Chapter 2: Meeting Joey

After working as a taxi driver for a while, Claude then decided to visit Luigi for more work. Hopefully, he thought, Luigi would be more polite to him. He went to the back alley, and knocked at the back door. Mick came out, but no Luigi. Mick, who was holding a letter, saw Claude, and said, "Luigi said … uh … to give you this, so here … here, take it." Claude took the letter, slightly disgruntled that Luigi didn't show him respect again, but it's now time for some more dirty work.

Claude read Luigi's letter. It read, "There's a new high on the streets, goes by the name of SPANK. Some wise guy's been introducing this trash to my girls down Portland Harbor. Go and introduce a bat to his face! Then take his car, respray it. I WANT COMPENSATION FOR THIS INSULT!" Claude didn't think for a second, and went to fetch the bat Luigi left for him opposite the main road. After that, he hopped into his car, and drove to Portland Harbor. Sure enough, there was a man in grey coveralls meeting 2 of Luigi's girls. This was weird, considering that hookers aren't interested in this kind of people. This must be the SPANK dealer that Luigi wrote about in his letter. Claude picked up the bat, but put it away. He had something else in mind.

After the 2 ladies left, the drug dealer headed back to his car, but didn't make it. Claude revved up his car, and then charged straight at the drug dealer, who died instantly. Claude then went inside the drug dealer's Stallion parked nearby, and then took it to the nearest Pay and Spray shop at the Red Light District. The mechanics there were told about the Stallion coming in, and Luigi had already paid them, so they provided the services for the Stallion free of charge. After that, the mechanics directed Claude to Luigi's lockup, a dark alley near Sweetney General Hospital. Claude drove the car into the lockup, and left the place. There, the dirty deed's been done. Claude then jacked another unlucky fellow's car, and drove to "Sex Club Seven" to see Luigi for his pay and perhaps, more jobs.

Outside the back door, Luigi was talking to Mick about something, but told Mick to go back inside after seeing Claude coming to him. For the first time, Luigi showed respect to Claude. "How're ya doing kid?" Luigi greeted, pleased that Claude had taught the drug dealer a lesson. "The Don's son, Joey Leone, he wants some regular action from his regular girl Misty. Go pick her up at her apartment in Hepburn Heights, but watch your back: that's Diablo turf." The Diablos, by the way, are a small-time Mexican gang that hangs around Hepburn Heights in northern Portland. "Then drive her to his garage at Trenton. Joey ain't the kind to keep waiting. Remember, this is your foot on the door, so keep your eyes on the road, and off Misty." Claude then went back to his car, and drove to Hepburn Heights, a stone's throw from the Red Light District.

Near the address Luigi gave him, along with his pay, he then sounded the horn on his car. Sure enough, Misty was waiting for him. She then hopped into Claude's car. Claude then drove to Trenton. "You work regular for Luigi now, huh?" Misty asked after entering the car. "It's about time he got a driver we can trust." Claude wasted no time to drive Misty to Joey's Garage.

At Joey's Garage, Misty and Claude then went into the garage. Joey Leone, the owner and mechanic of this garage, was surprised to see them.

"JOEY!" Misty cried after seeing him. They then shared a little hug. "Am I going to play with your big end again?"

"I'll be with you in a minute, spark plug." Joey replied. Then he sent Misty away, and turned his attention to Claude. "Hey, I'm Joey. Luigi said you're reliable, so come back later. There might be some work for you, alright?" Claude nodded, and left the garage. He then went back into his car, and drove back to Luigi's to get his pay for driving Misty. However, as soon as he arrived at the back door, Luigi came out of the door, really pissed and excited. "Some Diablo scumbag has been pimping his girls in my backyard! Go and take care of things for me! If you need a piece, go around the back of Ammu-Nation opposite the subway!" Claude didn't hesitate, although he didn't get his pay. He quickly drove to Ammu-Nation to get some weapons. The bat alone isn't going to help out now!

At Ammu-Nation, Claude was very mad that everything was out of stock, but the owner did tell him some good news. "Luigi said you're coming, so I left you a 9mm at the back." Claude didn't waste time, and went to fetch the pistol the shopkeeper left for him. Excellent, he thought to himself after picking up the pistol. He wasted no time, and hopped back into his car to chase the Diablo pimp. Finally, he saw them! The pimp and his driver in a Diablo Stallion, a car with a real smooth paint job and cool engine. But now's not the time for admiring cars. Claude then chased them with the Patriot he stole earlier. The Patriot was a very strong car, and dented the Diablo Stallion into twisted metal in no time. The driver and the pimp exited the car, but Claude wasn't finished. The pimp then aimed his shotgun at the Patriot, but didn't get a chance to use it: Claude ran him down into the pavement. Then, Claude picked up the shotgun the pimp held, and chased after the driver, and shot him. Nobody could survive that, Claude thought. He then went back to Luigi's club to collect his pay, but once again, he was disappointed! Luigi had another job for him. "The policeman's ball will be held by the old school hall near Callahan Bridge, and they'll be looking for some 'old school' action." He said. "Now I've got girls all over the town walking the streets. Get them to the ball: they'll make a bundle. Get as many of them as you can before the cops drink away their green."

Claude, dissatisfied that he didn't get his pay, hopped back into his Patriot, and went to fetch the girls with the directions Luigi gave him. However, the Patriot, as strong as it is, is very slow, and he's wasted a lot of time by the time he got 3 girls at the ball. He saw the nearby Police cruiser, and quickly hopped in and continued his work. With the cruiser's speed and sirens, he could quickly get the girls to the ball in no time. After all 8 girls were at the ball, he then drove back to Luigi's 1 last time for the night. Luigi was pleased with Claude's work, and paid him his pay, along with a bonus, mainly the pay he forgot. After receiving his pay, Claude was really tired, so he headed back to his hideout for forty winks. I'll visit Joey first thing in the morning, Claude thought to himself.

Next day, Claude went to visit Joey. He had promised some work for him, and since Luigi's done with him, is out of a job. Claude then jacked the next car that came to him, and drove to Joey's Garage in Trenton. In there, Joey and Misty were there. Seems like Joey's been busy working on a nice buggy. Wonder how it'll turn out, Claude thought.

"Hey, I'm bored. When're you gonna drill me?" Misty asked, really itching for some more action.

"In a moment, sweetheart. I've got a little business to take care of", Joey said. Joey turned, and was glad to see Claude. "I've got a little job for you pal, the Forelli brothers have owed me money for too long, and they need to be taught some respect." The Forellis, by the way, are rivals for Joey's Leone Mafia. "Lips Forelli is stuffing his fat face in St. Mark's Bistro, so steal his car and take it to 8-Ball's bomb shop up in Harwood. You know 8-Ball, right?" 8-Ball only services for the Mafia and his friends. "Once he's fitted it with a bomb, go park the car where you found it, then sit back and watch the whole show." Claude was about to leave the garage when Joey then reminded him about Lips. "But hurry up, he won't be eating forever."

Claude wasted no time for this. He drove to St. Mark's Bistro, and found his target: a black Idaho parked at the "Reserved" slot. The Bistro is the Forellis' base of operations, and Lips must be here for some business. Claude then hopped into Lips' car, and took the car to Harwood. Luckily for him, the fat idiot didn't install a car alarm, so he was safe. He drove the car into the garage at 8-Ball's bomb shop, and very soon 8-Ball had armed the car with a bomb. Claude then had to drive carefully: Lips was a very observant person, and he'd know something's amiss to his car. Back at the Bistro, Claude then parked the car back at the "Reserved" slot, armed the bomb, and left the car. Then he went back into his car and hide. Just in time as well, as Lips was done eating, and he was coming down towards his car. He didn't see anything amiss to his car, and then hopped into his car. There, the bomb was triggered, and Lips and his black Idaho went up in smoke! Joey would be so pleased! But now Claude was hungry, so he went inside the bistro to get a bite. I'll see Joey for more work later, he thought.