The Mistake

Last Impression

"Well, well, my pretty, look who's returned." Rory stretched and curled his fingers toward Wallace. "And where's your little dog?"

"Ha, ha, Rory. It was the wicked witch that said that, not a Munchkin."

"Oh, nice shot from a pal."

"If I only had a heart..." Wallace sang, slipping onto his favourite stool.

Rory placed a beer in front of him and stood back, arms folded, waiting.

"What?"

"What! What do you mean what? What happened? It's been nearly two months, a guy can only get so much from the news."

Wallace took a healthy swig from the bottle and smiled widely. "Are you ready for this? This is the stuff movies are made of, pal." He reached for a bowl of peanuts and popped a few before beginning. "First of all, the money you gave Houseman has gone back to the firm and into the proper accounts. His partner is hobbling but expects to be a man again quite soon." Rory laughed and fetched another beer plus one for himself. "Bondra went into surgery for a badly fractured skull but is expected to be her stunning self when they are all finished, of course beauty might not be an advantage where she's going. Daryl and Sal are in the same hospital; Daryl has a severe concussion and a badly smashed hand and Sal is in a coma. Walter Jaeger is the only fatality and he didn't die from the gunshot, he drowned on the office carpet, his bandage soaked up a huge pile of water."

"What about Toto?"

"Toto took about twenty rounds, not fatal, if you can believe that. He's also in hospital under police guard.

Houseman found Bondra's tape in Sal's belongings and Bernie has been charged with issuing death threats among other things. Butch was patched up for a superficial wound and sent home. Seems he and Daryl didn't actually do anything wrong, they just got the worst of all that went on.

"Aren't you forgetting somebody?"

"Ah yeah. Well I'm free too. Houseman said there was nothing he could charge me with but I have to appear as a witness in a lot of upcoming trials."

"I didn't mean you, stupid, where's Nora in all this?"

"Oh, Nora... right..."

*****

The Howden lobby was cool and inviting and Wallace nodded to a few of the regulars as he slipped onto his favourite stool, bracing himself for Rory's latest performance.

"Sure'n it's a foin marnin' me boyo. Is it a glass o' the auld sod you'll be havin'?"

"Jesus Rory, that's terrible. I thought you were all better. And what the hell's, a glass of old sod?"

"Beer's on the house. It's a luncheon special."

"Oh no, not another special. Rory, I just want a drin-"

"Ah ye'll love it, boyo. 'Tis a taste o' the blarney-a clover salad, with a shamrock dressing and a beer. A paltry nine-fifty, and well spent it is."

"You said the beer was on the house."

"If you order the special, me boy."

"I can't."

Rory stopped his impression. "You can't? Why the hell not?"

"Nora's meeting me for lunch... at Booker's Lounge, I just came in for a quick drink and a chance to shoot the breeze with you."

"Booker's Lounge! You two are eating at Booker's Lounge?" Wallace indicated he wanted a beer and shrugged a smile. "Maybe you should drink there as well."

"C'mon Rory, she's all excited, she wants to celebrate in a proper dining room... you know."

"What about work, have you had any luck yet?"

"A few nibbles, I might even consider freelancing since it turns out Nora is a newly promoted legal counselor at JCD&S, and isn't that a hoot?"

"So it's to be true is it?"

"Next September. I really came by to tell you that if you are going to be best man, you absolutely can not do impressions either before or after the ceremony."

"I promise to be the epitome of good manners and procedural correctness." He crinkled his eyes and gave them a wipe. "Look what you've done, I'm almost teary-eyed."

Wallace finished his beer and slid off the stool. "Thanks pal, catch you later." He crossed the bar and was almost out the door when Rory called out.

"What?"

"She knew it was Marlon Brando that time, Wallace."

"I know, Rory."

THE END

Was it worth the read? Would love to know. Thanks to those who did read it all, hope it was fun.