Chapter 14 - Coffee II

   This might be it. We're alone. With The Devil himself. In the course of talking and laughing and being entertained, we all moved, stood and sat, laughed, and I noticed. Panic had seated himself a little closer to the high bridge wall, each and every time.

   This is the captain's private sun deck. Where the beautiful women of leisure can lay out naked, and its fine. So, no cameras. Once he dropped his face, and said give me liberty or give me death? I'm pretty sure.

   The plan was rolling and free formed. Getting him alone was the main thing. That, was not so hard. The Devil ended up singling him out. Picking out his own poison. Throwing him overboard, would probably kill him all on its own. Breaking his neck would ensure it. A man falling overboard on the open waters? Not at all unheard of.

   If he can only pitch him overboard, his follow up plan was to dive in after him. He can make sure he's drowned, and hey, only went in after him. Panic isn't afraid to be in the open water, even this far out. Little Robbie is near on a boat. He can find him with a beacon. Its off of the normal frequencies for a beacon. He modified a normal one, to operate with privacy. They tested it, he trusts it.

   I'm backup. I can help get him overboard, help make sure his neck's snapped first. Elise isn't with us right now. The plan became to see if I could get him alone. As Elise said in the planning, a rich important man? Will be alone at only some times. Taking a shit is one of them. The other? To be alone with a woman.

   Elise made a living of being rape bait. Dressing up like a turbo whore, and becoming the perfect thing to attract a rapist that would murder the victim and enjoy it. When she got out of the service, doing this work as an MP? She got recruited to become an assassin. Dress up like a hooker, which she's good at. The target would then make sure they had privacy and were out of earshot. She could escape easily. This recruitment disgusted her. So? She became rape bait for large cities that had a problem.

   But it makes no sense for our friend we're traveling with, to be here, now. With a wee hours date at the back of the boat, where he talked with me when he couldn't sleep, a secret meeting. If he has to toss him, then go in after him? I wait a little to get distance, then run and raise the alarm. Help. Man overboard, my husband went in to try to save him.

   The opportunity has presented itself now, though. The chessboard pieces are now arranged, and its time. The Devil's alone. And he's not very dangerous, by himself. Money, can't buy his way out of this.

   The Devil, though? Surprised us.

   He should be frightened. He doesn't seem to be. He really should have gotten nervous, when he saw that blank face. There's not one shred of body language, to show it. He simply gazed right into the thousand yard stare. And? Crossed his legs. Shrugged expressively. And was more concerned with sipping his monkey coffee.

   "Mm. Perhaps, Monsieur Testavino, is a dangerous man. Eh. It could be so. Mm. I have had many, business meetings. With these dangerous man before. It is fine."

   Another sip.

   "And so. I ask you plain. Is, Monsieur Testavino? A dangerous man. Eh."

   "You have no idea."

   That's his quiet, calm voice. Too calm, too quiet. No emotion. No masks now. Rob taught him to be the perfect predator. He's got his prey alone now. When the cat gets the mouse alone? There's little the mouse can do. The mouse can scurry some, though usually to no avail.

   The Devil was no ordinary mouse though. He sipped with his legs crossed. Way too calm. The implied threat has been delivered. The mouse can now, give its final squeak.

   "Ah. My plumber, he was right. Not, this plumber. The man you meet. My better plumber. One sniff? He tells me. You put this one? Back on the shore. This? Is... no mouse. Not this plumber, of course. He is, the plumber to replace? My usual one."

   "You made one mistake. You should have listened. To your better plumber."

   "Mm. And yet? We are here."

   "You can't buy your way out of this."

   "No? Then we talk."

   "It'll be a short talk."

   "This is fine."

   Another sip. Unconcerned.

   "I will ask you. Are you, professional for this? I do not think so."

   Panic took what looked like a small cellphone out. Its a little frequency counter. If they were being recorded, he'd know. He shrugged, and put it down. We're not being recorded. If The Devil was wearing a wire? Its not on. If a wire goes live? He knows instantly.

   "Professional? Very. I'm good enough at it. I've had practice."

   "Ah. And practice, does make perfect. Yet, what I asked. I did not mean, are you good at it. What I mean, is... are you paid, to do this thing."

   "What do you think."

   "Mm. If you were for money, then I could put a... zero? After that check, they give you."

   Panic smiled, and it didn't go with the blank face, and the robotic body language. It makes a weird combination, and its very unnerving.

   "You can't buy your way out of this. If it, as you say, amuses you to try? Enjoy it. If things don't change, you can make your peace with your god. If you have one, other than money."

   "Ah. Money? Is not my god. Money, and the paper for the money. Just a tool. You say though, this is not a tool, for this job. And so? I have, no tool."

   "Some men pay for their sins now. Some later. But your time? Is now."

   "And so, I am right. It is, not the money. That you do this thing for."

   Panic shook his head, no.

   "And then tell me. If it is not the money, then what."

   "This is personal. I've been waiting for this moment. For a very long time."

   "Have you now."

   Panic nodded, yes.

   "Mm. Why wait, then. I am not so hard a man, to find."

   "I almost had you once. A long time ago."

   "Eh? And when was that."

   "That big beach house you have. The one with the private beach."

   "Ah. And why did you not. Why do you wait."

   "Too far to shoot you. You like to take those little midnight swims there. I was under you. Looking up. I couldn't figure out which legs to grab. To drown you."

   "Mm. And so, I was, what. Swimming, over my own grave, yes?"

   Panic nodded.

   "And so, we get to there. It is, not for you have been paid to do this thing. It is, personal. And so I simply ask you. What have I done to you. Eh?"

   "I'm one of the men sent down to the equator. To try to clean up your mess. I know what happened to the villagers. I lost good friends. My brothers."

   "And I am sorry, for that. And did I not explain, how this thing, how it came to be."

   "You did."

   "And, may I ask one thing of you. Before you, finish our little game."

   "You can ask."

   "Mm. For the one thing. My wife? She has no part, in any of this. You will not, eh, you know what I ask."

   "No. Never. I'm not a monster. Well, maybe I am. But I'm not like you."

   The Devil nodded.

   "And, I thank you. Can I, at least? Not know the name, of the man who comes to do this thing. You see. Information. It is critical. When, my plumber. The good one, not this fool who is in his cabin. When the good plumber, took his... one, sniff? As I say, information, is critical. We both know, there is no... Monsieur Testavino. And? There is no more reason, to pretend. Not, now."

   "Sigma Delta. Two, five, six."

   He nodded.

   "I do not lie. I did not know who you are, but now I see. You? Are, American... cowboy. You? Are... gunslinger. You are, quiet and polite, sheriff. And now, you have your... out, law."

   "Not an outlaw. Devil. You? Are The Devil."

   "I see. And, I see how you can think, this thing. Now. The, cat? Has, the mouse. Am I to, what. Scurry around some, eh? No. And can the mouse, ask but to nibble on some more cheese, before he goes, to, devil mouse heaven."

   "Where you go, and very soon, I promise you. That's between you, and your maker. If you even believe in one."

   "And? That is fair. My cheese. I would kiss the monkey's bottom. For the last time. I do not sleep so well, some nights. It, is tiresome. The, money? The trinkets it brings. It is not so shiny as I thought it all was, when I was young. These things, that me and you know of? They rob a man. Of, not feeling like shit. Me, you. We know, do we not? That life? It is shit."

   Panic nodded yes, and he joined him. I guess the Devil has a conscience, after all. He has a death wish.

   "And so? We will kiss the monkey's bottom. And then? You can, do this thing. I am, ready for this thing. This is, what. Deal."

   Panic looked at me. Nodded.

   The Devil sighed.

   "I will miss, many things. And? My money, is not one of them. Here. Watch."

   He wiggled his fingers, and moved slow. Like a man taking his ID out, to a cop who had a gun on him. He took out his cell phone. He put it on the table in front of Panic. Next to his frequency counter.

   "There. Nothing, for you to fear. I will not be calling, my... replacement, plumber. Who? Can not sniff out a... wolf, wearing the fur of the sheep. Besides. He has no part, as my wife has no part. Why do that, to him."

   "The Devil has guilt. How touching."

   "Eh. Oh. And one thing, more."

   He slowly took off his necklace. By the chain, never touching the medallion. He put it next to his cell phone.

   "There. The, necklace? Not, a gift from my wife. It is, like cell phone. If you play with it? You will find, you can run your finger, nail? And open it. Like, little pocket watch. And? Be very careful. If you press what is inside? It will bring many plumbers, to my aid. This? I do not want."

   Panic just looked at him. He was but a bug on a pin now to him. I've seen this face before.

   "I could have pressed the necklace? Many times. And? I did not. Even if my, replacement plumber, may not be, capable of his task? There are others. The, men in the engine room? Perhaps not one. But all of them, riled up? Eh. Why get my poor inept plumber hurt, or, one of my engine, men. Do you give me your word, that my beautiful if spoiled wife, will come to no harm?"

   "You have my word."

   "And, I see the face of the mademoiselle, is not so unlike your own. Do I have her word on this thing, as well."

   I nodded. I had dropped my face in the course of the conversation.

   "And? We will shake on it, eh? And look..."

   The Devil unbuttoned his dress shirt cuffs and shoved them, along with his expensive suit sleeves, up his forearms. He held them up.

   "And so you see. No, tricks. I really do love my American phrases. So, one last one. To go with, my... last kiss of the monkey's bottom. Is okay? I ask."

   Panic nodded.

   "No things, up... my, sleeve. Eh?"

   Panic nodded.

   "And? I am French. They say, we are the best waiters, in the world. You see. To the French? The, person that serves you. It is an honor, to be waiter. Or?"

   He looked at me and nodded.

   "Or, waitress. I would not die, scurrying about. From the cats, all to no point. I will not die gauche."

   He carefully stood up, and calmly poured us both what was to be his last cup of the... and I must say here? The exquisite coffee of kings.

   Panic eyed him carefully, but he tried nothing and simply sat back down. Then, he stood up again.

   "Ah. We had, our... deal. My wife? She is to come to, no harm. You gave me your words. I give you myself, with no... scurrying? And ask only, that you keep your words. You may think what you wish of me, I can understand. Yet, my wife? She is no, trinket. I loved her. Is deal?"

   Panic nodded. They leaned over the table, and shook hands. He then leaned over for mine. I did, as well.

   The Devil raised his coffee cup to each of us, and shrugged.

   "And monsieur... Sigma? Will perhaps permit me. To, enjoy my last thoughts. I wish to remember the sweet things, in this life of shit. But remember this. I am not, The Devil. The devil? He has his work, as I have mine. I was merely tricked, into doing? The Devil's work, for him. And this, is regrettable. I do not enjoy, having done, the devil's work, for him."

   He sipped.

   "The Devil? Should do his own work. But. I will simply say? Adieu."

   We both said it back.

   "Adieu."

   "Adieu."

   The Devil nodded.

   I had always wondered. If getting my emotions back, would make me weaker again. Not able to do the karma work. Here? I felt funny. Strange. Ah, my emotions I have back. But I can put them on hold. I can flick my switch, is what me and Panic call it. Putting your emotions aside, to do what simply needs done.

   Panic looked around.

   That was when I realized it.

   This wasn't emotions. This? Was physical. I felt tingles, then? Warm. I was confused. My coffee cup fell from my hand. It clattered aside, and went off the table and clunked on the deck. Fine silver. The Devil's own silver.

   As I fumbled to remain upright in my seat, I looked over at Panic.

   He had set his coffee down, and was looking around. Confused as well. He had went forward, to keep from crashing to the deck like I did. I felt my head hit the metal floor of the captain's own sun deck. I couldn't move now. Just my eyes. My eyes darted around, frantic, but my body would do nothing I asked of it. I demanded it to listen, but it was like a phone that had been hung up.

   Since my eyes were all that would obey me, I strained to look to the side, which was up. The metal deck had jumped up to meet my head.

   My last thoughts, were realization. We had made a fatal mistake. I remember one of the cowboy movies. A bad guy had one of the good guys trapped. He made a speech, gloating. The good guy got a hand out of sight in the course of it. He shot the bad guy, talking. And as the bad guy bled out, he simply said it.

   "You were talking, when, you should have been working."

   Everything was spinning, and very fast.

   Those weren't my last thoughts, in my head. The Devil had even said, he enjoyed the cowboy movies when he was little.

   The Devil had said it.

   We're dead.