The smoke-filled air hung heavy around the room. This was the sixth such dive that Zach had been to. He hadn’t slept in days and hadn’t showered in even longer. A thick layer of stubble grew across his face, but there was no sign of fatigue in his determined eyes. He would search the ends of the earth to find Emily and return her safely to his side, and no strung out barfly or fancy crook in a suit was going to keep him from finding her.

He’d situated himself in a corner of the bar, waiting patiently with an untouched drink in front of him. He didn’t drink. It clouded the mind, and he didn’t like that. Still, it didn’t do any good to draw too much attention to oneself in a joint like this. Well, not yet anyway.

Zach sat back, watching the door with an almost bored expression plastered on his face. It wasn’t long before a squat man stepped through and into the bar. He wore a filthy, oversized wife beater and tattered jeans, with an enormous beard covering his face. Even in a place like this, he made for an odd sight as he waddled up to the bar and ordered a drink.

He hadn’t so much as taken a drink before Zach was by his side, his own drink clutched firmly in his hand. He feigned a drink before his voice came out, low and menacing.

“Enjoying yourself, Vinny?”

The squat man stiffened a little, sitting a little straighter. Otherwise, he drank from his beer undisturbed.

“I don’t know.” He responded, not even bothering to glance at Zach. “I haven’t even had a chance to start. Though I’d like to get started. So if you have something you want, then spit it out.”

“I hear you know things. I need some information.” Zach returned. His voice was threatening, dangerous, but his body language was calm and composed. No one looking on the outside could see the anger and desperation that boiled inside him as he spoke to the bearded man.

“What kind of information, and what’s in it for me?”

“I need to know the location of someone. As for what’s in it for you? You get to walk out of here and not be carried.”

Vinny laughed, a long roar that filled the space, causing many of the surrounding patrons to look there. Zach cringed at the sudden attention. People in these sorts of joints were always keen to join a fight if one broke out, and Zach didn’t want to waste his time with a brawl. If things had to get violent he wanted things to be quick and clean, just how he liked it.

Nonchalantly, Zach leaned in close enough to the bearded fellow to smell his breath. He casually threw his arm over Vinny's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. It wasn’t particularly hard, at least not on Zach’s standards, but it was just enough that he could feel cartilage pop somewhat under his grip and feel the man stiffen under his grip.

“You aren’t the first rotten tree I’ve shaken down, not even today, so let me tell you something. I can break every bone in your body before you can even let out a squeal, and it’ll take less effort for me than drinking that swill you just downed. So, I suggest you give me what I want, unless you’d like to run the risk of going home in a body bag.”

He squeezed tighter as he spoke the last sentence, emphasizing his point. Vinny continued to look as stoic as ever, but there was no sign of the rosy hue he’d gained from his drink.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“W-what do you wanna know?” Vinny stammered, and Zach allowed himself a wide friendly smile. He allowed himself another squeeze of Vinny’s shoulder before answering.

“It seems like there have been a lot of suits around here lately. Do you know what that’s all about?” He asked, smoothly.

“The suits? Nobody ever knows what they’re up to.” Vinny responded, somewhat frantically. “Why do you care about the suits? You tryna get yourself killed?”

“So what if I am?” Zach responded, not betraying a hint of sarcasm.

“You’re crazy.”

“Yeah, that’s what the last guy told me before I broke his legs. Now, I know you know something. Every time the suits get riled up with the street scum, someone like you always gets a whiff of what’s going on.”

“So what if I do know a little bit? There’s nothing you’re gonna be able to do about it. No one messes with the suits and wins. Nobody.”

“Then it’s about time somebody changed that trend, so spill it or do I have to find another guy who’s more willing to cooperate?”

Zach gave his fist another clench for good measure, making Vinny wince.

“Ow ow ow. Listen, I’d love to help you. I hate the guys up the ladder, but I ain’t suicidal. What do you think’ll happen the moment they realize who told you. How many people have you already talked to? There’s a reason no one wants to talk. You’ve threatened to kill me; they will kill me. So get lost.”

Zach’s genial smile suddenly vanished. He squeezed his fist shut and a loud cracking noise rent the air, accompanied with Vinny’s screams. Heads turned in their direction with expressions eager for a fight. Some people even started to get up from their chairs, but Zach didn’t notice them.

“Tell me what I want to know. What are they doing, what do they want?!” He shouted at Vinny, his spittle spraying against the portly man’s face.

Vinny just shook his head, in too much pain to speak.

Zach nodded his understanding and reached out, grabbing the wrist of Vinny’s uninjured arm. With a quick motion, he tugged it. Each joint of his arm let out an audible pop as Vinny dropped off his barstool and onto his knees. Zach towered over the tiny man, still gripping his wrist and pulling increasingly hard; intent on ripping the arm off if he had to.

“They’re looking for people, normal people.” Vinny gurgled at last as the pain crescendoed. “I don’t know where they’re taking them or why they want them. I just know they’re offering a good reward.”

Zach smiled, nodding, happy that Vinny had suddenly come to his senses. Slowly, carefully, he eased the amount of pressure on Vinny’s arm, causing him to let out a sigh of relief.

“The suits have been tight-lipped about most of what they’re doing. They’re careful about what they let us know. We only get what info they want us to have, most of the time. This one’s especially locked down. I don’t know why. If you want more, you’re gonna have to pry it from them.”

“Thanks for your cooperation, Vinny.” Zach replied, his joyful demeanor suddenly returning as he clapped Vinny gently on the back. “You should probably go get looked at.”

Vinny just let out a laugh in return.

“You’re probably gonna need a lot more than that soon.” He shot back with a grin as Zach heard the sound of cracking knuckles behind him. “Some people around here don’t like it when people pick fights with a regular like me.”

Zach didn’t even bother trying to block as the punch made contact. It was harder than he expected, making him reel sideways into the bar. Still, he recovered quickly, wearing a broad grin.

“Round six it is then.” He muttered as he pivoted, swinging at his nearest assailant.