Two hours later Dylan stepped off the coach into the small town of Angel Pine, raising a hand in a goodbye to Katie Zhan who was travelling all the way to San Fierro. Turning away from the departing bus he squinted through the heavy rain at the settlement set out before him. 'Cluckin' bell, 9.00pm' the note had stated, it certainly wasn't hard to find. At the end of the street he could make out the yellow glowing lights and odd bell-like-chicken bulk protruding from the roof of the restaurant. He passed a few home businesses and loutish drunks, then realising that the soaking clothes he was wearing was all he had, he broke into a jog and reached the intended target. His hand hovered over the handle, wondering if it was better to run, but this was his only lead… he had to see it through. He entered instantly looking for signs of any threat, but only two ridiculously dressed cashiers, a long bearded hick tucking into a burger and a figure in the furthest corner of the restaurant drinking from a plastic cup. Dylan eyed the strangely dressed figure in the corner, a purple jogging suit with fluorescent yellow lighting strips down the sides made him appear to be a man who wanted to be noticed, but not given a second thought. Even though the clothes were… different and the messy Caesar cut had been done in a hurry this was the man Dylan was looking for even if the fashion had changed the rigid face hadn't.
'Look, d'you want anything?' asked a chicken dressed adolescent from the counter. Dylan shook his head, realising that he must of looked strange standing still looking grave and suspicious. He walked cautiously to the far corner, the man looked up and glared at Dylan's raised eyebrows and developing smile.
'I'm tryin' to look inconspicuous O.K?'
'Right…' nodded Dylan, planting himself on the seat opposite.
'Glad you came,' he said, sounding as ungrateful as possible. 'It's a shame this place ain't empty.' He nodded to the bearded guy now guzzling a Sprunk a few seats away from them. He pulled a packet of cigarettes from his pocket, ignoring the fading no-smoking signs stuck unconvincingly on the grimy walls. He glanced up at Dylan, his blue eyes quizzical.
'Quite lookin' at me all suspicious…I want the same thing as you do.' He had a southern accent, deep and grumbling, he barely moved his lips as he spoke and Dylan had to listen extremely hard to hear what he was saying.
'How would you know what I want?' said Dylan, deciding not to let his suspicious front down.
'I know people,' he replied simply, not wanting to give away to much. 'That scene you caused earlier today made people to talk,' His eyes surveyed the restaurant flicking from the cashiers to the other customers wearily and then settled his gaze back on Dylan.
'Look let's keep this short, we don't know how far behind Tenpenny is.' He drained his coffee and sighed. 'Ralph Pendlebury stepped into my office 2 weeks ago, begging for help and pissed as hell, mumblin' something about Frank and drugs… thinking that he was just on a drunken rant I told him to go home ,sort himself out,' he paused gazing at the empty coffee cup woefully. 'Then right on cue, Pendlebury was shot in a 'gang related' incident , usually I don't think twice about these things, there's been more gang related incidents in Los Santos than you've had hot fricken dinners but… the whole thing was out of place so I investigated-'
'And he was right, Tenpenny was into the drugs ring,' Dylan finished.
'I'm tellin' the story mate!' He took a deep drag from his cigarette.
'Sorr-'
'Anyway, what you said, Tenpenny has been selling drugs to the to Vietnamese gangs in San Fierro for months. The Ballas and him have an agreement, we keep the heat off your asses, help you out with drug shipments, tweak a few court cases and you give us a nice round percentage of your profit and everythin' is tickety boo.' He finished, waiting for a response from Dylan. It made perfect sense, the scene at the docks, the whole nasty business with the Green Sabre, there was just one thing…
'Know a guy called B-Dup?' asked Dylan, Adrian nodded.
'Mark Wayne grows Cannabis, Ballas main source, got shot the other day, loads of blood… you didn't shoot him did you?' A smile played around Adrian's' lips.
'No, but Tenpenny did,' replied Dylan grimly.
'That would explain a lot…B-Dup has a strict policy with the Ballas, he can only supply to them'
'Why?'
'Don't know, this isn't really my area of work, but presumably B-Dup started dealing out on the streets and Tenpenny was obligated to sort him out,' he said staring out of the window, scratching the scar on his temple absent mindedly.
'What is your area of work then?'
'Hmm? I'm …I was undercover, not so much narcotics, just gang operations, when I handed you that note I was telling Tenpenny that he would have to find some one to replace me and he'd better watch out…probably what you were about to do.'
'More or less'
'Well now we've sorted that out…' he cracked his knuckles, 'I'm gonna tell you what I plan to do about it' He lowered his guff voice to a whisper. 'I'm meeting a journalist for the San Andreas Today in 2 weeks, getting media attention is the first plan, from there I don't know what'll happen, hopefully a loada people will get pissed and it will resolve in a court case. In the meantime lie low in San Fierro.' He reached into his pocket and drew out another piece of crumpled paper.
'Stay with this guy, he's completely high most of the time but he doesn't ask to many questions, get a job who knows how long you'll be sticking around,' he said.
'Hippy shopper, second floor, Queens,' murmured Dylan, looking at Adrian worriedly. Adrian laughed.
'Flowers, doves and peace signs left right and centre, don't worry you'll get used to it,' he sniggered stubbing out his cigarette on the table.
'I'll be safe right? I mean there ain't gonna be any wanted posters with my face on it,' asked Dylan apprehensively.
'No no, it's not Tenpenny's style San Fierro and Los Santos don't like each other anyway, there not about to do any favours for each other.' He stood up donning a Rimmers jacket.
'Could you give me a lift?' asked Dylan hopefully.
'I would but if I start the ignition and the car blows up, that journalist is gonna be standing by himself for a half hour,' he said bluntly. Dylan nodded, he understood why he had been told all this. It was a two man job. They briefly shook hands and went there separate ways, Dylan heading to the squat bus stop and Adrian to a white Picador truck.
Pulaski watched them leave the restaurant and smiled from under his fake beard. Tenpenny was going to love this.
Dylan stared blankly through the rain. Wondering what Tenpenny was doing now. Was he sweating it out in his office? Afraid that he would be facing jail bars in the morning. He doubted it, probably cooped up in the country smoking a bong and devising new ways to screw Dylan's life up. A bleeping noise interrupted his silence. He jumped reaching to his left breast pocket, then laughing at his own stupidity, he reached to his right pocket and pulled out his cellphone, he didn't recognise the number.
'Hello…Bob's Pizzeria,' said Dylan uncertainly, better to be safe than sorry.
'Ahhh crap, I'm gonna kill Pablo,' said a familiar voice.
'Wait wait Cesar, it's Dylan!'
'Que! I thought… '
'Don't worry, It's me, how'd you get my number?'
'Idiota, it doesn't matter homes,' he muttered, 'Still alive then?'
'Just… what's going on with you?'
'I'm in San Fierro, things have got real messed up, I'm waitin' for CJ'
'How's he then?' Dylan didn't really care.
'Not good homes, his brother's locked up, Tenpenny's on his ass, but anyway homes… I'm just warning you Tenpenny is gonna be in San Fierro him and Carl…well it's complicated, hopefully we'll be in charge of a garage in Doherty real soon just… don't come by it's to risky you may find Carl tailing you, he has to do whatever Tenpenny tell him…it's not good.'
'Thanks for giving me the heads up man'
'I never had this conversation with you homes.' He hung up. Great, Carl Johnson was Tenpenny's bitch, he had to be extra careful. The bus lights appeared through the thick darkness, finally Dylan might be able to catch some sleep…
