Part 7- Mission District by The Black Angels
The interior of Four Roses was just how I pictured it: dark, smoky and full of drunks. Despite it only being two o'clock in the afternoon it was quite full. Some heads drifted upwards to see who had entered, others were either too preoccupied smoking or drinking the last of their beers to glance up right away. Once everyone became aware of my presence, though, they stayed aware. This could serve as somewhat of a problem and it left me on edge. I chose to ignore all stares, like I had any other choice, and continued forward towards the bar. A man with dark hair stood behind it, wiping down the counter.
"What can I do for ya, micariño? You look a little too young to be in here," he had a thick Spanish accent and he smiled at me lasciviously.
I looked around nervously. There were three parts to the bar: the front room, the bar in the middle, and a back room with a few tables, a pool table and jukebox. Hardly anyone was sitting in the back. A deep song with heavy guitar riffs broke through the thick clouds of smoke that drifted almost stagnantly through the air. I turned my head back to the bartender.
"Are you the owner?"
"The name's Sammy and whatever you need,cariño, I'm your man," his smiled widened to show a row of white teeth. I could see where this was going. Crap.
"Well, Sammy, I just wanted to ask a few questions about some of your customers I saw in here last night; a group of guys. One of them goes by the name of Joe Darley," I didn't want to lay down Billy's name just yet. He wasn't necessarily the one I was after right now, and I didn't want anyone to get uptight while I was still figuring things out.
"That's a hard crowd. Why do you wanna know about them?"
"We have some… unfinished business that needs to be resolved," I hoped I was vague enough so he could interpret that anyway he wanted. The less questions asked by him, the better. I was the one who needed information, anyway.
"Unfinished business," he strained each syllable purposefully, looking into my eyes intently. "What's your name?"
"It's not significant. They know who I am. It's just been a while since we last saw each other."
Real smooth, Mona. I could feel myself panicking. Sammy gave me a curious look, squinting his eyes and looking me over slowly. He seemed a little hesitant to continue talking with me, but finally I saw a sense of resolve in his face and he smiled again.
"For a sweetie like you, I'll give you any information you want, but… If you wanna know all about them there will be a small price to pay first."
"Name your price, but it comes afterwards," I narrowed my eyes. I did not like where this was going one bit. No problem. I'd make him tell me what he knows first and handle the situation from there.
"I said a small price, not a big one," he leaned back and winked before reaching underneath the bar, getting a small shot glass out and filling it with a rich golden liquid. He slid it to me and leaned on his elbows in front of me, "Tequila."
I looked at him for a second, debating on taking it or not before I picked up the small glass and downing it in one gulp.
"That's my girl," he took the shot glass and filled it again, still smiling and leaning against the counter. "You need to loosen up. A girl as pretty as you are doesn't need to be so uptight."
After I took the second one, I slammed the glass down on the bar and held my hand over it, not wanting anymore. Getting plastered in this place would not be a good idea.
"What do you know?" I questioned.
"What I know is… is the people you are asking about ain't such good people. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why someone like you is so interested in them. I don't remember seeing you in here last night…."
"Every girl has her reasons," I argued. He laughed and slammed his hand against the bar counter.
"That's rich," his laughter ended, but a stupid smile stayed. "Okay, what I know is, is that Darley and his gang take up space in the old mental hospital a few miles east of here. That's where they run their business, if ya know what I mean. Bones owns the body shop not too far from here either. Darley and his gang work for him. They live just a block down the road in a shitty apartment complex if you wanna pay a personal visit. It'll be hard not to miss."
"Their business?"
"What they sell and they ain't the type of boys to be messed with unless they're ready for sellin'. For someone like you, though… they might make an exception."
I nodded my head, so they were drug dealers and murderers, working for Billy and Joe's father nonetheless. Two classy acts rolled into one. It didn't leave me surprised.
"Thanks for the information, Sammy… and the shots," I stepped back from the bar and started to cautiously move towards the door when his hand caught my wrist. I snapped my head back towards him, ready to put up a fight if he tried to stop me from leaving.
"You're welcome. Watch yourself, cariño. It'd be a shame if something happened to you," he gave me a serious look, before releasing my wrist and grabbed my shot glass, putting it away. I gave him a slight nod and turned around, walking out of the dense bar into the fresh air of the ceasing afternoon.
I had driven here this time, suspecting that I might run into one of the Darley's or their men. I wanted a fast getaway just in case, but I hadn't seen any of them. And after two shots of tequila my reflexes were a tad bit off, but so far I had been fairly lucky. I was itching to go give them a visit right now, but the timing felt off. I wanted to watch them some more. Learn their behavior and mannerisms; follow the same schedule they did. As well as be completely sober.
I got into my car, turning over the ignition and headed the way Sammy told me their apartment complex was, and he was right. It definitely was hard not to miss. The building slumped as if it was about to crumble in on itself at any moment and graffiti decorated its exterior. Several people hung outside of it, smoking or talking to one another. I pulled to the curb across the street, shutting off the engine when I saw him. Joe Darley himself, leaning into a girl who sat on top of his brother's black mustang. She put her head back, dark hair falling over her shoulder as she laughed at whatever he had said. He started kissing her neck.
Billy Darley suddenly showed up beside them, slapping the back of Joe's head. He looked pissed off that he had his girl on top of his car, yelling at him and pointing out the way for her to get down. They exchanged a few more heated words before Billy flicked the cigarette he was smoking to the ground and headed for the driver door. Joe and his girlfriend started towards the complex as Billy climbed in and started the car. He peeled out recklessly and before I could start my car back up again, he was already pulling out of the parking lot. His eyes caught mine.
He quickly pulled parallel to my car, facing the opposite direction and slammed on his breaks so his window was right beside mine. He motioned for me to roll it down. My heart hammered painfully in my chest and I reached out a shaky hand, pressing down on the button that powered the window. It rolled down smoothly.
His blue eyes were like ice as he looked me over, seeing me up close for the first time since that night long ago. He didn't seem to recognize me, but his glare stayed hard.
"Can I help you with somethin'?" His voice was deep and husky. His right arm hung out of his window and I didn't like the fact that we were so close. He could have easily reached over and touched me.
"I'm fine, thank you," I didn't know what to say. I was at a complete loss for words. I never thought I'd be face to face with any of them this soon, let alone having a conversation.
"You've been following me, yeah? I saw you last night, sitting outside' a Four Roses."
"That wasn't me. I've never been through here before. I just got lost trying to find the highway…." I mumbled.
"You got lost trying to find the highway? What, did you drop through a hole in the middle of suburbia and land down here?"
"You're holding up traffic," I said and turned my gaze to look behind him where a car started to blare its horn. He looked in his review mirror then turned back to me before motioning for the person to go around him. When they didn't move and continued to lay on their horn, his face turned red and he flipped them off. He finally spoke again.
"You want the highway, it's back the way you came, but I suspect you already knew that."
His engine roared ferociously as he hit the gas, his blistering eyes not tearing away from mine until the car lurched gracefully forward. He was becoming suspicious, and that was not good. It still felt a little early. I wanted at least another week before I acted, but I might have to move sooner if he saw me again.
Brace yourself, I thought.