Grand Theft Auto IV: Chronicles
Phil Bell
Chapter One: Ray's On His Case
Phil's pager began buzzing which awoke him in his slumber. A pillow was covering his face so he threw it across the room which caused the bookcase to shudder. He held his head, trying to regain his sight, and checked the pager. It was Ray. The message read "Peg wants to speak to us. Meet me at the mansion at 12:30."
"Ah shit, I need to get ready," Phil grunted.
Placing the pager on his bedside table, he headed into the bathroom to take a quick shower before returning to his wardrobe to don his usual uniform.
Ten minutes later, after preparing everything, Phil got into his car and drove down to the office. Inside, Benson was sitting in Phil's chair. Phil frowned at Benson who immediately rose to his feet.
"Sorry, boss," Benson said. "I was keeping in warm for yer,"
"Sure, sure," Phil replied.
Phil then took his seat and ruffled through some unimportant papers lying around on his desk, to which he came across the latest edition of The Liberty Tree newspaper. The front headline was printed in bold capitals. It said "LIBERTY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT STOP SMUGGLING RING,EX-CRIMINAL RAY BOCCINO BELIEVED SUSPECT."
"Ray didn't tell me he was in trouble with the cops," Phil said.
"He don't care, they can't press charges if they ain't got any evidence," shrugged Benson.
"Interesting, but what about the Peg."
"Ray informed him yesterday but he don't give a shit either."
"Great."
Benson left with a huge grin on his face, feeling as if Phil was not pissed off with him, but he was.
The time was 12:02 and Phil knew he was running late because he forgot a number of important items including his pistol. Traffic on Algonquin's highways was at it's peak today and Phil was beginning to doubt he was going to make it to the mansion in time and then Pegirino would give him an earful. The old man had become more and more merciless by the day and would probably have ordered a hit on Phil just for being a couple of minutes late.
However, Phil's luck began to turn because luckily a crazed madman was driving down the highway and caused everyone else to move out of the way, which Phil took advantage of. He reached Pegirino's mansion at 12:28, two minutes early. As usual, Ray was standing by the garages, smoking a cigar. Phil approached him.
"Hey, Philly boy," Ray smirked.
"Where's the boss?" questioned Phil, clearly not in the mood for talking to him.
"Inside...no wait-" he said abruptly when Phil began to turn and leave.
"What?"
"I need some help, man. The fuzz won't get off my back."
"Benson told me you weren't bothered."
"Well then Benson's an asshole because I'm scared shitless," and Ray threw his cigar on the ground and stamped the tip out.
"Not my problem, Ray."
"Hey, the boss is concerned too, you know. I'm sure he'll accept the fact that your denying his orders."
"Bloody Benson lied to me again."
"Anyway, we'll discuss this later. It's half-past already."
The two of them went inside and into Pegirino's living room where the old man was waiting for them. He looked as depressed as he ever was.
"Take a seat, gentlemen," he calmly said and Phil along with Ray sat into the sofa next to the one Jimmy Peg was sitting on.
"I'm not a happy man, boys."
"Why, boss?" Phil inquired.
"Because Ray here is getting into deep trouble with the feds, and soon enough, they'll be knocking on my door to take all of us away in handcuffs!"
"Let me explain," Ray started. "I thought the cops had turned a blind eye to illegal immigrants , what with all the murdering in Liberty City. Then, the owner of Auto Eroticar, Joe Spillzman, says he's short of a few workers. Now me and Joe go way back so I thought I could do him a favour and charge him some dollars for these outer town boys. So I sell them on to him. He comes to me the next day with the briefcase full of cash and we agree to the deal. Then, the fuzz shows up, but I was already home free and out of the area. Joe on the other hand, was arrested and the immigrants were taken to the homeless shelter. So there's my story. Boss, I'm truly sorry."
Ray tried to act as if he had gotten into Pegirino's good books but the boss' face said it all. He was not a happy man.
"If this plump fucker squeals then your into deep shit, Ray!" Pegirino bellowed. "I want this chump whacked."
"Whoa, boss. I can't kill him; he's in the slammer anyway."
"Fine, then kill his wife."
"We're too close, boss. I can't do that. I'm sorry."
Pegirino turned to Phil and said "You take care of this, Phil; unless your too chicken shit?"
"The hell I ain't," Phil remarked.
Silence fell across the room. Ray was the first to get out of his seat and leave, followed by Phil. The two of them left the mansion with concerned faces.
Phil returned to his office where Benson was still lingering outside, but when Phil began to approach him, he ran inside; Phil chased him. When Benson was cornered, Phil seized his collar and plummeted him across the desk.
"Why have you been lying to me, Benny?" Phil fumed.
"Wha-I ain't been telling no lies," said Benson
"Ray confides otherwise."
"When then Ray's lying, cause I ain't been pulling the wool over your eyes, Phil. I swear."
"He's Pegirino's Capo and your a lowlife thug; who'd you think I believe in the most, huh?"
"Boss, please calm down!" Benson screeched when Phil raised his fist.
Quite some time passed before Phil exited through the door of the office. His suit was now stained in heaps of blood. Many of the workers on the site glazed at him, but he was in no mood for explaining; Ray was in tremendous trouble.
