In The Back Streets Of France, Chapter 5: Michael

Chapter 5: Michael

When they go back into the café, they sit so that all three of them can see the door. Charcoal does so unconsciously, Michael does this out of habit, and Thomas does this because his mind is firmly on the mission and only the mission.

Michael looks around absently. Anything to not look at Charcoal, he thinks. He sees a familiar face buying a crepe and he knows he has to get Charcoal out of there. The boy looks about 16 and he keeps glancing at Charcoal in a disturbing way that says he knows her intimately.

He looks the familiar boy up and down. His gaze stops about half way down the boy’s body. He sees the recognizable shape of a hand gun in his pocket. There is only one boy who would be carrying a gun to get a crepe.

Alex!!!

It is well-known in the International Mob, that there is a huge sum over this guy’s head for deserting. He got up and goes over to look at the display of desserts. He positions himself so that he is next to Alex and says, “You know its unfortunate that she’s yours. She’s hot, but she’s not hot enough to distract.”

Michael pauses to let what he meant sink in and he waits for a response. He is not disappointed. Alex’s face goes red and he can see the muscles in his neck straining because he is so mad. The clerk sees what is going on and hurriedly walks around the counter and hands Alex his crepe.

Michael sees Alex’s hand go to the pocket and he smiles.

“You can’t use that in here. You know that. Lets go outside.”

Alex leaves Shawn with the money and the crepe.

As soon as they get into the mouth of a deserted ally way, Michael shoves Alex against the wall so that Alex’s front is to the hard, cold brick. He flicks out a knife and sticks the sharp end against the side of Alex’s throat. He holds Alex’s hands behind his back and stands behind him. He has a few matters to settle with this guy.

“You know there’s a BIG sum of money that I could collect from turning you into the Head,” Michael grunts.

Alex can’t answer. His head is pressed into the brick and he is using all of his self-control to not do or say anything that would get anyone killed. He grits his teeth and tries to force his hands apart.

“No, don’t be naughty, Alex. You are going to stay right here and you are going to answer all of my questions. I’ll decide when you can go, if I let you at all,” Michael snarls.

Alex glares at his feet. “What do you want to know, Michael?”

Michael smiles, He is finally going to cooperate! It would be a pity to kill Charcoal. Out loud, he says, “Well, first I want to know where you keep yourself.”

“I can’t tell you that, Michael. I live with people who don’t deserve to have you go bursting in on them. They’re also all kids.”

“Do you want me to shoot Charcoal?”

“NO!”

“Then pay attention and answer all of my questions. Then do exactly as I say. Got it?”

Alex nods.

“Okay, lets try again. Is the gun loaded?”

“It’s good for one shot.”

“You have to have more bullets. Where are they?”

“In my jean pocket.”

Michael says, “Don’t forget I have a knife to your neck. Don’t move.”

He gets the excess ammunition out of the pocket as well as the gun.

“Now I’m doubly armed and you’re not at all. So, where’s your money?”

“Don’t have any. We live off of stealing.”

“Oh, dear. I think I have a robber on my hands,” says Michael in mock astonishment. Then he laughs. “You haven’t changed one bit, Alex.”

“What’s your relationship to Charcoal?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

“Awe. How touching. Hardcore Alex is going soft.”

Michael rams his hands into the small of Alex’s back as he says each word: “What (ram) are (ram) you (ram) going (ram) to (ram) do (ram) if (ram) I (extra hard ram) kill (ram) her (ram).”

Alex is more or less just hanging on the wall now. He can feel his insides start to come up with each ram. He Is wincing and grunting and gritting his teeth in agony. Michael doesn’t know it, but as he rams his fist into Alex’s back, he is also putting a lot of pressure on the knife. Alex can feel it start to open the skin on the side of his neck. He gasps in pain and this makes Michael smile. This is his specialty, physical pain. He has only worked on girls before now, but Alex is proving a very satisfying first time for a boy.

“Oops!” He says, laughing. “It must have slipped.” He runs a finger up Alex’s spine and feels the shiver of dread. He looks at Alex, whose eyes are tightly shut and whose teeth are bared in a silent grimace. He can see the sweat has left dirty lines down his face. His face glistens and there are silent tears running down his face. Michael slaps him.

“Stop, Michael,” Alex mumbles.

“No, Alex. I’ve actually been watching you for some time. I was just lucky that Charcoal happened to come with ‘the territory.’ I watched you yesterday at the bar. I was disgusted. You were putting down shots like it was water.”

“There were other people…,” Alex mutters.

“Yeah, I know. But you even went back to your little deserted soup kitchen to get money. Charcoal’s money.”

Alex freezes. How did he know where he lived?

“How would you know I live in a soup kitchen?” asks Alex cautiously.

“I’ve been following you. Or sometimes when I had more important things to do, I had Thomas follow you. It was just luck that Charcoal stepped right into my hands. I’m going to have fun with her. In our business, Alex, you have to hurdle the dead and trample the weak. You of all people should know that.” He starts listing Alex’s missions. “Do you remember that girl from America? The one who you actually fought to keep alive. You should have known the Head wouldn’t let you keep emotional baggage. Or that other girl from London. She was funny. It was a pity we killed her in the end. There was also that girl from Nepal. We left her going in circles. I heard she even joined in the Indian branch.” He knows that if he keeps going, Alex will going to feel worse and worse. Chances were that he would bend and buckle eventually but that wouldn’t be fun.

“I have some news. Actually, I just thought it up but whatever. I think that I will kill you. But so slowly.” Here he strokes the line of Alex’s jaw as Alex tries to cringe away, straight into the knife. Michael then ends by gently ramming Alex’s head into the brick. “I will do it so that you and your love, Charcoal, can see each other. What do you say?”

“Kill me. Do whatever you want to me. Don’t let Charcoal see it though. Please, Michael, I am begging you.”

Michael and Alex both know Alex isn’t going anywhere so he keeps the knife where it is but lets the hands go. He pulls out a cell phone (given to him buy the Mo and dials 02. Thomas’s speed dial. He speaks in Arabic so Alex can’t understand.

Inside the Café.

Charcoal is in the bathroom when Thomas gets the call. Anyone who had been paying attention to the angelic little boy would notice he is talking in Arabic. Anyone who knows Arabic and could hear both sides of the conversation would hear this:

Thomas (picking up the phone): Yeah?

Michael: You need to get her out here know. Alex isn’t cooperating and I think he needs a little encouragement if you know what I mean.

Thomas: How?

Michael: You have the gun, right? Well suggest that you guys follow us out and stick it on her once your out of sight of the baker. We’re in the ally right next door on your left.

Thomas: We’ll be right out, she’s in the bathroom.

Michael: Okay, see you.

And Michael hangs up.

When Charcoal gets back to the table, Thomas says innocently, “Maybe we should follow them.” Charcoal agrees and she pays. They head out and get maybe three feet from the door when she feels something had and cold in her back. She knows it is a gun and she wonders how he had gotten it. She doesn’t waste words, she only puts her hands up and asks where Alex is. Thomas says that she would be finding out shortly and to shut up.

As they round the corner of the ally, Charcoal catches sight of Alex and Michael. She stops.