• The Trench
    December 17
    2132 hours

    Bullit nodded to TC as he got up and headed over to the bar. He said something to Liz, the bartender, and then headed for the door, which Joe; who had taken over Sam's duty of watching the door; opened, then shut and bolted after TC had left.
    Bullit kept his eyes on the door for a moment then slowly turned his gaze across the room. People had left and others had arrived over the last couple of hours that he and TC had chatted.
    Clepto had gone, followed closely by Ortega. Scratch was still there sitting in corner and collecting information as was his way and a few of the Trench’s regular patrons had entered and taken up their usual seats. Maverick at the bar sitting with Ace and Deuce, Lance Mitchell and his cousin Dart were sitting at their table, then there were others milling about.
    All of them were mercs; Soldiers, bodyguards, hit men, brokers, thieves, bounty hunters, enforcers, or anything else that involved getting your hands dirty; all of them were hired and paid under the table and they did their jobs well.
    That’s why Bullit liked the Trench; it was a refuge for people like him, there were few of those left in the city thanks to the damned Inquisition. They were always looking for heathens and heretics to purge; more recently it seemed that Mercs were their favored targets.
    People left in alleys, in the park, just outside the city limits; found nailed to crosses, or burning at a stake, or beheaded. Then there was the Dockside Massacre. Bullit looked down at his barely touched drink as he swirled the clear liquid around the glass. It was enough to make anyone paranoid.
    A few weeks ago there had been word flying around the usual channels about a big job with a big payout; it was calling for everyone who was willing and able with the meeting place an old warehouse at the docks. Bullit would have gone had he not been doing a job for the Sorcerer.
    The whole thing had been a setup. The Inquisition had started the rumors and were just lying there in wait like a dreking spider in it’s web.
    They slaughtered everyone.
    Someone heard the commotion and called the cops; but by the time they arrived the perpetrators had already gone, leaving behind their grisly work. They found guys just turned to hamburger meat from auto-fire, others were gutted and missing their heads, there were even a few of them that had been nailed too crosses and set on fire.
    Bullit took a drink of his vodka, he had heard that some of them were still alive when the police arrive, screaming bloody murder.
    Since then, no one had had a job because everyone was afraid that the Inquisition would come after them if they hired a merc, even just a body guard like TC.
    But he had a job tonight; His mysterious employer wanted a high ranking player of one of the mob families out of the game. It seemed that the family has been feeding information to the Inquisition and the Sorcerer didn’t like that. Bullit’s job was to send them a message.
    Bullit finished off the strong Russian drink then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He flipped it open and hit 1 so the speed dial would begin and then it rang. He heard the sound of someone picking up and he got the expected reply.
    “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, this is Johnny.”
    Johnny was Bullit’s second in command and his best friend. They had been through everything together; growing up, the military, penal company, Trigger being born, Naomi getting killed, and now Dirty Deeds.
    “Johnny, I need you too grab everyone and pick me up here at the Trench. We got work.”
    “Sure thing boss,” Johnny said then hung up.
    Bullit closed the phone and replaced it in his pocket, he then called Beth over.
    “Hey Beth, could you bring me a couple glasses of water, please?”
    “Sure thing Bullit,” she said as she turned and moved away, walking past Scratch’s table… who was staring straight at Bullit with a grin splayed across his face that the Cheshire Cat would envy. It wasn’t the type of grin one would have as if they had just heard something funny, no this was more like the cat who about to pounce on the mouse.
    Bullit was very glad Beth came back quickly.
    "Thanks," he said, downing both glasses quickly, "Tell your mother I said hi."
    “Sure thing.”
    Bullit rummaged around in his pocket for a moment and produced some money. He gave it gave it too her and moved quickly towards the door, casting one last look Scratch’s way, who’s gaze had followed him. The grin was still there and it looked like it had grown.
    Bullit quickly took his leave.