Sweat had gone from a trickle to a downpour, burning my eyes. I wiped it away before walking into the fire room. Burning coals sat atop hookahs filled with opium on short tables. Venting devices hovered over each hookah like the Kraken down below, pulling smoke up and out of the room. The space smelled hot and sweet, burning my nostrils, distracting me. I moved past the tables, the red beam sweeping the poorly lit room. A short, stout man crashed into my ribs, taking us both to the ground and knocking the Rhino from my hand. I struggled to stand, my whole body ached. Not from being blindsided or the pursuit, but from being so close to something I needed so badly.
We both scrambled on all fours for the gun on the floor, but Watt abandoned the search first, driving his knee into in my ribs. The blow rolled me and pushed wind from my lungs. I grabbed his ankle before he could stumble to his feet. A quick jerk landed him chest first on the ground. I crawled toward him and dropped a fist into his right kidney. He whimpered as it landed a second time, announcing I had time to get my bearings and get out of this fucking room. I grabbed him by the belt and collar, failing to raise him from the floor. I resorted to dragging him, but he flailed and went dead weight. I dropped a knee into his left kidney.
“God dammit get up! I’m not here for you!”
He relented as we both staggered toward the stairs. I gave him a shove and watched his legs hasten to find purchase on the steps before he landed shoulder-first on the storeroom floor. I descended the stairs down to Watt, who scooted away, looking toward the emergency exit. The guard began to stir as the manager shook him. I placed my foot on Watt, pressing him against the floor. I flipped open my phone again so the manager could see the badge.
“This is Courser business. He wakes up and interferes, you’ll both answer to federal troopers.”
I snapped the baton open and rolled Watt onto his back. I swiped to Tarasov’s picture on the phone and put it close to his face.
“I don’t care why you’re running. I want him.”
Most likely Watt was guilty of something similar that just hadn’t caught up with him yet. Not surprising he rabbited once I announced my presence, but that’s someone else’s concern.
“Never seen him before,” he spit.
I slammed the baton down on the concrete floor next to his knee. It landed with a crack.
“I don’t have time for this. The next one breaks your fucking knee.”
He squirmed under my boot, weighing loyalty against his livelihood.
“You can’t tell anyone I told you. They’ll toss me out or worse.”
I stared down at him, giving my word with silence.
“His name’s Gregorie Tarasov. A new guy, drinks at the hall after shift. USPS Local #8.”
I plugged the union hall into my phone with trembling hands. Half-hour drive across town. I groaned with frustration before turning to climb the stairs again for my weapon.
My legs ached like I was in the throes of a flu infection, my clothes were soaked in sweat. I felt worse the closer I got to the fire room. I switched on the phone’s flashlight, scanning for my pistol, but all I saw were cases of opium. I hurt so bad. It may as well be a performance enhancer, as the evening would only get worse both physically and psychologically. A quick hit serving as a factory reset for my body. I couldn’t resolve this case in a night, maybe not even a week, but there was enough opium here to last me until it was closed. Then I could go back home, get back on my treatment from Esme. The dark steel Rhino shone in the light, a welcome distraction from my plan. It had slid against one of the open boxes of product. I returned it to the holster then stared at the opium they would never miss.