Bow Down(13)
There was a trust issue between us, though she did have a point. She never actually lied to me about her name, we just assumed that she was the person on her driver’s license. And to be fair, that façade crumbled pretty quickly once Ethan got started digging into it.
I was annoyed as we sped downtown toward that warehouse. It was just my luck to get interrupted twice now by Ethan before I could get what I really wanted from Louisa, but maybe the anticipation made it better. Maybe waiting would only make it sweeter in the end.
That was bullshit, though. I wanted what I wanted, and I took what I wanted. I wasn’t the waiting type.
This wasn’t the sort of thing that could wait, unfortunately. Ten minutes later, we pulled up outside of the place, a big and dark structure surrounded by a chain-link fence with barbed wire at the top. Signs were posted all over warning people about some nonexistent dog and threatening to shoot trespassers.
We climbed out and walked along the fence until Ethan stopped. He pulled the fence and curled the chain back toward us, making a gap. I stepped through and he followed.
I gave him a look as he continued on, but he just gave me an apologetic smile.
“Best I could do on short notice,” he said.
“I’m sure.”
“He’s just in here.”
I followed Ethan along the rundown building until we got to a side door. He pushed it open and we stepped inside. The place used to be some kind of office, probably where the administrators worked alongside the factory guys. My father never stepped foot in this part of the factory back when he was alive and working.
We moved down the halls and finally stepped into a side room. It was probably once an office of one of the more important people, since it was pretty big and the window overlooked the factory floor.
Tonight, though, it wasn’t an office. In the middle of the room, tied to a chair, was a middle-aged guy, pale skin and balding along the top. He was sweating and clearly terrified. His cheap suit was plastered to his body and his eyes went wide when I stepped into the room.
“Wyatt,” he said.
“Don’t talk,” I warned him. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Myers was a small time lawyer, but he represented a bunch of piece of shit thugs that pushed heroin on the south side of Chicago. I was sick of Myers letting these fucking scumbags get away with their shit. Despite being a total cocksucker, Myers was good at what he did, and he was constantly getting these guys off on technicalities.
No more of that.
“Listen to me,” I said to him. “Do you know why you’re here?”
“No. This is crazy.”
“You’re here because you’ve been helping a bunch of drug dealers escape justice.”
“Wyatt—“
My right hook caught him in the chin, nearly knocking him over. He grunted and cried out in pain. Ethan smiled at me.
“Good punch, Wyatt,” he said.
“Thanks. Hey, I stopped a mugger earlier.”
“Really?”
“Seriously. Guy had a knife. Felt good to get into a fight like that again, you know?”
“I’m jealous. I’ve been schlepping my ass all over town.”
“You were on your computer when we got back.”
“I was working.”
“Yeah, I bet.”
“Wyatt,” Myers said.
I looked at him. “Interrupt me again, and I’ll beat you to death.”
He stared at me, and I think he understood that I was serious.
I looked back at Ethan. “Did you rough this shithead up before I arrived?”
“Didn’t have time.”
“Good.” I turned back to Myers. “Now, you may speak.”
“This is insane. You can’t get away with this. I’m going to destroy you, you insane piece of shit, I’m going to—“
Another right hook shut him up. His head snapped back and blood splattered from his mouth.
“No,” I said. “That’s incorrect. What you’re going to do is follow my instructions. Say you understand.”
“Fuck you.”
Another right hook. A left jab. Another right hook. Blood flowed freely down his face and he was groaning and sobbing.
“Do you understand now?” I asked.
“Yes,” he moaned.
“When those south side gangsters need representation, you’re going to fuck up. I don’t care how but you’ll make it look real. And I’ll bring their asses to justice.”
“They’ll kill me.”
“You’ll run. I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t.”
“Myers, do I have to beat you more?”
“No, no, please don’t hurt me.”
“Do as I asked.”
“Okay,” he sobbed. “Okay.”