The Death of Francis Boyle

He rolls over onto his back and slowly opens his eyes. The midday sun is streaming through the slits of his curtains like moon beams through the clouds. He rubs his swollen eyes and thinks about last night. His mouth is dry and his nose is sore. Still laying on his back he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before rising up on one elbow knowing that that small movement will cause the dull ache behind his eyes to rear its ugly head and become a full blown siren. He reaches over to the night stand beside his bed and grabs the glass of water he had placed there the night before right along with his gun. He drinks the glass dry. He's about to lay down again when he hears someone coming up the steps to his front door. He calmly puts the water glass down, picks up his gun, and laying back down, waits.

After a few seconds there's a loud knock at his door. "Max! Max!"

He quietly moans and slowly rolls out of bed. He cautiously moves through the hall towards his exterior door, and looks through the peep hole. His head is throbbing. Talking through the door, "This better be important."

"You told me to let you know when Trina shows up."

Max closes his eyes in relief. Thank God she's alright. He hadn't seen her in over a week and he was beginning to worry. "Okay. Now beat it."

The kid backs away from the door and heads back down the stairs.

Deeks is tempted to head back to bed, but changes his mind and heads to the bathroom for a long hot shower. Thirty minutes later he comes out feeling much, much better. Tonight is business, last night was fun. Not his idea of fun, but certainly Max Gentry's idea of fun: booze and coke. He doesn't mind the booze so much, but the coke is scary stuff and he doesn't like doing it. Most of the time he is able to fake it or just plain refuse it (Max isn't much of a coke monkey), but that wasn't the case last night and he had done a couple of lines. It's rough on his body and his nose, but doing it every once in a while helps him maintain his cover.

1st Street Pool Billiard Parlor

Max walks in and does a quick look around. The bar is not very crowded, but it's early. He goes up to the bar. He's a regular so he doesn't have to tell the bartender what he wants. Max contrary to Deeks is a man of few words. He waits for his drink and then turns around, leans on the bar, and views the room. He sees Trina in the corner talking to Joey. She's average height and build, a blonde with green eyes. The world hasn't been too kind to her and she's had to make her own way. She's had it rough and when he's around he tries to keep her safe. Well, as safe as he can. After all she's a working girl.

Trina looks up from chatting with Joey and sees Max at the bar. "See you later, Joey. I'll have your money after tonight."

"I know you're good for it Trina." Joey watches her walk away. "Be careful out there."

She says over her shoulder, "Always." As she gets closer to Max they make eye contact and she gives him a big smile. "Hey, Max."

Max, playing it cool, gives her a nod. As she nears, his eyes narrow and he pushes himself off the bar glaring at Trina closely. She stops in front of him, her smile vanishing. He gently takes her by the chin and turns her face left and right closely looking at the yellowing bruises on her face and the cut on her lip. "Jesus, Trina."

She pulls away from him, "It's nothing." Max shakes his head looking at her sternly. "You should see the other guy." Trina says with a chuckle.

"Lame, Trina." He turns around to face the bar and nurse his drink.

Trina joins him,"Okay, so it got a little rough."

He chuckles, "A little rough?" He looks at her face, he notices a little swelling near her eye, and reaches up and touches it softly. "That's an understatement."

She pulls away again."Yeah, well, next time it happens I'll be ready." She pats her red clutch.

He looks down at her purse and then back up at her, and casually asks, "Who was it?"

She shakes her head, "You don't know him."

"Wha-"

"And I'm not telling you his name."

"If I don't know him then telling me his name won't make any difference."

"If I tell you his name you might go after him."

Max deeply sighs while looking into his glass and finally turns to Trina, "You know, one of these days you're going to get yourself killed."

"Not if I can help it." She gets the bartender's attention and he brings over a drink. She too, is a regular.

LATER THAT SAME EVENING

Max has concluded his business and after several more drinks leaves the bar. Outside it is dark, there's a chill in the air. The sidewalks are empty and the streets are bare. Finally alone, he stands in the shadows outside the bar and takes in several deep cleansing breaths trying to shake Max's persona. He looks out over the parking lot and sees one lone person walking his way. As the person draws nearer he can't believe his eyes. He recognizes the man as his old partner Francis Boyle. Max backs in deeper into the shadows and hopes that Fran doesn't see him. Having Francis Boyle blowing his cover after all these months undercover will not be good. And Fran won't think twice about calling him out. Their split wasn't very amicable. Deeks wonders what brings him to this area of Los Angeles. Max watches as Fran makes his way to a seedy apartment house half a block a way. A few minutes later Max sees the lights of a fourth floor apartment come on.