HELL OF A DEAL, a supernatural satire

Thirty Five

35

Smith's hands and feet remained shackled. It was presumed he was a vicious and potentially psychotic killer.

Two muscular prison guards escorted him to a payphone, where he was allowed to place his daily call. The clanking and crashing of dropped weights and the guttural roars of inmates intruded.

Al stared at the phone's dirty, greasy chrome keypad. He punched in a telephone number from memory.

Louis Seaford picked up the call. "Hey buddy. It took you long enough."

Al squeezed the sticky payphone receiver against his cheek. He ignored his guards and the bustle of the jail.

"I want to make anew deal."

Seaford feigned ignorance. "Whatever do you mean, Alfred? Hey, it's a shame Katya posted all those kinky pictures of you two on that prison love website. Smile bitch!" Seaford laughed. "That's some freaky stuff you're into, man. Not that I judge. But I think you're going to be a sought-after commodity inside if you know what I'm getting at--"

Al growled, "I want my daughter back!"

"Has she gone somewhere?"

"I want me back."

"Oh, Al," said Lou. "That crappy, broken down piece of shit body? Is that what you mean?"

"It's the only way."

"That's just sad, man."

"Make another deal. It's what you do, right?"

"Another deal? Oooooh. I'm all ears. What are you going to do? Assassinate somebody for me? That'd be fun."

Al teetered back,fazed. "No. Just, take back your treatment. Take it away. Give me some time as my old self, with my daughter."

"Ehhh. What'sin it for me, buddy?"

"I just." Al covered his eyes with his hand. He tried to remember some feeling from his former life. He had nothing left to bargain. "Haven't you taken enough from me?"

"Oh, Jeez." Lou breathed out disgustedly. "Okay. Here's what I can do." Lou banged his receiver down hard to jolt Smith through the line."Remember when I walked into your office that very first time?"

"Vaguely."

"And you said,'You got five minutes, kid?'"

"Yeah."

"I'll give you five minutes, kid."

"With Victoria?"

"Yep."

"Conscious? Able to speak?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. Anything else I can do for you Maestro? I'm really busy these days, as you should know."

"No. That's all.Just let me see Victoria again. Let me have her back. That's the only thing I want."

Lou sighed, and a blunt rasp hit his telephone's microphone. "You know! Don't go tellin' people I'm turning into a big softie, Smith. I have an image to uphold."