Warning! The following may contain bad spelling, grammar, punctuation, cardboard characters, cheesy plots, offensive NSFW material, and / or puns. Reader discretion is advised.
The 1967 Mustang pulled to a stop in front of Vinnie’s warehouse office. Tom, Freddie and Alan all got out of the car. They strode to the door where one of Vinnie’s muscle stood.
Tom spoke. “Alan Foster is here to see his bookie.”
The muscle looked at the men with disdain. “Who are you?”
“We’re his negotiators.”
The muscle patted them down for weapons, then opened the door and ushered them inside. The front of the warehouse had a small office space and the three men waited there.
After a few minutes, Vinnie and another of his goons walked in the office. “Mr. Foster, good to see you again. Sorry for the delay but I had to make sure the Express Line made it in on time.” Vinnie looked at Tom and Freddie. “Who are your friends?”
“We’re here to help settle the matter between you and Mister Foster.” Tom said. “I’m Tom Clary, this is Freddie Han.”
“Vincenzo Piorelli. My friends call me Vinnie.”
“Well, Vinnie, Mister Foster wants to pay off his debt to you.”
“Ah, good. So you got the two hundred and fifty thousand for me. Although I don’t see you carrying anything that looks like it would hold that kind of loot.”
“We don’t have the money. We’re here to negotiate the settlement.”
“The only negotiating I accept is you paying me my money.”
Alan spoke up. “Where’s Jane? What’ve you done with her?”
Tom put a hand on Alan’s shoulder. “Patience. We’ll get to that.”
Alan pressed on. “I want to see her. Now!”
Vinnie’s pleasant veneer changed to a scowl. “You don’t come into my place and make demands.” The hired muscle took a step forward.
Tom also took a step forward. “Mister Foster is of course concerned about his fiancé. Your note did say she would be coming back in pieces if he didn’t pay up. Knowing that she is still in one piece would go a long way toward resolving this issue.”
Vinnie went to the computer and swung the monitor around. He punched a few buttons and an image of Jane tied to the chair appeared on the screen. “She’s fine. For now. I really wouldn’t want to harm a hair on her lovely head. She’s a beautiful young woman and it would be a shame to have to cut her up. Not saying I wouldn’t, mind you. This is business after all. But the sooner you pay me, the sooner you get your girlfriend back. All of her, in one piece.”
Alan made a move towards Vinnie, but Freddie grabbed him and held him back. “Easy there. Let Tom do what he does.”
“Mister Foster doesn’t have the entire amount at this time. Maybe you could work out a payment schedule?”
“What do I look like, a bank? He made the bet, he lost, its time to pay up. Now give me my two hundred and fifty thousand or I have my guys start hacking on the young lady there.”