“That’s really funny Joey, but I’m not here for the food, or any other services you provide here.” I tried to keep my desire to pull him over the counter in check.
His left eye twitched at my implication of the illegal activity that went on there, but he didn’t take the bait. “Honestly, I have to admit I’m glad you came by, Brandon.”
“Why is that?”
“This way it saves me the time from having to write a thank you card for taking care of Ron.” Joey released another round of laughs at my expense. “How did it make you feel? I bet it felt good, right? But now you’re feeling a little guilty about it all. Don’t worry, all that will pass, and it will get easier every time you do it. Well, at least that’s what I’ve been told on TV.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard that and didn’t experience it firsthand in your life. But I have to thank you for your confession about Ron, and your illegitimate business dealings.”
“Come on, you and I both know that will never hold up in court, top cop. This is just two friendly guys running their mouths and having some fun. Besides, I hear you were there when our friend died, and we all know things between you two were less than great.”
“I’m not your friend, Joey, and I wasn’t Ron’s either. Don’t ever refer to yourself or Ron as my friend again. Do you get that?” My anger started to get the best of me.
Joey’s amused expression turned sour in an instant. “Alright Brandon, I’ve humored you enough. Either order something or get the heck out of here. I have a legitimate business to run here with legitimate customers. Besides, don’t you have to catch some cheating spouses? All you can do now is play cop. You can’t really be one.”
Another customer tapped me on the shoulder. “Are you going to order something or are you going to talk all day?”
“Yeah, just one second, sir.” I turned back to Joey. “I need to talk to you for a second.”
“I said order or get out.”
I leaned in close so only Joey could hear me. “I need to talk about the guy who killed, Ron, I think he’s coming after you next.”
A seriousness gripped Joey as all the merriment left his face. “Hey Veronica, will you come here and run the counter for me a moment, sweetheart?”
Joey handed his order book to a girl who looked to be in her mid-twenties, as he motioned with his head for me to follow him. We walked through the main dining area and went to a room in the back that was used for private parties. Joey slid the door shut and pointed at a table for us to sit.
Joey took a seat and placed one hand under the table and got right to business. “Make it quick.”
I kept my hands on the table where he could see them, because I knew he had his other hand on a gun underneath. “Relax Joey, I didn’t kill Ron, and I didn’t come here to kill you either.”
“I’ll be the judge of that, now talk.”
“Alright, the guy who killed Ron...”
“Yeah, some guy dressed to kill wearing a high-end red suit.”
“How did you know that?” I asked.
“I guess the word got out fast in the city, and a lot of people coming in have been talking about it.
“Who’s been talking about it?”
“You’re the detective, figure it out.”
The Amaras still had informants inside the police department, and it could be anyone I talked to or who had read the report. There were a lot of people at Ron’s house the night he was murdered, and one thing I knew was cops liked to talk to each other about cases.
“Look, the guy said he was going after four other targets connected to Ron.”
Joey was quiet for a moment. I figured his next question was if I thought it was the Riccis, but I wasn’t surprised by what he asked me next.
“Why are you telling me, Brandon? What do you get out of this?”
“I just thought I...” I struggled to find the right words to make him believe me.
“You just thought what? That I’d believe you just like that. Come on, Brandon, I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night. You think I’ve forgotten all the threats you made about taking me down, and now you’re here to warn me about a possible hit on me. Let’s be honest, if you were me, wouldn’t you be a little suspicious?”
Then the words hit me like a brick, and my anger matched his own in my response. “That’s exactly why I’m here, Joey, because I want to see you rot in a jail cell and not in the ground for what you’ve done and for all the lives you’ve ruined. Believe me or not, that’s your business. But I’ve seen what this guy can do, and none of it makes sense.”
“I see what you’re doing,” Joey said with a smile. “It’s good, but it won’t work.”
“What’s that?”
“You want me and my friends to take this guy out before he gets you. If this guy is coming for all of Ron’s associates then that means you’re on the list too, right? I imagine the only reason he didn’t kill you that night is because the cops were on their way, and he had to get out before they arrived.”
Apparently, Joey wasn’t as stupid as I originally thought him to be, and maybe there was a part of me that hoped he and the rest of the Amaras could stop Wrath before he got to me.
“That’s not entirely true, Joey.”
“There it is, I knew it, you’re only here to save your own skin. So, this is what I’m going to do for you. I’m going to give you a pass this one time, because I think you’re sincere in warning me about this guy and wanting to save your own worthless life. If it were me, I’d be doing the same thing you’re doing now, but know this, Brandon. If you ever come back in here again, you’re going to see just how much of a life you have left to be ruined. You got that? Now get out of here.”
“I got it,” I said as I headed for the door.
“Hey Brandon, wait a second.”
I turned and faced him, half expecting to see him pull the gun from under the table.
“Do you want to put in a to-go order before you leave? You know, for old time sake? This time I’ll have one of my guys deliver the package to you,” Joey said with a sadistic smile.
I walked out to my car. Part of me hoped Wrath would have shown up in that moment and snapped his neck, or at the very least, visit him soon. Then intense feelings of guilt worked the rest of me over for wanting him to die.
Chapter Nine
Wrath
Joey’s Kitchen
SAFELY CONCEALED IN the spirit realm, Brandon had no idea I watched him as he left Joey’s Kitchen earlier that day in what I had thought to be a failed attempt of warning Joey of my presence.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
About a few minutes after Brandon left, ten men showed up to the restaurant, and the bulge in their coats told me they were all armed. I guess Joey was more cautious than I thought him to be, but that no longer mattered, for his end was rapidly approaching. While Joey and Brandon had their conversation at the to-go counter, Brandon had no idea that I was disguised as the old man that stood behind him. He even looked me in the eye when I asked if he was going to order, and he never knew who he was talking to. When those two strolled into the back to have their little heart-to-heart, I placed a very large wager with the young woman Joey left in charge, and the time had nearly come for me to collect on it.
As the day turned into night, and my watch ticked down to my eventual meeting with Joey, I looked on as he started to let his extra muscle go home as the closing time approached. I guess he thought Brandon’s warning was nothing but a hollow threat made by a disgruntled man. The doors closed at eleven-thirty and the time had come for me to make my move. I stepped out of the spirit realm into the darkened parking lot and morphed back into an old man. Since there was added security, I was sure Brandon told Joey of my trademarked look. I needed the disguise to complete my objective. If only the humans knew how many times they had talked to an angel disguised as another person, it would shatter their minds. I shuffled across the concrete in a baby-blue polo with khaki
pants, and I more than looked the part with my shoes that needed Velcro to be tightened. I walked right through the to-go door without anyone taking a second look at me.
“Sorry old timer, but we’re closed,” Joey said to me as he stacked receipts on the counter.
“I won’t take long, young man, I just need to pick up my order from earlier today.” I held my receipt for him to see.
“We close at eleven thirty, sir. We’re closed. Come back tomorrow.” The last two large security guys walked up to me. They were nothing compared to the might I had been entrusted with.
“Those are some mighty fine suits you boys have on, and I’m not here to cause any trouble. I’m just an old man, and my watch says eleven twenty-eight, and my watch is never wrong. Please sir, I really need to collect my order.” I gave him a saddened face.
Joey stopped sorting receipts and ran his hand through his slicked-back hair as he looked at me with frustration. His two guards turned toward him. It appeared my sad old man routine had gotten to them, as the looks on their faces added to my plight.
“Fine, old timer, come here and let me see what you got.”
“Thank you, sir.” I looked at the two muscle-bound men to see if they’d let me past them. They nodded for me to go to the counter, and I shuffled my way to it.
“Hey boss, since this is your last customer, and there’s no one else in the parking lot can we call it a night? I mean we haven’t seen anyone come in all day with a red suit on,” one of the two guards said.
Joey took another look at me and shrugged and shook his head. “Yeah sure, I can take care of this guy, and it figures that jerk was lying before. I have to pay him a visit later about that story he told, and make sure he knows not to try and play any more games with me. Hey gramps, do you mind locking the door behind them as they leave?”
“I don’t mind at all, sir.” I was all too enthusiastic as I walked behind the two giants and told them good night.
Click.
“Okay pal, let’s see what you got. Bring your ticket over here.”
“Thank you, sir, I really need to pick up my ten large lasagnas.” I shuffled to the counter and, with a shaky hand, gave Joey my ticket. Ten large lasagnas actually meant I was picking up ten thousand dollars.
“Let’s see here,” Joey said as he quickly scanned my receipt. “That will be five large lasagnas you’re picking up today, sir. That’s not a bad take-home. That should feed you for a while. Give me a minute and I’ll get everything together for you.” He marked something on the ticket.
He was about to try and cheat an old man. It took a special kind of lowlife to do something like that without a shred of guilt or shame. I couldn’t believe he hadn’t made my list sooner than he had.
“Wait a second, I believe you’re mistaken about the amount. I should be getting back ten dollars, you see. It says it right there on the receipt.” I was polite as I pointed to the number on the receipt.
Joey stopped and glared at me. “I’m not mistaken, pops. You should get your eyes checked because your ticket is clearly marked for five large lasagnas. Just take a look for yourself.” He held up the ticket. He was right that it was marked at a lower wager because he had just marked it down himself when I handed him the ticket.
“I see that, but that’s the mark you just made on it. You’re trying to cheat me.”
“I’m not cheating you. It’s marked right here on your ticket, gramps. Now you can either take what I give you and go, or I can throw you out of here with nothing at all. It’s your choice, pops.”
“So that’s your game, huh? Cheat people because you don’t want to pay what you promised? Well, I’m not going to stand for it.”
“I’m warning you old man, take what I give or get out.”
“No. I’ll leave when I get what I came here for. Either you give me what’s rightfully mine, or I’m going to tell everyone in town that you’re nothing but a low-down, good-for-nothing cheater. Then let’s see how many people you have come through here after that.”
“That’s it, I’ve had enough old man.” Joey stormed from around the counter toward me. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me toward the door.
“Hey! Stop that. You’re hurting me.”
“Shut up, old man. You had your chance, now get out!”
Joey quickly unlocked the door and threw it open, and as he went to push me out. I stood firm in my power. As he pulled on my arm I didn’t budge, so he pulled harder, and again I didn’t move.
“You better let go of whatever it is your holding on to...”
That’s all he got out as he turned and saw I wasn’t holding on to anything.
“Why do you keep calling me old man?” I grabbed his arm, and with a flick of my wrist, tossed him across the room into his steel reinforced counter. He bounced off with a thud and fell to the floor. I scanned the parking lot and saw no one, so I shut and relocked the door.
“What gives, old man? How did you even do that?” Joey coughed hard a few times and picked himself up off of the floor and pushed back his ridiculous hair.
“I’ll say again, why do you keep calling me old man?” I turned back and faced him.
He reached behind his back to pull his gun he had tucked in his waist belt.
“That’s not going to help you.” I held up his handgun for him to see. “Say Joey, this is a mighty nice piece of hardware you got here. Do you, by any chance, have a permit for this gun? What’s this here? You have completely filed off the serial number. Don’t you know that’s illegal? Here, let me help you dispose of this highly illegal firearm before you get yourself into trouble with it.”
I dropped the magazine, ejected the round, pulled the slide off, and threw the parts into the open dining room to my right while Joey looked on in disbelief.
“Now that’s better, wouldn’t you say?”
“I don’t know who you are, grandpa, but you’re a dead man now. No matter how this plays out, you’re not walking away from this alive.”
“From where I’m standing, you’re the one in trouble, seeing how you sent all your bodyguards home early. You thought you could take care of an old man all by yourself, but then again, looks can be deceiving.”
“I don’t care who you are, because no one is ever going to see you again after tonight!”
“What do you mean you don’t know who I am? You know exactly who I am, Joey. Brandon came today and told you all about me.” I held a sly smile.
“Brandon said it was some guy in a red business suit that killed Ron, not some old decrepit man.”
“Really? Do I seem decrepit to you? Wait, I know what the problem is, it’s the form I’m using.” I shifted from a feeble-looking old man and back into my true self. I straightened my black tie as Joey stared in horror. “That’s much better isn’t it? Now you do know my name, because your informant in the Black Castle police department told you, so say it.”
“Wrath,” Joey said in disbelief. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. Whatever you want I can get it for you. I know a lot of people.”
“You should have thought about that before you turned to a life of killing and stealing.”
“Listen, I owe you ten grand, how about I double it? Let me get your money and we’ll call it square. I’ll never say anything to anyone, and you can go on your way.” He walked around the tall counter.
“I have no use for money, Joey,” I scoffed at him.
“Come on, everyone likes money. How about a job then? I could use a guy like you with whatever kind of skills you got there. I could make you a very wealthy man.” Joey stopped at the midway point of the counter.
“I don’t need money, and truth be told, I’ve never used it before. Besides, even if I did, you still couldn’t buy your way out of what you have coming, and please don’t pull up that shotgun you have stuck to the top shelf. It will not work against me.”
But it was too late, and he fired all five shells at me and laughed as I stumbled back against the door.
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“Oh yeah? That’s right, creep! What’s the matter? Were you not ready for that?” He yelled at me from behind the counter as he reloaded the gun and came back around to get up close and personal.
“That must be some kind of body armor you have on under that suit, but I bet your ribs have been ground to powder after that pounding. I don’t know how you’re still on your feet, but let’s see if you’re still standing after this one.” He raised the shotgun to my face. I immediately grabbed the end of the barrel with my left hand and held tight as I delivered an open-palm fist strike to the middle of the gun and broke it in two. Joey looked on in terror at the two pieces of the gun in his hands before I punched him in the chest and sent him to the floor.
“Joey, Joey, Joey...” I shook my head. “You have been a very bad man, you know that?”
Joey coughed and writhed on the floor. “What are... What are you talking about?”
I checked my watch and saw he still had a few minutes left. “I’m glad you asked, and since you have a few more minutes allotted to you in this word, I’m going to tell you. Starting with the obvious, you have illegal gambling operating out of a restaurant where people can bet on anything. Even who’s going to win a professional wrestling match. I can’t believe people in this town actually want to bet on that. If the gambling wasn’t bad enough, you cheat people out of what you owe them, because you don’t want to pay up. The extreme lengths you go to steal from people is only matched by how far you go when they can’t or don’t want to pay you. Then there’s all the lying, cheating, fornicating, murders, and all of the other immoral and sinful things you have done in your lifetime.”
“Yeah, so what of it? Are you here to make me pay for my sins?” Joey mocked as he forced himself to his feet and stared at me.
“That’s exactly why I’m here, and your time to pay for what you have done has almost arrived.”
The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) Page 9