Nothing by Barry Crowther Read Free Book Online Page B

just put my sister to rest. I just want to go home and bury her with some dignity.
    That is honorable. One small favor and I will even pay for the flight.
    I could feel Largo looking at me sideways. I could feel the rage rising inside and around me. Prowling. My options evaporating. I could feel Yama smiling. I could feel Dallas rolling a silencer into the muzzle of a H&K. I speak.
    I will complete your favor ... to a degree. I won't do your wet work. Use soldier boy for that.
    Yama's silly grin returned. He speaks.
    The world order is returning. How long shall I expect before I hear from you again?
    One day.
    He nods sage-like.
    Very good. Dallas has a cell number. Please keep him informed.
    I stand. My hands have a slight tremor. My legs feel heavy.
    Largo stands and we wade out of the sunken pit on to the upper level. A stooge has arrived to escort us out. Dallas follows. He stops at the entrance we are walking through. Dallas shouts to my back.
    Keep in touch.
    I raise my middle finger and don't look back. Regrets are for morons and sheep.
    The rental car is parked before us. If I had refused the favor I think this car would have been found at LAX with me and Largo in the trunk. Largo asks.
    So what's the favor?
    Yama wants me to go to a Cafe in West Hollywood where I'll meet a guy who will point out another guy. Yama wants to meet the second guy face to face.
    That's it?
    That's it.
    Largo makes a face and gently nods. He thinks this is good news. Easy. I think this is bad news. Largo drives the rental out of LA to a place that needs no description. It was a black neighborhood, the hotel had suites and apartments. I had packed all our clothes into 2 suitcases. I placed the artillery and ammunition split evenly between the cases.
    I checked in. Largo checked in. We took our room key. Against our protocol we were sharing a suite and headed for the room. I went to bed. I was fucked. Largo went for a walk.

YOU GOTTA GO THERE TO COME BACK

    Carly, my beautiful sister, came to me tonight. She looks good. Sky is blue within blue. Sea air wafts her bangs as they slant across her tanned face. She smiles. She looks happy. We speak. I can't remember our lips moving but it seems like we talk all night. She tells me it's nice where she is, all the people there are nice, she spends time at the beach and apart from a light fog in the morning it was always sunshining.
    Wall to wall sun?
    She smiles. Yeah, wall to wall.
    How's mom?
    Carly looks confused.
    You haven't been to see her?
    Not yet. Timings all wrong for me. She doesn't want to see me anyway.
    Carly places her small tanned hand upon mine.
    Mom misses you.
    I smile. The muscles in my face feel alien to me.
    I doubt that very much but I know right here - I point to my heart - She misses you.
    Carly giggles. It's a different giggle she has. It makes me laugh.
    Why didn't you come here more. To see us.
    Well, it sounds crazy now, but mom and me, we decided that the city was too dangerous for you and her. When Pa died then it was left to me to protect you both. I was always a problem. I had to work, had to be away. People know me, knew who my family was, where they lived. It was too much, so I set you guys up out here. Mom wasn't happy, wasn't happy that I didn't quit my job and come out here as well. I couldn't. Quitting in my business can be dangerous. I thought about it. But it would have made things worse.
    Worse?
    Yeah, I know how that looks. Can things get any worse?
    An eagle screams as it revolves in the thermals above a grassy canyon. It is black silhouetted against the sun within the blue blue sky. She says.
    You need to watch.
    What does that mean?
    Everything that has happened here is not what you think it is.
    You mean in California?
    Carly nods.
    I have to go to the beach. They're waiting for me.
    She stands on the sidewalk in downtown San Clemente. I realize that I am sat on a stone bench. I try to stand but I can't, gravity is too strong or my legs are too weak in