"I'm fine in a chair. What do you want?"
"Is that any way to act when a man calls on you?"
"You can cut the act, or sit it off in a cell. Your choice," Captain Musket said, bending down on the table and pressing his face up close to the man's.
"You're just no fun, are you?" he sneered, but he leaned back, intimidated by the Captain.
"Not with dirt bags like you."
"What the hell do you want? Spit it out," Chad said as he took a seat facing the man. Bree slowly sat next to Chad, her leg brushing against his, keeping her grounded, reassurance that he was right there.
"Look, I've been trying to get an honest job in this town for a year, but because of my past record, no one wants to give me a chance. So this guy approaches me and asks if I want to make some money. Of course I wanted to make money, not like anyone is handing out jobs," the man started speaking.
"What man?" Chad interrupted.
"He's not the type of guy who gives you a name, you know? I just called him Mr. X. Well, I was just supposed to write these letters and stuff. Trail a girl. Nothing big – not anything that could get me in any real trouble, and he was paying well – real well," the man continued.
"You consider scaring an innocent woman not a crime?" Chad demanded.
"I didn't break the law. It wasn't like I tried to touch her or anything," the man defended himself.
Chad stood up from the table, leaned down and got in the man's face. The guy scooted his chair back, fear displayed in his eyes.
"Okay, you're a freaking boy scout. Do you have any useful information for us?" The Captain interrupted before things got out of hand.
"Well, things started escalating. Mr. X wanted me to break into her house and take some items. I wasn't going down for that crap. I know the lock-up time for breaking and entering. I was just supposed to shadow her, you know? I'm not up for the hard core stuff. I've cleaned up my act – learned my lesson," he said with a fake smile.
Bree knew the man was full of it. She wouldn't put it past him to do anything for a few bucks.
"Besides, I didn't get paid after the last time I hand delivered a note. I'm out there risking my reputation, and he stiffs me," the man stated.
Bree realized why he was so willing to turn over his boss. He wasn't getting money any longer, so he had nothing to lose. He thought maybe he could get out of charges if he came forward instead of being busted.
"How did you get ahold of this man?" the Captain asked.
"He gets ahold of me. I don't have contact information on him. But, I thought you could do one of those wire thingy deals, or something like that. I'd be willing to risk my life … if there were some benefit to me," he smirked.
"Do you seriously think we're going to pay you after what you've done? You're going to be lucky to get out of jail in the next five years," the Captain thundered. He was obviously furious at what was looking more and more like a waste of all their time.
"Look, I didn't have to come forward," the man said, starting to sweat as he squirmed around in his chair.
"You came forward because you thought it could somehow benefit you, you piece of crap," Chad said. He was sick of speaking to the low-life thug, and he didn't think they were going to get anything useful out of him.
"Wait!" he shouted when it was obvious he'd lost their attention. "I know he's going to be calling me soon. He said he has something real big planned for the upcoming holiday," the man said, trying to hook the bait.
"I'm not listening to this anymore. You're obviously where you belong," Bree said. She couldn't stand the stench of the man any longer and wanted out of the room. She felt like the walls were starting to close in around her.
"You high and might b … " he started to say, when Chad reached out and backhanded him across the room.
"I dare you to complete that sentence," Chad said, itching to pummel him.
The man glared at him, then turned his head and spat a stream of blood.
"That's assault. I want to press charges," he shouted to the Captain, who was looking at the door.
"What? I didn't see anything. It looks to me like you tripped over the legs of the table. You really should work on your balance," the Captain said with a serious face.
"All you high and mighty pieces of crap stick together. I'll sue you – all of you. I know you have lots of money, little girl. Mr. X talked all about what a rich family you come from. I'll own everything you have. This is brutality," he shouted.
Bree had to fight the sudden urge to laugh. The man was pathetic and he couldn't help them. Her hopes had been raised for nothing. She stepped past him, and at the last minute dug her three inch heel into his shoeless foot. He screamed out, but Bree was at the door before he made a lunge for her.