Chapter 02 The hustle
It was a Wednesday night. There is nothing deader than my bar on a Wednesday night. We did all our business on the weekends. I'm sure Pete would rather close the place during the week if he could get away with it. But he couldn't, so here I was watching three drunks nurse their beers.
It was about an hour before closing when he came in. He was wearing a suit. Last time I saw a suit in my bar was a lost vice cop looking for directions to Stella's. He sat at the bar and gave the place the once over. I'd seen my fair share of cops and this guy was definitely not a cop.
"What can I get you?"
"Beer."
"Draft OK?"
"Yeah, just make it cold."
"You got it."
I poured his beer and served it.
"Pretty dead in here," he said making small talk.
"It's a living."
"Hey you are Harry's girlfriend aren't you?"
That caught my attention. It's no secret that I see Harry. You could call him my boyfriend. I wouldn't, but others have. It's hard to call a guy who is gone for days at a time, never calls, shows up at the weirdest times day or night expecting a hot fuck, your boyfriend. But what can I say; I'm a sucker for a nine inch cock. He is more interested in hustling pool than anything else. That's how he makes his cash. For him life was feast or famine. Everything hinged on his last game.
I didn't know this guy. And from the looks of him, didn't want too. He was stuffed in that suit like a gorilla wearing a dolls' costume. He didn't look like money, so there was only one thing left.
"Used to be..."
"Mm, sorry. Not the way I heard it. Say, you wouldn't know where I could find him?"
"Not a clue. I'd look in the cheapest pool hall you can find. That would be my guess."
"Yeah, you are probably right. So I don't guess you would be talking to him, huh?"
"Not unless he brings the money he owes me. Fat chance of that."
"Yeah, I know the feeling. Well look, if you happen to see him, tell him that Benny wants to meet. Real soon."
"Benny?"
"Yeah. He will know who you are talking about."
"That's two bucks."
He slapped a ten spot on the bar and left. I waited a good ten minutes before I tried Harry's cell phone, not that he would answer. He didn't. Well this would have to be his problem.
I was beat from standing on my feet all night for a lousy twenty bucks. I kicked my drunks out and headed home for a nice hot bath. I pulled in front of the apartment and parked the car. My apartment was on the second floor and faced the street. That sucked because you could hear the traffic. But it was cheap and when you have nights making twenty bucks, you got to do what you got to do.
I made my way into the apartment and threw my purse on the sofa and headed to the bathroom to start the water for my bath. I was testing the water when I felt the presence of someone else enter the room. I instantly turned to see Harry standing in the doorway.
"Are you alone?" he asked.
"You son of a bitch! You scared the hell out of me. You better be glad I don't have a gun or you would be dead right now."
"Sorry, sorry. Did anyone see you come in?"
"How the hell should I know? And who the hell let you in?"
"I had to let myself in. We've got problems."
This was one of Harry's favorite things to do. When he screwed something up, it suddenly became 'we'. I could see from the look on his face that he was in pretty deep this time.
"There was a guy looking for you at the bar. You know the type, walking refrigerator. Said Benny wanted to meet soon, real soon. So tell me Harry, what did you fuck up?"
"Nothing I can't handle. I just need to get out of town for a few days so that I can put some money together."
"How much Harry?"
"Twenty large."
"What the fuck!? Are you crazy? How in the hell did you manage that?"
"I had a ringer. I was doing him right too. That is, until I figured out he was ringing me. Benny fronted me the money. Now he wants it back, with interest."
"Where are you going to get that kind of money?"
"If I can get to Chicago, I can put something together. I know plenty of people who can get me into a game. It shouldn't take but a few days. Then I can pay Benny off."
"How are you going to get to Chicago?"