Chapter 9, Part Two

No Honor Ch. 9 Pt. 2: Query

I asked the boys at my bar about Jonas, but I got nothin' from them. I was wary about askin' everyone, since I reckon it'd seem suspicious. My next best bet was Donny Wilson, and fortunately, he was back in town from Texas, with that liquor we ordered.

Dave paid him, and got to puttin' those bottles inta stock. Donny chatted with Geoff a bit, since he was on 'is break, and I think he was set to leave afta that. Before then though, I made sure to catch his eye.

"Want a whiskey?"

Don said, "Aw, what the hell? I was gonna get on, but I'll have a quick one, sure."

I waved him up to the counter and I started fixin' his sour, like he likes it, and then I said, "What's the word from the States?"

"Same as ever... shootin's, elections, whorin' and Sunday School... The biggest stink now though, is comin' from the preachers. Alcohol's the Devil's will-and-blood, accordin' ta them."

"It may be at that", I said. "I don't ever see no drunk goin' off, ta do somethin' useful."

"Let me tell you somethin'. They could lock you, and Dave, and Wally, and everyone else away. They could shut down this bar, and every one like it. They could take awl the rollin' papers, and paint, and every drug off the shelf, but a man's gonna find a way ta relax, and a way ta have fun, and that's the end of it."

Geoff said, "Amen! Amen brotha Don."

We all laughed at that.

I needed to bring the conversation down some though, so the bar didn't have it's ear ta us. Time to go somber, I thought.

"You hear about Goodman?"

Don said, "First thing when I got back. It's a bad deal, there's no denyin' it. But with that freak around, you kin expect a lot worse."

"Anyone else light any candles?"

"I'm sure some did, even with that warnin'. No one else's been killed for it, but Marco's got his boys on patrol, every night, keepin' folks honest."

That helped a bit. I saw that Geoff and Dave broke off, ta talkin' on their own at some point, and there were fewer eyes on us. Right then, Walt came down from upstairs, and then he came back behind the bar, ta get my ear.

"We got three sleepers", he said.

Don said, "Sleepers? Can't nobody hold their liquor no more?"

I took the opportunity ta lean in close, and whisper to 'im.

"No, he means three dead... Overdose cases. Probably some young fools, mixed morphine wit' alcohol, insteada club soda."

"Oh... I get it."

I turned to Wally. "We better get 'em out quick, before the crowd's in. Take Dave, and dump 'em out back, and off a ways. I'll tend bar 'till it's done."

"Yessir."

I refilled Don's glass, and then I came in close, and said, "Hey, by the way Don, I need some help on that front. That morphine shit freaks me out, but I need somethin' fer my ol' back problem, and I'm hopin' you got some connections."

"Connections for what? You got a whole shelf full o' medicine behind ya."

"C'mon, be serious. You want me ta serve drinks while I'm drunk of my ass? That don't work."

"Alright, alright look. I only do the drink, but from what I heard, if you want medicine in The Station, you gotta see Rex."

"Rex? Who the hell is that?"

"Some doctor, or wanna-be doctor, hell, I don't know. He's no regular around here though, so I ain't got a callin' card."

"Huh", I said. "I think I mighta heard o' him. Is he a short guy by chance?"

Don nodded. "That's the one. He don't like it, when you point out his height though. I figure, if you gonna be sensitive about it, get some lifts in ya shoes. From all I kin tell, he kin afford 'em."

"So how do I find 'im?"

"I said I don't know. Look, you want my advice, go down to The Stable an' see Cliff. If anyone has the word on out-o'-towners, it's him."

Why didn't I think o' that before? The Stable's the one place everyone's gotta go... Out o' towner, Station resident, doesn't matter. Not just fer shelter, an' hay for the horses, but because the main well's right in front o' the place.

I said, "Thank you Donny."

He said, "Ey ey!... One more on the house, right?"

I smiled. Of course I had ta pay the man.

"One more Whiskey Sour, on me, you got it. "

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