Some Degree of Murder

Wednesday April 21 st The Hole, 2:35 PM

VIRGIL

It took me fifteen minutes to get to The Hole after leaving Tower and Rowdy. I ran through the rundown neighborhood that survives to the north side of Sprague, eventually slowing down to a slight jog and then a walk. I pulled off my gloves and shoved them into a pocket. With a pair of shaky hands, I fired up a Camel and inhaled deeply into my lungs which already burned from the run and the brisk April air. I coughed several times before tossing the cigarette into the street and cursing myself.

As I walked, I heard several sirens in the area but none of them zoomed down any of the back streets I took. I knew all of them were running to the aid of Tower.

Once inside The Hole, the smell of stale beer and desperation greeted me like a comfortable old shoe. I ambled over to the bar and dropped onto a torn up stool. The bartender waddled over to me and put his arms on the marred counter in front of me. His enormous stomach struggled against the Seattle Seahawks shirt he wore.

“What’ll it be, pal?” he asked with a husky voice.

I suddenly felt weary and just wanted to lay down and fall asleep. You got any Jack Daniels?” I finally asked

He nodded his meaty head.

From a pocket, I pulled out a ten dollar bill and laid it on the counter.

While the bartender made my drink, I stepped over to the phone booth in the back corner. I pushed some quarters into the machine and punched a few buttons. Andie picked up on the third ring.

“Hello?” she asked, her voice soft and unaware.

I held the phone to my ear for a moment before saying softly, “It’s over.”

Before she could answer, I hung up. I then dug out my pre-paid phone card, hit some more buttons and was greeted by a thick voice announcing, “Bobo’s House of Chicken.”

“Jay, it’s me.”

“What up, my man?” His voice had a sense of lightheartedness that seemed out of place in my world.

“Tell him that my work up here is finished. I’ll be leaving as soon as I can.”

The playfulness in his voice faded away and he turned serious. “Want me to have him call you? I know he’s been worried about you.”

“No. Just pass that message.”

“You got it.”

I hung the phone up and returned to the bar. My Jack and Coke sat on the counter next to the change for my ten. With a single pull, I finished the drink and winced as the cold liquid played havoc with my broken teeth. When the pain subsided, I waved at the bartender for another. He shrugged and nodded at the same time. I wasn’t sure what the hell that meant so I let it slide.

When the fat man brought the drink over, I said, “Call River City Taxi and ask for Axel.”

He nodded and shuffled off to the phone behind the bar. I grabbed my drink and walked over to a booth and settled in.

Ten minutes later, I had my head leaned back on the booth when the door swung open and I heard a cane tap on the floor. I lifted my head. Rolo walked over to me with Rhonda close behind. Rolo was in a bright red jacket that fell to his knees. Even though the color was wrong, the puffy jacket still had the Raiders logo on the front. Rhonda was in a short, black leather jacket and a shorter black dress.

“Get me a drink, baby,” Rolo said before he fell in to the booth across from me.

Rhonda clicked her high heels over to the bar and leaned both of her arms on the dented brass rail that ran its length. Her ass stuck out highlighting her best feature for any takers.

“How’s business?” I asked.

He scrunched up his face for a moment before answering. “The same. Times is tight, but I manage. I’ll roll with the punches until I get my opportunity to punch back.”

“I think it’s going to improve real soon.”

His eyes widened and he leaned in over the table. “No shit?”

Through the front window of the bar, I saw a white River City Taxi pull up. I shifted my gaze back to Rolo and stood up. “I think the whole market is gonna break open for you today.”

Rolo laughed and slapped the table. When I turned toward the door Rhonda was standing next to me with a couple of drinks in her hands. “Hey, there,” she said with a smile. “What’s so funny?”

The big pimp pointed up at me. “This is the man, baby. If he wasn’t in such a hurry to leave, I’d make sure you gave him a trip around the world. On the house.”

Rhonda cocked her head and lifted her eyebrows. “Whaddya say? Got time for a little adventure?”

I shook my head. “Not today. Maybe some other time.”

Rhonda shrugged and slid into the booth across from Rolo. I extended my hand to the black man. “Thanks for your help.”

He grabbed my hand and shook it. “It’s been nice doin’ business with you.”

When I climbed in to the cab, Axel looked over at me. “Tough day?”

I smiled at him. “You can say that.”

“Where to?”

“The Davenport.”

Axel turned back forward, put the cab into gear and we lurched away from the curb. A few minutes later, the cabbie looked into the rear view mirror and caught my eye. “Want some music?”

“Yeah, actually, that sounds good. Make it a seventies station, if you got it.”

“Oh, yeah, we got a great station for those tunes.”

Axel reached over and flicked the radio on. Dobie Gray’s smooth voice filled the cab as he serenaded us with Drift Away.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes for the rest of the trip.

She was sitting cross-legged in the chair when I walked into the hotel room. Her legs were bare except for the green dragon tattoo and she had on an over-sized black sweatshirt. Gina’s hair was tucked behind her ears and a cigarette smoldered in her hand.

Her eyes were concerned as she climbed out of the chair and met me halfway. “You okay?”

I nodded.

“It’s done?”

Another nod.

She wrapped her arms around me and hugged. I let myself fall into her embrace and I smelled her clean scent. I held her close and let the warmth of her body work through mine.

Gina broke the embrace and looked up to me. “What do we do now?”