Insight – part 04

Jackie’s dreams were some of the worst he ever had after the project. He wakes up way after sunrise. It’s a hot summer morning. A good morning to find some good answers, and he knows exactly where to go.

– Old Graywolf better be at home – I think while the train goes fast through the suburbs.

– Last stop – the machinist says after the long journey.

This is where I get off.

Just a few blocks away from the train station, on the third floor of a plae blue home building, the door of the 305 goes down with a bang. I enter the apartment with the gun in my hands and ready to pull the trigger.

– GOD DAMN IT JACK! – A voice sounds from inside.
– Wolf?
– Of course – a grizzly old man appears from the door right across the hall.
– How did you know it was me?
– Who else in the world would bust down my door like that? Was it REALLY necessary?
– Knock it off, Gray.
– Anyway, to whom do I owe this unexpected visit?
– I’m being blackmailed.
– Blackmailed, you? Who could do such a stupid thing?
– Haha, I don’t know much yet. But these guys aren’t THAT stupid. They blew up my house last night.
– Hm… This might explain my door.
– Shut up, I’m not messing around. And they gave me this picture – I hand him the photograph.
– Holy crap! Isn’t her our little Foxie?
– Exactly.
– And how they linked her to you?
– This is what I was expecting YOU to tell me.
– Me?
– Yep. Weren’t you responsible for all the old days documents’?
– Are you accusing me of treason? Well, I burned’em all. Many years ago. Those things are better as ashes.
– Hm… Agreed. But, so how did they manage to gather this up?

My cellphone rings. Greywolf silences. Unidentified number. I answer.

– Jack Silverstate, who’s there?
– Hello, Jackie boy. Did you like the fireworks party last night? Quite… hot, wasn’t it? Hahahahaha

His sick laugh floods my ears.

– What do you want, fucker?
– Oh, why such violence? Have you made your decision?
– Tell me what I’ve gotta do.
– Nothing too difficult for you. Just get us a few bucks.
– A few? How “few”?
– Tsc… Two million’. And, you have five days to do it.
– And how about the girl?
– We’ll take good care of her until you hand us the cash.
– And how am I supposed to know that she’s ok?
– Very smart boy. You’ll see her everyday, for a couple minutes as insurance. I’ll keep in touch.

*Click*. He hangs up the call.

– SON OF A BITCH! – I toss the phone away, blind in anger. Lucky for us, it hits softly the living room’s couch.
– what did they say, Jack?
– They want me to get’em TWO MILLION DOLLARS! In five days. Five, Gray! Five… What a prick.
– Oh… Money…
-It’s ALL about the money.
– It’s ALWAYS about the money, Jack. Haven’t you learned this lesson yet?
– Hell…
– So, what have you got on them? Let’s gather all the pieces together.

To be continued…