Time For Some Light Work

Duke Crusher was taking out the garbage for his mom when he heard someone whistle. He looked down the street and saw Hayate Otomi leaning against a car. Duke looked back to make sure that his mom wasn't looking outside.

He walked down the street to find out what Hayate wanted. Hayate gave Duke a perfunctory glance. He reached inside his suit coat and withdrew an envelope. Hayate handed the envelope to Duke. Duke slowly took the envelope.

"How's your mother," Hayate asked.

Duke sighed before saying, "She's being strong. Her treatments don't seem to be as helpful as they used to be."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'll let Mr. Hirono know. Maybe he can find something better to help her."

"Thanks. I appreciate that, but I know that you aren't here just to talk about my mother."

"No. We're going to need you for some light work."

"Light work, huh? You usually don't get me for light work," Duke responded.

"We need to pay a visit to some punks that are trying to make moves in the city like they don't know who runs things."

"That doesn't sound like light work. It sounds like something will pop off," Duke said.

Hayate smiled, "You're the first one that I'm stopping to see. I'm going to get Krueger next."

"Shit! You're gonna bring Krueger."

"He's not the only one. I'm also bringing the long arm of the law and a big surprise."

"You can't mean. You can't be serious. You're going to bring the Link," Duke asked with his mouth agape.

"Like I said... light work." Hayate patted him on the shoulder. "I've got more stops to make."

Duke watched Hayate get in the car. Hayate threw a finger up away him and pulled off. Duke clutched the envelope tight before shoving it into his back pocket. He started up the steps as his mom stepped outside.

"Are you all right, honey? You were taking a long time."

"Yeah mama. Hayate had stopped by for a bit. He was gonna want me to hang out with him later," Duke said.

"He's a nice boy and always so well dressed. You could learn a few things from him. Tell him that he needs to stop by for dinner again."

"I'll let him know," Duke said as he helped his mom into the house.

=====

Phillip was looking at his cards for the third time. He couldn't believe that his luck was this good. His pair of Aces got company on the Flop with the Ace of Clubs. He almost lost his composure when the Eight of Clubs joined the Eight of Hearts on the Turn. The only card that would've made him happier on the River was the Ace of Spades.

Phillip went all in because he couldn't lose. The only person still in was the buxom blonde with the low cut blouse. She had fumbled her way through the game barely winning any pots. She pushed all her chips in after tapping her cards for a while. Winner takes all was a strategy that Phillip could appreciate.

"I guess play time is over. I'll buy you a drink for the road," Phillip said as he turned over his cards revealing a Full House. "Aces over Eights."

The blonde pouted as she looked at her cards again. Phillip smiled as he reached for the pot. The blonde's eyes lit up as she placed a hand on his suggestively.

"Wait, does a Full House beat two pair?"

An incredulous look crossed Phillip's face. He bust out laughing. The other men at the table laughed too. The dealer maintained a stoic expression. The blonde sat back.

"No. Two pair doesn't beat a Full House," Phillip said as he reached for the pot again.

"Not even two pairs of eights," the blonde said as she flipped over her cards.

Phillip froze as he looked at the cards. The color slowly drained from his face as he slumped backed into his chair. Another round of laughter erupted at the table. The blonde pulled the chips towards her.

"Bitch," Phillip slammed his hands down on the table as he rose. "You could've just said that you had 4 eights."

The blonde sat back and steepled her fingers. Her piercing blue eyes locked with Phillip's eyes. Her lips twisted into a cruel smile.

"I could have, but I wanted to see the look on your face when I ripped your heart out. I heard that there was a mark here giving away money every week. So I played dumb until I could study everybody and find him. Once I knew it was you, then I started making my move."

Phillip stood up straight. His lip trembled as he grabbed his coat. He looked back at the blonde. She gave him a little wave and continued smiling at him.

"Hey," she called after him causing him to look over his shoulder at her. "Get a drink for the road. I got you."

Phillip was furious as he stepped outside. He was walking to his car when he noticed a well dressed Asian man leaning against it. Phillip cursed under his breath as he continued to the car.

"What do you want Hayate?"

"Is that any way to speak to a friend? Especially when it looks like you don't have the money that you're supposed to have for the boss."

Phillip sighed, "What do you need?"

"I need you to pay the Silver Triad a visit. It's time to show them who really runs things around here," Hayate said.

"You're sending me to die, then?"

"No. You're just giving them a chance to do the right thing. If they don't, then they will be dealt with."

"Really?"

"I've already put together a team to deal with them after they refuse," Hayate smiled.

"Hirono better watch out for you. You're a crafty bastard. Whose on this team? It better be good, because I don't plan on dying poking the hornet's nest."

"I'll give you one name. Krueger."

Phillip fumbled the cigarette he was trying to light and it fell on the ground. Hayate's smile grew bigger. Phillip picked up the cigarette and brushed it off. He put it in his mouth and lit it.

"Shit! If you have that crazy bastard I know that it's going to be a bloodbath. The only way that it would be worse is if the Link's going to be there."

Hayate said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes. Phillip's hands trembled as he thought about the last time that he'd seen the two sadistic monsters in the same place at the same time. His cigarette fell out his agape mouth, but Hayate caught it.

"If you gamble the way that you smoke, it's no wonder you're in the hole," Hayate teased.

"You really don't need me there for this."

"It's from the boss. He wants you there. So be there. Otherwise, your payment might not get covered."

"I guess I better change clothes. No point wearing anything good to this massacre," Philip thought to himself as Hayate drove off.