Cyberpink

Chapter 4

DROP NINE

“He called me a tool!” Pickle said, delighted. She was in the passenger seat, and was turned back to chat with Cherry. Hector had gone back inside to grab something he forgot.

“Isn’t that usually a bad thing to call someone?” Cherry frowned.

“Not in this context!” Pickle replied.

Cherry snorted. “Sure, whatever, girlfriend.”

Hector came back, opened the door, and started the car.

Cherry rapped on the seat and popped her lips. “Hey, can we get ice cream on the way?”

Hector sighed. “Ugh, fine. I’m stopping at the periptero for five minutes, that’s it. No overthinking it. Just pick one and eat it. And don’t make a mess in the car.”

Cherry whispered at Pickle, “So bossy,” but it was still loud enough in the confines of the pickup truck.

“I can hear you, you know.”

“I know, boss.”

Hector mumbled some Greek curse words under his breath and drove off.

Hector burst in at Laimargia restaurant. It was posh, you could tell by the types of cars parked outside and the stuck up waiter in a penguin-like suit at the entrance. Hector felt real badass, crashing in uninvited, being escorted by two ladies like that, and he had to admit it was something he could really get used to.

The head waiter tried to stop him. Hector raised a palm at him. “Zip it, penguin. I almost got shot in here and filed no charges, so unless you want my lawyer’s number for a goddamn long conversation, piss off.”

“Ah, yes, the incident,” the waiter said, bowing out.

He hated this place. It was full of rich people, both fat and skinny, eating their hearts out and then purging them in the bathroom. It was excess, it was gluttony, and it was bloody disgusting.

Hector walked up to Hondros’ usual table and shook his head. “Really? Same table, same place? You don’t even make it hard for the ones trying to kill you.”

The fat man was tearing through a s**t-ton of shrimps. At his side was Mamacita, and she looked awful. She had black bags under her eyes and even Hector could tell she hadn’t really nailed today’s makeup. “Hector! My boy, come, sit with us. Eat something. And you brought your team along, lovely.” He gestured for the waiters to accommodate the ladies, and they did so like a blur.

Sitting down, Hector turned to Mamacita. “Hello there. Everything all right?”

She sniffed and smiled. “Yes, of course, Hector. Nice to see you. I was distracted, reading something on the veil.”

“Glad to hear that.” Hector turned back to Hondros, and addressed him by his first name. “Yianni, I need athletes.”

The enormous man perked up and his jowls shook. “Why, of course! Which ones, I have a catalogue, let me send it to you.”

Hector raised his hand. “I’m sure they’re all lovely, but I’m also sure I can’t afford any of them. I came to you because you’re the only owner I know with so many contacts. I just need you to point me in the right direction, give me someone’s number? Perhaps an endorsement from you if you think it’s fair. You know, after saving your miserable life?”

“Hector, Hector… Of course I can help you out! Yes, my girls are a bit out of your price-range, agreed. But I do know a couple that might work for you. Which positions are you looking to fill?” He checked out the Pies.

“Qwik is filled,” Cherry said, eyeing him hard.

“Of course it is! And I assume an enforcer also, so you need at least two more and a Chain.” Hondros said, scrolling through his files in his veil. His sticky fingers wouldn’t have worked on any touchscreen, and he splashed around shrimp juice and various gooey bits as he gestured.

“One enforcer, one Chain,” Pickle corrected. “We have a third already.”

Hector glanced at her questioningly, and she nodded a silent assurance that she’d tell him later.

“Good, good!” Hondros said. “There, would those two be suitable?” he asked Hector, sending him the files.

Hector nodded sideways. “Send them to Pickle, she’ll go over their stats.”

Hondros squinted at him, and smiled. “Whatever pleases you, my friend…” He sent the files over the veil.

Pickle indeed was already going through the athlete’s files, mumbling to herself.

“Thank you, Yianni. And who’s the owner?” Hector said, standing up. He couldn’t wait to get out of this disgusting place.

“Oh, I’ll handle the contract, if you don’t mind. I’ll receive my fair commission and everyone will be happy.”

“Right,” Hector snorted. The girls stood up as well. “Mamacita, nice seeing you. Yianni, my last offer for her still stands, if that’s what she wants.”

Hondros laughed hard at that. “Nine measly thousand?”

“Yup,” Hector said with an attitude as if he was offering up millions.

“My answer is still the same, dear friend,” he refused politely, his jowls jostling left and right as he shook his head.