The Basement Office

I didn’t want to end 2013 not writing.   (Long boring story, doesn’t need telling here).

I wanted to have some fun and this series has always been about me having fun.

So, after two years, here is part 6.  I hope you enjoy.  I intend to keep this going for a while.

 

The Buccaneer’s Treasure lurked just in front of me, deep in the alley. It had a chipped and scratched wooden sign in orange letters that must have once been golden. Behind the letters was a grey and brown treasure chest and a palm tree that showed the wood’s natural colour marred only with aged flecks of green.

 

I took a step, two steps, three. I was halfway down the alley and I bumped into a rusty garbage bin. Ouch. My tattered shorts were now firmly ripped, but they still satisfied the demands of modesty.

 

I swallowed hard and tried to get my heart rate under control. I was sweating harder than ever, but in this heat I doubt I stood out. I licked my cracked lips and took another step to the door.

 

With a loud ding, the door opened and a large beefy dark haired man came out. I yelped and dove for cover.

 

“Ok then!” he said. “See if I spend any money at your store!”

 

From inside someone yelled back, “How is it my problem if you can’t hold on to your wallet?”

 

“All I asked was to keep an eye out you ass!”

 

With that, he slammed the door and the bell rattled. The beefy man looked at me funny.

 

“You ok?”

 

“M-m-me?” I said.

 

The man stepped closer. He smelled of sweat and Brut-33. His linen shirt was unbuttoned almost to his navel to reveal a thick pelt of salt and pepper hair and a couple of golden chains. I didn’t see one, but I imagined a toothpick poking out of his mouth, I’m not sure why. He frowned at me and mopped his face with a white-ish hankerchief.

 

“Well, who the hell else do youz think I’m talking to? Yeah you, potzer!”

 

I looked around, I really had nowhere to duck. “Uh…yeah. I think I’m ok?”

 

Beefy raised his eyebrows, “Oh yeah? Cuz you don’t look all that ok, you know what I mean?”

He slapped a big hand on my shoulder. I almost collapsed. He quickly grabbed me and yanked me up, my feet dangled an inch over the pavement for a second. “Seriously. You don’t look so good.”

 

I gave him a weak smile. “It’s been a hell of a day.”

 

“Oh yeah? Tell me ’bout it. I lost my wallet. You ain’t seen one around here did ya?”

 

I shook my head. “I got mugged too. Wallet,, passport, the works.”

 

He smiled. “Oh yeah. I know all about that. Here.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash that made me choke. He peeled off five bills and shoved them in my pocket. “Here youze go. I just lost my wallet, but I know what it does to ya when someone rips you off like that.”

 

“Oh no, I couldn’t.” I said. My head was desperately yelling at me to shut up.

 

Beefy shook his hands at me. “Fo’get about it. Call it paying off some karma or somethin’. Hey, listen. “ He elbowed me in a friendly way. “I’m Vincenzo. If you find a wallet just call me at the Continental. They know me there.”

 

Tell him a fake name! My head screamed.

 

“I’m John.” I said. Shit! Shit! Shit!

 

My head panicked and the rest shook. Vincenzo smiled and patted me on the cheek hard enough to leave a mark and walked away whistling.

 

I sighed. What are the odds? I find the wallet of some mob looking guy. I sighed again because my lungs just didn’t seem to be working all that well.

 

The whistling faded into the drone of cars from the street. I was alone again in the alley. I turned back to the Buccaneer’s Treasure. I couldn’t get my hands to work the door.

 

I could see a couple of big scary looking guys in there, they ignored me. I almost turned around there and then. In my head, I heard Ms Moore again:

 

“Feel free to use the Expensive Universal Instrument in your daily life, however, it must NEVER leave your possession “

 

I bit my lip. I had to get it back.

 

I opened the door and the bell jingled, making me jump. I was in.