Joshua
“It’s about fucking time,” I declared, pushing past Brutus and the police officer that was accompanying him, into the concrete basement at Townsend Industries. We were on the ground floor of the Townsend building and Brutus had finally secured a meet between me and James fucking Cunningham.
“What the hell is going on? I was supposed to be taken to a different facility. What is this?” James demanded as soon as he saw me push through the door. His eyes shifted nervously to the officer behind me.
As soon as my gaze landed on his fucking face, an anger like no other rose from the pit of my stomach. The expression on Kay’s face when I first saw her in the police station came to mind. She’d had a wide-eyed terror stricken look in her face, but was doing her best to keep her composure. I wouldn’t let that slide.
Without saying a word, I charged over to James who stood about two inches taller than I. I slammed my open palm into his neck, causing him to immediately go down, gasping for air.
“Hey! You said this was just going to be a talk!”
“Shut him the fuck up!” I growled to Brutus behind me, directing him to take care of the officer. “Get out!”
“I-I can’t leave you alone with—”
“Come with me, Officer Venetti. Don’t worry …” I heard Brutus tell the officer as he pushed him out of the door, closing it behind him.
I held my glare on James who was still trying desperately to breathe. Moving closer, I stooped low. “You’re not dying … yet.”
He struggled to speak, still barely able to suck in are as he clutched his hands to his neck. His eyes were wide and tear filled, a look of terror in them. The same one Kay had in her eyes that night. The look in James’ eyes, however, brought me a sense of satisfaction, instead of rage.
“That hit wasn’t for trying to rob my place or set my company up. That was for scaring the hell out of my lady. For holding a gun on her.” I clenched my fists at the thought of a gun being pointed at Kay. But I had to control my anger in order to get the information I needed. “You know I could make it so your body would never be found.”
His eyes, which were already wide, doubled in size.
“I’m a fighter, James. But not a killer. Not most of the time, anyway. Only a few things would make me end a man’s life. You fuck with my family, my business, or my woman. Even in business I can tolerate a lot more than if you were to fuck with my woman. You did that by holding a gun to her face. I just want you to understand it when I say, I have no problems taking your life here and now, before I ask you these next few questions. Are we clear?”
I paused, waiting for him to agree. Once he nodded, I continued.
“Good. Who is behind the set-up?” I got straight to the point.
“I don’t kn—” He couldn’t finish his sentence before my hand was wrapped around his neck, squeezing, tightly.
“Remember my warning,” I seethed through clenched teeth. “Please do, test me on it. Please do,” I taunted, squeezing his neck tighter.
“Okay, okay,” he wheezed out, holding his hands up. “A g-guy came to me a few days after you f-fired me.”
“What guy, James?”
“He said his name was Tim. He showed up out of nowhere on my doorstep. Said he was with the Better Business Bureau, at first, and they were doing research on Townsend Real Estate’s unfair treatment of employees. I told him how I’d just been fired.”
“Which he undoubtedly knew already. Keep going.”
“He just wanted to know my story. I told him. Then a week or so later, he calls, says he has a proposition for me.”
“To rob my damn company?”
James nodded.
“And your stupid ass believed someone working for the Better Business Bureau would have you rob Townsend Real Estate?”
“No.” He shook his head vigorously. “No, but then he said he wasn’t with the BBB but that he worked for a man who had a vested interest in seeing Townsend fall. He said there’d be something in it for me if I robbed the condominium that was for sale. Said the former owners had a safe in it that they hadn’t emptied out.”
“That makes absolutely no fucking sense, James!” I growled, grabbing him by the collar of the orange jumpsuit he wore.
“I know! But the guy told me I’d make an easy ten grand out of the deal. I was broke. It sounded like a bargain to me. So I took it.”
I rose to my feet, standing over James who still laid on the floor. I eyed him, looking for any signs of deception.
“What was this Tim’s last name?”
“McDonald or Mc something or other. Ouch!” he bellowed when he received a sharp kick to his abdomen.
“Give me a straight fucking answer, James.”
“McKellen. He said his last name was McKellen.”
“Tim McKellen,” I sounded out loud, running the name through my mental rolodex. It didn’t ring any bells but I felt this was connected to someone I knew. I stooped low in front of James again. “I’m leaving now. You will be taken back to jail by the officer that brought you here. You will never mention this meeting to anyone or you will find yourself in a very ugly scenario behind bars. You won’t have to worry about ever making it to the end of your ten year sentence for armed robbery. You understand what I’m saying to you?” I glared at James.
“Yesss,” he drew out.
“Good.” I nodded and stood, turning my back on him to move to the door. James was as good as dead behind those prison walls. I’d already saw to that, but I wouldn’t reveal that to him. That’d be a little surprise he’d learn in the next few months. Since he’d pleaded guilty to the armed robbery, there would be no trial. He was going straight to jail where he wouldn’t live out the next six months. That was his real punishment for pulling a gun on Kayla. This minor beating was just to get some information. Now that I had it, I had no use for him.
“You can take him now. Thank you, Officer Venetti.” I held out my hand for the officer to shake. When he gripped it, I said, “As promised, your son will get the medical treatment he needs at no financial cost to your family. Anonymously, of course.” A smile I’d perfected over the years in the course of business dealings touched my lips.
“Th-thank you,” the officer stated, his gaze bouncing between Brutus and I.
I gave Brutus one last nod before turning and heading home. I needed to get changed so Kay and I could make it to my parents’ for dinner.