Vol 1: Part 11

Walking up to the man wearing a mechanic jumpsuit who was trying to crawl away. I placed a hand on his suits collar turning him around. "Got a minute to chat a bit?" I rhetorically asked.

"Is it about last time Mr Jester? All have you know that wasn't me!" He pleaded his thick accent blurring a few of the words as I helped him stand up. He smelt thickly of scented oils, and perfume.

"Oh you think I'm here for the time you took the breaks out of the car I ordered." I laughed lightly as murderous intent gripped my heart.

"Your not?" He said bewildered.

"If I was, we would be having this conversation as I poured cement into a bath tub then dumped you into a river." I growled at his frightened face. Chuckling I patted Zaneesh on the shoulder as I dragged him to his feet. "Luckily for you I have a need for you. They say you're the best in the business of untraceable cars."

"Yes of course we have the cheapest of the market for cars."

"Excellent, now I would like a disposable one for free next time I call within a week."

"We can't do that the cost, let alone the time constraint." Zaneesh spluttered.

"Cement shoes." I lightly reminded him.

"Yes, of course." He sighed in defeat his shoulders drooping in defeat.

"Excellent this time if there is anything wrong with it you won't be the only one seeing the bottom of the river it'll be a family outing. Understood?" I beamed a smile at him before dropping him to the ground, and leaving him to crawl back home.

After a while of traversing the city I wound up in front of an empty barbers, shrugging my shoulders I stepped inside the bell ringing signaling my entrance.

The white tiles floors with six empty chairs either side of the room gave a professional feel to the little barber shop. Stepping up to the desk I found the owner.

He was a portly man with a brown, bushy walrus mustache. "Ah Jester here for the yearly haircut I see." He grinned his many laughter lines creasing in joy.

"No I just stepped in here for a bite to eat." I rolled my eyes.

"Indeed old chap, now if you could just sit in this chair." He directed spinning one of the black chairs around. I sat down letting him tie a towel around my neck.

"How have you been Barry?" I asked for a causal conversation as he prepared the tools for the job.

"I must say I've been so tip top recently." Barry answered as he brought his tools over. "Great Scott I've even had other customers than you." He mused as he brought out a comb, and a pair of scissors. "So my good sir what kind of hair cut are you looking for today?" Dramatically snapping the scissors open, and shut.

"Short back, and sides, longer on top." I instructed.

"Certainly, my good man." Barry chipperly complied, as he started hacking away the jungle of hair that lay on my head.

A comfortable silence filled the room only the click, and clacking of the scissors could be heard. Only moving my head a few times to sculpt my light brown hair into something presentable.

"I suppose this friendly visit isn't just because you need a hair cut, no?" Barry said after looking at the lengths of each side.

"Your right I'm going to need your help in some nightly research." I answered as he motioned me to pull my head up.

"What pray tell would that be?"

"I need you to keep an ear out for any major news about the Lóng family stuff like their money makers, men anything really so I can fact check."

"You're rather paranoid fellow aren't you?" Barry chortled as he carried on with his work.

"It's the paranoid people that survive in this occupation." I muttered.

"Yes, But to not even trust the eyes of god you don't have a lot of faith for others do you my good man?"

I listened to the snipping of the scissors as hair fell like rain. "Rule number one in dealing with informants never trust a single source." I replied.

"If you say so." Barry shrugged as he did the finishing touches. After he finished, he pulled out a mirror to show off his work, not that I really cared. The only difference to usual was the fact that he left the back a bit longer that it formed into a point just above the nape of my neck.

"For you." I smiled handing him a crumpled brown envelope I had put in my pocket.

"Brilliant, I do love the feel of money in ones pockets." Placing the envelope away.

"My number is in there if you find anything give it a call." I instructed getting up.

"Certainly, Cheerio old chap." Barry called out as the bell rung as I departed.

Feeling, lighter, and a bit cooler I started to walk.

It was a couple hours later that Jackson found me in a corner coffee shop as I sat there gazing at a variety of paintings. "Jester, it's time to go." He whispered so not to disturb any of the other customers.

"Sure thing." I sighed placing the waiters tip under the coffee cup.

We got into his car as we sped off towards the church.