Chapter 16, Part Two

No Honor Chapter 16 Part 2: Hush

Ta avoid suspicion, I walked outta the grocery store wit a few items. I got a sandwich at the butcher shop, then headed on in ta work. At seven o'clock, Dave came in. I asked 'im where Wally was, and 'e said he didn't know.

I was su'prised at that; Walt normally sends word, if he's not gonna show. Luckily, if you can call it that, there wasn't too much clientele, ta worry about. Honestly, we was down to about a third o' what I normally expect. I kept my gun on my hip, in case that meant trouble was comin'.

Millie walked in, with Ms. Curvy, around eight-thirty. She wasn't right. I mean... she was dressed up nice, and her hair was done up, but there was no color in her cheeks, and she looked tired n' worn. She took up a seat at the bar, while Curvy tried ta mingle, and ferret out a customer.

I said, "Good to see you Millie. What kin I get ya?"

"Bourbon", she said.

"Straight?"

She nodded. I wound up servin 'er three o' those thangs, then real quick, she motioned me for a fourth. I did pour her a fourth, but I was startin' ta get worried.

"Slow down a little bit now", I said. "We open all night."

She nodded, then she drunk half o' what I poured her.

Later, Marco walked in, with three familiars. He exchanged a look with Mildred, then he went on towards tha rear. There was no smiles and no pattin' shoulders this time; he was absolutely, positively stone-faced, and people mostly didn't look 'im in tha eyes. He sent one o' his over for a bottle o' Tequila; it's expensive ta do that, but he paid it fair, so I sent tha bottle over, with a buncha glasses.

I have ta note how quiet it was then. Sure, there was less people, and there's no doubt about that, but it was quiet for what folk we did have. It's like they was whis'pren and mumblin' insteada talkin, and it may sound strange, but Geoff's piana was lower somehow; for what reason I don't know. Maybe he just wasn't inta playin' it, that night.

Millie eased up a bit, but she still didn't look good. While nursin' that drank, she just sat there slumped forward, starin' at the wood grain in the counter.

I said, "Do you want some water?"

She shook her head, without lookin' up.

I said, "By the way Millie... I'm sorry for your loss."

Right away, she put both hands on her face and started sobbin'.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry."

Curvy appeared. She started rubbin' Millie's shoulders, and whis'pren to her. I didn't hear what was said, but MIldred nodded in response; she didn't move 'er hands though.

I said, "I didn't mean ta upset 'er".

Curvy said, "That's awl-reight. She just tired. C'mon Millie, lets go... Let's go home Mill."

She got Mildred up, and they left together. The bar got even quieter, as a result. Without Mildred's girls, wasn't much keepin' the guys there but drank, and sometimes that ain't enough.

The silence held, 'til well on in the evenin'. While Marco was leaned back, and sippin 'is tequila, a tomahawk blade came through the back wall, about two inches from 'is left ear. His hombres got up instantly, he yelled somethin' in Spanish and they rushed outside. Marco hisself hopped over the bar here, knockin' over a shit-ton a glasses, and bottles and breaking quite a few.

He went through the break room door and drew a pistol, and I heard him open that door to tha outside. Well, there was runnin' and yellin' goin' on, but no shootin'. After ten minutes or so, Marco calmly entered the bar again. He was followed by two guys, but not the third, and I noticed this right away.

Well he went an' disappeared, and I'll tell ya right now, none o' us touched 'im. Dancer was behind the mischief, as you mighta guessed, but he got clean away, and 'e didn't take none wit 'im. So, as far as I know, that third guy took it upon hisself, to use the commotion and slip off alone. All things considered, it wasn't a bad idea.

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