Remember Why We Do What We Do

Chapter 4: Make a Mess

~~Richie~~

As I go over to the table I hear "Richie. How you feeling?" I answer sarcasm lacing my voice "Oh, I'm just peachy, yeah. How you feeling?"

Francis answers "I didn't get shot in the stomach earlier, so, you know, not bad." I then start the conversation of getting him to confess "Lucky, isn't it? All those bullets flying around, but the La Fontaines, they didn't land a single one on you, hmm?"

Francis then says "Not luck, Richie. It's, um... ...it's skill." I then say "I guess I was too slow. So, where you been?"

He answers "Made some calls. I checked in with a hi-fi shop owes us a favor. They got a machine that can play the tape. I'm, I'm gonna go over with it this minute."

I then ask, "So you want to take the tape?" He then replies "Yeah. Pronto." I then say, "Why don't I go with you." He then says "No, no. You're in no shape to be out there."

I then state "So you want to walk out of here with this tape alone? Is that right?" He then says, "That's right."

I then give him a compromise and if he keeps this up, he's pretty much admitting to being the rat "I'll tell you what. Just wait for my pops to get here, you know? Then we can all listen to the tape together."

He then dismisses saying "We don't have time." I then counter "What's the big rush?" He then tries saying "Every second the rat is alive is another second that your father is in danger."

English then butts in saying "Gentlemen. If I know your father, Master Richie, your father would want you both to take a deep breath."

I smile saying pointing to myself "Now... glad you said that. Hmm? My father. My father, Francis. It's my father who's in danger, not yours."

He then goes about saying he love my father like his own "I love your father like he was my own and I'm trying to help him."

I ignore that and continue "See, wasn't your father selling fucking tomatoes down on State Street before he died from a lifetime of being nothing to nobody? Huh? So maybe me and my pops don't need your fucking help. You ever think of that?"

He then says "I'm gonna need that tape, pal, right now." I then say, "Why don't you try and take it." He then says "Not tonight. Now give me the tape."

I then lead him on asking "Really, Francis, I mean, what's the, uh, what's the rush? I mean, really, my pops will be here any minute. Unless you don't want my pops listening to this tape." He then asks "What are you talking about? Huh?"

I then repeat "Why don't you want my pops listening to this tape, Francis?" He then says anger on the edge of his tone "I said, give me the fucking tape."

He goes for the case, but I push him back stating "Ooh. Now who's too fucking slow?" He tries to explain "Richie." I go "Mm?"

He then continues to explain "Richie, for your own good, for the good of your father, I'm gonna take that tape now and I'm gonna leave. If you touch me again... ...I'll break your fucking arm, you understand?"

I then tell him off "You're such a fucking prick, you know that? Think you're so fucking smart." he warns me "Careful." I continue "Hmm? Smarter than everyone."

English also warns "Careful, Master Richie." Francis warns again "Careful." Francis and I struggle with the case, and it fall to the ground popping open to reveal the tape is missing.

I reach for my gun pointing it at Francis and ask with a warning tone "Where's the tape, Francis?" Francis then says, "You must be out of your mind to point that gun at me."

English tries to talk but Francis says "Stop playing games, Richie. Where'd you put the tape? What was your plan? Did you hide it to try and trick me into confessing something? 'Cause that is somehow the dumbest thing you've done all day."

I then start telling him off "Mm. Always wanted to be the big man, didn't you? No selling tomatoes for you. No, no, no. You don't want to work for my pops. You want to fucking be him."

He then says, "I owe everything to that man." He thinks that changes anything and I continue by saying "Well, guess what. As long as me and him are around, you ain't never gonna be number one."

English tries to tell us "There's no need for this fighting." But I ignore him and keep my focus on Francis telling him "You slimy fuck, I had you pegged from day one. You know that? From the second I first laid eyes on you, I said, "Who the fuck is this son of a bitch?" He ain't family."

Once again Francis goes on about the six marbles "No, I'm the guy who took six marbles to save your father's life because family wasn't there."

I then tell him off "Yeah, fuck you! I run this crew." He then tells me off saying "No, your pops run this crew. And I spend half of every day cleaning up your messes."

I then say as a silent rage fumes underneath "You want to see me make a mess?" Just then he turns to face the direction of a sound and I take that moment to shoot him, but I miss.