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information than they do, and I’ve got
too many questions of my own to mess around being discreet. In the end, I was
straight with him.
    ‘Depends on your point of view,’ I said.
‘I’m starting to think you’ve stumbled onto something big with this land you
want.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ he asked, sounding
for the first time like he wasn’t in complete control of something. Which he
clearly didn’t like.
    ‘Jackson’s unknown bodyguard appears to
have been under surveillance by the US government in the last six months.’
    ‘So what does that have to do with Mr.
Pellaggio?’
    ‘It means Jackson is being protected by
another party. I don’t know why, but this is further evidence that this whole
thing is bigger than just Jackson screwing you over. I would suggest
approaching this with more caution than simply sending me in to kill him.’
    It didn’t take long for Manhattan to see
I had a valid point. He signaled his hired muscle over to him and whispered
something in his ear. The big guy nodded intently, then walked off and
disappeared behind the red curtain in the corner, where Jimmy first came out
of.
    He turned his attention back to me.
    ‘Adrian, it would seem we have
underestimated Ted Jackson and his resources. It appears we have also
underestimated you. I want to thank you for your vigilance and commitment to
this situation, and to your job. In light of this development, I would like to
extend your contract with us beyond simply disposing of Ted Jackson. I want you
to work with us to see this situation through its conclusion.’
    I’m a freelance contract killer. I don’t
work exclusively with anyone, even on a temporary basis. Especially the mob.
    ‘I’m flattered, but I have no interest
in doing any more of your dirty work than I already am. I’ll kill Ted Jackson
for you, and retrieve whatever money or paperwork he has on his person at the
time. But once that’s done, I’m gone.’
    Manhattan nodded, as if he was hearing
what I was saying, but not accepting it.
    ‘Fine. I’ll get a couple of guys on this
and leave you to take out Jackson. We’ll be in touch.’
    With that, he turned and walked away,
disappearing behind the red curtain from which he came, leaving me alone in an
empty nightclub.
    ‘I’ll see myself out then?’ I said to
nobody but myself.
    As I opened the door back onto the
street, my eyes squinting as they adjusted from dark nightclub to bright
sunshine, I saw a motorcycle on the other side of the street. It looked like
the rider, who was dressed head to toe in leathers, was staring in my
direction, but it was hard to tell as the visor was down on their crash helmet.
It was a lightning blue and white colored bike - a really sweet looking ride.
As I stepped out on the street, the mystery rider revved their engine and sped
off out of sight.
    How odd.

 
     
    Back
     
    Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

 
    NINE
     
    After meeting
with Jimmy Manhattan, I’d taken a nice walk around the city to clear my head
and assess my current, and increasingly complex, situation. It was clear there
was more at stake than just Pellaggio’s potential earnings, and after more
deliberation than I usually afford my jobs, I decided the best thing I could do
is kill Ted Jackson and leave town as soon as possible. I have to kill him,
because I wouldn’t want word getting round that I went back on one of my
contracts. That would be bad for my business. But I know it would be very easy
to get involved further in whatever was going down here, and I have no
intention of working closely with the mob and giving them the impression we’re bosom
buddies. That too would be bad for my business.
    I knew Jackson was working out of his
hotel room this afternoon, and I was heading there now. He was staying at The
Four Seasons Hotel, which was a huge, impressive building on Main Street, right
in the center of the city. It covered almost the entire block, and its rooms
ranged from your standard single or