Ain't No Easy Money in this World

"This looks like easy money..." The tall dark man whispered to himself while pulling the trigger. His revolver was equipped with a silencer, ensuring the gunshot would not attract any attention.

Just when the man thought that he had an easy target, Ray opened his eyes and dodged the bullet with a flick of his head. Before the man could shoot again, he received a kick between his legs from Ray. The pain was so intensive that he had to bend down right away. This meant that his face was right in front of Ray's legs and naturally, he received another kick on his face, fracturing his nose. While he was busy crying out loud, Ray grabbed his hand and snatched his revolver. 

It was Ray's turn to point the revolver at his forehead. "Did Mickey send you here?" Ray asked coldly.

"What Mickey? We are near Disneyland but I don't fucking know any Mickey or Donald! God...! You really hit me badly, man!" The man moaned in pain.

Ray moved the revolver from his forehead and pointed it to the man's genital area. "You have ten seconds to tell me or I will shoot your balls. And, I will ensure you have a really slow death."

"Alright! Alright! This dude Frank sent me here to blast your head!" The man could sense that Ray really meant what he said and quickly gave him what he needed.

"Frank? Frank who?" Ray was a little puzzled.

"Frank Geldof." The man revealed more, "He gave me ten grand for this job and told me you are very easy to handle. He is one hell of fucking liar!"

Frank Geldof! Ray suddenly remembered who he was. Ellen's new lover! The guy who had the nerve to kiss her outside her office block.

"Something is not right. Even if I am his love rival, there is absolutely not necessary to go to this far to get a girl. " Ray began to analyze the situation. "Unless there is something more behind his affair with Ellen."

Ray did not say a word and maintained his poker face while thinking out loud. This somehow made the man even more worried. "So now what? Are you gonna kill me? Blast my head off and hide my corpse in Disneyland?"

" What is your name?" Ray asked.

"Just call me Billy. Now that you know my name, are you gonna carve my name on my tombstone or what?" Billy was rather anxious about his situation.

"Billy, you can live on if you tell me where I could find this Frank guy. Deal?" Ray made a simple request.

"Well... to be honest... I don't know how to find him. He found me through a middle man. He gave me the cash and told me where you stay." Billy confessed.

Interesting! How would Billy know I am staying in this motel? I didn't even tell Ellen that! A new question popped up in Ray's mind.

"Can I go now?" Billy asked hesitantly.

"Tell me where to find the middle man."

"Okay okay! Go to Stitch Bar and ask for Bob Marvin." Billy tried his best to satisfy Ray. "Can I go now?"

"Yes, after you wake up." Having said that, Ray knocked Billy's head with his own revolver, sending him to unconsciousness.

Ray did not go to Stitch Bar right away. He sat on his bed and waited. And the second visitor of the day arrived around twenty five minutes later. 

"Come in, Mickey " Ray responded when he heard someone knocking his door and he knew exactly who this visitor was.

Mickey was a well built bald man in his late thirties. He walked in with his hands held up in the air. "Ray, I'm unarmed."

He saw Billy lying on the floor as soon as he walked but did not show much surprise on his face. "Looks like someone came here earlier than me."

He paused for while and then looked straight into Ray's eyes and said, "Nope. I didn't send me. Trust me, I would've sent a whole team instead of this loser."

"Alright. I trust you. When will I meet Director Carter?" Ray got to the point right away.

"I am here to tell you the truth : he is too busy to meet you." Mickey somehow gave him a disappointing reply. "To be more exact, he barely remembers who you are and does not believe that you can deliver anything at all."

"What the fuck? You and he got me signed up for this mission and now you are telling me he doesn't fucking remember me?" Ray was getting annoyed.

"Director Carter has been handling hundreds of undercover missions and meeting hundreds of persons like you." Mickey sat down on the bed, just beside Ray, "I know you had gone through a lot. What I can offer you are twenty grand in cash and a new identity to start all over. Are you cool with this?"

Ray shook his head right away, "No."

"Alright!" Mickey held up his hands and said sarcastically, "So what do you wanna do? Or... shall I say what do you think you can do about it?"

"I have told you what I want : bring me to see Director Carter."

"Ain't no fucking way."

Ray struck right away but Mickey was ready for it. Ray missed his target but continued on his attack. Both men exchanged blows and soon, Ray was punched on his face and fell on the floor.

"See? You are not as tough as you think!" Mickey laughed out loud. 

Just as Ray touched the floor, he stretched out his legs and tripped Mickey. When Mickey dropped onto the floor, Ray's punch was waiting for him. Ray's attacks were direct and efficient, hitting where it hurt and soon Mickey was full of bruises. His eyes were swollen and one of his ribs was broken. 

Ray grabbed his throat and stared at him while saying coldly, "Bring me to Director Carter or I will break all your ribs, cut off your tongue and let you bleed to death."