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EMPTY EYE SOCKETS CHAPTER 4
It was an early morning in Nuevo Marrow and for once the city seemed peaceful. Most of the neon lights were off, there was no crowd on the streets and everything was quiet. In some other cities morning was the busiest time of the day, it was usual, right?
Well, not in Nuevo Marrow. Everyone in the city had stayed up most of the night drinking, gambling and having fun. So it wasn't a wonder that only those who really had to managed to force themselves to get up instead of sleeping their hangover away.
Nick was one of those unfortunate ones, but his part wasn't as bad as some people's. He had worked so late the night before that hadn't felt like paying a visit to the casinos after that. And the wild partying some people preferred didn't suit him at all; he still liked the old quiet way.
And now on his way to Hector's office he was glad that he didn't have a hangover. Firstly, meeting your boss in those circumstances wouldn't be proper and he didn't want to seem stupid in front of the man.
Hector had said that he wanted to meet him early in the morning and the lawyer had no idea what the man wanted. It could be an assignment more important than usually, and Nick was already on a bad mood. He had more than enough work now and it was starting to get on his nerves.
Sometimes he asked himself why he had ever left Maximino. Sure, he had been busy in Rubacava too, but there he had had time for himself.
With Hector he didn't seem to do anything but paperwork. He woke up early in the morning and worked the whole day, sometimes so late that he didn't have the energy to have his nightly drink.
And that worried him, before starting to work for Hector he had never missed his drink.
He knocked at the big dark door and stepped in when he was told to do so.
"You wanted to see me," he stated stepping to stand in front of Hector, who sat behind his desk. He nodded and eyed some papers in his hands. Nick already thought that he'd get another new job and was annoyed, but also a bit relieved. At least it was fairly easy.
"Yes, I have a special job for you," Hector said placing the papers in his drawer and closing it. Nick let out a mental sigh, what now?
"What do you want me to do, mister LeMans?" he asked, of course not showing his feelings.
"I am sure that Maximino has something in his mind. You used to work for him and he might still trust you. I want you to travel to Rubacava this very day and have a word with him," Hector said.
Nick was truly surprised, he hadn't expected that. He had thought he would have to spend the rest of the day working on some papers. But on the other hand, what he was offered was a better option, he'd finally get the day-off he needed and could see what was going on in Rubacava.
He hadn't talked to Maximino after the man had asked him to stay in his service and he had to admit he was eager to see him again. They had always got along pretty well.
"I will leave immediately," he said knowing that he didn't really have an option. It was useless to rebel against Hector. His boss nodded and Nick turned on his heels to leave.
When he was on the door Hector spoke again.
"And Nick, it is very likely that Maximino has a few cards up in his sleeve. Don't let him deceive you or me. Betraying me is the only mistake you can do in this wicked world," he said.
Nick knew without an explanation that this was also a warning to him so that he'd know to whom his loyalty really belonged.
"I will be very careful when I meet him," he promised and left, closing the door behind him.
The soft carpet on the floor killed the sound of his footsteps while he walked to the elevator. He was a bit surprised over the mission, meeting a possible traitor was a very important thing to do. Why was it given to him? Couldn't Hector's clearly most loyal henchman, Domino Hurley, do it? No doubt he could have left his little island unguarded for a while.
Maybe, but Nick wasn't very stupid and realised this was also a test for him. Hector wanted to see how he would do this and the lawyer decided he wouldn't fail. So many things depended on whether Hector liked him or not.
The trip to Rubacava would take the whole day, even if he travelled by car. Hector had many different demons in his service and Nick could pick any of them to be his driver. He couldn't really stand demons, but what was there to do?
When the doors of the elevator opened Olivia stepped out and gave him a quick glance.
"Say 'hi' to Max for me," she said.
So Hector talks about business with his woman, Nick thought. It was something he'd never do. Women had no part in making money.
"You can count on that," he promised, stepping in the elevator.
---
"This plan is ridiculous," Lola said in frustration and looked at the dress that hung on her. Or maybe 'hung' wasn't the right word, the dress was made of fine, dark blue fabric and suited her fine making her look really beautiful.
"Shut up and try to be more positive!" Toto snapped angrily. "Women never understand anything..." he muttered to himself then.
Lola sighed.
She had known that if Toto could make up the plans nothing good would come of it. She had already had more than enough bad experiences and that time didn't promise to be anything else.
Toto had decided that because Maximino's -- like every powerful man's -- weakness was women, he would definitely reveal his plans to a gorgeous lady. Because Toto himself was male and his tattooed face would never be pretty, the role of the seducer was Lola's.
Before becoming an LSA agent Lola had been drawn to Maximino, but now when she knew who he worked for those feelings were dead. Not that the mission was very horrible, Maximino was at least more decent than some other mighty men.
"But what will I say to him? How do I even get in?" she asked from Toto who was busy sewing the torn skirt. The dress had been cheap, dirty and torn, but it looked fine now.
Toto had deft fingers and it hadn't taken long from him to make the dress look all right and now it started to look like Lola could wear it in the High Roller's Lounge. But though she looked fine she had no idea how she would fit in.
"This isn't going to work. Let's come up with something else," she suggested managing to keep her uncertainty fairly well away from her voice. She didn't want to screw up and fail in her mission. Toto raised his gaze from his work.
"What the heck is wrong with you? You better snap out of it or this truly isn't going to work. Do you want me to tell Salvador that you don't want to have anything to do with this?" he asked in annoyance.
"Well no, but -- " Lola started, but Toto interrupted her.
"Then shut up and don't complain!" he snapped and Lola closed her mouth feeling hurt. She knew that Toto never talked nicely, but they had been partners a while and it was starting to hurt.
From the icy silence and the way Lola stood Toto realised he had hurt her. He shook his head in frustration, why were all women like that?
"You will be fine," he muttered after the dress was finished. He had never apologised anyone and would never do it, but he wasn't completely cold after all. Almost though, and Lola knew how much meaning those few words held.
"Humph," she snorted rebelliously and Toto glared at her shortly. He knew that when she came back Lola would be on a better mood and bring at least some kind of news. He didn't doubt the woman's abilities and knew she would make it.
"That's it," he said standing up and taking a few steps away to admire his work. Because of that he had closed his small shop for the whole day and he had to admit it had been worth it.
Lola looked wonderful in the blue dress that reached her ankles. There had been sleeves in the dress, but they had been badly torn and after considering it a while Toto had decided to remove them. The neckline was plunging, but in afterlife it didn't matter at all.
"It looks good," Toto stated. Lola took a look at herself and brushed the blue cloth.
"Really? Can I truly go in looking like this?" she asked.
"Of course you can! Or do you doubt my word? Learn to trust yourself some more," the man said starting to sound really annoyed. Why couldn't Lola understand she was perfectly fine to catch Maximino's attention?
Lola sighed.
"All right, all right. Let's just get this over with," she said.
---
A bit later Lola stood in the small lobby of the High Roller's Lounge, looking nervously around. Toto hadn't come along, if Lola had been seen with someone like him they'd never have let her in. The man had told her that all she had to do was to go in and look like she belonged there.
Well, it was easy for him to say! He didn't have to walk in the enemy territory and seduce one of their most dangerous enemies. Lola could see how Toto would try to get Maximino interested in him and the thought immediately cheered her up. Well, she would do it better than him.
Taking a deep breath Lola started to walk on the luxury corridor towards the elevator. If she wasn't stopped there they wouldn't do it at all, those who were inside were considered to be worth the honour.
There was a guard in front of the elevator, just like she had expected. The man already managed to open his mouth to ask if she had a VIP pass, but Lola glared at him so arrogantly that he reconsidered and let her go. The woman suppressed her exclaim of victory and stepped in as gracefully as she could.
She had never before been in the High Roller's Lounge and after stepping out of the elevator she had to stop and take a look around.
There was a dark red carpet on the floor and the walls repeated the same luxurious tone. Small cat decorations could be seen everywhere and it was clear that Maximino loved those animals. Or the money they provided him with.
Knowing that she couldn't stay standing there Lola walked to sit in an empty table. She felt nervous again, but somehow managed to suppress it. After sitting down she started to look around more carefully.
Earlier, when she had still had a crush on Maximino, she had heard stories of the glory of High Roller's Lounge and how wonderful everybody there was. She had bought it all without objections; of course she had wanted to get the best image of the man of her dreams.
And that was what High Roller's Lounge had once been, a club where the richest and most powerful souls of the Land of the Dead gathered to talk, drink and just spend their eternity. Back then everything had been spotless and Maximino had been proud of his place.
But now everything had changed.
When Hector LeMans had changed El Marrow and renamed it Nuevo Marrow all those who had even some respect for themselves moved there. All gamblers, business men and customers were now there and even some of the staff had moved away in the search of a better afterlife.
Now High Roller's Lounge was almost empty and though it all still shone Lola could sense the place was starting to get ruined. It wasn't much, the carpet was just a bit worn out, there was a scratch on her table and the ashtray hadn't been emptied in a while. But all that was enough to tell that Maximino was in trouble.
There weren't many souls besides her there. A few tables away sat a small man and seeing him there was a surprise to Lola.
Chowchilla Charlie.
Everyone knew that Maximino had kicked the man out a few years ago when he had been fooling around with fake betting stubs. After that he had had some business with Manny, but soon the con artist everyone knew had just disappeared.
He hadn't been seen on the streets and if you wanted to have a word with him you had to really bother to find him. Lola and Toto had believed that Charlie had moved to Nuevo Marrow too, but it seemed he had stayed in Rubacava after all.
But why?
What could that deserting city offer to a snake like Charlie who never thought about anyone besides himself? Why hadn't he left a long time ago? And was Maximino already that desperate that he allowed the con artist to return?
Lola shook her head a bit and turned her gaze from the small man who was drinking something. She had to mention that to Toto, but it was also important to watch the other customers.
Another few tables away sat a couple dressed in fine, but a bit worn out clothes. They had glasses full of something Lola assumed to be cheap. That didn't seem to bother the two and the woman was sure they were just passing by and would soon continue towards the Ninth Underworld.
The Ninth Underworld...
Lola didn't know what crime she had committed while alive, but whatever it was it had been enough to doom her to walk. It was just a bit better than being a reaper, but it didn't make her feel any better.
Those who walked rarely made it. They either stayed in the Land of the Dead or disappeared somewhere, usually in the stomach of some nasty demon. Someone could say it was just right, the walkers were criminals, murderers and other crooks.
But was there a crime bad enough to forbid a soul from rest?
Suddenly Lola noticed that a new person had come in. And not just anyone, but her target.
Maximino.
The man closed the door of his office after him and walked to Chowchilla Charlie. He glanced at Lola while going, but continued on anyway. After reaching the con artist he bent down to have a word with him and Lola realised those two had something strange going on.
She didn't remove her gaze, but watched the two men. Despite that she was unsure, she was a woman and knew that a man like Maximino liked it when women paid him attention. So Lola watched him managing to look just properly innocent and that she had no idea what she was doing.
And she didn't even have to wait for long; the man had already noticed her and was apparently asking Charlie if he knew who she was. The woman saw that Charlie shrugged and hoped that it meant he had no idea.
She had never been known in the city, she was part of the lower cast of people and people like Maximino paid no attention to ones like her. So it was very unlikely that Maximino would know her.
Lola smirked inside her when she saw the man leaving the con artist and heading towards her. He looked exactly like Lola remembered, though he seemed somehow more tired.
"I don't think I've ever seen you here," Maximino said arriving next to her.
"You haven't. I'm new," Lola replied pleased with the fact that it didn't seem to be so difficult after all. Maximino took a chair for himself.
"What about... forgive me my curiosity, but what are you doing here? Nowadays all beautiful women go to Nuevo Marrow," he said managing to keep the bitterness from his voice quite well. Lola laughed.
"Nuevo Marrow is not my place. I prefer the peace and style of Rubacava. Nuevo Marrow is way too loud," she said.
"Few think that way," Maximino stated. He was glad, no one came to his place anymore and he had to settle with those who were on their way to the Ninth Underworld. He had very few good customers and only a small part of them were women.
Not that it disturbed him that much. When Olivia had announced that she was leaving him because of Hector, Maximino had felt that his whole world had been smashed. He had worshipped the woman, done everything she asked and believed in everything she said. He had thought she loved him too, but understood now what a treacherous slut Olivia was.
And yet just thinking about her hurt.
But this woman... maybe she wasn't as beautiful as Olivia, Maximino didn't think he'd ever find someone as beautiful, but she clearly had that something. She was pretty, and he thought he could sense that she was somehow more honest than his ex-girlfriend.
Of course all women were sly, much worse than men and Maximino didn't believe this one to be any different. She was sweet though, she looked exactly that shy girl next door every man had once loved.
"What is your name? I don't know how to address you," he said.
"I am... Manuela Escanti," Lola said quickly. Damn, she thought to herself. Talk about bad names. She and Toto had agreed that she would call herself Maria, but for some reason she had told Maximino another name. A name that so clearly referred to Manny.
Luckily Maximino didn't think the name was strange.
"Nice to meet you, miss Escanti. I see you haven't ordered yet. May I do it for you?" he asked. Lola felt really flattered, but still knowing that she was supposed to be thinking about her mission.
"That would be nice," she admitted. She didn't dare to make any questions yet, the man would certainly get suspicious and that would ruin it all. According to Toto the wisest thing to do was to wait and get curious after meeting the man a couple of times.
Maximino snapped his fingers.
"Raoul! Bring the lady the best of the house," he told the French waiter who bowed and hurried to do what was told.
"So, what do you think of Rubacava, Miss Escanti?" Maximino asked making Lola laugh again.
"Please, call me just Manuela. Rubacava is beautiful, but somehow wild. I am afraid to visit the downtown and I prefer it here," she replied.
"That it wise, the criminals and crooks there could attack a woman like you," Maximino said.
Raoul brought the drinks and left after placing them on the table.
"Maybe so, but I like crooks," Lola said taking a sip of her drink and now it was Maximino's turn to chuckle.
"Who of us doesn't? We are all crooks, after all," he said.
"Who more, who less."
Suddenly the man on the elevator rushed in and headed straight towards Maximino.
"You are asked," he whispered to the man who glared at him in annoyance.
"Well, it can wait. Don't you see I am having a conversation?" he snapped. The guard looked a bit upset, but didn't give up.
"I don't think you want to miss this," he said and glanced behind him, making Maximino and Lola curious too.
There, in front of the elevator, stood Nick Virago.
---
Nick looked around in High Roller's Lounge and let the memories fill his mind. There he had spent many nights working, drinking and talking. So many years had flown there and High Roller's Lounge was actually his other home.
There he had also seen Olivia Ofrenda for the first time.
The memory of how the woman had come in to meet Maximino was still fresh in his mind. He had never dared to believe that such an unordinary soul could live in Rubacava, but he had seen he had been wrong.
And hearing that the woman was dating Maximino had been a disappointment.
Now the place, one of the few that the corrupted lawyer cared about, had lost its previous shine. Gamblers who had filled the place were gone, their women were gone, and most of the staff was gone. Only Maximino remained and seeing him made Nick feel somehow sad.
Then he snorted at himself, he had come there in business.
The trip from Nuevo Marrow had taken the whole day and it was late night now. His favourite time in Rubacava, the town was so sweetly mysterious at night.
He didn't want to wait for the guard to manage anything, so he took strong steps towards the table where Maximino sat. He had some woman as company, but Nick didn't remember seeing her before. And even if he had, what did it matter?
Maximino turned to sit so that he could face him.
"It's been some time since you left. Why am I rewarded with the honour of meeting you again?" he asked with his familiar polite voice, but Nick knew he was being sarcastic.
"I came to talk about business," he stated shooting a meaningful glance at Lola. Maximino sighed.
"Manuela, could you...?" he asked believing the woman got the hint. And she did, Lola wasn't an idiot. A bit disappointed because the great night was ruined she stood up trying to look like it didn't matter at all.
"I hope we meet again," she said leaving. She just had to tell Toto about everything.
When Lola was gone Maximino stood and gestured Nick to come to his office. He sat behind his desk and looked at his ex-lawyer in thought.
"What do you want?" he asked. Nick shrugged.
"It's not what I want, but what Hector wants," he replied.
"Then what does your boss want? A bigger slice of the Cat Track's profit?" Maximino asked.
"It would be easier to you if he did. Hector wants to make sure you are and will remain loyal to him," the lawyer said.
"But I am loyal. Or have I given a reason to think something else?"
"Not yet, but Hector is not stupid. He can smell a treachery before it has happened," Nick said. He was hoping that Maximino wouldn't try anything; it would be a disappointment to see him falling.
Maximino was silent for a long while.
"Why did you leave me Nick? Didn't you have everything you wanted here?" he asked suddenly and Nick flinched. He hadn't expected that question.
"I am a man of business and always working for the highest bidder. You should understand that," he answered. Maximino laughed.
"What if someone made you a better offer than Hector? Would you leave him?"
Now it was Nick's turn to be silent.
"What can you offer?" he asked then. He wasn't stupid and realised that Maximino was trying to buy him. It was a clear sign of the man's disloyalty and if he told it to Hector Maximino would be gone. On the other hand, he himself could get sprouted after the meeting.
"Don't get excited Nick, I haven't said anything. But let's imagine that someone would overthrow Hector. Wouldn't this man and his followers be very rich then? Richer than they have ever imagined?" he asked.
"That is true, but defeating Hector is very difficult, if not impossible. Only a man who loves danger would try it," Nick said.
Maximino shook his head.
"I will talk to you straight, Nick. For the old times. Look at this place, everything lies in ruins and it won't take long until Rubacava is just a spot on the map. What will happen to me? What will happen to the Cat Track? I am not letting Hector to destroy all that I've been working for."
"You can't make it, Hector is too powerful," Nick tried to kill the idea.
"No he isn't, Hector LeMans is a myth. He is just a human too, Nick. You can get rid of anyone. Besides, if I had a spy... Someone, who is very close to Hector..." Maximino said.
"That is dangerous. What makes you think that I would betray him?" the lawyer asked. He sort of enjoyed this conversation; it was refreshing to be there again.
"Simple, you are a man of business. Loyalty has nothing to do with business, am I right?" Maximino said to him.
"Think about it," he continued and stood up, declaring that the conversation had ended. Nick stood up too and gave Maximino a long stare.
"Now that we've talked about business I think that I will stay for a while and see if Raoul's drinks are what they used to be," he said turning to leave.
On the door he stopped.
"And oh yes, Olivia sends her greetings," he said.
Maximino stared at the door a long while after Nick was gone. He thought he had at least got the lawyer to consider his offer, but one never knew.
He would have to send one of his most loyal men after Nick to Nuevo Marrow to see what was going to happen.
To be continued...
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