Previously on Ristical…
Jamey saves Ristica’s life…
… But it comes at a cost.
Thanks to the advice of an old friend…
… All is well once again between Xavier and Mayra.
Ristica wakes up in hospital…
… And she has reasons to be angry at Jamey.
Chapter 8: The Cost of Kindness
An office building, sunrise
A masked man in all-black clothes stood in the corner of an office area, reloading his gun. Around him were employees and security guards lying on the ground, some leaning on cubicle desks, all shot by him. More bodies were littered at the entrance he had used to get in.
The masked man sneaked up to the door of a large office, kicked it open and pointed his gun inside. There was no one in the office.
A tall desk stood in the center of the office with bookshelves behind it that covered an entire wall. There was a brand new laptop, valuable documents and a locked safe somewhere but the masked man wasn’t interested in any of those things.
He looked around the desk and the bookshelf directly behind it but still saw nothing that interested him.
Reaching into his back pocket, he took out a smartphone and consulted a picture of an old map of the area.
The map revealed to him that there should have been a staircase to a basement where the bookshelves stood. He immediately began looking around and tapping random spots on the dusty bookshelves and quickly discovered a faint light coming from a gap between two bookshelves.
He began to push one of the bookshelf backwards until it cleared the way to the staircase that he had seen on his phone.
Cautiously, he proceeded down the staircase and entered the basement.
This time, he found someone there: A very disgruntled businessman with a broken nose, in vacation clothes. He was tied to an old wooden chair which he could have easily broken if he actually tried to escape. It seemed like he had given up before he even tried.
The businessman saw the masked man and began to shout, “Please don’t hit me again! I’ll tell you about anything – Monroes, Scaths, and Murphys – anything!”
The masked man ignored him, went behind the chair and started untying the businessman.
“Andy sent me. I’m getting you to safety.” The masked man said and that was the end of their conversation.
In silence, the two men went up the stairs, through the offices and into a hallway that lead outside.
When they reached the end of the hallway, they found a very terrified employee holding a crowbar in self-defense.
Realizing how underpowered he was, the employee wanted to turn around and run out the door but the masked man shot him before he had the chance.
The two men exited the building and got into a food truck, which was their vehicle to escape undetected by the kidnappers or the police that would eventually arrive at the building.
A safe house, later that morning
The businessman stood at a dirty old bathroom sink, cleaning up his bruised face. He desperately wanted to cry from the pain but instead kept up a brave face because the masked man and Andy were in the room outside the bathroom.
Once he was done in the bathroom, he went to Andy and the masked man.
“Why does everyone in this town want to kill me?” The businessman complained.
“You’re a man with information,” Andy replied, “That makes you very dangerous.”
“I knew I should have taken that one way ticket to Grenner Valley when I had the chance.” The businessman said regretfully.
“Well I’m giving you another chance. At the back of this building, there’s a car with cash under the backseat. There is also an envelope with an address and keys in it. Go to that address and don’t come back to this city unless I tell you to.” Andy sternly instructed.
“Thanks, Andy.” The businessman said. To the masked man’s surprise, the man hugged Andy and rushed out of the room. The masked man watched him in awe until he shut the door behind him.
The masked man finally removed his mask and beanie and dumped them in a bin. The man behind the mask was Jamey, who stormed up to Andy just after the businessman left.
“What’s so special about that man that you had me shoot a bunch of people so early in the morning?” Jamey argued.
Andy shrugged, “I wanted to see if you still had it in you, to kill. Other than that, Mr. Panecky, that man you rescued, knows the ins and outs of this city. If you hadn’t saved him this morning, they would have moved him to Hillside, which is practically a fortress.”
Andy headed to the door.
“Mr. Panecky is a good friend of mine. A friend for a friend and now we’re even. You are free to go.” Andy announced, showing Jamey the door.
Jamey shifted nervously, “Actually, there’s something else I need help with.”
“Another girl?” Andy teased blandly.
“Yes. Zerona Scath.”
Andy became very serious again and walked up to Jamey.
Jamey argued nervously, “I know getting rid of the Scath family let the Nightfall extend business with Zerona but she is completely out of control. She has almost killed two people I know, both for insane reasons. Anyone who makes a deal with Zerona will eventually learn what a mistake it is.”
“I already have.” Andy replied sharply, “She didn’t stick to her end of the deal+ after you left. We tried to threaten her into compliance and she had two of our guys hung from the top of the lighthouse.”
Jamey thought for a moment and then asked Andy, “What does this mean for me if you help me with this?”
“It’s simple.” Andy stated plainly, “After this, you return to the Nightfall, permanently – that’s my offer. Do you accept?” Andy held out his hand in offer.
Jamey sighed, “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Then we’re on the same page.” Andy grinned.
They shook hands and walked to the door together.
“I got info that Zerona rented out a club for tonight. I don’t know what she’s celebrating this time.” Andy said as they reached the door.
Jamey thought to himself, “I think I can guess what.”
“Tonight is our opportunity to strike. I intended to do this alone but since you are now involved, I’ll phone you with the details when I have them. Make sure you are ready for that call. I don’t want any delays or mistakes or else I will leave Zerona and come for you.” Andy threatened in his usual bored demeanor.
Hospital, afternoon
After Jamey left Andy, he went back to his apartment and dressed up smartly to go visit Ristica in hospital but instead of leaving immediately after he was ready, he stalled in his apartment, nervous about seeing her.
Eventually, he summed up the courage to go but as he stood in the hospital, outside the room where Ristica was, he hesitated once again.
After what he had done to the people at that office, only hours ago, and after all that Zerona told Ristica about him, he felt so… unclean.
Eventually, he put aside his negative thoughts, went inside the room and stood at the doorway until Ristica noticed him.
“So, you’re finally here.” Ristica said, looking at her bruised arm with amazement in her eyes. Her hair was nicely done, by Ice, in a new style with a ponytail on one side. Jamey wanted to say that she looked good for someone in a hospital bed but decided not to. He wasn’t sure what mood she was in.
Jamey smiled, “Of course. I came here to see you. I’ve been worried about you, Ristica.”
“Really?” Ristica said, raising her voice in anger as she got out of bed and limped towards him, “Is that why you are only here now? Is that the reason why you lied to Ice instead of exposing Zerona and why you left me… just abandoned me… for some strangers to dump on the pavement of a hospital? Really, Jamey?”
Jamey shook his head repeatedly, “I didn’t… That’s not what happened.” In that moment, he immediately regretted leaving Ristica in the hands of Andy’s goons.
Ristica shouted at him, “Is my cousin lying-“
“No, but-“
“More lies! And those things Zerona told me about you…”
“I’m not that man anymore.”
“Are you really?”
Jamey thought of the bodies lying on the floor around the office building. He had no words to defend himself.
“Please just go.” Ristica finally said after a long silence.
Jamey sighed, “Ristica please listen-“
Ristica pushed him away and screamed, “JUST GO!”
Ice came running into the room after she heard Ristica’s voice. She took one look at Jamey and knew she had to end the drama that he must have started.
Ice gently tapped Jamey on the shoulder from behind and said, “I think you better get going now.”
Jamey left the room felling defeated. He regretted not coming to see her sooner but he knew that even if he had, things wouldn’t have turned out any better.
Just as Jamey got out of the room, his phone rang. It was an unknown number but Jamey knew it must be Andy.
“The details…” Andy said over the phone, his voice distorted.
“I’m listening.” Jamey replied sternly. The call couldn’t have come at a better time. After the argument with Ristica, Jamey was so ready to punish Zerona.
“Safe house on highway exit, 20 minutes…” Andy carried on.
Jamey continued listening to the details as he made his way out of the hospital and to his car. Outside, the sun was setting.
There was no time for regrets, second thoughts or excuses. Zerona needed to be punished and the time had finally come.
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