22 Caliber - A Stephanie Plum-inspired Story

Chapter Eight

We decided to start off with Kostner. Kostner's corner was on the lower end of Stark, an area that more resembled a war zone than it did a neighborhood. Burned out building carcasses, graffiti, people with hollowed out eyes wearing gang colors. It was the kind of neighborhood I avoided and I was glad Ranger was with me.

Ranger parked across the street from Kostner. He was standing in front of an old butcher's store wearing a hoody too large for his body, homey pants with the crotch at his knees, basketball shoes with the laces undone and the purple doorag of the Comstark Slayers, a particularly violent gang with which I had some personal experience in the past. He seemed to be doing a brisk business, with three customers in succession. Kostner had just opened shop and those people were waiting for him to show up.

We left the car and crossed the street. If I was leaving my car in the street, I would be worried the car would be stolen, stripped or vandalized without us there to guard it. Today I knew we would not have a problem. Ranger had driven his Porsche Turbo and in this neighborhood only the most successful and ruthless drug dealers could afford such a car. It wasn't worth the risk for anyone to touch it.

Ranger and I moved towards Kostner and crowded him against the wall of the front of the abandoned butcher's. With both of us blocking his view of the street, Kostner's eyes grew large as he tried to bluff his way out of the situation. "What are you looking for?" he said. "Weed, smack, crack, candy, special K, crank, white...? I've got it all."

"We aren't looking for drugs. We're looking for information", said Ranger.

"Information? That will cost you", said Kostner.

"No, it won't", said Ranger quietly. "This is the kind of information can either get you into trouble or keep you out of trouble and you will tell me the truth because if you don't and I find out, you will be in more trouble than you can imagine."

"You don't scare me", said Kostner. This was a lie. We could see from the way his eyes were jackrabbiting back and forth between us and the sweat beading on his forehead he was scared. Even I was a teensy bit scared. Ranger in full combat mode was a sight to be feared and Kostner knew Ranger meant business. As quick as a snake strike, Ranger grabbed Kostner by the front of his hoody and threw him up against the wall. His feet were dangling and his toes were stretched towards the sidewalk.

"Do you know what Vincent Plum looks like? Just nod yes or no", Ranger said. Kostner nodded yes.

"Do you owe Vincent money?" Kostner again nodded yes.

"Is that for the bond or something else?" Kostner squeaked out "the bond."

"Are you blackmailing Vinnie?" Kostner shook his head no. Ranger let him drop onto the ground.

"Man, is that what this is about? I don't know nothing about no blackmailing. Honest. Would the Kos lie to you?" He paused as he thought about it. "What is he being blackmailed for? Maybe I could cash in on it. If I didn't have to pay the bond I could stay out on my corner until the police find me again." His little eyes were going wild with the possibilities. "This is a good corner. I got lots of business here. It will not be good when I go to jail. Who will pay the rent for my momma? And then there's the payments to the brothers. Do you see what I'm saying? I can't afford to go to jail."

We left Kostner and got back into the car. "What do you think?" I asked.

"I think he isn't the blackmailer, but he would like to be", said Ranger. I agreed. That's what I was thinking as well.

We drove over to the fourth block of Stark, looking for Pendello and found him talking to one of his 'hos. We ambled over to him.

"Excuse me, but we would like to talk to you for a moment", Ranger said.