Page 16 of Ravaged By the Dark

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Arek stared into the man’s terrified eyes, the corner of his mouth curling up. “Don’t bother answering that. How about we play a game, and if you win, you get to live, but if you lose…you can figure out the rest.”

“Sure man, I like games. You wanna play like Playstation?”

Arek laughed. That was the funniest answer he’d ever received.

“No,” Arek stifled his chuckle. “This is an information game.”

“Oh, like Jeopardy or some shit?” Arek suddenly wanted to bang his head against the wall. He ground his teeth, praying for patience.

“I want information,” he tried again. “I’m going to ask you a question, and you answer. It’s that simple.”

“So, where does the game part come in?”

Arek’s mouth fell open.

“Are you for real? Just answer my fucking questions.” The guy still looked confused but nodded. “Alright, first question: who is the leader of the Syphon Kings?”

“Oh shit, man, you’re gonna get me killed no matter what I tell you about that shit. I kinda work for him, so if I talk, I’m a rat.” X sighed, and Arek briefly wondered if this guy had been born this stupid or if he’d used a little too much of the product he sold.

“How do you kinda work for someone?” X opened his mouth, and Arek cut him off before any more stupid could tumble out. “Never mind answering that, just answer the fucking question. Who is the leader of the Syphon Kings? Or, don’t answer, and you’ll end up like your buddy over there.” The guy looked toward the road as a lone car drove by. “Don’t even think about running. I can shoot you in the leg from a hundred yards with my eyes closed. Now answer my question before I lose my patience and kill you anyway.”

“Fine, he goes by Big D, and before you ask, he’s got a pad by the docks. Don’t ask me which one, I ain’t never been”

“There, that wasn’t too difficult.”

“Now, how do you get a hold of him?”

“How am I supposed to know? I don’t buy the shit. I just push it for him, man.” Arek cocked the hammer, the noise loud in the quiet alley. “Fuck man! I don’t know!” X held up his hands, his eyes twitching with the nearness of the gun. “I’m too low on the pole. I do as I’m told and never see the big boss. I ain’t never met the second or third or anyone high up, I swear.”

“Fine, next question, who is the leader of the Crimson Vipers?”

“Damn man, I don’t know what your beef is with these guys, but you’re gonna get yourself killed if you go sniffing around.”

“How about you let me worry about that. Now, name?” Arek prompted.

“His name is Tyson, and he is a seriously bad dude like ‘he will jack your shit up and then spit on your mama’s grave as he fucks you in the ass’ kind of fucked. The Syphon Kings take care of their people. We be family.” X stopped and shook his head slowly back and forth. “Tyson, on the other hand, no one is safe. He goes through more people than TP.”

“I know I’m going to regret asking this question, but what is TP?”

X covered his mouth and laughed. The fucker actually laughed with a gun to his forehead. “You know, like toilet paper. Come on, man, you can’t be that….”

Arek pressed the gun harder into X’s forehead.

“Go ahead, finish that sentence.” X swallowed, his oversized Adam’s apple bobbing.

“So I’ll assume you can’t tell me where Tyson stays?”

“That ain’t it, chief. I could tell ya if you gave me a beat, but it won’t do you any good. He moves around, never stays in the same spot longer than a week. It would take me that long to find him. By the time you get the goods, he’d be gone again.” X made a poof movement with his hands like this guy Tyson was magic.

“But that man, he got it bad for some stucky.” Arek lifted an eyebrow in question, and X sighed. “You know, like stuck up bitch? Oh whatever, point is he stays in the local area. That be all I know.”

“Alright, last question, and you can be on your merry way. The Golden Dragons—how are they distributing their drugs to the gangs, and where are they getting their supply of opioids?”

“I don’t know, man.” X shrugged. “I’m a hustler—a low-level, street corner, thug. I’m too far down in the pecking order to know any of that kinda shit. The only guy I ever met high up in any group is Shrek from the Streetlores. He came into the same bar I was havin a drink. They call him that cause the bastard is big like an ogre.” X laughed at his own joke.

Arek already knew who Alejandro was. This was useless information. He pushed X hard in the chest, his back slamming up against the brick wall—his entire body shaking.

“Wait, I know who would know. Will that work?” Arek nodded, finished with this game. “Tyson’s second is a guy by the name of Cody. That cat is in the know. He’s the only dude in the group with silver eyes and white hair, super easy to spot. His nickname is Ice Man ‘cause he don’t care who he kills. A point and shoot, no questions asked, loyal fucker. No idea if he’ll talk, but he will know everything you want to know about Tyson.”