Chapter IV

Steve drove down the road, avoiding traffic like crazy. Hood told him to slow down, but Steve didn't readily comply. Hood had to yell at him to slow down and tried to put some sense in him as well.

"So what the fuck happened back there?" demanded Steve.

"Hey, just calm the fuck down all right. I'll tell you if you slow down first and take it easy, all right?" Hood said in an absolute calm voice. Steve breathed deeply and the car began to slow down. "Ok, good. Now what happened was that I went to pick up Jan. After a short discussion, she decides to go with us but as I walk out the door there is a man standing in a brown suit. He then fucking decides to pull a gun out on me and shoot the damn thing. I retaliate and we go back in Jan's apartment and hide out for a few minutes. After not hearing from him for a minutes, we headed out the back way of her apartment and that brings us to here."

"Who do you think it was? Maybe someone related to the guy we hit last night or maybe someone else?" Steve asked quickly. He was getting nervous again at the thought and the car began speeding up again.

Hood put his hand on Steve's shoulder, "I don't know but I can tell you this, they either followed us or they were coming for Jan."

"Me?! Why on earth would anyone want to come for me? I'm out of the business and I know I didn't make any enemies while I was in it!" she exclaimed.

"Hey, all I know is someone was sent to get me or possibly you, I'm as confused as you are." Hood said going into deep thought, trying to find an answer. For the rest of the ride to Dresser's, all three were quiet and a little shaken, especially Jan.

It was a completely new feeling and concept for Jan. The thought of that someone out there wanted you dead enough where they would hire some lug head to come and knock you off, was frightening. But to Hood and Steve, they dealt with that feeling everyday. No one had ever come after her, even all the time she spent being a prostitute. One would laugh at the idea of making enemies in that type of business but it's possible, everything is possible. She looked over to Hood, who stared out the window, deeply focused. His breathing was deep and sequenced, at times when he thought this way; he seemed lifeless, statue like. Jan moved over and rested her head on his shoulder. Hood didn't react in anyway to this; he didn't even flinch. Jan closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Her eyes opened slowly as she felt the car slowing down and finally coming to a stop. She lifted her head off Hood's shoulder, who was looking at her with an apologetic face. Jan smiled a response that everything was fine but that didn't change Hood's expression. She heard a door open and Steve step out. He then turned, lifted the driver's seat and pulled out a briefcase. Hood followed suit and looked back in the car and told Jan she could either stay here or come inside. She decided to go inside with them.

When she stepped out of the car, she noticed that Hood still had his gun drawn and ready to go, "Last time I checked, it isn't business like to go into your employers office with a loaded gun exposed." Hood looked at his hand and was shocked. He dropped the hammer on pistol and put back in his pants. He extended his hand towards Jan, which she took and followed the two inside.

Dresser's place ended up being and old Pool Hall. The inside wasn't the cleanest place in the world and the all the pool tables were faded and in much need of repair. In the back of the room, there were several men playing a game on a newer table. One looked up and saw the trio and tapped the shoulder of the guy who was lining up his shot. He looked up and anger washed over his face. The man stood up, looked around him and waved them over. Hood turned to Jan and told her to wait at the Bar. She complied and headed over that way as Hood and Steve headed to the back of the Hall.

"You're an hour early and what have I told you about coming early?" the man at the pool table said taking his shot.

"Yeah, we know Dresser, but we ran into some trouble on the way over here." Hood said shifting his weight from one leg to the other.

Dresser looked up for a second and then back at the game he was playing, "Oh yeah, what kind of trouble?"

"The hit man with a gun kind. What other kind of fucking trouble would I be talking about?" Hood exclaimed.

"Hey! You know this is as well as I do, you take the job, you deal with the consequences! You fuckers are all the same! The second someone starts shooting at you, you get all upset and come bitching to me about it. Well let me tell you something, I've had hundreds of guys come after me with guns long before you started playing the game."

"Oh you're breaking my heart there Dresser." Steve said sarcastically.

"Shut the fuck up! Don't ever interrupt me again, you got that," shouted Dresser pointing his at Steve. Steve didn't say a word, he could easily have taken down Dresser any day of the week, but he knew that wasn't a smart move so he just nodded instead, "Ok, so tell me what the asshole looked like."

Hood thought for a second but his memory was failing him, he could only remember two things, "He was wearing a brown suit and." he trailed off.

"And what? What did he look like?" Dresser demanded. "I don't know, I didn't get a good look at his face." Hood finally confessed.

"Well what good does that do me Hood?"

"I don't fucking know! I'm sorry if I can't accurately describe probably due to the fact I was a little preoccupied with gun he was pointing at my face!"

"Well next time, pay fucking attention! Now, hand over the case." Dresser said motioning towards Steve.

Steve looked at Hood who gave a nod of approval and handed over the case to one of Dresser's men. He brought it to him and set on the table. Dresser examined the case and found that seal wasn't broken, that two hadn't opened to see the truth of its contents. Satisfied, Dresser closed the case and nodded to one of his men, who reached around him pulled out a duffle bag. He walked over and handed it to Hood.

Hood turned around and gave it to Steve. Curious as ever, Steve began to take a look in side the duffle bag, "Hey, what the fuck do you think you're doing? What, you don't trust me enough or something?" Dresser yelled at Steve.

Hood turned and told Steve to put the bag on the table and not to touch it again till they left. He then focused his attention back to Dresser, "So, you got any more jobs for us after Thursday?"

"The Thursday job has been cancelled." Dresser said nonchalantly.

"What? Why has the job been called off?" Hood exclaimed.

"Because the job you completed last night is or was related to the job you'd be taking on Thursday. You spook the guy so bad that he has already left town, so out of the goodness of my heart," Dresser said glowering at Steve, "I threw in a little extra to compensate for it." After a beat, Steve showed his appreciation of the gesture with the best of his ability; he nodded.

"Well, is there anyone whose got work? Maybe Torentello or Nacharelli?" Hood questioned. Both Torentello and Nacharelli were local mafia buffs and both were known for hiring outside help.

"No, neither of those two shits has anything or at least nothing for you two. But someone did ask for you personally, in fact all three of you." Dresser said pointing to both Hood and Steve and then to Jan.

"All three of us? What do you mean, who is this guy?" Steve asked.

"Don't really know but what I do know is what he told me and he said he pay you guys more then anything you've been paid before." said Dresser matter- of-factly. "What's the guy's name?" Hood asked.

"Kobayashi." Dresser answered.

"What kind of a fucking name is that? Is he Japanese or something?" Steve said stupidly.

"Hey I don't know and don't care. This guy said he wanted meet all three of you," Dresser started to explain pulling out an envelope and handing it to Hood, "at seven sharp at some uptown hotel. There, you'll wait for him to arrive, could be ten minutes could be two hours, I don't know."

"What? I ain't going to wait for someone that long, I don't care how much they're paying me." Steve said a little too loud.

Hood gave Steve a sharp 'shut up' look and then turned back to Dresser, "What kind of fence is this guy?" "Well, he's not really a fence from what I understand. He's supposedly some big-shot's lawyer and don't say a damn word," Dresser said before Steve could respond with another comment, "All that matter is that this guy is willing to pay you three big bucks. So if I were you, I'd take it."

Hood opened the envelope and read the same directions that Dresser had given them. He thought about it for one second and the idea of getting some real cash, more than he had ever gotten before, "Ok, we'll meet the guy. Later." Hood turned around and instructed Steve to grab the bag, who by this time was flabbergasted. He went to the bar and threw the bartender some money to pay for the drink Jan had bought. Jan was especially happy to get out of there. All three left the building and got in the car. Curiosity was flowing rapidly through Hood's mind, for what reason would this Kobayashi guy want to meet with them and Jan. It didn't make sense, nothing made sense anymore.