Team Bête Noire
By: “Timothy” Fred Parks
Chapter 4: Old Friends and Old Habits Die Hard
The city was mostly quite. The only sounds were of a few sirens in the distance. The city was hardly ever this quite. Craig figured the time must be somewhere between 2:30 and 3:00 in the morning. It was when things often went “bump”, the time when the worst of the human condition loved to roam; looking for the unwary.
This was the time Craig once loved to walk the streets the most when he was coming up in the police force. Most considered the second shift to be the most exciting time to work because of how much work there was to do. There was always a bar fight, domestic dispute or accident to work during the hours of 2pm and midnight.
But that was just busy work, fodder for the rooky and those with trouble being self motivated…but the graveyard shift…that was for the big boys…
Craig’s eyes searched out the shadows as he walked. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end with the electricity and invigoration of a long lost love; the hunt. This was the time of night he had always been most effective with his…gifts. In fact some of the more seasoned of the force called him “the Falcon” because of his predatory mindset when out on patrol and later after becoming detective because of his nose for always finding the smallest of details.
Those old instincts were being aroused for the first time in many months. Something in the city was not right. Something about the old couple nagged at him but the answer hid its self just out of reach of his comprehension.
“Not my problem” he suddenly said to himself as if arguing with his own conscience.
He turned the corner and realized he was near an old haunt of his: “The Dust Devil”. He knew the place would be open for drinks even if they were a bit watered down. He didn’t want to go home and for some reason he just wanted to sit down for a few minutes, have a drink and try to clear his head of the insanity he’d witnessed in the last few hours.
Craig found the place nestled below street level. The place reminded him of the old television show “Cheers” and he half expected the patrons to all shout “Craig” when he walked in. He stepped through the door to far less fan fair. The room was dimly lit and only a few people sat at tables in the darkest parts of the bar. It was the hour of shadows and those out during this time always took great pains in hiding their faces. Craig ambled over to the bar and sat down.
“Well, well, well…look what the cat has drug in” a man behind the bar said with a smile on his face.
The man behind the bar wore a dusty old straw cowboy hat and a set of round shades. The smirk on his face was familiar and aroused a familiar disdain in the pit of Craig’s stomach.
“Look who’s talking. You look like a reject from Natural Born Killers” Craig responded curtly.
The man only laughed. Craig returned a smile as the two extended their hands to greet one another.
“How have you been brother? I haven’t seen you since Jess…well I haven’t seen you around in a while” the man said.
“I’ve been around David, I just prefer my drinks with less water” Craig responded.
“Ouch, don’t say that so loud. Some of these cats in here aren’t so understanding of the current economic times” David said with a wink then turned and took a bottle from the shelf and poured two shots.
“Have a snort of that Craig, tell me if it’s watered down” David said as he held up one of the glasses for Craig to take.
The two men knocked back the shots…
Craig emitted a low moaning cough as his eyes began to water. He slapped the glass down and pounded the bar with his left hand before looking up at David who giving that infuriating mischievous grin once again.
“Replace water with turpentine” Craig coughed out.
“Kerosene but that was a good guess” David replied.
“You’re going to cause someone to go blind with that bathtub gin, you know that right” Craig grumbled.
“You want another one, don’t you” David replied.
Craig rolled his eyes and offered up his shot glass to be refilled. The two men threw back the alcohol once again then slapped the glass down.
“One more” David asked.
“Just give me a beer man, I’m not sure my liver can take any more abuse tonight” Craig replied.
David chuckled and walked back down the bar and retrieved a bottle of Samuel Adams. Craig took the bottle then pulled his wallet from his back pocket. As he opened it he realized he was down to his last twenty dollars.
“On the house tonight brother, me casa es su casa” David said.
“Since when” Craig asked.
“Don’t look a gift giraffe in the mouth boy-o, lets just say I was hoping you’d pop in and leave it at that” David answered.
Craig opened the bottle and took a long swig attempting to run the acrid flavor of David’s homemade liquor from his pallet…it didn’t help much. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, David finally spoke.
“What did you think of the facilities” David asked.
“What facilities” Craig responded.
“You know…the house that Marvin built” David continued.
“David it’s been a very long night and I think you’ve had one too many shots of that horse swill you call alcohol. I’ll see you around man” Craig said and stood up.
“Wait a second Craig. Sit down. I need to talk to you, it’s important” David replied with a serious tone.
“Not tonight David. I appreciate the beer but I’m not that cheep of a date” Craig responded and turned.
“Aren’t you interested at all” David asked.
Craig stopped then and slowly turned around.
“Just give me a few moments to close up, and then we can talk ok. Five, ten minutes tops. You don’t like what I have to say then I’ll never bring it up again…ok” David said.
Craig grudgingly walked back to the bar and sat down. David smiled then set about running the other’s from the building. After he had closed and locked the door he returned and sat down on a bar stool next to Craig; leaving one empty stool between them. It was always David’s habit to leave an arms length between himself an others, a trait he picked up long ago.
“What the fridge is this all about” Craig asked abruptly before, David could speak
“Redemption, well no maybe more like revenge if you’d rather” David responded.
“Out with it man, I’ve had a rough day and it hasn’t gotten any better since coming in here. If you want to play Confucius, get a tent and join the circus, if you want any more of my attention, you better start spilling the beans” Craig said with agitation.
“Dude you should really switch to decaf ok” David replied.
“Look, I know they showed you the place. You wouldn’t be here right now if they didn’t” David said.
David rubbed his eyes and sighed.
“Let me guess you turned them down… right” David continued.
“So you are one of them” Craig replied.
“Yeah, that’s right and I thought you’d jump at the chance to get involved to. I was the one who suggested they consider you. I don’t think you realize how big of a deal it was for them to let you in the door. They’ve been scrutinizing you for over a year. Frankly your behavior lately has been making me look pretty bad” David answered.
“Why don’t you mind your own business David” Craig responded.
“Because we’re friends and you’ve been down on your luck. You think you’ve been hiding in the bottom of that bottle because of Jessica but I’m going to let you in on a little secret buddy. You’re in that bottle because you aren’t fulfilled anymore. When you were working homicide you were the best in the game. It’s what separated you from the rest of the drunks on the planet. When you gave up on your talents you became just another statistic…another lonely soul looking for satisfaction in a world you were never meant to be a part of. Wake up man. Break the bottle and use the talents you were given” David said.
“You’re one to talk. You were the best bounty hunter in the country then you gave it all up to buy…a bar of all things. Don’t be so sanctimonious with me bub I’m not in the mood” Craig replied.
“Yeah, your right Craig…I did give it up for a while. You see one too many blood stains, too many crying children…too many battered women and it does something to you but I’m telling you Craig, no matter how hard I tried to walk away…I just couldn’t sleep at night…couldn’t think straight…I crawled in one of those bottles. Heck, why do you think I bought this place. Free booze man” David smiled.
“I guess I’m supposed to pat you on the back and say atta boy now right” Craig replied.
“Cut the Dennis Leary shtick with me man. I can see your working this all out in you head. You probably have most of it figured out already. You’re just too stubborn to care” David said.
“You’re wrong David. She was my muse. My talent came from her. Without her I don’t even care about being fulfilled, nor can I be. I appreciate your concern but I have no interest in your little cult” Craig replied.
“At least sleep on it. Did you get to talk to Marvin yet” David replied.
“So Colleen isn’t the leader” Craig replied.
“See that, see your already starting to ask questions. I thought you didn’t care” David chuckled.
“Whatever” Craig said and stood up to leave
“No, she’s not the leader. She just wears the jacket sometimes. In fact our little group is pretty good about handing over responsibilities sometimes. It’s what makes it work so well. We work together but we can all take prompts when we need to. Marvin is the director, he’s the one who organizes the team” David said.
“Aren’t you a little old to be playing spy games David. Honestly I feel like Rod Serling is going to start doing some voice over right about now. I’ve had enough, I’m leav…” Craig broke off from speaking at the sound of the front door opening.
“Holy jumped up spark plugs and spam…I swear I locked that door” David said as two shadowy characters entered the bar.
“Sorry but we’re closed. I know this because of the sign on the door that reads closed” David said sarcastically.
“Even for me” a woman’s voice spoke.
Craig recognized the voice. It was Colleen’s.
“Especially for you and your toady. Turn around and get out” David shouted.
“I thought you were big buddies” Craig said under his breath.
“That’s not who you think it is Craig. We need to get out of here and quick” David said as he stood and began backing up slowly.
Craig began to chuckle.
“Now I know this is just a prank. Dude you’ve gone to a lot of trouble to set this up” Craig said.
“Shut up worm” a man’s voice came from the shadow.
The man stepped into the light holding a coiled whip in each hand. Craig recognized the man as Tyler M. Craig’s guns were out and pointed toward the two intruders in a blink of an eye.
“You didn’t say please” Craig replied.
Suddenly the coiled whips flipped and ....Tyler.... began to snap them around like a ticked off octopus.
“Craig that’s not Tyler M, that’s Tyler B” David said as he grabbed Craig and pulled him back away from the snapping whips.
“And I suppose that’s Colleen B as well. Kind of a comedy of errors thing you got going on here right” Craig said sarcastically.
“More like Predator, man …come on” David said as a little panic began to rise up in his words.
“This is a ride I’m not interested in riding right now David, get me off this crazy thing and point me to the door” Craig replied with a chuckle still not believing what he was experiencing.
-bang-
A gun shot rang out and shook Craig from his whimsy and slammed him into the reality of what was happening. David fell behind him.
“Going so soon gentleman, the night is young” Colleen B said with ominous tone.
Craig hesitated in the confusion and felt the sting of a whip crack across his left arm and right cheek. Tyler B disappeared into the shadows and continued to crack the whip all around Craig from different angles in attempt to confuse and keep him frozen.
“We have much to discuss you and me” Colleen said as she stepped out of the shadows.
The woman looked exactly like Colleen M but had one dead eye and a scar that went from her forehead to her cheek.
“Hold on a second I can’t concentrate with all this crap” Craig said and fired a shot into the darkness.
“Ahhhhhh” Tyler B screamed out and ceased from cracking the whip.
“There, that’s better. Now what were you saying” Craig said as he kept the gun on Colleen.
“Impressive, I see why my sister was so keen to have you” Colleen said and leered at Craig with a look as if he was a chocolate covered Sunday.
“Yeah, I’m in high demand these days. Take a number and I’ll get back with you in about three hundred years” Craig replied.
“Your wit and charm are dull, it’s a good thing your so handsome” Colleen replied.
“So you’re blind in one eye and can’t see out of the other I guess” Craig said “Look this has been real and it’s been fun but it ain’t been real fun so if you please let yourself out. My buddy here has slipped on a banana peel and I need to get him some help” Craig answered back
“I could kill you now” Colleen said as she raised her gun.
“I’ve heard that song before, you don’t sing it any differently than any other two bit thugs I’ve ever met Miss Cyclops. Collect you trash and get out” he replied as the two stood facing one another in a Mexican stand off.
“You’ve made a very costly mistake Falcon…one you’ll never live to regret” Colleen said and began to slowly drift into the shadows.
“I got it, I’ll rue the day, you’ll get me and my little dog too…I know all the lines sister” Craig replied.
Craig watched the shadows and could make out two figures moving back through the door. One walked while the other dragged its self as if one leg was incapacitated.
“Hmm, aim’s a little off” he said to himself as he holstered his gun and bent to tend to his friend.
David stirred then sat bolt up right startling Craig. Craig grabbed the man’s shirt and pulled it open revealing a Kevlar vest underneath.
“Wimp” Craig said.
“Alive wimp” David said through gritted teeth.
“Interested now” David continued.
“Mildly” Craig responded