The City of Blood and Literature

Chapter 3: Powdered Donuts

Natsuki threw her third punch.

"Now don't kill the man." I said, "Where's the money Dan? You eat up most of my shipment!"

I threw a bag of our famous "powdered donuts" on to the table in front of him.

Dan orders a new batch of them every week, he burns through them like fire with paper.

"I'm sorry! I don't have it!" He squeaked. Natsuki went for another punch, but I held her back.

"Now Natsuki," I said, "I'm sure something could be arranged to get rid of all those nasty old debts, now Dan, I'm sure you know of my good pal Yuri here." I gesture to Yuri, who's been twiddling with a knife, "you, my friend, are going to help her get some dirt on another friend of mine."

"Who?" He said, I could tell he wasn't planning on doing it, but I'll explain it first, I hold up a picture of my dear old sheriff. Boy did he look pissed.

"No way!" He shouted, "He's the only one with the means of taking you and this whole terrible group down! I have 3 kids an-" He struck a nerve there, so of course I just couldn't resist socking him in the face, but then something came into my head.

"You have kids Dan?" I asked, "Yuri, he doesn't want to help us, what other forms of payment we offer?"

"Well, you could die," she said, "But people really don't like that for some reason, so you could have your kids pay it for you, or you know what I like? How's about you send them a box, we could always use new...customers." I like the way she thinks.

"No!" He said, "No you can't put them down the same path I did, I'll help you, just please, please keep that stuff away from them!"

"You're a good father." I said, "Yuri, looks like you've got a new partner, now go get that hunk of a sheriff."

After the two headed off I took one more good look at Dan.

"Now, before I let you go I want to ask you one last thing."

"I-I'd never!"

"Now now, I haven't even said what it is yet."

I move behind Dan and put my hands on his shoulders, letting the pain soak into him.

"Are you going to say anything about this to anyone?"

"N- Agh!"

"Do you plan on trying to get the sheriff to save you after all this?"

"Nev-AGH!"

I wispier into his ear

"Do you know anything that could be of use to know about the sheriff?"

"N-no."

"I can feel you lying to me Dan," I bring out a simple pocket knife. "You are hiding something aren't you?"

"Wh-what? N-No! I don't know anything about him other than his name!"

I give a small scratch on the left side of his neck. His screams are almost big enough to attract attention. But I know I'm getting closer to breaking him wide open.

"O-Okay! P-Please I'll talk I'll talk!"

"Now that's what I want to hear Dan."

"He-he has a friend, a-an old friend. She's a little shorter than him, I think they might've had a relationship or something? I couldn't tell, b-but they had a high amount of chemistry together and I think she might know something that can help you!"

Music to my ears, finally something I can use.

"Very well Dan," I say as I cut off the restraints. "Now as part of our agreement you never had this conversation with us, never met us, and you will never report anything we have done to you to any law enforcement?"

"Y-Yes Miss!"

"And I trust you will also not tell your family Dan? Or do we need to give them a little surprise as well? "

"N-No Miss."

"Good, now run along. If anyone asks you fell down pretty rough on a hike."

Dan finally scurry's away, almost limping in a way. No doubt he's going to begin talking after that whole fiasco. But if it makes me any closer to that Sheriff and keeping my family's throne?

Then so be it.