Highway from Hell
Chapter Nine
Joe strolled down the street and enterd the diner. Jenny came over at once and, taking Joe's arm, led him to an empty table. "How about the house special?" she asked, smiling at him as he sat down.
"Why not?" Joe agreed. "And a coke," he added as she left.
"Mind if I join you?" Joe looked up at the man who had come over to stand by his table. He was shorter than Joe with a lean build and curly black hair. He had blue eyes and a small scar at the corner of his chin. Joe's eyes widened in surprise behind the safety of his sunglasses, but he showed no recognition. Joe gave a slight shrug indicating he didn't care.
"My name's Jack," the man said, sitting down across from Joe. "I've been watching you," he added, just loud enough for Jenny to hear as she stopped at the table next to them.
"You have?" Joe asked suspiciously. "Why?"
"I just moved onto Harvest street, around the corner," Jack answered, leaning back and smiling at Joe. "You look like the kind of person I need."
"What are you talking about?" Joe asked, really confused. He had told Frank he needed a buyer in the neighborhood, but this was too soon and Jack Wayne, a friend of the Hardys in his mid-twenties, and his father's personal pilot, was acting more like he wanted Joe to work for him.
Jenny came over to the table. "Hello," she said, smiling at Jack with a curious look in her eyes. "I'm Jenny, your waitress. Would you care for the house special?" she asked.
"Now that would depend," Jack drawled. "What is it?"
"Salisbury steak with cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans and a roll," she replied.
"I think I'll just have a big, juicy burger loaded with onions, lettuce and tomatoes, easy on the mayo. Add a large order of fries and a cola," he gave her his order. "Thanks," he said, dismissing her and turning back to Joe. "I need someone who knows the area," he said.
"Not me," Joe replied. "I just moved here."
"Oh," Jack said, disappointed. "Where from?"
"Across town," Joe answered, watching Danny come into the diner and take the table Jenny had just cleaned.
Jack broke into a big smile. "Well, now, that's perfect," he said. "By area, I meant Bayport. You see," he added, leaning closer. "I'm, uh...how shall I put this, starting a new enterprise. I noticed you were in the same business," he added, making it clear to anyone listening exactly what enterprise he was embarking on.
"Thanks," Joe replied with a faint smile. "But I have a boss." He saw Trey walk into the diner. 'Jenny must have called him,' Joe thought.
Trey came over and sat down at the table behind Jack and Joe. "I can give you a better deal," Jack offered. "Your own place, plenty of cash, and say, thirty percent of sales?"
Joe seemed to think this over. "Plus," Jack added, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Joe's covered eyes, "no more door to door. I've got big buyers lined up,"
"Then why do you need me?" Joe demanded, his tone indicating he thought Jack was trying to lead him into a trap of some kind.
"I need a go between. I don't want anyone to know who I am or where I get my supplies. With you as my middle man, no one else need ever know," Jack explained.
"What makes you think I won't turn you in for a better deal?" Joe demanded.
"You won't get one," Jack replied with confidence. He reached over and pulled Joe's sunglasses off. Joe blinked rapidly as his eyes tried to adjust to the brightness. "You're a user," Jack stated. "You need it as much as I need you. I've got the pure stuff and your fixes are on the house."
Jack quit talking as Jenny came over with their lunch. Joe slipped his glasses back on and they ate in silence. Jack insisted on paying for Joe's meal. "Think it over," Jack told Joe, standing up. "I'll see you tomorrow," he added, leaving.
Trey got up when Joe did and took Joe's arm in his. "That's enough work for one day," he said, leading Joe toward the door. "Let's go home."
Chet, who had watched the scene quietly from a corner booth, paid his tab and left. He went straight to the apartment he shared with Frank and Biff. Biff, having already returned, opened the door when he heard a key put into the lock. Chet burst inside and told Frank and Biff about Jack coming into the diner and about Trey and another guy listening to Jack's and Joe's conversation.
"Joe will tell us what Jack said when he stops by to sell the rest of his junk," Frank said.
"No, he won't," Chet contradicted him, then told about Trey taking Joe and insisting they go home.
"Blast it!" Frank said. "I wish I knew what was going on." He hated feeling left out of the loop. "I'm going out," he said. "I'll have dad tell me what Jack's doing, then we'll know if Joe's in any immediate danger," he decided. "You two hang out around here. Maybe on the steps or fire escape? That way, if Joe yells for help, you can hear him."
Biff and Chet agreed and Frank left. He was going to hop on his motorcycle and get to a pay phone a few streets away. Meanwhile, Trey had taken Joe back to the apartment, not letting go of his arm until they were inside the door.
"What's your problem?" Joe demanded, rubbing his arm where Trey had gripped it too tightly.
"Who was the guy in the diner?" Trey asked.
"What guy?" Joe inquired belligerently.
Trey grabbed both Joe's arms and shook him. "Don't play games with me," Trey warned Joe. "Who was he and what did he want?"
"He said his name was Jack," Joe replied. "He wants me to go and work for him."
"Why you?" Trey demanded, looking at Joe quizzically.
"He saw me pushing," Joe replied, taking off the beltpack. He gave the thirty dollars to Trey and the remaining heroin.
Someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Trey called out.
"It's me, Ken," Ken said from the hallway. Trey walked over and let Ken inside. "What's going on?" he asked Trey after he was in. "Danny called and said there was a problem." He glanced over at Joe as he said this.
"Geez! I'd be better off at home!" Joe complained loudly, going into his bedroom and slamming the door. He peeped through the keyhole and saw Ken and Trey sit down on the sofa. He eased the door open just far enough so he could hear what they were saying.
"What's the problem Danny was talking about?" Ken was asking.
"Some new guy in town," Trey replied. "He caught Joe pushing and was trying to recruit him."
"You think Joe would..." Ken began but stopped as someone knocked on the door. Trey got up and let Danny inside. Ken went over and the three of them talked quietly.
Joe gave up trying to listen and went to the box on the dresser. He had blackened the vial enough so no one could tell if he prepared a fresh fix or not, so he merely removed some powder and a piece of foil and flushed it down the toilet. He went back to the door and peeped out.
They were still huddled near the front door so he laid down on the bed, wondering what Ken wanted him to do. A few minutes later, Joe's door opened and Trey, Ken, and Danny came inside. "Time to move," Trey told Joe.
"Why?" Joe asked.
"This Jack guy might be a narc," Trey answered, but Joe could tell he didn't really think so.
"Where are we moving too?" Joe asked, sitting up.
"Trey's staying," Ken told him. "But you are going to stay with another friend of mine."
"Him?" Joe demanded, looking at Danny with a face full of distatste.
"No," Trey quickly assured him. "Jack had the right idea," he told Joe. "You're wasted as a two-bit pusher," he told Joe. "You're moving up."
"You think I would work for him," Joe surmised.
"Let's just say, we don't want to lose you," Ken said, intervening. "Let's go."
"I don't want to," Joe argued. "I like it here."
"You don't have a choice," Danny said, coming over and pulling Joe off the bed. They went downstairs and out to a black van parked at the curb. Danny hustled Joe into the back and climbed in after him. Ken got into the driver's seat and they took off.
Chapter Nine
Joe strolled down the street and enterd the diner. Jenny came over at once and, taking Joe's arm, led him to an empty table. "How about the house special?" she asked, smiling at him as he sat down.
"Why not?" Joe agreed. "And a coke," he added as she left.
"Mind if I join you?" Joe looked up at the man who had come over to stand by his table. He was shorter than Joe with a lean build and curly black hair. He had blue eyes and a small scar at the corner of his chin. Joe's eyes widened in surprise behind the safety of his sunglasses, but he showed no recognition. Joe gave a slight shrug indicating he didn't care.
"My name's Jack," the man said, sitting down across from Joe. "I've been watching you," he added, just loud enough for Jenny to hear as she stopped at the table next to them.
"You have?" Joe asked suspiciously. "Why?"
"I just moved onto Harvest street, around the corner," Jack answered, leaning back and smiling at Joe. "You look like the kind of person I need."
"What are you talking about?" Joe asked, really confused. He had told Frank he needed a buyer in the neighborhood, but this was too soon and Jack Wayne, a friend of the Hardys in his mid-twenties, and his father's personal pilot, was acting more like he wanted Joe to work for him.
Jenny came over to the table. "Hello," she said, smiling at Jack with a curious look in her eyes. "I'm Jenny, your waitress. Would you care for the house special?" she asked.
"Now that would depend," Jack drawled. "What is it?"
"Salisbury steak with cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans and a roll," she replied.
"I think I'll just have a big, juicy burger loaded with onions, lettuce and tomatoes, easy on the mayo. Add a large order of fries and a cola," he gave her his order. "Thanks," he said, dismissing her and turning back to Joe. "I need someone who knows the area," he said.
"Not me," Joe replied. "I just moved here."
"Oh," Jack said, disappointed. "Where from?"
"Across town," Joe answered, watching Danny come into the diner and take the table Jenny had just cleaned.
Jack broke into a big smile. "Well, now, that's perfect," he said. "By area, I meant Bayport. You see," he added, leaning closer. "I'm, uh...how shall I put this, starting a new enterprise. I noticed you were in the same business," he added, making it clear to anyone listening exactly what enterprise he was embarking on.
"Thanks," Joe replied with a faint smile. "But I have a boss." He saw Trey walk into the diner. 'Jenny must have called him,' Joe thought.
Trey came over and sat down at the table behind Jack and Joe. "I can give you a better deal," Jack offered. "Your own place, plenty of cash, and say, thirty percent of sales?"
Joe seemed to think this over. "Plus," Jack added, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Joe's covered eyes, "no more door to door. I've got big buyers lined up,"
"Then why do you need me?" Joe demanded, his tone indicating he thought Jack was trying to lead him into a trap of some kind.
"I need a go between. I don't want anyone to know who I am or where I get my supplies. With you as my middle man, no one else need ever know," Jack explained.
"What makes you think I won't turn you in for a better deal?" Joe demanded.
"You won't get one," Jack replied with confidence. He reached over and pulled Joe's sunglasses off. Joe blinked rapidly as his eyes tried to adjust to the brightness. "You're a user," Jack stated. "You need it as much as I need you. I've got the pure stuff and your fixes are on the house."
Jack quit talking as Jenny came over with their lunch. Joe slipped his glasses back on and they ate in silence. Jack insisted on paying for Joe's meal. "Think it over," Jack told Joe, standing up. "I'll see you tomorrow," he added, leaving.
Trey got up when Joe did and took Joe's arm in his. "That's enough work for one day," he said, leading Joe toward the door. "Let's go home."
Chet, who had watched the scene quietly from a corner booth, paid his tab and left. He went straight to the apartment he shared with Frank and Biff. Biff, having already returned, opened the door when he heard a key put into the lock. Chet burst inside and told Frank and Biff about Jack coming into the diner and about Trey and another guy listening to Jack's and Joe's conversation.
"Joe will tell us what Jack said when he stops by to sell the rest of his junk," Frank said.
"No, he won't," Chet contradicted him, then told about Trey taking Joe and insisting they go home.
"Blast it!" Frank said. "I wish I knew what was going on." He hated feeling left out of the loop. "I'm going out," he said. "I'll have dad tell me what Jack's doing, then we'll know if Joe's in any immediate danger," he decided. "You two hang out around here. Maybe on the steps or fire escape? That way, if Joe yells for help, you can hear him."
Biff and Chet agreed and Frank left. He was going to hop on his motorcycle and get to a pay phone a few streets away. Meanwhile, Trey had taken Joe back to the apartment, not letting go of his arm until they were inside the door.
"What's your problem?" Joe demanded, rubbing his arm where Trey had gripped it too tightly.
"Who was the guy in the diner?" Trey asked.
"What guy?" Joe inquired belligerently.
Trey grabbed both Joe's arms and shook him. "Don't play games with me," Trey warned Joe. "Who was he and what did he want?"
"He said his name was Jack," Joe replied. "He wants me to go and work for him."
"Why you?" Trey demanded, looking at Joe quizzically.
"He saw me pushing," Joe replied, taking off the beltpack. He gave the thirty dollars to Trey and the remaining heroin.
Someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?" Trey called out.
"It's me, Ken," Ken said from the hallway. Trey walked over and let Ken inside. "What's going on?" he asked Trey after he was in. "Danny called and said there was a problem." He glanced over at Joe as he said this.
"Geez! I'd be better off at home!" Joe complained loudly, going into his bedroom and slamming the door. He peeped through the keyhole and saw Ken and Trey sit down on the sofa. He eased the door open just far enough so he could hear what they were saying.
"What's the problem Danny was talking about?" Ken was asking.
"Some new guy in town," Trey replied. "He caught Joe pushing and was trying to recruit him."
"You think Joe would..." Ken began but stopped as someone knocked on the door. Trey got up and let Danny inside. Ken went over and the three of them talked quietly.
Joe gave up trying to listen and went to the box on the dresser. He had blackened the vial enough so no one could tell if he prepared a fresh fix or not, so he merely removed some powder and a piece of foil and flushed it down the toilet. He went back to the door and peeped out.
They were still huddled near the front door so he laid down on the bed, wondering what Ken wanted him to do. A few minutes later, Joe's door opened and Trey, Ken, and Danny came inside. "Time to move," Trey told Joe.
"Why?" Joe asked.
"This Jack guy might be a narc," Trey answered, but Joe could tell he didn't really think so.
"Where are we moving too?" Joe asked, sitting up.
"Trey's staying," Ken told him. "But you are going to stay with another friend of mine."
"Him?" Joe demanded, looking at Danny with a face full of distatste.
"No," Trey quickly assured him. "Jack had the right idea," he told Joe. "You're wasted as a two-bit pusher," he told Joe. "You're moving up."
"You think I would work for him," Joe surmised.
"Let's just say, we don't want to lose you," Ken said, intervening. "Let's go."
"I don't want to," Joe argued. "I like it here."
"You don't have a choice," Danny said, coming over and pulling Joe off the bed. They went downstairs and out to a black van parked at the curb. Danny hustled Joe into the back and climbed in after him. Ken got into the driver's seat and they took off.