Gods and Monsters

II

Jack Canterbury's office - Canary Wharf, London

A rhythmic patting of Jack's fingers on his desk echoed around the room. Like a child not wishing to get up for school in the morning, he knew what he had to do, but he'd put it off for another five minutes. More patting as Jack looked up at the phone in front of him. He knew he had to get it over with sooner or later.

He dialled the number. Silence. Then ringing.

"How can I help you Mr Canterbury?" Eugene hissed down the phone.

Jack felt stupid. He couldn't believe that this man had him so terrified. Then again, he had seen what Eugene did to people who crossed him. "Eugene, it's about the Purple Vice Exchange."

"Go on."

"I'm afraid that I will be unable to assist you with the exchange. Unfortunately something else has come up. I wanted to let you know so you could make the appropriate preparations without me."

A heavy sigh came from the other end of the line. "Jack, you disappoint me. Surely you can't be so foolish to run away from this now. You and I both know that you'll be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life, and not just because I'll be coming after you."

Jack bit his tongue and lied. "It's just this one deal I will be unable to oversee. As soon as my other obligations are resolved I will be more than happy to assist you with future ventures."

Eugene howled down the phone. "You just don't get it, do you. This is the deal. If you can't personally oversee it I want your best agents on the ground with my men."

More lying. "I'm afraid all our agents are tied up on other assignments currently. I'll see if I can get any of them free, but you know how it is, they're all deep undercover and moving them now could ruin operations in the long run."

The silence from the other end of the line was terrifying as Jack waited to see what Eugene would say. "Look Jack, I'll put it simply for you; you either make sure the exchange goes off without a hitch, or I will make sure you, and everyone you care about pays." Jack audibly gulped just as Eugene hung up, and he prayed the Scot hadn't heard. Eugene had been clear about his intentions, but looking across the room as Maria walked by only solidified Jack's position. He wouldn't help Eugene with his nefarious schemes, and he would be damned if anyone was going to harm him or his loved ones. 

Continued in Part 3...