Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The Truth Shall Set You Free

“Obviously as you now know the Viper didn’t kill Tommy Mac that day. In fact he became quite useful to us over the years. He gave us information on the comings and goings of a lot of major players.” “But why didn’t he just kill him? It would have been much easier in the long run.” Skinner had become completely involved in the drama that seemed to be unfolding. All of this seemed to go against the larger picture that he had drawn of the Viper years ago.

“To tell you the truth, I’m not entirely sure myself. Perhaps he saw the greater use, or maybe just needed someone as back up in case the shit hit the fan. Either way I think it’s all related to that one job.” They had pulled to a stop in front of the Pit and locked the car up tight. Everybody in this neighborhood knew this car well by now, but that wouldn’t stop the rats that wandered the streets looking for somewhere to score a bit of cash for their next fix.

“What’s up Bobby?” Shin Lao piped from the door as she leisurely strolled into the shit hole that was the Pit. “Aye, evenin’ lass. Ye here ona business or pleasure?” “I’m here to see Mac, is he in?” “Aye sure, he’s in the back where he usually is.” Skinner leaned in close to her. “Is that the same bartender?” “Yep, he’s lost a little weight and cleaned himself up. Guess coming face to face with your impending death will change your perspective a bit.” She grinned again and walked to the rear of the bar, people perceptibly moving aside for her. Apparently they all knew the stories and who’s way to get out of.

Tommy MacGregor was indeed sitting at a grungy desk in the little room at the back of The Pit. He looked up as they entered and something of a smile crossed his face. “What brings ye down to my little gin mill?” Tommy was just as she had described him. Perhaps a little more haggard than when they’d first met, but the old Irish gangster still fancied himself a Sam Spade. “Just looking for information Tommy. Any of the Boss’ boys been in lately?” “Naw, justa couple a Shamuses who thought they could get someone to roll over on your boy though. They made outta here pretty quick though.” “Well, I thought you might have a quick talk with my friend here. He wanted to know what happened between you and the Viper.

“Be glad to doll. That was one hatchetman with class. He knew how to shoot some lead and he was always straight with me. As ye know he filled our place fulla holes, then had the balls to want te chat me up for a bit.”

“All right, we can barber for a bit.” Tommy seemed to be taking all of this in stride, which worried the two assassins even more. “Well, you see Mac, my current employer wants you bumped off. Apparently you’ve become a real thorn in his side. However I have a different opinion of you and your boys. You’ve kept this neighborhood from sliding further down the tubes. You guys may be thugs, but you keep the real criminals out of the row. So here’s my deal. I spare your life and I take your finger. You make someone else in charge of this gang and stay out of sight, and you live and keep me informed of the comings and goings. If you don’t find this agreeable, then I simply kill you here and the above scenario occurs, only without your continued survival. There will undoubtedly be a war for whoever will be in control and the only people who pay are the civilians. So it’s your choice Tommy.”

“I’ll be damned if the Bruno didn’t keep his word though.” Tommy held up his left hand to show where his index finger was missing. “He took a damn useful one though. I’ve been holed up around here ever since. He’d come to me now and then get some information and be off again.” “So what went wrong?” Skinner asked, feeling that everything would fit together much nicer once this part of the story was told. “Well, the Boss found out not long ago. I was already free and Elias was not in Tanaka’s employ at the moment. In fact no one had seen much of him before or after that.” Shin Lao was thoughtful thinking about the fury of Boss Tanaka when he found out that, much like a bad penny, Tommy MacGregor kept popping up, although with a new name and a much different face. But not different enough apparently.

“Did Elias come to you for information in the last week or so Tommy?” “Yeah we barbered for a bit about some doll he was supposed to rub. I didn’t have anything for him though and he ran out after that.” “Thanks Tommy. Tanaka might send around some replacements now that he knows you’re still among the living. I’d watch your back.” “Don’t worry ‘bout me doll face. I’ve got it all covered.”

They left Tommy’s room and glanced around the bar. Everything seemed eerily quiet. Skinner looked at the solemn faces of the normally tough goons around the bar. He made eye contact with the two men that had walked through the door. Dressed much like he had seen the Viper on so many occasions in the dark expensive overcoats and black suits. Though it may have been something of an illusion, but they didn’t seem to wear them with the style that the Viper had. No doubt members of his “fan club” like Edgar had been talking about.

He looked at Shin Lao for some sort of cue. He didn’t know these people from Adam and didn’t know whether they were friendly or not. “They’re not friends of mine.” She said, almost as if she’d read his thoughts. Perhaps it was the déjà vu feeling, but Shin Lao made eye contact with the biggest of the two killers. He was a huge Hispanic looking man, incredibly huge and intimidating. The Ithaca pump action shotgun he held in his hand like it was a squirt gun added to the effect. She knew this one. His name was Quint and he was more than likely Elias’ replacement. “Why are you here Quint?” The man stared down the edge of his glasses at her in seeming disbelief. “Why are we here eh? Like you wouldn’t know. We’re here to finish the job the Viper didn’t. And while we’re here, there’s a small price on yours, and your doughnut eating friend’s head as well. Could collect on all three a you.”

Undaunted by this Shin simply pulled her gun from her jacket and cocked it. “Listen Quint, if you just drop your guns now I’ll leave you the use of your legs.” The man laughed loudly and abruptly stopped to stare at her. “You’re good, but you’re not that good.” “Shin Lao reached a hand behind her. Skinner looked down and saw the Colt .45 and took it. They numbers on their side if these thugs lived up to their reputation. “We’re gonna take Tommy’s head, and then we’re gonna take yours. So how about this. If you drop YOUR gun now, I’ll make it quick.” Shin cocked her head to the side, as if she were in deep thought. After a few seconds she seemed to come to whatever conclusion it was and snapped off two shots, both of them hit the two men in their gun arms and they dropped their weapons, each one grabbing their arms like some eerie form of synchronized sport. Skinner brought up his gun, returning to his police training and swept the room, making sure that there was no one else. “Now Quint Quint Quint. You’re not smart enough for this line of work. Take your friend here. He looks like he wants to get out of things.” The man looked scared is how he looked. Never breaking eye contact with Quint she raised her pistol level with the other man’s head. She squeezed off two more rounds without warning. The man didn’t have enough of a chance to even scream as the bullets roared into his skull, pushing him over backwards gurgling with his own blood in his throat. “Never bring amateurs when you’re tracking a professional Quint. Would have thought that you’d know this by now. Now you’re going to give me the information that I want or you’re not leaving here and I’ll let Tommy’s boys do what they want with you.” Shin let this bit of new information sink into the huge man’s brain before she backed up and leaned against the table.

“Oh yeah.” She said like she had just remembered something from her grocery list that she’d forgotten. She raised her pistol again and fired another four rounds into the huge man’s legs. Two went into his knee caps and the others went into his thighs. The huge man crumpled and screamed on the floor. “What the Hell!! You haven’t even asked me anything yet.” “Well you already fucked that up Quint. You should have just dropped your gun earlier and your friend and your legs both would be in much better shape. Now if you’ll remember the new deal is if you cooperate I’ll let you leave of your own volition. If you don’t…well let’s just say you’ll probably never see all of your body parts in the same room again.” Quint seemed to take her seriously this time. “Who killed the Viper?” Shin Lao asked. Quint seemed to vapor lock. He didn’t say anything but just floundered, his mouth open and shut. “You can’t be serious” Quint forced out. Shin kneeled down at his side, her pistol pointing upward, tapping lightly at the side of her head. “Note serious face.” She said grimly. There was no humor or emotion in her voice and it was seriously chilling to everybody who heard it. She lowered the pistol so that the barrel was pushed up against the man’s nose. “Boss Tanaka ordered the job. Every wanna-be and has been jumped at the opportunity. There’s no telling who pulled the trigger.” Shin Lao cocked the .45 for effect and pointed it again at the man’s nose. “That’s a lie Quint and both of us know it. Though I don’t doubt that everybody with a trench coat and a weapon jumped at the shot, but I think you know who pulled the trigger.” “I don’t know anything else, I swear!” The man seemed hysterical at this point. He was either a very bad liar or he was telling the truth. There was no way for sure for Skinner to tell, he was just along for the ride at this point.

“OK Bobby, you guys do what you want with this piece of shit. I’m done with him. Hope it’s quick Quint is all that I have to say, but it probably won’t be.” She strode over the man, toward the door. Skinner walked around him and looked at Bobby who simply nodded at him and smiled. “Doncha worry lass. Ye won’t be seein this one around again.” “I know I won’t Bobby. You guys are good people….for criminals anyway.” She reached for the handle of the door when the big man shouted from behind them. The boys from around the pool table were already making their way down to him like ants surrounding a bit of food. “I did it. I pulled the trigger!!” Shin Lao pulled her hand back from the door like it was on fire. Her face twisted into something that Skinner couldn’t tell the difference between. It was either anger or sadness. “Do what you boys want with this piece of shit. He’s not worth my time anymore.” And she walked out of the bar leaving behind the screams and pleas of the professional killer lying on the floor.

Shin Lao got into the Aston Martin and shoved the key into the ignition. Skinner got in a couple of seconds later, not quite sure what to do with this new information or even what you would say to a grieving hired killer. “I’d better get you back to the station so you can fix up your life a little bit. Just tell them that one of Tanaka’s guys kidnapped you for information. Officer Warren was there to see you and happened by at the wrong moment.” “You think that’ll fly? I don’t. For one I don’t look like I’ve been interrogated by any of them.” He didn’t have time to blink before the barrel of Shin Lao’s .45 crossed his face. He felt cartilage crunch and blood well up in his nose from the blow. “That’s taken care of, any other questions detective?” Tears welled up in Skinner’s eyes. He was certain that his nose was broken. “Now you realize that I’m gonna have to throw you from a moving vehicle correct?” “What?! Skinner said as best he could through the pain and his swelling nose. “To make it look legit. Oh, and Elias’ funeral is in three days. Show up if you’d like.”

They sped off through the row in silence. Skinner was unsure what to do now and Shin Lao simply seemed to be made out of stone. There was no sign of emotion on her face as they neared the police station, and not a sound out of her as she pushed a button on her side of the car and the passenger side door opened quite unexpectedly. She gave Skinner a rough shove while he was still surprised and he hit the pavement and rolled across the pavement. The several cops standing outside either just going on shift or just about ready to go home rushed over to him, stopping traffic before anything serious happened. He was helped to his feet by the younger officers and walked inside. His entire face was now swollen up and severely bruised. His whole body ached thanks to the thirty miles per hour skid down the rough asphalt.