bartender's wallet, keys, money, and address book were laid out on the table. On the wall behind the table were photocopies of all the bartender's identification: New York State driver's license, green card, union card. It was as if his life were laid out for anyone to see and do with as they pleased. Also on the table was a closed attache case.
Devlin felt deathly tired. The hour of sleep at Daryl's wasn't enough. He looked at his watch. It was ten minutes to four in the morning. A hell of a time to start work.
Devlin knew the bartender had lied to him. He knew the bartender would continue to lie if given a chance. It was a given for Devlin that people would lie to him. And in this case, he had no information to catch the bartender's lies. He knew virtually nothing, yet he had to find out the truth. He had to find his brother.
Devlin stood up. There was only one way to do this, and he didn't relish doing it. He walked back to the small room, opened the door and walked in.
The bartender looked up and said, 'You!'
Devlin stepped forward and immediately slapped his face hard. The bartender started to yell, and Devlin slapped the other side, this time harder.
The Irishman shook his head and spit blood on the floor. 'What the fuck do you think you're doing, you bastard?'
Devlin squatted in front of him and looked him right in the eye. He pointed his finger at the man and spoke very quietly. 'Don't talk. Don't dare ask me a question. Keep your mouth shut and listen. Listen very carefully or you will be hurt very badly.
'It's just you and me. No cops, no friends, no lawyer. No chance anyone will find you and help you. The only way you're going to get out of here alive and in one piece is if you tell me the absolute truth. You've already lied to me once. Don't do it again. You only get one warning.'
Devlin looked into the bartender's eyes. He wanted to see fear. He saw anger, confusion. But fear? He wasn't sure yet.
Devlin stood up and turned his back on the bartender and looked at the driver's license on the table. The man's full name was Brian McGinty. He lived at 340 East 98th Street.
He turned back to the bartender. Brian yelled at him, 'Who the fuck are you? Are you crazy?'
Devlin muttered something too softly for the bartender to hear. Reluctantly, Devlin turned to the table and opened the attache case. It was filled with a jumble of items-none of which belonged in an attache case. Devlin pulled out a small round sponge and a roll of adhesive tape.
He moved behind the bartender with surprising quickness. McGinty had no time to look behind him before Devlin wrenched back his head so suddenly it forced his mouth open.
Devlin shoved the sponge into his mouth, held his head back, and slammed the inch-wide strip of adhesive tape across his mouth.
Devlin walked to the table again, tossed the tape in the attache case and picked up an iron pipe about a foot long and a half-inch in diameter.
He walked over to the chair and without a second's hesitation Devlin smashed the pipe into the shin of the bartender's right leg.
The sponge and tape muffled most of the scream.
Devlin then turned the pipe deftly and punched it down hard on top of McGinty's left knee cap. McGinty's entire body jerked with searing pain. Devlin moved swiftly and gave a smart rap with the pipe on McGinty's right wrist and then the left.
None of the blows were hard enough to break anything. But the pain was terrible. The bartender screamed into the sponge and tape across his mouth.
Again, Devlin crouched down in front of McGinty. He switched the pipe to his left hand and held his right forefinger to his lips to motion for silence. Tears of agony seeped out of McGinty's eyes. It took him a few moments, but he managed to stop yelling.
When he was quiet, Devlin reached out and pulled the tape off. It ripped a layer of skin off the bartender's lips, causing more pain, but McGinty didn't scream.
Devlin left the sponge in his mouth. He leaned closer and spoke to him again, pointing the pipe at the man's face for emphasis.
'Once more. Tell me the truth, and I won't hurt you. If you don't do that, I will start again. And I won't stop for a long time. I will start breaking bones, my friend. And if you think you hurt now, wait until I break the small bone above your wrist and start pounding on it.'
Devlin paused to let the threat sink in and let his rage wash over him. Then he snarled his first question, 'Now do you fucking understand me?'
McGinty nodded. This time Devlin saw the fear deep in his eyes. A small wet stain spread from the bartender's crotch. He somehow managed to stop just before he soaked himself.
Devlin stood up and pulled the sponge from the man's mouth. He turned back to the table and dropped the pipe into the case. He picked up a pad of paper and a pen and turned back. He rested against the edge of the table and paused.
'Are you ready?' Devlin asked quietly. .
