Sid : the Devil's secretary

23. Good secretary

23. Good secretary

For several days, Lucifer had been away from the office on "special business" while Sid had successfully managed to run a clean ship while his boss was away. The offices below near ground level hummed with the daily chatter of workers and tip tapping of computers to the ringing of phones across multiple floors of the citadel. Today, Sid was sorting through papers in Lucifer's office, occupying the demon's large chairman seat.

"what did I miss?" Lucifer walked into the office.

"Lucifer, sir. Hey. I was just going through some things is all" Sid looked up from his sheaths of paper sprawled over the desk.

"enjoying the seat. Fine leather you know" Lucifer crossed his arms.

"I can feel it" Sid replied. Lucifer went to a filing cabinet next to Sid and took out a golden key from around his neck.

"what's in there?" Sid asked as Lucifer unlocked the brown cabinet.

"I just came back to get some things" Lucifer took out two pistols, a sawed-off shotgun and two pairs of shining brass knuckles.

"since when do you need brass knuckles for a business venture?" Sid pointed out.

"since some goons took something from me that I need back" Lucifer loaded the weapons into a small duffel bag he had brought in.

"where are you going now?" Sid continued.

"I won't be long, don't worry" Lucifer edged back out to the door.

"is there anything you want me to do while you're gone?" Sid suggested.

"check the drawer" Lucifer directed. Sid opened the drawer under the main desk. Inside was a yellow file containing a case file on one of Lucifer's many clients.

"who's this?" Sid looked down to the image of a bald middle aged man in a white suit and a swooping white fedora.

"a business partner of mine and a friend of the family. He needs someone like you to take care of some business" Lucifer explained.

"wait but this is Di Marco, the most notorious mob boss in all of Hell. why does he want me?" Sid took a closer look at the name tag. Andrea Di Marco.

"he told me he needed somebody like you. besides, he asked for a favor and who am I to turn down a deal?" Lucifer reasoned.

"you sure?" Sid said.

"very. Anyway, I'm off. Di Marco told me if you do a great job, he will pay handsomely for your services, so get on going" Lucifer left for the elevator, with Sid reading through the profile on Di Marco. His silent contemplation was only hindered by a stray phone call on the desk.

"hello?" Sid picked up the old rotary.

"hi Sid, it's me, Carlos" the voice on the other side answered.

"oh hey. Thanks for a great time a couple of nights ago. By the way, how did you get this number?. I never gave you mine" Sid sat back in the chair.

"Hell is a sucker for phone books, man. glad you had fun. I just called to ask if you were up for another rendezvous sometime" Carlos chuckled.

"well, I've got some stuff to do at the office, but I'll be free after work" Sid compromised.

"cool. I'll meet you outside by where I usually sit. You know where" Carlos replied.

"looking forward to it" Sid put the phone down and headed across town to the Di Marco estate.