There was a pause. “Come in.”
I pulled the door open and stepped inside. It was dank and dim, but instantly I made out about six people lounging around. Two of them I didn’t recognize, but they were clearly more of those mob-looking dudes. Two were girls that I’d seen around but never bothered talking to, probably drug groupies looking to score.
The other two were Jay and Thom, sitting at the little table like they were best buds. I felt my blood run cold and had to stifle my anger. What the fuck had Thom walked me into?
“Ah, Climber, it’s you,” Jay said.
Everyone looked at me. “Jay. Thom.” I nodded to them.
“Come in, Climber. Join us.”
I walked into the space and found an empty counter to lean up against. As soon as I was in position, the others went back to talking. I noticed the girls snort coke from a little white mirror and the two guys laugh at them.
“What brings you here?” Jay asked me.
Thom looked nervous but I tried to ignore it. “Just hanging out. Thought I’d say what’s up to Thom.”
“You want a bump?” Jay motioned to another mirror covered in coke.
“Nah. I’m good.”
“Come on, Mister Climber. Have a little hit. Or maybe a beer?”
I glanced down and noticed a cooler. I grabbed it and pulled out a drink, cracking it open. I didn’t want to get fucked up with the mobsters around and figured beer was the lesser of the two options.
“You don’t do coke?”
“Not often.” I sipped my drink.
Jay leaned forward and snorted a line with a rolled up hundred. Thom gave me an apologetic look, though I had no clue why. Jay threw his head back, his eyes a little wild and excited as the drugs hit his bloodstream.
“Fuck yes, that shit is good,” he said.
Thom laughed nervously. “Yeah, it’s really good shit.”
“Mister Climber, you’re missing out.”
Thom took the hundred and snorted his own line. I took another long drink.
“What are you doing here anyway, Jay?”
He cocked his head. “Why do you ask that?”
I shrugged. “Seems like this isn’t your kind of scene.”
“Maybe, maybe not. I have many scenes.”
“You go to local parties out in the woods often?”
He laughed. “No, maybe I don’t. But tonight I’m doing business.”
My pulse quickened. I wanted to press but I didn’t want to seem too eager. “I hope Thom isn’t trying to rip you guys off,” I said jokingly.
“Oh, if he tried that we’d tear off his balls and shove them down his throat.” Jay’s expression didn’t change, and I assumed he wasn’t kidding.
“I’d never do that, Jay,” Thom said quickly.
I grinned at him and finished my beer. “By the way, Thom, speaking of business, I got those amps you wanted.”
He looked confused for a second and then nodded slowly. “Okay, cool.”
“They’re out in my truck if you want to take a look.”
“Amps?” Jay asked. “What’s this shit?”
“For my guitar,” Thom said. “My other one’s fucking busted.”
“You play guitar? Like rock music?”
Thom nodded. “Sure. I got a little band.”
Jay laughed loudly. “You have your guitar here? You can play for us.”
Thom shook his head. “No guitar. Sorry, Jay.”
“Ah shit. You have to play for me sometime. Play your rock music.” He laughed loudly.
Thom stood up. “We’ll be back in a few.”
“Be fast. We have more terms to negotiate.”
Thom nodded and followed me back out of the trailer. As soon as we were out of earshot, he turned on me.
“What the fuck was that, Climber? Joking about me ripping him off?”
“You deserved it, asshole. What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Jesus, he just showed up. I had no clue they were coming.”
“Bullshit.”
“I swear. He just showed up and started negotiating terms or some shit. Really, I think he’s just fucked up and bored.”
“This is pretty shitty, Thom. The guy we’re planning on trying to fuck over just appears at this party?”
“I know, man. I swear, I’m not trying to pull anything. I’m as in this thing as you are now.”
I clenched my fists and turned away.
“Fine. Let’s talk at my truck.” I stalked off and he followed me. I figured we needed a little privacy for whatever he had to say, and it didn’t hurt to keep up appearances.
I leaned against the bumper and crossed my arms as Thom looked around sheepishly.
“So, where’s the amp?” he asked.