tainted territory [pierre]

”Are you going home Pierre?” The concerned midnight secretary stops him in the hallway. Their presence does surprise him, nearly makes his soul jump from his skin. Oh, how is he going to survive this planned visit?

”No but can you help me make some arrangements?” He says as he pulls on the jacket. Protection from winter’s bite is desired and protection from the bite of those he is about to meet is needed. ” Could you arrange for some peacekeepers to follow me? Five is enough but tell them to not follow too closely. Close enough to see me but far enough to be unseen.”

The expression on the secretary’s face is so clearly muddled but less information is good information and they just nod, abruptly taking on Pierre’s request.

It is an unlikely time to make amends. But a crucial time and a long overdue one at that. The full power of panic has not set in yet, but Pierre has rehearsed every situation possible. How hard is it to speak to a man?

”Right this way Mayor Hope. Or do we still call you that now? With the elections and that trouble?”

Pierre says nothing as the Rasoio worker takes him through the back door. There are so many of them. It is why he has been paying them off rather than causing a conflict. Criminals keep the world ticking, add balance to a messy society. With his actions, some could even call Pierre a crook.

The air in the building is muggy, smoke from the machinery and tobacco, it hits Pierre’s lungs hard as he coughs slightly. ”Don’t you be sick on us Pierre, we cannot have you dropping dead on us yet can we?”The man himself, Giovanni Rasoio. A figure not to be crossed with. A chap who has had Pierre wake up in cold sweats before. ”Have a taste of this, a new recipe.” Giovanni hands over a glass of clear liquid, possibly gin or vodka.

Pierre shakes his head, refusing the glass as he pulls out an envelope from the inside of his jacket. ”Ahh yes, we know about that drinking problem you have Pierre. Now your money is a bit late this month, I hope you have brought the interest. Don’t want that drinking problem getting out at this crucial time now do we?”

The envelope is quickly exchanged, and Pierre’s eyes finally rise from the floor and to Giovanni’s gaze. He has been thinking on how he is going to word the reveal, but his past rehearsals have failed. ”I didn’t bring any money Giovanni.”

Everything is a blur. A dizzy world floating around Pierre’s vision. Memories recoil to the moments that have triggered it. The site of one man whose breath can still be felt on Pierre’s cheeks. This really is a reckless act and now he is bound to a chair with rope. The faded figures that surround him are barely visible, but the murmurs of a speech are slowly creeping into Pierre’s bleeding ears.

”Now do we share the time you poured whiskey into your son’s cereal bowl instead of milk or will you pay up? Maybe you are enjoying the pain Pierre. Odd for a frigid man like yourself.”

Pierre can barely keep his head up, his chin sinks into his chest but the mop of his hair tugged by Giovanni’s grip as he pulls his face up. ”Now look at me. Use that tongue of yours, you use it enough with those speeches.”

A cough escapes from Pierre’s lips, whatever it produced is unclear in the dim light. Everything is still muddled, and he can barely conduct a whisper. ”I am not doing it anymore.”

The fist makes impact to the side of his cheek, but it is not Giovanni’s. Each of his workers is taking it in turns to inflict pain onto the mayor.

A man like Pierre caught up in a situation like this. There really is no escape.

”What you did was not very wise Mr Hope but it has helped capture a notorious criminal so thank you for that. Really was a brave act so credit to you. You are a strong man.”

Words of praise from a peacekeeper, probably one of the most least expected fans for Pierre to have. He sits on the edge of the Doctor’s bed as the wounds on his face are attended. His only thought is how is he going to explain this all to his wife when he returns home. ”Very few stitches needed but you likely have concussion so I recommend that you rest for the next twenty-four hours if you are capable of that.”

Pierre nods, pushing himself off the bed. ”Thank you.” There is really no chance for rest, the sun is creeping up into the sky and he has a meeting with the peacekeeper factory manager during the day that he really cannot call off.

Well the deed has been done. Success in ending a criminal ring. It is just one step, there is so much more corruption to defeat in his District.

But for now, he must rest in the very little hours he has free.

The peackeeper escorts him to the door of his mansion. Now the day is over, and the pain still pulsates but instead of fear, there is some pride in his act today.