BOOM Page 6

  Punchy could make out the first name. Meredith. This license belonged to Meredith. She obviously was not in the suite. So where was she? And why was her license in the disposal? Punchy looked up to see Weston watching him.

  “Everything okay, friend?” Weston asked, his lips moving in perfect fashion.

  Punchy nodded and reached into the sink. He held up the mangled grapefruit mess. Weston nodded.

  “Russell ate that shit,” Billy quipped as he stepped back into the suite. “He screwed the damn thing up.”

  Weston nodded, still watching Punchy. “I’m sure it was very accidental.”

  What the hell is this?

  Deftly Punchy slid the license into his pocket and then threw the pulped fruit into the trash. He put the disposal together as quickly as possible. The men began talking about hiring a car for the afternoon, and who was going to stay at the suite. It turned out it was Billy’s turn to hang around and the youth groused loudly about the bum deal.

  “I don’t know why we just can’t get the money today. You said Vladimir wanted the girl pretty badly,” Billy whined.

  Weston turned to him seething. “Shut your stupid mouth, you useless little worm.” Billy recoiled as if slapped hard in the face. Punchy acted like he did not see or understand this exchange. He slapped the disposal back under the sink and tightened the fittings. Weston was looking at him again.

  He flipped the switch on the disposal and the machine churned to life. He could feel the heavy vibration through the counter and knew it would work fine now. As long as no one tried to dispose of any more licenses.

  Quickly, Punchy cleaned his tools and stuck them back into the belt. Billy came to the kitchen and grabbed a juice box from the fridge, not giving the handyman a second glance. Punchy turned to the other men in the living area. Weston raised his eyebrows in anticipation and Punchy gave him the thumbs up.

  The garbage disposal was good to go.

  Weston waved him over. Slowly Punchy made his way into the living room as Weston stood. The older man was reaching into his inside jacket pocket. Punchy felt himself stiffen but forced himself to remain calm. Weston reached out and shook hands with Punchy.

  “Thank you so much, good sir. The Liberty is everything we were told it would be.” The old man was staring into Punchy’s eyes, studying him. Punchy forced a grin and nodded his thanks. Then he turned and left the suite.

  Russell stared at him in the hallway. Punchy watched from the corner of his eye as the guard mouthed the word retard but he pretended not to see. He walked around the corner to the elevator. Only then did he look at what Weston had palmed him during the handshake.

  He looked down at a crisply folded $100 bill.

  *****

  When Punchy returned to the basement, he took off the heavy tool belt and slammed it on the workbench. He leaned against the table, his brow furrowed in thought. He knew the girl was in some kind of trouble and that Weston and his crew were bad news. He just didn’t know what to do.

  Do I call the cops? But what if I am totally off here? What if I’m wrong? I could lose my job. And I was lucky to find this one. Somehow getting the cops involved seemed like a bad idea. It would be him against them, five against one and his one was serving with half a brain. No, they would be able to win out against him with the cops involved. He was sure of that.

  I can’t help her, he thought to himself. I’m no good. Can’t do anything. I’m just a handyman.

  He sighed deeply and his body suddenly seemed to grow very small in the dark basement. I can’t help her. I am a retard. He had never felt so helpless in all his life. He knew something was not right, but couldn’t figure out how to help. He shook his head.

  The elevator doors opened and one of the maids hurried in. Punchy watched her as she marched up and handed him a slip of paper. The maid looked with distaste at the handyman and his surroundings. It was another service request. This one was an emergency in room 301. A pipe had burst in the bathroom. Another faulty O-ring. Punchy nodded at the maid and she hurried back onto the elevator.

  When she was gone, he grabbed a small book of matches from one of the shelves and lit the $100 note. He threw it on the workbench and watch it burn down to ash, leaving a small black scorch mark on the rough wood.

  He grabbed his tool kit and headed back upstairs.

  The least he could do is turn down their money. No matter how much he needed it.

  *****

  It took three hours to complete the last job. The O-rings had gone out but the pipe was also old and rusted and he ended up replacing the whole works. It was a job he could usually finish in half the time but his mind kept slipping back to the suite upstairs and the crying girl.

  Now he got off the elevator, wet and tired, and slowly getting pissed off to boot. He slammed the tool belt back onto the table and went to the small fridge sitting in the corner. He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it, then went into the small apartment.

  The girl was sitting on his bed.

  Punchy felt his jaw drop and froze. The girl’s eyes were red and swollen from crying and her bottom lip was fat and busted from where someone had slapped her. He closed the door behind him and knelt on the floor of the room before the cot.

  She was talking now, too fast for him to make out what she was saying. He motioned for her to stop and grabbed the card from his pocket. He felt foolish as she read it and more tears slid down her cheeks. She gave the card back to him and he slid it back into his pocket.

  “They’re looking for me,” she said. “Please. You have to help me. They kidnapped me. I think they’re going to…to sell me to someone.” She looked off into the corner. “They…they hurt me…” Punchy shushed her and nodded that he understood. “I ran down the stairs but they saw me. One of them was in the lobby and…and I’m just so scared.”

  Punchy patted the girl’s knee and frowned.

  Suddenly the girl’s eyes grew large with fear and her mouth formed a sold O. He looked at her puzzled.

  “The elevator. The doors just dinged open.”

  Punchy summed it all up quickly in his mind. She needed help. They were looking for her. They were here now.

  He held one finger to his lips. Stay quiet. The girl showed she understood. Quickly the handyman turned and walked out of the apartment. He shut the door closed behind him.

  Russell and Billy were searching the storage side of the basement. He watched them for a few seconds, kicking over decorations and calling out. He stepped around the corner and showed himself.

  Russell noticed him immediately and motioned to Billy. They walked over to where Punchy stood. He watched their lips move.

  “Hey Billy. It’s the retard.” Russell stepped forward and moved close to Punchy. “Hey there, big guy, have you seen a hot little piece of ass running around…” Punchy sent a sharp jab into Russell’s face. He felt his fist connect with the man’s nose, felt the crunch of the cartilage and the give of the bone as it slid back into Russell’s head.

  A small gurgle escaped from Russell’s lips as blood exploded from his nose. He slumped quickly to the floor, dead.

  Billy stood shocked. Then he began to move. He ran at Punchy and delivered a huge haymaker aimed at the bigger man’s head. Billy put all he had into the punch and Punchy knew that this was a mistake. He moved back slightly, and the off balance blow glanced off the side of his head.

  Punchy had hardly gotten the full brunt of the attack but it still hurt like hell. His cheek went numb, but Billy had too much momentum and began to pitch forward. Punchy landed two hard hits to the back of the man’s head and Billy skidded along the floor.

  Billy slowly got to his hands and knees, shaking the cobwebs from his head. He looked up at Punchy who began to dance and weave around the youth.

  “You fucking nancy ass. You’re dead.” Billy got to his feet. Punchy sent two jabs to the side of the man’s face. Billy’s head rocked with each shot. He staggered forward and Punchy ducked down and swung upward w
ith a massive uppercut.

  Billy was knocked off his feet and his head bounced off the concrete floor. Punchy stood over him, fists raised, waiting for the man to move. He didn’t.

  Punchy stepped over the prone body and opened the apartment. The girl stood inside and he motioned for her to come out. She looked at the still bodies of her captors and turned back to Punchy. He pointed upstairs and she nodded. They moved to the elevator.

  Once inside, Punchy hit the button for the first floor. He could feel the girl’s eyes on him and he tried to look at everything else, the ceiling, the glowing button, the sealed doors. It had been quite a while since he was so close to a female before. He was nervous and the adrenaline from downstairs was beginning to wear off.

  Now with the girl, they could call the police. They would go to the manager’s office and report what had happened. If they could make it that far, he was sure the girl would be safe.

  The doors slid open at the first floor lobby. Crow stood before them. No one moved, too surprised to react.

  The girl hit the button for the top floor but before the doors could close Crow leapt at Punchy. He hit the handyman twice and stars exploded in Punchy’s vision.

  The doors slid closed and the men began to grapple as the girl dodged to one side. Punchy hit Crow in the stomach but the assailant shrugged it off. Crow had both hands behind Punchy’s neck and he pulled down and head butted the former boxer. Sharp pain radiated inside Punchy’s skull. It was a familiar pain and his mind flashbacked to Svenson dancing before him, shocking him with those quick sharp jabs.

  Crow jumped back and hit Punchy in the nose. Blood squirted and Punchy realized his nose was broken again. But he found himself strangely satisfied. Crow backed away and got ready to swing in again but stopped. Punchy was smiling at him.

  Unlike the two punks downstairs, this kid could fight.

  Punchy beckoned Crow to come on. Crow ducked in but was met with a hook to the side of the face he staggered against the side wall of the elevator. The doors slid open.

  They were on the third floor. An old woman holding a small Yorkshire got ready to enter the car then stopped. She glanced at the two bloody men beating each other senseless.

  The old lady screamed.

  The girl moved to leave the elevator but Crow pushed her back into the corner. Punchy smacked him against the wall but Crow spun and Punchy found himself being flung through the elevator doors.

  The doors slid closed on Punchy’s body then re-opened again.

  The old lady let out a second scream.

  Punchy leapt back into the car and slammed into Crow. He unleashed a flurry of blows working inside of Crow’s hands and punishing the body. Crow wheezed and tried to circle away. Punchy met him with another hook to the side of the face.

  The girl punched the button to keep the doors open. She waited for a chance to escape but none came. The old woman was disappearing down the hallway, the dog slung over one shoulder watching the fight with interest.

  Crow kicked out and his foot landed in Punchy’s stomach. All of the air left his body and he staggered back. Crow punched him in the face and Punchy flew back through the open elevator doors and landed in the hallway.

  He stared up through blurred vision and saw the girl looking helplessly down at him. Crow pushed her back against the corner and hit the elevator button. The doors closed.

  *****

  Punchy staggered to his feet. His head was ringing and his vision was fogging in and out. He spat a mouthful of blood onto the hallway carpet. Eyes peeked out from behind doors as the 3rd floor guests peered out at the beaten man.

  Punchy wiped his eyes clear with one hand and headed for the stairs. He knocked the heavy door open and staggered up the two flights to the 5th floor hallway. He stumbled down the hall, heading for room 532.

  He rounded to corner just in time to see Crow push the girl through the suite’s doorway. Crow glanced back and saw Punchy coming. He called something into the suite and pulled the door closed.

  Crow ran at Punchy with his hands up. He connected with a straight right. Punchy absorbed the blow. Another right followed by a left pushed Punchy back a few steps, but the boxer regained his composure quickly and pushed forward.

  He ducked a hook from Crow and again started to work the body. Left right left right left right. Crow staggered back into the wall. Punchy sent two right jabs into the man’s face, making his eyes water. Then followed with a left cross and a right uppercut. Crow rocked back against the wall.

  Punchy threw another round of jabs. Crow’s head ricocheted back and forth. Punchy kneed him in the stomach doubling the man over. He clasped both hands together and delivered a powerful ax handle blow across the back of Crow’s neck.

  Crow went down.

  Punchy sucked deep lungfuls of air. Everything hurt. His knuckles were split open and bleeding heavily and bells rang in his head louder than ever.

  He shook the fog away. It took a bit longer to clear this time.

  He went to the suite door and kicked it in.

  They were in the living room. Weston still sat as before, watching attentively as Punchy entered the room. The girl was nowhere to be seen. Punchy assumed she was in the bedroom.

  Hayden stood by the windows. He flicked open the butterfly knife and pointed the blade at the new arrival.

  “The handyman is here, Hayden,” Weston spoke. “Do we have something that needs to be repaired?”

  “No, boss.” Hayden stepped from the windows and now stood between Punchy and Weston.

  “Shame,” Weston replied. Punchy could barely make out what they were saying through his blurred vision. “What do you need if you are not here to fix something, sir?”

  Punchy motioned to the bedroom.

  Weston smiled. “Oh, you want the girl. Heh, I understand. She is a delightful young thing. The boys were telling me earlier how lovely she was.” He leaned forward. “How juicy.” Punchy glared at the man.

  “Unfortunately, she is not mine to give.” Weston picked up his drink and took a sip. “She has just been paid for. Just within the past hour. Otherwise, we could have worked out a deal. But it seems she is destined to go on a little trip. To fulfill a special destiny.”

  Hayden flicked the knife closed, then back open again. Weston leaned back in the chair.

  “So you should just leave. We will let bygones be bygones. I’ll forgive the trespasses made on my other associates. They were……expendable.”

  Punchy stepped forward and Hayden stiffened. The blade glinted under the suite’s lights. He pointed at the bedroom door again, staring daggers at Weston.

  “Not going to leave, huh? Okay. Suit yourself.” Weston straightened one of the cuffs on his perfect suit. “Kill him, Hayden.”

  Hayden struck out with the knife and Punchy ducked back into the hallway. Hayden sliced outwards and this time the blade nicked Punchy’s arm. He grimaced at the visceral stinging that now radiated there. He swung a hook at Hayden’s head which connected solidly. The goon stumbled back and then approached slowly with the blade held out in front.

  Punchy turned and Hayden followed with the blade. The handyman dodged back into the kitchen area. He swung the fridge door open as Hayden lunged again and the knife bounced off the plastic frame of the door. Punchy threw two jabs at Hayden’s head but he was too far away to connect.

  Hayden sliced at Punchy again and the boxer ducked backwards. He reached in and grabbed Hayden’s wrist and twisted. There was a cracking sound and Hayden yowled in pain, dropping the blade to the floor.

  Hayden kneed Punchy in the gut as they fell grappling. Punchy took the blow and answered with an elbow to Hayden’s temple. They rolled back into the hallway, a few feet from the knife.

  Punchy rolled on top of Hayden just as the young man reached out and grabbed the blade. As Hayden thrust the knife up at Punchy’s face, the handyman stuck his arm inside of Hayden’s elbow causing the goon’s arm to bend quickly the other way. With his other hand h
e caught the knife hand and thrust downward hard, putting all his weight behind the attack. The blade lodged into Hayden’s forehead with a THUNK.

  Punchy rose to his knees and pulled the knife from Hayden’s head. Bits of blood and brain flicked from the blade and landed on the hallway carpet.

  He stood up and turned to face Weston. Instantly, pain shot through his stomach and back. He fell against the wall and slid slowly into the living area. He looked down and saw blood flowing from a small round hole.