Parker Lane

Chapter 4- Meeting an old acquaintance

We arrived on a dirt road which led to a small restaurant called Joe's Diner. It looked run down and old. The building was rotting away in this rotten town. Its astounding as everything seems to merge here. The rottenness of this town was growing on everything and everyone. You could just make out the similarities.

Parker stopped the car a little bit ahead of the diner. We got out and walked towards the building. There were no other cars or vehicles near here. The air stunk of dead organisms and I walked quickly ahead of Parker.

"You can stay out here, I'll be back."
I say to him before he can reach the door.

He gives me an annoyed look but nods his head and walks away but stays close.

I take a deep breath and look up before opening the door.

As soon as I enter I'm met with old wooden floor which was chipping at the sides, a bar with thrashed chairs and a smug looking Joe behind it.

" I knew you wouldn't stay away for long chica." He says, grinning with a nasty look on his face. I was not rattled. I had met enough of Joe's in my life to know how to handle one.

"Cut the crap Joe. I need answers." I say as I settle my hands at my sides.

Joe sighs and rakes a hand through his greasy dark hair.

"I told you everything I knew two years ago chica, trust me."

Having had enough, I grab my pistol from behind me and show it off to him. He looks rattled and taken aback.

"N-now w-what d-d-do you plan t-t-to do with t-that?" He says as he completely looses his shit and starts fidgeting in his seat.

"I told you I need answers and answers I will get. Tell me who bribed the lawyers and the judge. Tell me who it was." I say as I give him a menacing look.

He raises his hand in surrender. "Let's sit down. There's a lot you don't know." He starts to walk from behind the bar towards one of the diner tables.

I follow him and sit across, the pistol still home in my hand.

"It was Jacob. It was all him. He bribed the officials and every God dam person in this town. He told everyone not to testify or something bad would happen to them or their close ones. You need to stop him Lez, he's getting out of control."

Fear. That's what I feel when I hear the words coming out of Joe's mouth. I had come to terms with my past but hearing his name again just sent a shiver down my spine. No Lez. You cannot be weak now. Not when you're so close.

"You know what happened Joe. You saw it. How you let him bribe you? I thought you'd be the one person who would support me, help me out. I thought about it for long. But I needed to know why. Why Joe. Was my innocence so cheap? What number did that asshole put on it. Tell me! Goddammit Joe you have no idea what you're messing with here. Tell me what price he put on my dignity. Tell me!"

I start out in a whisper but end up screaming in his face.

I stand up and bang my hands on the table. My hair flying everywhere but I didn't care. I had expected this but had completely prepared myself not to think of the worst. But that's what happened. The worst just seems to follow me everywhere.

The sound of me screaming and banging on the table must've altered Parker as he slam opened the door and saw me. A confused expression on his face, with his pistol in his hand. Where did he get his from?

"Parker, get out." I tell him without looking at him. I'm still looking at Joe. He looks like he shat his pants.

"Lez. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You know I needed the money. You know times are tough I -I couldn't help it. I needed the money Lez."