Alexander Hardy, Ashley Bore and James Houlder all got into the same car. Ashley drove a red, brown Lumina. It was comfortable for the three of them to ease into their seats and Ashley's radio turned on and there was a rock punk song blaring from the speakers, but Alexander, who was riding in the passenger side turned the radio off.
"I'm really just not in the mood for that right now," Alexander said. Ashley gave him a brief nod. James Houlder decided to just look out of the window because there wasn't anything he really wanted to talk about and he thought it would be strange to talk about it with Alexander's gloomy mood. There wasn't much to see, but the same thing everyday. The same people walking on the sidewalks, the same morose and rundown buildings and when Ashley hit on the brakes on a red light, a few people strolled by, crossing the street. One of them was riding a bycicle and he had messy long hair, a red t-shirt and black shorts with a pair of black crocks on his feet. A lady with a flower printed dress and a cart filled with groceries crossed the street, two young women wearing jeans and tight tank tops, their lips filled with red lipstick and a man in a suit who wouldn't put down his cell phone.
"Man, this city is so fucked," Alexander said.
"It is what it is. It could be a lot worse," Ashley replied.
"Could it?" Alexander asked her. Then he looked at the rearview mirror to look at his other partner in law, James Houlder.
"What do you think James? Could it be a lot worse?" Alexander asked him. James looked out the window.
"I don't know, man. Maybe. I don't know," James replied. The light turned green and Ashley slowly hit the accelerator to move forward. She turned right and cruised over at the business district area, where there were small businesses, car dealers, car shops, hardware stores, clothes stores, flower shops, pizza parlors, fried chicken and hamberguer joints and there were also a few bars there. Ashley parked her car over at the parking lot of The Red Star bar next to a shiny black Sudan. A black man with dreadlocks, dressed in a white suit came out of the bar. He put on his sunglasses as he walked to his car. Coincidentally, he was the owner of the black Sudan. Alexander decided to wait for the man to get into his car before opening the door. He decided, he didn't want to scratch the man's car. The man had long, dark black dreadlocks and Alexander couldn't help notice that his keychain had a skull on it. He looked tall and strong, although not very athletic. The man got into his car and left in reverse. Alexander got out of the car after the man in the black Sudan left.
The building was one floor, although it wasn't so small. It had a combination of red and a light lime green color. The ridges, doors and window frames were red and the walls were white. There were two windows, one at each side of a red door and on the top of the buiding were the words The Red Star written in print and the letters were painted with the same red that matched the rest of the ridges, the window frames and door of the business building. It wasn't a glamorous place.
Anyone with money wouldn't be caught dead there, but then the force didn't exactly pay the best salaries in the city, so it wasn't unusual to see other police enforcement agents at the place, drinking beer or sucking on a mug of Irish Scott. They did this without the uniform on.
When they opened the door they were greeted with red just like the name of the bar had promised. The chairs, stools, rugs and curtains were all red. The place had small, although few creepy crawly roaches on the walls that most people ignored. There was also a problem with the smell of the place. A scent of smoke and cigarettes permeated the air. The scent inevitably passed on to the clothes creating second-hand smokers. The bar had floorboards that creaked and there were old unwashed glass bowls with brown shells of peanuts, but there were some good things about the bar, or else people wouldn't visit it in the first place. The rock music blaring out of the speakers was pretty good, the volume wasn't so high that you couldn't talk, but not so low you couldn't enjoy it. It was just right. There was a T.V. at the bar. The tables in the dining area were eight feet apart from each other and the peanuts in those unwashed glass bowls were salty and tasty. There were two pool tables at the end of the dining room and a few videogame machines.
The bar had three bartenders and one manager and none of them seemed to take their job seriously, except Kyle, who wore a pony tail for his long, blond straight hair when he was working and took it off when he was off work. He was a guitarist of a local rock band called The Blazers. Sometimes played at different clubs, including clubs that were owned by Mancinni, but then almost all clubs were owned by the Mancinni family. Sometimes, they even made covers for huge bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica. Kyle Mitchell was the only one who took his bartending job seriously, while Stacy, Joey and the manager, Ellis wouldn't.
Stacy did her job, but she was constantly arguing with her soon to be ex husband, some day, Blake, while she served drinks to her clients, then Joey, the guy with dark brown, short, curly hair and a golden chain with a tiger dangling on it usually flirted with the young costumers there and sometimes he would even play some pool and Ellis, the manager, was a bald guy with green eyes and a squared shaped face was usually in his office playing solitaire on his computer.
"I think here's good," Alexander said pointing at one of the tables. His partners Ashley and James sat on a chair. Alexander pulled a chair for himself to sit on when he heard a man's voice.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the great detective Alexander Hardy," said a man named Jack. He was a regular client of The Red Star and sometimes he was kind of an informant. A few years back, he had committed fraud, extortion, bribes and ponzi scheme charges. His jail sentence was reduced in exchange for information. He was paid a small salary and was well protected by the law. Alexander had arrested him like eight years ago when he barely was a cop in the force. At that time Ashley and James were not his partners. He had one partner by the name of Bruce Decks, but Decks was old. He retired just one year after and is now living on his pension. Jack was sentenced to twenty five years
Jack was a middle-aged man entering old age. He had a balding spot and a beer belly. Jack liked wearing buttoned shirts and khaki-colored trousers. He wore a cheap watch that looked elegant, but it never worked so he was always forced to ask what time it was whenever he needed to know. He used to wear expensive clothes, jewelry and gadgets until he got caught. Now, he wore what he could afford. He didn't like it, but it was better than being in prison, so he got used to his new situation.
Alexander walked to him and at first, he was a little nervous because he thought that Alexander would punch him in the face or something, but instead he shook his hand. Jack unintentionally flinched.
"Hey man," Alexander said. Then Ashley and James, who were both in their chairs, tilted their heads to look at the man. Jack laughed off his sudden fear and carried on the conversation with the detective.
"Hey," Jack said laughing nervously. Alexander gave him a brief gaze.
"These are my co-workers, my partner James and a colleague of mine Ashley," Alexander said introducing them both to Jack. He never told them he was an informant., though. He kept that information to himself. He instead just introduced him as a regular costumer of The Red Star.
"Yeah, I think, I've seen them before," Jack said nodding. Ashley crossed her arms and James placed his hands in his pockets. Ashley stared at him for a while and then remembered something about the man.
"Yeah, we've met. He asked me about the time once, I think," Ashley said. Jack half smiled.
"Oh, yeah. It's this watch. It's a good watch, but it hasn't been working for a while," Jack said.
"That watch is a piece of shit," James said.
"Oh, you're going to be like that, huh?" Jack asked annoyed.
"Come on, Jack's okay," Alexander said.
"How exactly did you guys meet?" Ashley with an arched eyebrow asked him.
"We met right here," Alexander said.
"Yeah, he and I, we were just drinking and talking and that's how we met," Jack said and Alexander gave him a quick look, but didn't say anything. Jack was a good liar and improvisor, it was no wonder he was caught doing fraud.
"Oh..." Ashley said looking at the two of them.
"Whatever," James said and shook his head.
"Well, I'm going to get a drink for myself," Ashley said leaving and James followed her.
"Me too," James said leaving the table. It was obvious to them that if they stayed there the waitress would never go to their table or would take forever because she was still arguing with somebody on her cell phone. Alexander stayed a little while on his chair. He turned around though so that he could chat with Jack who was next to their table.
"Man, I just saw what happened with that motherfucker, Mancinni. God, what a fucking asshole," Jack said.
"You saw?" Alexander said.
"Yeah, they just passed the verdict on T.V. I think they're going to go full coverage on the thing. We are so fucked," Jack said. Alexander nodded and got up. Then he patted him on the shoulder.
"You wouldn't have happened to have noticed anything, would you?" Alexander said.
"Of course not," Jack replied. Alexander gave him a brief nod.
"Listen, I need you to keep your eyes and ears open. If you see or hear about anything, I need to know about it," Alexander replied.
"I don't get it. Isn't the case like closed already?" Jack asked and Alexander glared at him.
"Never mind. If I know something, I'll let you know," Jack replied.
"You're not hiding something are you? Because if you are I'm going to find out and that means that the deal is off," Alexander warned.
"No man. I don't know shit. If I do, I'll tell you," Jack replied.
"It would be a mistake not to," Alexander told him and Jack sipped his beer from a glass mug.
"Of course it would," Jack replied. Alexander left him and went to the bar with his partners Ashley and James. He ordered four beers. One was for Jack. Kyle, the bartender with the long blond hair in a ponytail gave him his beer in a bottle.
"Hey, dude this Friday, the band's playing at Steams. I'd be glad if you came over," Kyle said inviting Alexander over to the club.
"I don't know. I was just suspended. I'll see what I can do," Alexander replied.
"That blows. Man, if you want I can talk to the bouncers over there and you can get in for free. I know you like the music, dude," Kyle said.
"Yeah. Friday, you said? At what time?" Alexander asked him.
"At seven. The flyer's over there," he said pointing at the edge of the bar table. There was a glass jar filled with blue colored flyers. Alexander grabbed one of them and placed it in the back pockets of his jeans. He didn't take a second glance at it. Then he grabbed the bottles of beer from Kyle's hands and left to his table. Alexander handed Jack a bottle of beer.
"Thanks," Jack said.
"No problem. Today I do for you, tomorrow you do for me," Alexander said.
"Sure," Jack said. He opened up his beer and drank. Alexander then turned around to deal with his first bottle of beer. The beer was shut tight so he had to use his shirt to open the top. Ashley and James came a few minutes later with beers for themselves. Ashley had one can and James had three bottles.
"I ordered some chicken wings with fries," Ashley said.
"That's it? That's all your going to drink?" Alexander asked her.
"Who's driving?" Ashley asked and the men laughed silently and got into their beers.
"Hey, man, thanks a lot for the beer," Jack said as he finished his beer bottle. Alexander waved back at him.
"Why are you friends with that guy?" James asked, but Alexander glared at him. James swallowed and then continued to drink his beer.
" So now that the case is closed, will we go to the Caribbean on a vacation?" Ashley asked him.
"No. I don't think that's going to happen," Alexander replied.
"Why not? You've got free time," Ashley asked him. Then she sipped beer from her can and Stacy, the bartender or the waitress came to their table with the chicken wings on one hand and with her cell phone on the other.
"Here you go," Stacy said without looking at the people on the table. She was looking at her text messages.
"Can you believe it? I'm here working and he's smoking pot with his brother Charles. Unbelievable, but then if I leave him, I'm the bad one? Men suck. No, offense to the men here," she said. Stacy had her hair in a bun although there was some hair sticking out. She was a petite, curvy woman with frosty pink lips and pale skin. She almost seemed delicate and she was also a very young woman. The men didn't say anything and neither did Ashley. They didn't like her talking over the phone, but they also kind of pitied her for her situation. Stacy half smiled at them and walked away with all of her troubles in the palm of her hands. Alexander and James were both eating some peanuts and they wanted to eat some of Ashley's chicken wings.
"Get your own," Ashley said.
"James?" Alexander asked him and James knew what he implied.
"Yeah, okay. I'll be right back," James said.
"Come on, let me have one of the fries Ashley, just one," Alexander said.
"You are such a baby. You haven't come to my apartment lately. Why?" Ashley asked him. Alexander gazed at her plate.
"You know why. Work," Alexander said. Ashley crossed her arms and stared at him.
"Work? With that... woman, what's her name?" Ashley asked him.
"Oh, come on. She's just a collaborator," Alexander said.
"A collaborator with a hell of an ass," Ashley commented.
"Enough. I've been working my ass off and... for nothing," Alexander said.
"I'm sorry," Ashley replied. She patted his shoulder and James came smiling with more bottles of beer.
"We are going to get so wasted," Alexander said.
"Hell, yeah!" James said and then screamed a hooray.
"Yeah. I'm going to play some video games. Call me when the chicken wings arrive," Alexander said.
"Yes, sir," James replied. Alexander got up and played some video games for a while. He was extremely entertained with a video game called Cops which had a plugged in plastic gun and he shot at targets. Most of the targets were terrorists. The gun shoots sounded really cool, although they weren't realistic. Alexander was very deep into the game, shooting criminals of all sorts when James approached the arcade area to tell him that the chicken wings were ready.
"Shit," Alexander said shooting a civilian. It cost him life. He had two lives left.
"The chicken wings," James said.
"Yeah, let me just. Shit," Alexander said getting shot in the game. Then, somebody from out of nowhere threw a bomb at him and it was game over.
"You distracted me, James. I could have won that game," Alexander complained.
"Dude, chicken wings," James said again. Alexander placed the plastic gun on the holster that was attached to the huge game box.
"Come on man, let's eat," James said and Alexander went back to his table. Jack was gone by then, Ashley had finished her own meal, but she wasn't at the table.
"Where's Ashley?" Alexander asked.
"At the ladies room. Probably talking with her brother," James said.
"Yeah, she's always talking to Sam," Alexander replied.
"Must be hard having a brother living out of the country," James told him.
"Yeah. Well, at least she has a brother. Man, let's eat," Alexander said. Both partners ate their chicken wings and enjoyed the red tinted barbecue sauce. The chicken was crispy outside and tender on the inside. They chewed and ate the fries with delight.
"Not bad," James said.
"Not bad at all," Alexander said licking his fingers. He then used the napkin provided for him and wiped his fingers. He noticed that the T.V. was on, over at the bar. Ashley came out of the bathroom and walked towards both Alexander and James. Alexander was a little distracted with the T.V.
"Look, guys it's late. I think we should go," Ashley said.
"I'm staying here," Alexander said.
"What? In your condition? How are you going to get home?" Ashley asked him.
"I'll get a cab," Alexander replied.
"Come on man, don't be ridiculous, let's go," James said, but Alexander shook his head and insisted on staying. James gave him a nod and shook his hand. Then Ashley hugged him to say goodbye.
"If you need to, call me and I'll pick you up," Ashley said.
"No way. I'll be fine. You guys go. I'm staying here for a while," Alexander said.
"Are you sure?" Ashley said staring at him with those puppy blue eyes of hers. She looked really cute, but Alexander rejected the offer.
"I'll be fine," he said.
"Okay. Bye," Ashley said and then James left The Red Star with Ashley.
Alexander walked to the bar where Kyle, the bartender with the pony tail was still serving drinks, but the clients were less and less.
"Hey, man, do you think you can turn the volume up?" Alexander asked Kyle and pointed at the T.V. with his chin.
"No problem," the bartender replied and he turned the volume up.
"Thanks," Alexander replied as he watched the news. He couldn't believe the footage he was seeing. The press actually made Mancinni look like an innocent victim and him like an unhinged lunatic. Some people were even saying on the T.V. that maybe the Crave City Police wasn't doing their jobs right.
"Look, I don't like this Mancinni dude, but that police man didn't do his job right. I mean, screaming on the halls of the court. What was that?" A man said.
"Unfucking believable," Alexander said.
"Sorry man. People are stupid. Why do you think this city's fucked?" Kyle said. Alexander shook his head.
"There's no justice," Alexander said.
"You're right. You try to do the right thing, you be a good cop, citizen, whatever the fuck and you get screwed. Meanwhile, these motherfucking criminals rule the streets and you can't do shit," A guy next to Alexander said.
"Exactly," Kyle said and then he began to clean empty glasses. Ellis, the huge, bald guy, the manager finally came out of this office to see how things were or how things were coming to an end.
"Hey, Kyle, how's things?" Ellis asked him and then he looked at Alexander and shook his hand.
"Alexander."
"Ellis," Alexander said.
"What's going on?" Ellis asked Alexander.
"That Mancinni case," Alexander replied.
"My God, that shit. I'm sorry. I heard. That guy is a scumbag, but let's face it, he owns half of this city. You're a brave man. Aren't you afraid he might come after you?" Ellis asked.
"Fuck him. I wished. If he did, I would have the perfect excuse to blow him away," Alexander said.
"Dude, nobody would blame you. You'd be a hero," Ellis said.
"Exactly," the guy next to Alexander said.
"Heroes don't exist," Kyle replied.
"Yeah, they do. My father was a hero," Alexander replied.
"Sorry, man. I didn't mean it like that," Kyle said.
"How did you mean it? Like Spiderman shit?" Alexander asked him and Kyle laughed.
"I guess..." Kyle replied.
"Dude, that is exactly what we need. Some hero or some vigilante shit. The warrant laws and shit don't apply to a vigilante. He could just get the bad guys out of the way in five minutes, no more bullshit," the guy next to Alexander said.
"That would be cool," Kyle said touching his blonde ponytail. Stacy, walked over the bar and she was about to take out her mobile phone until she noticed that Ellis, the manager was finally out of the office. Her phone vibrated, but she immediately turned it off and hid it in her panties.
"Stacy, what have I said about phones?" Ellis asked her.
"I'm sorry. I had a situation," Stacy replied.
"Yeah, well you need to deal with your situation off work. Anyway, I think you're right, a vigilante is what this city needs. Take these monsters out and that's it," Ellis said turning away from Stacy and engaging back into the conversation with Alexander and the rest of the "boys".
"We don't need a vigilante. What we need are better laws for us to work with," Alexander said.
"Yeah, with those corrupt sons of bitches running everything. I don't see that happening at all," Ellis said.
"What are you guys talking about?" Stacy asked them.
"Spiderman," Kyle replied.
"About the case," Alexander said.
"What case?" Stacy asked and then Ellis and Alexander explained to her the case.
"Wow, that blows," Stacy said after she finished listening to the whole story.
"Yeah, thanks," Alexander said.
"Dude, I agree with Ellis, a Spiderman would kick their ass," Kyle said.
"With the corruption in this town, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd kill him and say it was a suicide," the guy next to Alexander said.
"Fuck," Alexander said looking at Emma Mia Ricci and seeing her entire humiliation being recorded on scene. He couldn't believe it. These reporters weren't just cowards, but also assholes. The only reporter there trying to find out the truth was her and instead of supporting her they brushed her aside.
"Wow, what fucking assholes," Alexander said.
"Who is that?" Ellis asked.
"She's an independent reporter. She was helping me out with Mancinni's case and shit. Her name is Emma," Alexander said.
"Wow, she is hot," the guy sitting next to Alexander commented.
"Smoking hot," Kyle said.
"I'd hit that," the next to Alexander said and Alexander gave him a small, but sharp glare.
"That's a friend you're talking about," Alexander replied.
"Man, sorry, but I have eyes to see and a mind to imagine," the man said.
"Well, imagine it in silence," Alexander replied. He didn't know why the guy's comment bothered him so much. Emma really was hot. He just didn't like the idea of knowing that guys were out there looking at her with... desire.
"I gotta go man. Sorry about your case. Good luck with that whole press conference thing," the guy next to Alexander said.
"It was nice talking to you," Alexander said and the guy nodded.
"Yeah, you too," the man said.
"Alexander Hardy," Alexander said shaking the man's hand.
"Larry Irving," the man said shaking his hand. He had gray hair and dark eyes. He wore glasses and a buttoned shirt. After they shook hands, he left and Alexander placed his eyes back to the T.V. as he watched his uncle talking about tomorrow's press conference. It bothered him. The fact that the department had to completely humiliate itself to save its ass from the worst criminal of the whole city. It sucked.
After, watching his uncle's statements the news went to commercials. He turned around and noticed two guys at the back of the bar talking. One was cloaked with a hoodie and the other one looked like detective with a trench coat and a cigarette in his hand. The scene looked so strange and somewhat suspicious that he decided to switch from the stool towards a chair nearby their table and eavesdrop on the conversation. He ordered a couple of more beers and pretended to be focused on his cell phone, but his was actually listening into the conversation. He didn't usually eavesdrop, but there was something particularly strange from that whole scene and he felt that he had to see what these two were up to. He sat silently and scrolled his social media page.
"He can help you. He's a voodoo doctor and he knows his shit. He can turn you into the strongest, fiercest man in the wrestling match, but you have to be fearless and have faith in him," the guy in the trench coat was saying. Alexander noticed part of a skull tattoo on the guy's neck. He didn't know who the guy was, but he did find that strange. He had seen a skull somewhere, today... maybe, but he didn't remember from who. The guy in the trench coat may or may not have been familiar. Most of these criminal scumbags looked so much alike, that he may have seen or not seen this man before.
"Look, I'm desperate, okay. I need cash. If this guy does what you say he does, I'm willing to do anything for it," the guy in the hoodie said. He didn't look like a wrestler to Alexander. He looked like a normal guy and who was this voodoo doctor they were talking about? The guy in the trench coat wrote something in a piece of paper and then handed it over to the guy in the hoodie.
"This is his address. If you are worthy, he will grant you your powers. If not, then he'll reject you right on the spot," the man said. What the fuck was that shit? Powers? What on earth were these two talking about, wondered Alexander. Maybe they were high.
"Seriously?" the guy in the hoodie responded.
"That's the way it is," the man in the trench coat said. The guy in the hoodie scanned the note and then he placed it in his jeans pocket.
"What if he rejects me, man? Then what?" The guy in the hoodie asked.
"Then, you'll have to dedicate yourself to something else," the guy in the trench coat said. The guy in the hoodie shook his head. He seemed uncertain.
"Are you sure man?" The guy in the hoodie asked.
"Look, what the fuck do you have to lose, huh? You go in there and find out. You have nothing, so you have nothing to lose," the guy in the trench coat said.
"I'll think about it," the other man replied.
"Don't think about it, just do it. Isn't the fight tomorrow night?" The guy in the trench coat asked the guy in the hoodie.
"Yeah," he said.
"Then you better go today while you still have a chance. Look I have to go. I already told you all I know about the guy. His name is Adio. His magic works, so rest assured, if he approves of you then… you'll be stronger than the fucking Superman," the guy in the trench coat said. Adio? Superman? What the fuck? Drugs, Alexander assumed.
"I'm sure there must be some kryptonite to fuck me up," the guy in the hoodie said.
"Look, do whatever the fuck you want. I already told you. I have to be somewhere else now," the guy in the trench coat said. Alexander faked he was busy with his cell phone as the man in the trench coat walked by him and left the bar, but he had heard the entire conversation between them. The guy in the hoodie left money on the table and left. Alexander watched them leave and he didn't make a move until they were out the door. Then he saw Kyle pick up the money plus tips and after he cleared the table and left, Alexander took out a piece of paper from his small notepad and placed it right where the guy in the trench coat had placed his own paper. Alexander scratched the page with a used up pencil until he had the scribbles of the voodoo doctor's name, Adio and he also had an address. He placed the paper in his pocket and left. He was going to Ashley's apartment, but before he did, he paid his tab.