Pc Perk

Cotton Slim—Episode 3

Slim jumped from his kitchen counter; the bullets almost clipped him as he barely got away.  The wood from his cabinet door was ripped to shreds.  He remembered he had painted his walls white, for this reason.  He still couldn’t see his nemesis.  He pulled out his gun, “Shorty”, a .38 snub nosed.  He thought it was weird that it was on him.  He didn’t remember preparing for this.   His grandfather gave it to him when he was young.  He shot three times, while he was in the air.  He wasn’t sure if he hit this enemy or what.  It just became quiet.  No movement.  Cotton landed on the ground, scanning his apartment.  “Fucking Chameleon.  Show yourself!”

            Cotton quickly loaded more bullets in his gun.  He heard the laugh but couldn’t decipher where it came from. 

            “That’s part of my game Cotton.  You must find me.” 

            Cotton shot blindly.  He emptied his revolver. 

            “HEHEHE.  That is why you will die as the second-best hit man in Porte City.”

            Cotton smelled the stale breath.  He turned around; The Chameleon was behind him.  Cotton was startled as he saw the ugly beast.  Then all he saw was the mouth of the reptile lunge toward him, Cotton woke up.

            Cotton almost fell out of bed.  He tried to gather him-self, he took a breath.  The cowl of the roosters next door had help him escape his own death.  He was thankful for the rooster’s morning.  Most mornings when the roosters would wake him up, he wanted to go over there and shut them up for good.  He felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.  He looked down, and saw he was bleeding again.  He knew he needed to wash his cut.  He got out of bed.  He shook his head and his floppy ears wiggled as he did.  The dream shook him up.  He had only heard of the chameleon.  He had never seen him.  He wasn’t sure if he was even real.  Cotton took precautions, because he knew it was a matter of time before somebody would hire that cold blooded reptilian to kill Cotton.  Cotton painted his walls and ceilings white.  Wilmen did also, his bar, his house was painted all white.  They knew a chameleon couldn’t change to white, so one day they decided to paint everything, after all, this was Porte City, you never knew who wanted you dead, and never knew who was going to act on it. 

            Cotton walked into his bathroom; he brushed his teeth.  He always spent a lot of time cleaning his teeth.  In the Rabbit community, white teeth were a sign of self-respect and was one way you could attract the opposite sex.  Clean teeth also marked your standing in the community.  Clean teeth went a long way in business, and how the community looked at you overall.  Cotton looked in the mirror, teeth looked good, but his wound was bleeding badly.  He knew he needed medical attention.  He had to get to his meeting with Wilmen, and Samuel.  He would clean it now, then head to the hospital after.  Cotton walked into the kitchen.  He grabbed his carrots from the fridge.  He took two out of the package.  He placed them in his juicer.  He then placed a cooking pot under the juicer and let the juice flow into the pot.  He then placed the pot on his stove.  He turned the stove on, then walked to his living room to turn on his T.V.  He walked back into his kitchen and washed his juicer.

            He heard the news as he finished cleaning the juicer.  He neatly placed the juicer back into its spot on the counter.  The weather man talked about today being rain, all day.  Cotton shook his head.  He hated the rain.  He then turned off the stove, grabbed his mug from a cabinet, and poured his warm carrot juice slowly in.  He reached for his sugar and grabbed a spoon from the drawer and mixed the sugar into his warm juice.  He placed the pot and the spoon into the sink and walked over to his couch.  He sat down, the commercials ended, and the nicely dressed news reporter had started talking.  “Well Porte City get your clothes on and prepare for the new styles of the season.  Porte City Fashion week starts next week.  This will be the first Fashion Week that comes to Porte City.  With the trends changing, and fashion becoming the norm, we will get a glance to get a sneak peek on what to expect for the new season.  We sat down and talked to the organizer, simply known as Rodrigo.”

            Cotton scooted up in his seat.  He was interested.  He had never worn many clothes, but he did like sliding on a jacket when it was cold, or to protect himself from the rain.  He knew different animals and species bickered about this, but it didn’t matter to him either way, he felt species should do what they want to make themselves feel good. 

            Rodrigo, a sleek elegant-looking Ram, was in the center shot.  He had a dark black slim fitting suit.  He looked confident, he looked intelligent.  He looked like the real deal. 

            “So, Rodrigo, you are bringing the Fashion week to Porte City.  How did this come about?”

            Rodrigo paused for a second as the camera zoomed into him. “Well, we know Porte City is one of the largest specie populated cities in the country.  I feel that bringing Fashion Week will be an economic boost for this city.  We have been overseas, in my country and neighboring countries for years doing this.  I felt that coming here, at the right time would advance specie relations, economics and overall attitude towards our kind.”

            Cotton noticed how the words just flowed out of his mouth.  He was educated, and his accent, a Spanish accent was exotic and almost captivating.

            “As you know, Porte City is a blue-collar city.  We have a lot of factories, a lot of crime, and the median income is low.  So do you think the citizens will adapt to a clothed lifestyle?”

            Rodrigo smiled.  He chuckled.  “Marlene, my dear.  You live in Porte City, look how you are dressed.”

            Marlene was a stunning Lamb.  Her coat was pure white, and her dark face blended in well.   She wore a blouse and a skirt for the interview.  “I think you are wearing something of mine right now.”  Rodrigo slid his hand/hoof over to her and touched her skirt.

            She giggled like a schoolgirl.  His suave personality, and good looks made her putty in his hooved hand. 

            The camera panned back to him.  “I don’t think fashion is a rich, a poor choice.  It is a choice about self.  How do you want the world to view you?  Do you want to look like you are fresh from the wild?  Do you want to make your own choices, and have society tell you that you shouldn’t wear clothes, because you are an animal?”

            “I agree with you, but what do you say to protesters, saying that we are trying to be more human?”

            Rodrigo looked directly at the camera. His horns shined, and as his green eyes mesmerized the thousands watching, he replied, “I say, time to get over the past, Species have made major breakthroughs in business, technology, sports and now fashion.  We are members of earth, and it is time we are taken seriously in all aspects of business and trade.”

            The news went back to its live program.  Marlen was at the news desk with the camera solely on her.  “We will be back after this break.  A northside Alpha found dead along with four others in a Polk Street apartment, after this.”

            Cotton got up, he walked to the kitchen.  He placed his mug in the sink.  He walked to the bathroom; he took a quick shower.  He dried himself and grabbed his holster.  He wrapped it around his waist.  He walked over to his drawer.  He got Goldie, his gold nine-millimeter.  He grabbed the pre-loaded clips and placed them in his holster.  He walked to the window; it was already raining.  He went to his closet and grabbed his black raincoat.  He thought about Rodrigo.  He looked in his closet.  He saw only one more jacket, but it was for the cold weather.  He looked back outside.  “Would be nice to have some shoes, so my feet don’t get wet.  Some pants so my legs don’t get wet.  He slid his jacket on.  He put the hood over his large ears.  He grabbed his keys, and walked to the fridge, to pull out his money.  He wanted to move it to his bank.  He always kept some around but the bulk of it, he wanted to add to his security box.  He had already filled two boxes with loot but it never hurt to add more.  Cotton was a saver.  Everything he earned he always saved.  That is why he lived where he lived.  Nobody wanted to live around roosters.  They were confrontational, they were loud, and they never let you sleep in.  The rent was cheap though.  Cotton loved that more than anything else. 

The news came back on.  “Five dead in a Polk Street apartment, including an Alpha that went by the street name Snaggle.”  They went to a tape of the outside of the apartment.  The tape started with the coroner carting the bodies to the van. 

The camera shot then went to a detective, a German Shepard.  “We were called to the scene at about eleven.  One of the deceased was a known Alpha, a wolf that went by the name Snaggle.  He had run this area for years, he had been in and out of jail, a real blip on the radar for many crimes in this area.”  The scene cut to another officer, another German Shepard, “Anyone with information please contact The Porte City Police, I feel this will be the start of a war here on the Northside, as many other groups will try and become alpha, in the city’s most dangerous area.  Let us pull together and find this killer, so our city does not become a warzone.”

The program went back to the news desk, “Anyone with information please contact the Porte City Police.”  Marlene said, as the news went to break.

Cotton turned off his T.V.  He zipped up his jacket, to keep dry and also to hide his wound.  He walked to his door, opened it walked out, then locked the door, and headed towards Silverback’s, for his meeting with his crew.   

Cotton walked into Silverback’s.  Wilmen and Samuel were sitting at a table in the middle of the establishment.  Cotton pushed his hood off his head.  His ears popped out as if they were toast popping out of a toaster.  Cotton walked over to the table.  “What’s up fellas?”

They both looked up and said their hello’s. 

Cotton looked at both.  Samuel had a small Irish hat atop his small head.  Cotton looked at Wilmen.  Wilmen, who usually wore no clothes when he wasn’t working, was wearing a black tight fitting sport coat.  Cotton stepped back, he laughed.

“What are you laughing at?”  Wilmen said as he sat straight in his chair.

“Hehehe..  You guys watched the news this morning.  You saw that interview with Rodrigo?”

Cotton stood there smiling, with his two front, bright white teeth sticking out.

Wilmen looked at him and mocked his smile.

Cotton laughed, then glanced at Samuel, waiting for a response.

“What?  I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Cotton moved his head back, in amazement.  “What!  You have never worn anything.  Now you have a hat on after the interview with that designer was on the news this morning.  Bulll- shit!”

Samuel looked at Cotton.  Hahaha!  Fuck you, with your big ass teeth.”  Samuel responded defending himself.  Look at you, wearing a jacket.  You must have saw the interview.  You never wear nothing either.”  Samuel said as he smiled a little bit, knowing his charade was over.

Cotton laughed and sat down.  Wilmen shook his head.  He stood up.  “I can’t.  This thing is too tight.  Limits my movement.”  He quickly took the jacket off and laid it on the back of the seat.

“Well don’t shop in the Jr. sections big guy.”  Samuel said as he lit a cigarette.

Wilmen glared at Samuel for a second, then brought his attention to Cotton. 

“Hey, how is your wound?”

“I don’t know.  I cleaned it in the shower.  I didn’t spend too much time on it.  I am thinking I will go to the Dr.”

“Nah.  Larry is here.  He is in the back.  He can look at it.”  Wilmen said as he motioned to the back of the bar.  There were a few rooms behind the bar.

“Nah uh.  Nope.  That crazy ass monkey isn’t touching me.”

Wilmen and Samuel both sighed. 

“Cotton.  He is good.”  Wilmen responded.

“Oh he is good, I know.  But I am not sitting there listening to his views on the world, and Gods.”  Cotton shook his head, then looked back at both men.  “Last time, he spent forty minutes telling me about the flat earth movement.  Then another twenty minutes about how Aliens are our gods. 

Samuel shook his head.  “Man, just let him do it.  You go to the hospital, they will see the claw marks, and maybe contact police, thinking you have something to do with the murder.

Cotton looked at Wilmen.  Wilmen shook his head.

“Plus man, I am up in the air all day, and I will tell you one thing.  The Earth is flat, no curvature at all.”  Samuel said as he stared at Cotton.

“Oh damn.”  Cotton said as he threw his arms into the air. “You too?”   Cotton paused.  “Okay, you tell him not to talk that BS.  I will let him work on me, if he shuts the hell up.”

Wilmen shook his head in agreement.

“Alright.  Next job?  Who is it?

“Well, it is funny that you should ask?”  Samuel said as he brought himself to the center of the table.  “This clothes thing; might be short lived.”

Cotton and Wilmen looked at each other.

“Are you serious?”  Cotton said as he slid back into his seat.

The bar was quiet, the only noises that were apparent were coming from the busy streets outside.

“Why?”  Wilmen asked.

“Not sure the reasoning, but I have my ideas.”

“The human wanted this?”  Cotton asked as he unzipped his jacket.

“Yeah.  I mean I know he is working for someone else.  Somebody powerful too.  They had me meet them, then blindfolded me and drove me to a warehouse, on the West Side. Then the same on the ay back.”

“No Idea who he was involved with?”  Wilmen asked.

“No, but there was a panther.   Nicely dressed panther at that.  He was a big boy – jet black with yellow eyes.  Looked like he didn’t play.”

“He was with the humans?”  Cotton asked intrigued.

“Yeah.  The human had a few men with him, they looked organized, even political.  One of the men didn’t look like a gangster, more of a politician.

“So, what they say?”  Cotton asked, ready to get to the meat of the details.

“So, I guess there is a speech this Rodrigo is going to give.  When they told me about the speech, the politician looking guy seemed disgusted.”

“You know, during Rodrigo’s interview, he seemed as if he was using this fashion thing to bring the species race up, almost like a human civil rights activist.  Maybe the humans don’t want that.”  Cotton paused, “Hell they do it to their own people, nothing would stop them from doing the same to us.”

Samuel lit another cigarette.  “The catch is.”  Samuel said as he inhaled then exhaled the smoke.  “A cool million is up for this one.  Twenty percent up front, the rest after confirmation of his death.”     

Wilmen and Cotton looked at each other in amazement.  Wilmen shook his head.  “Damn!  That is a lot of money man!”

“Two hundred grand up front, that is more than most hits altogether.”  Cotton shook his head in disbelief.  He looked at Wilmen. 

Wilmen shook his head in agreement.  “We don’t know him.” 

Cotton agreed.  “He isn’t our friend.  Fuck him.  Let’s do it.”

Samuel looked at both men.  “They want it for Wednesday during his speech.  Must be from a distance.  Sniper Rifle.”  Samuel looked at Cotton.

“Okay.  Been looking for a reason to buy one anyway.”

“The only thing.  I will not be here.  I gotta fly to the northeast.  I Have a deal up there.  That is also worth a lot of money.  With my flock.” 

Wilmen and Cotton looked at each other.  Then back at Samuel.

“Man you told us that the two would never interfere with each other, you said you would put our thing above all else.”  Wilmen said almost disgusted.

Samuel looked at both men.  “I know.  I have a lot more responsibility with the flock now, that I am second in rank.”  Samuel knew this wouldn’t go over well.  The three have been together since Samuel told them of the pedophiles back when they were police. 

Cotton and Wilmen didn’t understand, a flock to a bird was his family.  His crew.  Samuel had been with this flock since he was born.  He had risen through the ranks from bottom to second in charge.  He had to go.  There was no option.  “Look I wish I could be there, and help.  I just can’t.  Believe me.”

Cotton understood.  He knew that it would take Wilmen a few days to understand.  Gorillas were hardheaded.  They thought only in one way, their way.  Cotton looked at Wilmen.  He held his paws in the air, as if to say, calm down.  “Is it Big business?’  Cotton asked Samuel.

“Yeah.  We are bringing a new product down.  Fentanyl.  China White.” 

“Damn.  You guys bringing that into Porte City?’

“Nah.  We don’t want a war.  We are taking it further south to some humans in Town of the Bay.” 

“Oh okay. So, you guys are just running it.”  Wilmen replied with a stare.

“Yeah, fucking humans.  Town of the Bay is a shitty place anyway.   Might as well let the humans die from that shit.”  Samuel put out his cigarette.  “I feel bad guys, really but I will have my nephew, Lawrence help.  He will scout for you guys.” 

Cotton and Wilmen knew Lawrence and he had worked with the crew before.  He was trustworthy.  He was a street bird like Samuel.  He was a little crazier, he liked to get into dirty shit, but he always did a good job when he worked with them. 

Cotton and Wilmen shook their heads in agreement. 

“Okay.  Let me get in contact with the human, let him know we will do the job.  I will get the details.  And meet with you guys tonight, after closing.”  Samuel said as all three men got up.  Samuel looked at Wilmen.  “Sorry bro.  I have to do this run.”

“I know.”  Wilmen said as he patted Samuel on the back and almost knocked him from the table. 

“Cotton.  Get the sniper rifle.  Murry has some, from what I heard.”  Samuel said as he took off from the table and headed to the door. 

“Oh damn.  I have to deal with that Mongoose now?”

“Better you than me.  Hehehe.”  Samuel said as he laughed as he went out the door.

Cotton looked at Wilmen.  “You ready brother. Its Friday, we have a lot to do by Wednesday.”

“Hey.  It is why we do it.”  Wilmen said as he put his arm around Cotton’s slim body.  “Let’s go talk to Larry.”

Cotton totally forgot he was going to see the monkey.  He thought Wilmen put his arm around him because they were best friends, but he was deceived, it was so Cotton wouldn’t leave, before he saw Larry.

Cotton looked up at Wilmen, Wilmen smiled back, Cotton put his head down, “Ga Dammit!”