Twitchy

Chapter 10

           With the rain continuing to patter on the broken glass skylights, Fox took the rusted metal stairs up to the office where he knew he would find his old friend. At the top he came face to face with an imposing figure, staring him down.

           "Whale ain't takin' visitors right now. You best be on your way, little man."

           "Is that so? Well tell him he still owes me fifteen dollars for that bet. I tried to tell him I'm the best Genji Baller around, but-"

           With that, the door swung open with a clang. "ONLY BECAUSE YA CHEATED YA BASTARD! Good ta see ya, Fox."

           Fox let out the first real chuckle he'd had since Cinder died. "It's been too long, Whale."

           Whale turned. "Thunder! Leave us, we need bro time. I mean- we have very important business to discuss."

           The bodyguard nodded and made his way down the stairs, his large boots clomping with each step.

           "How long's it been? Five? Ten years?" Fox asked, settling into a large leather armchair and taking a puff.

           "Don't ask me, I lost count after two. So what brings you around these parts? Didn't you swear to never set foot back here after you settled down? Didn't wanna bring your family into it, I can respect it."

           Fox leaned forward in his chair. "About that. Cinder's dead, Whale. Murdered."

           "What?! By who? I'll sick my boys on 'em, just say the word. Hell, I'll get after 'em myself if I have to. You're my blood brother, I'm not leavin' you."

           "Slow your roll there, friend. It was Mr. Yeeeta. Murder for hire. They pinned it on a guy, some Dr. Healsgood? But I know it wasn't him. Hell, even the police probably know it’s not him. They don’t care, long as they’ve got somebody to put away they’re happy. You know these streets just as well as I do, Whale. Probably better, with how long you’ve stayed in the business. You know they don’t give a damn about us, they never have. The only time a murder is actually investigated around these parts is if your pockets can do the talking… Or if you do it yourself.”

           “So that’s what is is, eh Fox? Consider yourself a junior detective these days?” He took a derisive glance over his faded leather trench coat, then added, “I don’t see a badge. They couldn’t even afford ya one of them cheap plastic ones? Even kids ‘round here got one of those.”

           Fox scoffed lightly, shaking his head. “Always the jokester, Whale. But yeah, given the trip around the city I’ve been on this evening… or rather, this morning, I feel like I’m fully fledged.” With a small smile, he sighed, taking another drag. “Well, enough idle talk. I’m glad to see you, but I’m here for a favor.”

           Whale threw his hands up and rolled his eyes, sitting back in his chair. “Aaand there it is. It’s never somethin’ easy with ya, is it, Fox?”

           “You know we’re family, Whale. Family’s never easy.” With a flick of his wrist he pulled the picture Gaoli had given him out of his inner pocket. He slid it across his desk, rotating it so it faced him. He tapped the two silhouettes in the corner. “Know these two?”

           Whale scratched his chin, the sound of his fingernails on his five o’clock shadow nearly grating. “Wouldn’t say I know ‘em, but I’d recognize ‘em in a lineup, for sure… Why, ya got beef or somethin’?”

           Fox shook his head. “Just following a lead, is all. That’s all I’ve been doing all night… So, what was happening here?”

           “Whale- I mean, well… I’d say it looked to me like a shakedown. The shorter one seemed to keep callin’ this one ‘Iocane’ I think. Owed ‘er a bit of cash, seemed to me. Or, by the way she was talkin’, more than a bit. I watched ‘er drag the little one into that spot, there. The ol’ Pausers Building. My guys can get ya in there, but that’s as far as I’ll take ya. You’re on your own from there. That’s unmonitored territory for me, you know how it is.”

           With a curt nod and a tip of his hat, Fox stood and shook out his coat, grabbing the picture from the desk once more. “Always a pleasure, Whale.”

           As he opened the door, Whale whistled for his bodyguard to return. With a nod to Fox, he spoke. “Help out an old buddy for me, wouldja Thunder? He needs an escort to Pausers. Get him to the door, then get out. You know the drill.”

           Thunder gave a grunt, then headed down the stairs again, expecting Fox to follow.

           “Talkative fellow, isn’t he?” Fox remarked to Whale. They said their final goodbyes, and he followed Thunder down the stairs and back out onto the chilly streets. The sun was beginning to creep over the horizon, but it felt anything but hopeful. He knew he was soon to be exhausted.