It had been three days since I had met Mr. Wilkes. Tonight, near closing, was when I saw him
again, walking through the door, taking the same seat he had then. While he ordered a drink, I was wiping a
table clean from the mess the diners left.
These ruffians hardly knew how to use a fork, it seemed. This town was full of low-life
criminals. Very few professionals called
this place home. Without saying a word,
we recognize each other, give the respect deserved, and the space desired. That was a reason I was still working here. It was a small restaurant. Frequented by the few I respect, though far
between. Mr. Wilkes, however, was merely
a curiosity. “Evening, Mr. Waiter.” I nodded at him as I returned to the front
after placing the dirty dishes in the kitchen sinks. “Your boy did well.”
“So it would seem.” Taking a towel from the small pile under the sink, I began wiping away the water rings left on the counter. News travels quickly in this town. Earlier, there were at least three conversations about Mr. White’s missing daughter who most have presumed dead. The White’s had begun their retaliation. Not only searching for Anna’s body and her killer, but also tightening their hold on what they call their claim. I had seen two men walk in earlier, shaking down a dealer. Of course, I kept my distance, only to clean up their mess after the men left.
“His final payment is with me. Would you be so kind as to give it to our dear friend?”
I glanced up at him. Mr. Wilkes was far from being called a friend. Yet, the envelope he held out to me was tempting. I took it and hid it in my apron. “Of course.”
“Now, I would like to make a deal with our Ghost.” His voice had lowered since the bartender was still lurking nearby and the few patrons remaining still needed another drink to be completely oblivious to the world around them. “I have a few more assignments I would like to have him complete for me. The payments will be well worth his time.”
“I’m sure he will consider your offer.” Resting my arms on the bar, I leaned closer, I too lowering my voice. “What is the objective?”
“That, my boy, is a topic for a different man. All you need to know is that the balance of this town is going to shift drastically. I suggest you align yourself with those who can pay for your talents.” Again with the assumption, though I would gladly take his money. “That,” his finger pointed at me, “is a look of a bought man. I certainly look forward to doing business.” As he paid for his drink and left, I noticed Samuel watching me. However, he kept his thoughts to himself. It wasn’t a stretch for our patrons to use one of us as a therapist. Wilkes most likely appeared to be another soul seeking an ear to listen. Myself, I had less than a half hour before my shift was over and the patrons were to be gone.
“So it would seem.” Taking a towel from the small pile under the sink, I began wiping away the water rings left on the counter. News travels quickly in this town. Earlier, there were at least three conversations about Mr. White’s missing daughter who most have presumed dead. The White’s had begun their retaliation. Not only searching for Anna’s body and her killer, but also tightening their hold on what they call their claim. I had seen two men walk in earlier, shaking down a dealer. Of course, I kept my distance, only to clean up their mess after the men left.
“His final payment is with me. Would you be so kind as to give it to our dear friend?”
I glanced up at him. Mr. Wilkes was far from being called a friend. Yet, the envelope he held out to me was tempting. I took it and hid it in my apron. “Of course.”
“Now, I would like to make a deal with our Ghost.” His voice had lowered since the bartender was still lurking nearby and the few patrons remaining still needed another drink to be completely oblivious to the world around them. “I have a few more assignments I would like to have him complete for me. The payments will be well worth his time.”
“I’m sure he will consider your offer.” Resting my arms on the bar, I leaned closer, I too lowering my voice. “What is the objective?”
“That, my boy, is a topic for a different man. All you need to know is that the balance of this town is going to shift drastically. I suggest you align yourself with those who can pay for your talents.” Again with the assumption, though I would gladly take his money. “That,” his finger pointed at me, “is a look of a bought man. I certainly look forward to doing business.” As he paid for his drink and left, I noticed Samuel watching me. However, he kept his thoughts to himself. It wasn’t a stretch for our patrons to use one of us as a therapist. Wilkes most likely appeared to be another soul seeking an ear to listen. Myself, I had less than a half hour before my shift was over and the patrons were to be gone.
Returning to my room, I noticed Anna had found a few books
that I kept in my bedside table and was reading in the rocking chair. When her eyes looked up, I locked the door
behind me and carried the dinner the chef makes for me to the table. “Entertained?”
“Yep! What’s that smell?” Tonight I had been given a burger with a bowl of soup. Our chef was a good man, always taking care of Samuel and I. Myself, I was thankful for the hot meals he provided. Seeing Anna’s pleading eyes, I reluctantly caved. Cutting the burger in half, I gave her a share. “Thank you! I’m starving.” I’m sure you are. After training, I’ve conditioned my body to eat little yet work hard. Skipping a couple meals wasn’t enough to kill me. She, however, had to eat for every meal.
“There’s a war brewing.” Her eyes stared back at me. “My employer wants my help.”
“More people to kill?”
“Likely.”
“Oh.” Her gaze dropped to her half-eaten burger. “I guess this means you’ve made a decision about me?”
“Yes.” Removing my tie, I hung it up on its hanger. “You’re useless.” Her shoulders fell. “You can’t defend yourself in a fight and are in desperate need of help.” She looked up, brow slightly furrowed, confused. “I’m willing to help train you.” Her eyes widened slightly and I turned to face the closest, removing my uniform’s shirt. “However, if at any point, I see you as a failure, unsalvageable, I will not hesitate to get rid of you.” Grabbing a clean shirt, I pulled it over my head and returned to face her now standing. “Prove to me that you have a life worth saving, one that can rise up to lead your family effectively.” A smile grew on her lips, a fire sparking in those blue eyes of hers. “Are you willing to call me master until I deem your training complete?”
“I will.” Her grin broadened. “Only if I know who is the one training me.”
“Very well.” My cold dark eyes met hers. “You, Miss White, are lucky enough to have the infamous Ghost training you.”
“Yep! What’s that smell?” Tonight I had been given a burger with a bowl of soup. Our chef was a good man, always taking care of Samuel and I. Myself, I was thankful for the hot meals he provided. Seeing Anna’s pleading eyes, I reluctantly caved. Cutting the burger in half, I gave her a share. “Thank you! I’m starving.” I’m sure you are. After training, I’ve conditioned my body to eat little yet work hard. Skipping a couple meals wasn’t enough to kill me. She, however, had to eat for every meal.
“There’s a war brewing.” Her eyes stared back at me. “My employer wants my help.”
“More people to kill?”
“Likely.”
“Oh.” Her gaze dropped to her half-eaten burger. “I guess this means you’ve made a decision about me?”
“Yes.” Removing my tie, I hung it up on its hanger. “You’re useless.” Her shoulders fell. “You can’t defend yourself in a fight and are in desperate need of help.” She looked up, brow slightly furrowed, confused. “I’m willing to help train you.” Her eyes widened slightly and I turned to face the closest, removing my uniform’s shirt. “However, if at any point, I see you as a failure, unsalvageable, I will not hesitate to get rid of you.” Grabbing a clean shirt, I pulled it over my head and returned to face her now standing. “Prove to me that you have a life worth saving, one that can rise up to lead your family effectively.” A smile grew on her lips, a fire sparking in those blue eyes of hers. “Are you willing to call me master until I deem your training complete?”
“I will.” Her grin broadened. “Only if I know who is the one training me.”
“Very well.” My cold dark eyes met hers. “You, Miss White, are lucky enough to have the infamous Ghost training you.”
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