A phone call from Joey

Your phone buzzes in your pocket. It was Joey. You answer.

"Yes?"

You hear Joey's whispering voice. "Hey boss, I can't talk long. You asked me to listen. And boss...I'm hearin things."

"Go on?"

"I gotta go." Joey says in a rush. "He's planning a move tonight." The call is ended.

Tonight? Shit! It was time you grab this bull by the horns. Contract or no, this needed to be dealt with. You dial Louis.

"Hey boss! Glad you called. I think we need to talk tonight...." He starts out, his slimy voice upbeat and cheerful.

"I want to talk with you now. Come to the house." You say flatly.

"Now? I'm real busy right now boss." He stutters.

"I'll see you soon." You hang up

You turn to Natali. "Okay, it's happening. I'm going to bring Louis in here when he arrives and we can have a little heart to heart. Stay in here okay? I'm not sure how this is going to go down." She nods.

You gather up your boys from around the estate and call a few more in who are close by. You then find Soo-yin. All of you meet in the main hall. You tell them that Louis might be a traitor and to be ready in case things go sour. You emphasize the order to not shoot unless necessary. You go and stand on the third step from the bottom of the stairway, Soo-yin one step down and to your side.

"This is one way of doing it." She says.

"I know. I know. But there's no more time." You'd heard something similar to that earlier today...you clear your mind.

"Very well." She states, backing your play.

You hear a car pull up outside. The voices of Louis and a few of the boys approaching the door. The door opens and Louis steps through. He freezes the second he sees you and the gathered men. He looks to be ready to bolt but is then pushed forward into the room by Joey who was standing behind him. The men Louis had come with take one look through the door and decide to stay outside. Joey closes the door behind him.

"...uh...H-hey boss...what's goin on?" Louis stammers, he was sweating and scared. He tries desperately to play it cool and light. "he he he...did I miss a memo or something?"

"Louis...we need to talk." You say. "Search him."

Your boys pat him down, taking a pistol and a knife from him.

"Boss...I don't know what that Jap's been telling you, but I think you got this all wrong." He stands with his hands raised. "Don't do this boss! Boys, boys, don't do this!"

"Shut up Louis." You say. "If I wanted you dead we wouldn't be standing here right now. Like I said, we need to talk. Wait here fellas."

You and Soo-yin walk down to Louis. "Follow me." You say. Soo-yin grips the wormy little man's shoulder, he winces at the vice like pressure. You lead them toward the study.