued, as any favour from Gramsci would definitely come with strings attached. Movement caught my eye and I saw the Imp was pulling on a loose thread, unravelling one of Raul’s turn-ups. Luckily both men were now facing me and I was the centre of attention. The Professor spoke.
“Mr Gramsci is displeased at your lack of progress, Mr Helath. And when Mr Gramsci is unhappy, he makes this known.” I saw Raul twitch, and realised the little man was carrying a large bruise on his cheek. “Even if you didn’t want to play detective, all you really had to do was maintain a high profile and give the murderer a second chance. Instead you’ve been running all over town, hiding out in dives and ending up on the wrong end of a gun. If it hadn’t been for my partner and I you could easily have been killed by the wrong person.”
Raul glanced the way Beaumont had gone and slipped the pistol into his jacket pocket.
“Cheating at cards, Helath? That’s low, even for you. Now, how about we take you back to Lorenzo’s, and you sit there, nice and quiet, while we see what happens. Shoot, if The Professor here is quick enough you might even get through this in one piece. ”
I raised my hands in mock surrender.
“Fine, boys, fine! Anything for a quiet life. Look, I left some dough stashed by the door before I went it, just so I wouldn’t be tempted to blow it all at once. Mind if I pick it up before we go? I’ll even stand you a round of drinks at the diner”
Raul waved me away.
“Yeah, yeah, go get the cash. I’ll hold it for you though, kind of like a bail bond against your good behaviour. And no funny business, right?”
I muttered something in agreement and Raul followed me over to the stack of crates by the side door. I bent over, blocking his line of sight with my body while groping around for the Webley.
“Come on, Helath, make with the moola.”
I turned, holding out the wallet I’d taken from the dead guy in the alley. Raul reached for it, not noticing the Webley in my left hand, held down alongside my leg.
“This better be-“
My gun came up quick, the weight of the revolver already straining my wrist, pointing straight at The Professor. He stood there, the shotgun held in one hand, like a toy, his face unreadable in the poor light. I tried for a gravel-voiced, deadly serious, tone.
“Don’t do it, big guy, it’s not worth it. Even if you do get a shot off, Raul here will take most of the blast, and you can see I’m carrying a real cannon. Put the shotgun down and let me walk away. All you have to do is say you got here too late, and I’d already split. No one except Beaumont can say otherwise, and you won’t see him again this side of Christmas.”
The moment stretched out and I could feel my left wrist start to protest at the weight. Raul was white faced and his nerve snapped first.
“Do as he says, Luther! Put the gun down. We’ll let Helath get killed on his own dime.”
Slowly, very slowly, the big man lowered his shotgun to the ground and stepped back. I edged past them, not daring to swap hands, although there were now shooting pains in my wrist and forearm. I saw Raul’s shoulders sag with relief, but The Professor turned as I moved, keeping his eyes on mind. If I’d been a yard closer I’m sure he’d have gone for it, and God knows how that would’ve played out.
I backed away, the distance to the end of the alleyway seemingly endless, until the streetlight began to cast a shadow in front of me. I started to relax slightly, but then the Imp sniggered and I half turned towards him, as it sounded like bad news.
Someone hit me from behind and I fell into the deep, black pool that opened at my feet.
