The Blood Eagle in the Big Easy (21 page)

Holding out my arms Billy stood and gave me a hug in greeting. “How ya been?”

Billy waved me off as he shrugged his shoulders. “Been better I suppose.”

“Oh?” Taking my seat I was concerned. Even during the nastiest part of his divorce he would have answered that question with something along the lines of fantastic. “Something wrong?”

Billy took his seat as he shrugged again. “I was wondering if you still had that apartment for rent on Seventh Street?”

This was new. I’d offered him the place when he first came back to town but he had turned me down. “Of course!” Reaching in my pocket I grabbed my phone to start making the arrangements.

Billy carefully reached over and pushed my hand away from the screen. “That can wait till after we eat!” His smile filled me with joy. There’s nothing better than being around someone who is genuinely happy because its infectious.  “Besides we have much to discuss, between now and when you make that call.” He waved a meaty hand at one of the servers who sprung into action as she brought me a glass of unsweetened tea.

My stomach growled loudly. “You drive a hard bargain!” Looking around the restaurant I took in the old world decor as the scent of well prepared, genuine Irish food filled my senses. “Forcing me to eat well on a regular basis will earn you bonus points.”

“I’m counting on it.” He chuckled nodding at someone over my shoulder. “I have someone I would like you to meet.”

A thin man in his mid twenties with shoulder length curly hair, a pale complexion and wearing a chef’s jacket smiled at us broadly. “Good afternoon gentlemen, I’m Chef Justin.”

Bowing my head slightly I stuck out my hand. “I’m Viktor Warden.”

Justin beamed as he shook my hand. “Pleasure to meet you sir. Any friend of Billy’s is a friend of ours.” Something fell in the kitchen nearly sending the poor boy into a panic. “If you will excuse me, I should go tend to my kitchen. Again pleasure to meet you.” Justin hurried back through the swinging doors of the kitchen vanishing for the moment.

“He seems like a nice kid.” Smiling I took a sip of tea. “But I thought we were going to meet Chef Matt.” As the words came out of my mouth Billy’s face sprang to life as he thrived on being in the know.

He laughed as he took great pride in knowing the ins and out of the local establishments. “Oh he comes on at five tonight, by which time I suspect you will be long gone.” He pushed a piece of buttered soda bread in his mouth. “I’m sure you’ll be out saving the world or some such thing well before nightfall.”

That made me nearly spit out my drink as I laughed. “I think you overestimate what it is I do.”

His smile left him for the first time since I had known the man. The seriousness of his expression made him look old and feeble, making his face barely recognizable. “Hardly!” His voice was dry and low as he spoke. “You may have those around you fooled as to who you are and what you’re all about but I know better.” He said tapping a pudgy finger to his temple. “Have you forgotten who it is you are speaking to?”

My cheeks flooded with color as I hung my head. “I... I, wouldn’t put much stock in the stories around town.” Mumbling as I tried to change the subject. “When are we going to order? I’m starved!”

No sooner were the words out of my mouth when Chef Justin arrived with several starters which included bangers and mash and fish and chips. Taking a little from each plate I took my first bite of bangers and mash and closed my eyes as I savored the freshly made sausage. Billy smiled as he watched me. “Aren’t you going to have some?” I asked.

Billy shrugged me off. “I’m starting my new diet today.” He ran his hand up and down his form. “I need to take off a few pounds before spring, bikini season and all.”

I nearly choked at the thought of Billy in a bikini. “Spring?” I spiked another sausage for my plate before taking aim at the fish. “Something happening in the spring?”

Billy cocked his head to one side as he smiled. “I got a good feeling about this upcoming year.” He grabbed a french fry off the plate. “Things are going to change for the better, I can just feel it.”

Smiling, I took a bite of fish which was lite and wonderful tasting. “Glad to hear it.”

Billy pushed a folded piece of paper in my direction. “I had a visitor this morning.” The smile faded away again as I noticed his once blonde hair had turned gray in places. “This man you’re looking for is dangerous, yes?”

“I suppose so.” Talking about such things made me uncomfortable. “No more than anyone else I suppose.” Billy didn’t take his hand off the piece of paper when I reached for it.

“So being thrown through a window is fairly standard for you then.” Billy stated before releasing the paper as he leaned back and studied me.

I took the piece of paper and pushed the food away as my appetite left. Billy was always well informed but this was fast, even for him. “How did you hear about that?”

“Weren’t you listening earlier when I said I had a visitor?” Billy tried to smile but failed. “One of the Gatekeeper’s men stopped by to see me this morning and dropped this off.” He tossed a thumb drive on the table.

“What’s on it?” I was fairly sure it was the same thing that was on the drive Katharine had dropped on my desk earlier.

“Some very interesting footage of you being tossed around like a rag doll.” Billy’s face sank as he seemed to age even further as I watched.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

He wiped his round face with one of his meaty hands as he looked at me. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Sighing as he leaned back. “He’s trying to discredit you with this, y’know.”

The weight placed on those around me was a heavy burden for them to bare, and it concerned me that Leonard had gone this far. “Leonard can kiss my ass!” Pushing the thumb drive back at Billy. “It isn’t the first time I’ve gotten my ass kicked.”

“True enough.” Billy laughed. “It is the first time we have video of it though.”

Looking up at Billy I smiled. “Did it look good at least?”

“What your ass?” Billy laughed one of those full body shaking laughs. “I don’t know I was too busy watching you bounce across the street.”

“Damn that must be a popular scene.” I grumbled. “Everyone seems to reference it.  I will have to get a copy for myself.” I quipped

“Yeah well, I told my visitor to kindly get the hell out of my house this morning just before I packed my things.” Billy shrugged helplessly. “So that’s why I was asking about the apartment. I just don’t feel safe where I’m living now.”

“It isn’t a problem. Just drop by the office and pick up the keys.” Anger welled up inside me at the thought of Leonard’s men driving someone from their home. “The place is furnished. Is that going to be a problem?”

He genuinely smiled again. “All my worldly possessions fit in my van.” He sat back dreamily as he spoke. “To sleep on something other than an air mattress is going to be heavenly.”

“You deserve it.” Opening the small piece of paper it only contained an address.

“1615 South Saratoga St.”

“I take it this is where I can find Creepy George?”

Billy nodded. “From what I hear he has been holed up there since this morning.”

“Thanks Billy.” I stuck my hand out to shake his. “Don’t forget to stop by the office and pick up those keys.” Pulling out my wallet Billy started laughing.

“You didn’t really think you were going to pay for this did you?” Billy rocked forward in his chair as his face turned several shades of red. “Oh God you must have bumped your head harder than I thought”, wiping the tears out of his eyes. “Like you said earlier I always eat for free!”

Tossing two twenties on the table I stood. “They can consider it a well earned tip.” Billy nodded in approval. “Thanks again for everything.”

Billy shrugged. “Tis nothing mon frere.”

“It is to me.”

“If it means that much to you.” Billy smiled with wickedness in his eyes. “Want to do me a favor?”

Curiosity got the better of me. “And what could you possibly want me to do for you?”

Billy’s face went deadly serious as he spoke. “Can you please knock that shit eating grin off the Gatekeeper’s face?”

Billy and I had a good laugh as we walked out of the door and to our respective vehicles. Before proceeding any further I called Justine to let her know that Billy would be by to pick up the keys to the apartment on Seventh Street. Wheeling the car into traffic I headed for South Saratoga St in Central City.

About fifteen minutes later I was in the heart of Central City. I pulled into a parking lot across from the Israelite Baptist Church and waited a few minutes to make sure that I hadn’t attracted any unwanted attention. S. Saratoga wasn’t in the best of neighborhoods as abandoned houses were the norm more often than not these days. According to the satellite photos Justine sent over the front half of the two story house was intact. The back of the property was a different animal altogether. It was a burned out hulk. Prior to the fire that gutted the place the house must have been the nicest place for several blocks.

Making my approach to the house I focused my will wrapping my shields tightly around me. I felt a surge of power flow through my body as the shields were activated. Something told me that Mir’s repairs were coming along splendidly and the upgrades would be less taxing and more powerful than anything I had known prior. This could prove to be an interesting development or not, God only knew at this point. The front door and all of the first floor windows were boarded over, and trash and other debris lined the abandoned building except the garage door. Here all the debris was pushed back slightly when someone had opened the door to gain entrance.

Watching the upstairs windows as I passed by the house I didn’t catch any movement. I ducked through the broken fence and made my way through the charred remains quiet as a church mouse. Feeling my shields shift slightly I slowed my progress as I tryed to discern what had changed. It took me a moment to realize that while slightly distorted my shields were reflecting and wrapping my surroundings around me, rendering me not invisible per se but very well camouflaged. Things were certainly turning in my favor today, which usually meant that something was about to go spectacularly wrong. I don’t know about you but when stuff starts going this well for me something really bad comes along and takes a chunk out of my already nonexistent ass.

As I pulled my pistol I opened the scorched door that led to the unscathed half of the house. The door leading to the garage lay broken in the hallway. Stepping over it carefully I cleared the first floor before proceeding upstairs. The stairwell was smeared with old blood and the stench of rotting carrion assaulted my senses, nearly overwhelming me. Choking back the nausea I steeled myself for what was to come. Though I had wounded Creepy George I was sure he was not the source of what I was seeing or smelling. Taking a tentative step up the stairs my skin crawled at the wrongness of my surroundings. Each step brought a nearly imperceptible whisper of a crunch from the copious amounts of dried blood that had mixed with a heavy layer of dust.

Reaching the top of the stairs the walls seemed to ripple and humm in universal objection of my arrival. The wall nearest me burst to life as thousands of flies angrily swarmed my shields, as I tried to swat them out of my field of vision. I was almost instantly sorry I had. The now vacant wall was covered in all types of bodily fluids, of which blood was the least offensive to my senses. The old hardwood floor running the length of the hallway was smeared in feces and blood alike, drag marks leading into each bedroom. The door furthest away from me was slightly ajar and sunlight weakly shone through.

Pushing the door open with the barrel of my pistol it revealed what must have been the master bedroom during its prior life as a dwelling for the living. Neglect and abandonment had taken its toll leaving the room a broken and tattered version of what it had once been. A ragged, heavily stained mattress lay on the floor under the heavily molded windows. Filth cluttered the heavily scarred wooden floor. Thick red ichor pooled outside the double wide closet doors. Stepping across the threshold my eyes watered from the overpowering stench of rotting flesh.

Upon closer inspection of the mattress, a fresh pool of blood glistening in the weak sunlight caught my attention. Realizing I couldn’t ignore the rotting pachyderm in the room any longer I turned my attention to the closet. I pulled open one of the doors, revealing several bodies in varying stages of decay, the freshest of what I guessed to be a man in his early twenties dressed in black leather chaps. Hundreds of cuts could be seen on his torso most of which were superficial and hardly life threatening. Some were deep enough to have required medical attention had he lived long enough but the ragged gash across his throat had ended his life.

Satisfied that the house was empty I tucked my pistol in its holster and I made my way down to the kitchen rummaging through the cabinets until I found a box of ziploc baggies. Taking a couple I sprinted back up the stairs to the bedroom. Pulling out my knife I cut a large section of the fresh blood stained mattress and stuffed it into the waiting baggies which I quickly shoved in my jacket pockets, then made my way to the front door. The need for stealth was well behind me, so I quickly kicked in the plywood covering the door, causing it to land heavily on the porch. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I dialed Tony Costa’s number as I walked to my vehicle.