Saturday, May 20, 2023

Day 140 - Rainy Night Blues

Rainy Night Blues
 Matthew Ryan Fischer

 
It was pouring rain and no matter how much Rama tried to pull himself flat against the wall, he was getting soaked. Bagus had it worse. He was out in parking lot, watching for anyone who wasn’t supposed to be there. Club B was a money maker, even on a night like this, even with the gunman threat still lingering all over town. A town car pulled up and Rikard the driver got out and opened the back door. Four women got out of the back – designer dresses, high heels, and too much makeup. Rama pretended they were dancers and singer hired by the bar to entertain businessmen in the karaoke rooms, but he knew what they really did upstairs. He turned a blind eye. It wasn’t his job and it was one of the many ways Club B made money. Rikard asked Rama for a cigarette, which was absurd on a night like tonight. Rama gave him one and Rikard tried to smoke it while getting drenched.
“Any trouble tonight?”
“No attack if that’s what you mean...”
Rikard nodded.
“…What about you? Anyone every try to stop you and steal your cargo?”
Rikard laughed at the phrase.
“Car is bullet proof. I’m not too worried. Besides, I thought this guy was only robbing drug labs and money launderers.”
“I didn’t know anyone had figured that out.”
“Huh. Maybe. I don’t know.”
Rikard took a final futile drag and flicked the cigarette towards a nearby puddle. He headed inside to watch his precious cargo.
Rama watched the street for signs of any disturbances. He wondered what his bosses were doing to ensure his safety. Police or gang, either, both. These were strange times when he realized he could have been thinking about either one. In a way he was all alone in this mission and he had to watch his own back.
Rama had been looking for a time to sneak off and get word to the police. He wanted to hear their perspective and learn what they knew. He was still living in an apartment with a dozen other soldiers. He had no idea when he would get any privacy again.
Headlights caught his attention as another car pulled up. He was expecting it. The Foreigner and his bosses were supposed to be entertaining an important client tonight. He had heard their names but didn’t know much else – Yaz and Junko. Junko emerged from the car first – a wire thin and androgynous. Hair slicked back and a man’s suit, but Rama wasn’t sure if they were he or she. Junko opened the door and Yaz stepped out. Son of someone fairly connected to the Yakuza, Yaz was flamboyant, hair colored, with preposterous blue sunglasses on. Perfect for a cool rainy night.
They all walked past Rama and his boss barely made eye contact. Something important was happening, and it seemed like his team were the losers. Perhaps Naxis was disappointed, perhaps fear of the gunman had ruined some part of the deal. Either way, it was a bad sign that additional visitors were coming in from overseas.
Rama wished he could sneak inside and try to listen in or find out what was amiss. But Maliq had handed out the assignments and he made sure Rama and Bagus were left out in the rain. Rama pulled up his jacket collar and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long night.

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