Asylum Heights by Austin R. Moody

Author:Austin R. Moody [Moody, Austin R.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Austin R. Moody, MD
Published: 2013-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

AFTER HOURS AT THE BIG BOY CLUB

A pillar of anger rose up in Sal as the band played ‘Good night, Ladies.’ It was the finale and for the musicians perceptibly the most joyful rendition of the evening. It had been a good night for the band and the club with neither patron fights nor incursions by the police, and the Bowler hat at the front of the bandstand had been filled with tips. After the end of the song and a brief applause the revelers began to disburse.

Sal stood up and began to pull his lady’s chair and its inebriated contents from the table. She lay unresponsive as he called for her to wake up to at least respond to his directives. She slept on. Furiously he reached toward her luxuriant coiffure, but stopped short just as Glen and Sybil pressed through the exodus of patrons onto the dance floor.

He glared directly at Glen and blurted, “I’ve never waited on anyone in my life, least of all some hillbilly from Southeastern Mississippi no matter what he may have to sell to me!” His anger was increased as his somnolent companion began to stir. Under better circumstances it would have been amusing but a very expensive evening had been thwarted because of these two miscreants.

Sal wasn’t sure which had made him angrier, their tardiness or Glen’s obvious conquest of one of his most prized operatives. He continued, “I sent someone to welcome you to New Orleans, someone that is very close to me. I wanted to show you how important you are to me and to my business, but like a couple of clowns you both show up in front of me and all of my friends three hours late looking sheepish and guilty as hell for whatever you’ve been doing!”

Glen looked at Sal’s sleeping companion. Her head rested on folded arms on the cocktail table and a gentle snore emitted from her throat. She was obviously dead drunk. A faint hint of amusement at this ridiculous situation passed across Glen’s mind, but he did not allow himself the slightest smile. He realized that this wonderful resource that Papa and Mama Hailes depended upon so much could be lost within the next few moments.

The memory of his first encounter with Sal and his boys on the road outside New Orleans suddenly re-appeared in his mind’s eye and that original terrifying apprehension rose up within him again now. Summoning all of his courage, Glen looked contritely at Sal and said, “I apologize for our lack of consideration to you and your party. I know that you have been most gracious and hospitable to me on every occasion since our business relationship began.” Glen knew that everyone at the table was watching his every move.

He continued, “I feel that I am in your debt and that reparation for your inconvenience and expense should be made as a show of my good faith and intentions. Additionally, I will be happy to help you to take your young lady companion home.

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