“By lunch. Maybe sooner.”
“We’re ready.” Greg nodded and closed the door. He went back to the house and sat by the window. He waited. Eleven o’clock, eleven-thirty. Greg didn’t move. He watched the window, listening. Every distant engine sound made him tense up.
But the cars passed by. At twelve-thirty, he saw dust on the road. The black sedan. That was it. His heart didn’t race. His hands stayed steady. Greg stood up, went to the kitchen, and put the kettle on the stove. He turned on the gas.
Just like last time. The car stopped at the gate. A door slammed. Footsteps on the gravel. A knock on the door. Two short raps. Greg opened it. Vinnie was on the porch. Same clothes. Gym shorts, tank top. Zip and Slim were behind him.
Zip was holding a bag. Vinnie smirked. “So, Pops, you find the cash?” Greg paused, then nodded. “Come on in.” Vinnie walked in first. He sprawled out on the chair, just like before. Zip and Slim sat on either side. Greg poured hot water into the mugs and set them on the table.
He sat down. “Where’s the money?” Vinnie reached for his mug. He took a sip. “In the barn,” Greg said. “I hid it there. I don’t keep cash in the house.” Vinnie squinted. “What barn?” “Behind the house. Come on, I’ll show you.” Vinnie looked at Zip.
Zip shrugged. Slim swallowed hard. Slim twitched. Vinnie stood up. “Alright, lead the way.” Greg went out first. He walked around the house toward the barn. Vinnie followed. Zip and Slim were right behind. Greg could hear their steps, their breathing.
Zip’s breath was fast; Slim’s was ragged. Vinnie breathed steadily, confident. Greg reached the barn. He opened the door. It was dark inside. It smelled of wood and old iron. He stepped in. Vinnie followed. Then Zip. Slim came in last.
The door stayed ajar. “Where’s the cash?” Vinnie looked around, squinting. Greg stepped to the side. At that moment, Vince stepped out from behind a barrel. Razor came from behind some boards. Both were holding bats. Slim gasped and backed toward the door. Zip reached for his knife, but Vince was on him in two steps, striking his arm hard.
Zip cried out in pain and fell to his knees. The knife clattered to the floor. Vinnie spun around to Greg. His face twisted. “What the hell is this, old man? You know who we are?” Greg looked at him calmly. “I do. You’re snitches.” Vinnie lunged.
Greg didn’t flinch. Razor swung the bat at Vinnie’s legs. He went down, clutching his knee. He screamed. Zip was on the floor, holding his arm. Slim was by the door, shaking. Vince stepped toward him and shoved him. Slim hit the floor and started whimpering.
“I didn’t do anything! It was all Vinnie! I just came along for the ride!” Razor slammed the door shut. The bolt slid home. It was darker now, only a sliver of light from a crack. Greg walked over to Vinnie and crouched down. Vinnie looked up, fear mixing with rage.
“Who are you?” Vinnie rasped. “The Ghost,” Greg said quietly. “Chairman of the Circle. Recognized in ’92 at Stateville. You ever hear of me?” Vinnie went pale; his lips trembled. “No way. The Ghost is gone. Everyone said he skipped town.”
“I’m in Oak Ridge. I’ve been living here quietly for six years. And you came to shake me down. A Chairman.” Vinnie closed his eyes. Zip was groaning on the floor. Slim was crying, face in the dirt. “We didn’t know,” Vinnie whispered. “I never would have… if I’d known.”
“I know,” Greg stood up. “You were at Stateville. I found out everything about you, Vincent. How you stole from your crew, how you snitched to the guards, how you bought your way out of a sit-down. You aren’t a tough guy. You’re a punk. A snitch.” Vinnie shook.
“That’s… that’s not true. I was framed.” Greg looked at Razor. Razor stepped up and delivered a solid blow to Vinnie’s ribs. Not enough to break them, but enough to hurt. Vinnie gasped and doubled over. Greg crouched again. “Don’t lie. You were supposed to be judged inside.”
“You bought your way into PC. That’s a violation. Inside, you would have lost everything. Out here, I’m the judge.” Vinnie started trembling violently. “What do you want?” “I want you to understand. You don’t run this county. You don’t collect fees. You don’t touch this town. And you forget I exist.”
“I get it. I swear, we’re gone. We’ll never come back.” Greg stood up and looked at Zip and Slim. Both were down, not moving. Then back at Vinnie. A word isn’t enough. You need a lesson. Vinnie shivered. “What kind of lesson?”
Greg didn’t answer. He nodded to Vince. Vince grabbed Vinnie by the collar and dragged him to the wall. Razor brought the chain. They shackled Vinnie’s arm to the hook in the wall. Vinnie struggled, but the chain held fast. “What are you doing? Let me go! I said we’re leaving!”
Greg turned to Zip. Vince picked him up and stood him on his feet. Zip was whimpering, holding his arm. “You’re a gopher,” Greg said. “Inside, you picked on the weak. Now you’ll see how it feels.” Vince struck Zip in the stomach.
He doubled over and fell. Razor stepped in and added another. Zip was wheezing, gasping for air. Greg watched. His face was a mask. Vinnie was screaming, yanking at the chain. Slim was on the floor, motionless. Zip stopped resisting. He lay there, breathing raggedly.
Vince stepped back. Razor looked at Greg. Greg nodded. That was enough. Greg walked over to Slim. He crouched down. Slim was covering his head with his hands, shaking. “Ian!” Greg’s voice was low. “Look at me.”
Slim didn’t move. Greg grabbed his shoulder and rolled him over. His face was covered in tears and dirt. “You aren’t like them,” Greg said. “Inside, you were quiet. You stayed out of trouble. But when Vinnie snitched, you stayed silent.” “Why?”…
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