After waitingfor nearly fifteen minutes, a table opens up at the back of theroom. Before anyone else can get there, I quickly jaunt to thetable and claim it. Almost as soon as I’m seated, I notice Slinkywalk in and maneuver around patrons and tables. When I raise myhand, he sees me, nods, and walks over.
“How did youget a table? Did you flash a gun or something?”
I laugh.
“How are ya,kid? He says, taking off his jacket and hanging it on the back ofhis chair.
“I’m alright,Slink. I’m glad to see you in one piece.”
“It would takea lot more than a knuckle dragger like, Tank to finish me off. I’mthin, old and weak…. but I’m smart,” he says, tapping his head.
“On the phone,you said that you had something you wanted to tell me?” I say,sliding my chair closer to his.
He brieflylooks around then leans in, “I think you’re really gonna likethis,” he says, grinning.
“Slinky, maybeI should tell you first that I’ve decided not to go after Fournier.He’s too dangerous. He’s already destroyed my childhood. I don’twant him ruining what I have now.”
He stares at mefor a moment and then looks down at the table and taps his fingers,“I don’t think you get it, kid. It’s not you seeking him that’s theproblem, it’s the other way around. And because you’re on hisradar, you’re already in danger.”
“But if I justkeep to myself and…”
“It’s too latefor that now,” Slink interjects, “Don’t you think it’s a bit of acoincidence that after you followed that missing teen to Fournier’spub, the kid’s friends ended up dead in a burned-up car? To me, itseems like Fournier wanted to send a message; ‘Don’t ever bring thecops around again or this is what will happen to you.’ Then,there’s Jim, albeit a shit disturber. Don’t you find it odd that hewas killed the very next day after speaking to you?”
I stare at him,not knowing what to say.
“You’re notinvisible, Jules. You’re just a girl and most importantly, a girlwho doesn’t know the streets or how to protect herself. You’re asvulnerable as a lamb. Remember how Tank followed you from thehospital? Or more recently, how he strolled into the Chineserestaurant and told us to come outside? See what I mean? Fournierhas people all over the city who will do anything for a bit of freedope. There’s nowhere you can hide. You have two choices, meetFournier and take a chance that he’s not pissed enough to kill you,or find a way to ruin him first. As for the people who are in yourlife that you care about? They are already in danger just becausethey’re near you. If you don’t believe me, look at what justhappened to your dad.”
“You can’tseriously be blaming that on me? I love my father. I’d never doanything to put him in harm’s way.”
“Notintentionally, no. But your father wouldn’t have been hurt foranything he did. He’s been gone too long. Whatever bad bloodexisted between him and Fournier was gone a long time ago. You arethe only link between your dad and him now. Fournier thought byhurting your father, he would be hurting you and paying you backfor meddling in his life.”
As much as Ifeel defensive toward Slinky for blaming me for everything that’shappened, I can’t help but agree with him. I am the one commondenominator in all four of the people getting hurt or killed.
“I feelterrible, Slinky. I sure never wanted any of this to happen.”
He nods,“You’re a good girl, Jules. In my eyes, you’re not responsible foranything that happened to any of those people. But in Fournier’scontrol freak mind, he doesn’t care.”
“So, whatyou’re saying is that if I lay low and don’t ask around about himanymore, he won’t just forget about me?”
“That’s exactlywhat I’m saying. And do you really wanna live your life wonderingwho’s around every corner?”
“No,” I say,shaking my head.
“So, what didyou have to tell me?” I say, feeling disheartened.
He leans inclose enough for me to smell the remnants of a mint he probably hadright before he came to meet me, “I know something that will put anend to Fournier once and for all.”
Let’s hopethat’s true, or apparently, I’ll be screwed.
Slinkycontinues, “There’s a lady that I used to be friendly with manyyears ago that works at Fournier’s bar. Her name is Darlene. Sheused to be a waitress, but when she put on a few pounds and agedout, he made her the cook. Anyways, we ran into each other recentlyand she started telling me how she wants to quit working at thepub, but Fournier won’t let her. She thinks it’s probably becauseshe’s seen too many illegal things going on, and he’s afraid she’lltalk to someone about it if she leaves.”
“So, how canshe help us?”
“I’m getting tothat part,” he says, shaking his head. “She told me that Fournierhas a book and how every night he locks it in a safe in hisoffice.”
“Ok, sowhat?”
“So, thisparticular book has nothing to do with the bar business andeverything to do with dealing dope. Darlene says that all the namesof high-ranking people that are heads of some of the most notabledrug rings in North America are in that book, not to mention listsof local business men and a few politicians.”
“Shit!” is allI can think of to say. “Are you sure you can trust Darlene? Imean…are you positive that what she told you is true?”
“I’m onehundred and fifty percent. Darlene wouldn’t lie about somethinglike this. She hates Fournier as much as we do. Her son wasrecruited to sell for Fournier when the kid was just thirteen. Hewas a good boy, bright and full of potential. He would do hishomework in Fournier’s office and wait for his mom to finish hershift. That’s when Fournier got his hooks into him. He built trustwith the kid and then manipulated him into selling dope. Just twoyears later, the kid was found dead from a gunshot wound to thehead. Apparently, a drug
