The Client

The Devil is an asshole and I think he cracked a rib. He's just doing his job old man. And you're not done yet. Sure as hell I'm not. He tossed my tired ass out back, in the alley with the rest of the bums and veterans. He was kind enough not to take all my money. The sweet-dirty taste of blood filled my mouth: the natural reaction is to spit the stuff out, but I find it's best to swallow it with your pride and hold your head up: it sends a message.
"You got guts old man," The bouncer shifted his hulking form back inside, out of view. Cheap stripper music blared out for a second. The alley dropped to silence.
"Jeeshus shun, yer gotta tip 'em girlsh." A dirty old wino with all his front teeth missing doling out advice, while simultaneously swigging on something illegal and purple. I was really straddling the precipice this time.
I needed two things: hot coffee and a payphone. It was time to update the client.
The beautiful thing about the city is that one minute you can be down in the depths of sin and the next you can find yourself in a sterile mall on the respectable side of society. The place was quiet and shut up for the night, inhabited by a lone janitor working his way from one side of the plaza to another. Slap slap was the sound of his mop washing away the filth of the streets. A lone vendor stared out from behind his stall, the poor guy probably worked seventeen hours a day to feed his kids. His jaw worked stale gum like cud.
"You look like shit fella."
"Thanks. Gimme a coffee. And a Danish."
"Sure thing."
"You know a place called Sampson's?"
"West and twenty-third?"
"Yeah."
"Sure. Guy who owns it is scum. He'll pawn anything."
I didn't like the sound of that.
"Thanks." I took my food and tipped him. He smiled.
"Thank you very much sir. And keep sniffin' Jack."
I turned and gave him a sideways glance: he carried on smiling like nothing was wrong: that was the moment I realised this case was going to take me places I didn't want to go. So here's a tip to you kids and wannabes: never take cases from politicians.