Cantina Problema: Part Three

I was just finishing up in the bathroom when I heard the commotion starting. Damn it all! She was supposed to wait till I was in the room.

I rushed out to find the target clutching his nose; blood was flowing furiously out of it.

“What the hell is going on?”

“She just belted him! Don’t blame me!” Yelled the blonde.

The Red Head just slouched back into the armchair she had been waiting in; she doubled over, head in hands and began to weep.

This is getting messy, it started off so simple…

Yesterday...

The rain was tapping rhythmically on the window all morning and I had just returned to my office when there was a gentle knock on the stained glass window in the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and there was this beautiful blonde standing there.

Wowzers I thought, what a dame!

“Please, come in miss, have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No thank you, I’m fine.” She answered.

“Well, miss…”

“Malus… Eve Malus.”

“Miss Malus. What can I do for you?”

She smiled at me as she pulled a file out of her bag; the manilla folder was bulging with papers and photos.

“Well, I want you to help me take care of this guy that’s been bothering me.” She said as she slid a photo over to me.

I picked it up and scanned the man in the photograph. He seemed like a normal guy, Calvin Klein suit, well groomed. Probably a lawyer.

“What’s the problem? He an ex giving you problems? Or you want some dirt on him?”

“Oh nothing like that,” she giggled, “It’s simple… I want you to kill him.”

Today...

It had all started so easy!

Kill the suit, then the Blonde would produce documents to prove that he had married her first and she was entitled to the life insurance. It was a good plan, until the idiot went on the run.

I don't usually do this type of thing, I've kept an honest business for years. Sure I bend the occasional rule or law when on a case, but this was a new level I wouldn't have gone to if not for the recent debt I found myself in.

Never figured out what tipped him off about it all, but he got all the way across the border before I got an idea where he was. The guy at the motel said he hadn’t seen anyone matching his description.

That’s when the call came from the Blonde.

“What now, I can’t track him out here in the middle of nowhere.” I growled before she could say anything.

“You’re a sensitive flower aren’t you dear? She said in a mocking tone.

"Now calm down and let me talk. He’s just used his card in a cash machine somewhere near the border.”

“Damn it! I don’t wanna cross the border!” I yelled into the phone.

“Why not?”

“…Long story. Where is he?”

“I’ll get you a specific location later. For now just get down to the border and wait for my call-“

*Click*

This is ridiculous, I thought, it’s so far out of hand now I think it’d be better to just call it a day, cut the loses and go home.

But this blonde had me by the short-hairs, if I didn't see it through till the end, she'd tell the cops what I was up to, and If I didn’t get paid for this job, I wasn’t going to stay in business much longer. Not if the loan-sharks had anything to say about it.

Guess this is the place for a job like this, I thought, crossing the border.

"Think it might be time to retire after this job.” I said to myself as I got out of the car. Not here though... I hate it here.

“Don’t even like that I'm here now.” I said, finishing the thought in my head.

You’re talking to yourself now Bud. Cracking up man.

I had reached the approximate location the Blonde gave me. Scanning around till I saw the ATM on the corner, don’t imagine there are too many of those around here.

I walked over to a busker standing near the hole-in-the-wall.

“Hey man, you seen this guy around here?” I asked, showing him a photo of the guy in the Calvin Klein suit.

“Maybe I has, what’s it worth to you brother?” He said with a crooked smile.

I snatched his guitar out of his hands and smashed it over my knee, then grabbing him by the collar and pushed him against the wall.

“How ‘bout you tell me and I don’t rip all your teeth out.” I said softly, "...and I'm not your brother!"

“P-p-please friend, I meant nothing! I was just kidding around, he’s in there!” He pointed at the sign above the door to a tavern of some kind.

Cantina Problema.

"Damn it all." I said, releasing the busker.

I'm having a smoke as soon as I get my hands on him, will need to find somewhere quiet to... dispose of him.

I stepped in to the Cantina, scanning the room briefly, then I heard him before I even saw the suit.

“Him!” He Shouted.

Time to dance, bub.