“I’m not sure I want to do this.”
“You’ll do it.”
“You’re so sure.”
“Aye, son. I’m sure. You know how I’m so fuckin’ sure? A lad rents his arse for shitty money, he’d jump at the chance to do a lot less for a lot more. So how’s about you stow the negotiations and just admit I’m the best deal you’ve had in a long time?”
“So, what business are you in?”
I’m sitting in the bar of the Signet Hotel, dressed in my best blue suit, sipping at a scotch on the rocks and wearing a badge that says my name is Rupert Travis. The only things I know about the real Mr Travis are that he’s a delegate from a leading chain of Leeds bakeries and he didn’t show up to get his badge and breakfast buffet this morning. He probably booked as a smokescreen because he’s banging his personal assistant. People do that. That’s why I’m here.
Homepage: The Saturday Boy
Ray Banks’ work has appeared in Judas, Hardluck Stories, Handheld Crime, Bullet Magazine and Thrilling Detective with other stories in forthcoming issues of Plots With Guns and Shots Magazine. His first novel The Big Blind is currently in submission limbo, but the first two chapters can be found as a taster on Noir Originals.