CHAPTER 2

Breaking Point

"That little sonuva bitch got some real nerve to show up at your house like that"

"He's just a kid, Jake but the threat is real. His dad sent him and I have no other choice but to worry about the rent money"

"How much do you owe him?"

"About $250"

The beer almost reversed its path back to Jake's nose, forcing tears out of his eyes. He coughed gently to make himself more subtle in the thriving local bar but the black high necked Nehru jacket on him had already caught enough attention among the patrons.

"So how're you going to manage?" he asked while ordering another beer.

"I don't know, Jake. You got any better idea?"

Jake smirked. He crisscrossed his legs confidently and tapped the wooden table gently with his fat golden ring. Joe knew what Jake was going to tell. Probably an offer to join his boss, Lew Moxon and work as his henchman. To be honest, it's an offer that only a fool would miss. Moxon works for Falcone and working for Moxon would mean you indirectly work for the Falcone. Each and every person in Gotham's underworld would pine for this opportunity but unfortunately, Joe was a man of simple taste and loved to work alone.

Once young Joe caught an old petty thief in a subway for stealing a purse from a lady. Joe was no cop but he believed people's hard earned money are to be respected and not snatched away for one's own selfish needs. The old thief begged for mercy, struggling from the strong grip of Joe. Joe didn't fall for it and rather asked "Why should I let you go?"

The old man stopped struggling and looked closely into his eyes. He then replied, 'You die for what you do and live for what you did'. That line hit him so hardly. It was an eye opener for him. It didn't land him in an affluent position like he desired but it helped him survive his tough times.

"There's this new doctor in town. Dr. Leslie Thompkins, a renowned doctor from England. She supposedly deals with cancer…."

Joe's eyebrows grew closer. Jack knew he got Joe's attention. He smirked again and this time wide enough for his mouth to touch both the ends of his ears.

"…. Especially Leukemia. She brought back something precious for cancer patients, to help them fight it. Some sorta drugs to counter cancer. Y'know what I mean right? So…. I can give you some options which indeed is not inclined to your liking but you have no other choice left, Joe"

Joe took a deep breath and pressed his temples roughly. Multiple thoughts running past him like a running train. It was hard for him to pick one. He knew thievery was definitely not the choice he could have thought of taking in his life but when he did, he framed his own set of moral codes that he wished to abide by and the first rule was to never harm anyone.

"Give me some"

Jake rubbed his light stubble chin and turned around to check whether anyone was watching them. He took a revolver from his coat pocket and placed it onto Joe's palms closing it tightly with his. He winked at him and said, "To aim bigger, you need to think bigger"

The minute hand moved slowly as Joe's impatience grew aggressively.

"What're we waiting for? I don't understand"

Jake hushed him. His eyes stayed focused on a black limo parked right ahead of them. He hid his face under the steering wheel of his car acting weird.

"It's almost 10:40, Jake. You had me here for one hour and I don't understand what we are doing here"

Two random men in puffy sweaters got into a conversation with man in black tuxedo sitting in the black limo. The man in the limo didn't look very much interested in the conversation but anyway seemed to engage with them since he was new to the city.

"Go. Now", ordered Jake without even meeting Joe's eyes. He looked tensed and had his sights only on the man in the limo and the other two men. Joe held the gun tight and took a deep breath.

"Think about Ron", Jake finally turned to Joe "He's a bright kid and might do wonders in the future. You don't want him to land in this scum just like you and me, right? You never know how a man changes and this one might do good for you and your son"

Joe nodded. He stepped out of the door resolute to take a risk. He walked down the dark alley covered with horrendous stench of rotten fruits and beer fumes. His hands sweated occasionally losing the grip of the gun. Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching. He held the revolver tight holding it flat in the air. He could hear Jake's last line running on loop. This might be the defining moment of his life.