Insight - part 04

Jackie's dreams were some of the worst he ever had after the project. He wakes up way after sunrise. It's a hot summer morning. A good morning to find some good answers, and he knows exactly where to go.

- Old Graywolf better be at home - I think while the train goes fast through the suburbs.

- Last stop - the machinist says after the long journey.

This is where I get off.

Just a few blocks away from the train station, on the third floor of a plae blue home building, the door of the 305 goes down with a bang. I enter the apartment with the gun in my hands and ready to pull the trigger.

- GOD DAMN IT JACK! - A voice sounds from inside.
- Wolf?
- Of course - a grizzly old man appears from the door right across the hall.
- How did you know it was me?
- Who else in the world would bust down my door like that? Was it REALLY necessary?
- Knock it off, Gray.
- Anyway, to whom do I owe this unexpected visit?
- I'm being blackmailed.
- Blackmailed, you? Who could do such a stupid thing?
- Haha, I don't know much yet. But these guys aren't THAT stupid. They blew up my house last night.
- Hm... This might explain my door.
- Shut up, I'm not messing around. And they gave me this picture - I hand him the photograph.
- Holy crap! Isn't her our little Foxie?
- Exactly.
- And how they linked her to you?
- This is what I was expecting YOU to tell me.
- Me?
- Yep. Weren't you responsible for all the old days documents'?
- Are you accusing me of treason? Well, I burned'em all. Many years ago. Those things are better as ashes.
- Hm... Agreed. But, so how did they manage to gather this up?

My cellphone rings. Greywolf silences. Unidentified number. I answer.

- Jack Silverstate, who's there?
- Hello, Jackie boy. Did you like the fireworks party last night? Quite... hot, wasn't it? Hahahahaha

His sick laugh floods my ears.

- What do you want, fucker?
- Oh, why such violence? Have you made your decision?
- Tell me what I've gotta do.
- Nothing too difficult for you. Just get us a few bucks.
- A few? How "few"?
- Tsc... Two million'. And, you have five days to do it.
- And how about the girl?
- We'll take good care of her until you hand us the cash.
- And how am I supposed to know that she's ok?
- Very smart boy. You'll see her everyday, for a couple minutes as insurance. I'll keep in touch.

*Click*. He hangs up the call.

- SON OF A BITCH! - I toss the phone away, blind in anger. Lucky for us, it hits softly the living room's couch.
- what did they say, Jack?
- They want me to get'em TWO MILLION DOLLARS! In five days. Five, Gray! Five... What a prick.
- Oh... Money...
-It's ALL about the money.
- It's ALWAYS about the money, Jack. Haven't you learned this lesson yet?
- Hell...
- So, what have you got on them? Let's gather all the pieces together.

To be continued...