The Life and Times of Cheater Hayes

'Cause she asked you to

     So Cheater, Muggs and Fingers piled into an old car and drove three hours just to get to South Hampton, Long Island. Muggs was in the backseat, and within twenty minutes, he was out cold, snoring. Fingers was riding shotgun, with Cheater at the wheel. Every once in a while, Fingers would glance back at Muggs, just to be sure he hadn't died or fallen out. The car was silent for a long time. 

     "Why did you take this job, Cheater?" Fingers spoke up, his gray eyes examining the fake jewel they were going to swap out with the real one. This fake diamond was crucial, and Fingers had to make sure it was flawless.

     "We needed the money." Cheater replied shortly.

     "That's your only reason?" Fingers asked skeptically.

     "Obviously we need the cash. If it weren't for this job, we'd be sleeping on the streets tonight.

     "Versus sleeping in a car." Fingers mumbled. There was a long silence. Fingers was not much of a talker to begin with and the fact that the two men were on the verge of a serious discussion stilled his tongue even more. Finally though, Fingers worked up the nerve to bring up Cheater's soft spot.

     "Where did you even get this car anyway?"

     "Stolen."

     "You liar. Its Mona's ain't it?"

     "...Yeah, so?"

     "Where'd she get a car?"

     Cheater took a deep breath. "How the hell am I supposed to know that, Fingers? I don't pry into her life and she doesn't pry in mine. I don't give a damn where she got the car!" He raised his voice and the fat man in the back snorted and stirred. Cheater calmed down a little, back to his calm, aloof tone. "Why do you even care, Fingers?"

     Fingers shrugged. "I'm just talking."

     "Then talk about your own buisness."

     Fingers shrugged, silent for a moment more.

    "She's pretty, ain't she?"

     "Who?" Cheater asked. "Mona?"

     "Yeah. But not in the trendy way. She's no flapper."

     Cheater snickered. "She'd like you saying that."

      "If she didn't kill me for talking about her."

      Cheater could picture Mona wielding a knife over Finger's scrawny body. He knew Mona could play mean, but somehow, Cheater didn't think she'd mind the compliment.

      "I think I know why you took this job."

      "Try me, Fingers."

      "'Cause she asked you to"

      Cheater didn't respond. He turned down a side street and pulled up in front of a mansion.

      "Augusta Granville's." Fingers threw a shoe at Muggs, who woke up with a snort.

      "Damn, this place is the bee's knees!"

       "You've gotta stop listenin' to those flapper shows, Muggs."

        "Well boys, time to get to work."

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Ahem... sorry this chapter may not be quite as interesting as the last one, but I hope you still like it. And if you want me to keep updating, I would reallyyyy appreciate comments and votes :D

As always, Flapper was written by Tim Kelly, with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur, and it belongs to Pioneer Drama.