Pc Perk

Episode 4

Cotton arrived at his “Bank”, he walked into the door and the security guard, a Great Dane, nodded his head as Cotton walked up to him.  The great Dane was huge, and started to frisk Cotton, as Cotton held his arms out.  Martin walked from one of the back rooms.  “Mr. Slim.”  Martin, a gopher, who was about as tall as Cotton walked up to him.  “King my boy.  No need to search Mr. Slim.  He is okay.” Martin said as he walked up and placed his arm on the huge Great Dane.  The Great Dane stepped back and assumed his previous position.  The lobby was big.  A grand chandelier, hung down from the ceiling.  There were paintings hung on the walls, and beautiful chic carpets on the floor.  From the outside, this looked like a side entrance to a warehouse.   The “Bank” was located down a small alley in China Town, which was in the Central East Side of the city.  Cotton had been going there for years, ever since he started making substantial money in his line of work.  Martin led him upstairs.  The first floor had many rooms that were used for several illegal things, meetings about territory, one on one sit downs to resolve a beef, or meetings that ended in a different way where two would go in and one would come out.  They had cameras everywhere, and guards of every species posted up in strategic locations.  It was basically a guarded fort.  The “Bank” was run by a group, some called the Jewish Mafia.  They were Kolas.  They were organized and they calculated every move, good or bad.  They guarded everything, they had money, legal and illegal.  They knew who Cotton was, and Cotton knew who they were.   

Cotton walked into the vaulted room.  There were two more guards on the inside.  The room looked like a library, but instead of books it was rows of safety deposit boxes.  The room was cold, like really cold.  Cotton looked at Martin.  I need to purchase another box”.

            “No problem my boy.  I will just add it to the registry.”  Martin said as he pulled out a notebook and scribbled the request down.  Martin walked over to where Cotton had his other two boxes, and he pulled them out.  He motioned for one of the guards to come over.  The guard, a stocky bulldog, came and grabbed the two boxes, and walked them over to a curtained room.  He placed the two boxes in and went back to his position. 

Martin held out his hand and gave Cotton the okay to precede into the small, curtained room.  “I will bring your new box over to you.” 

            Cotton walked into the room.  He pulled out his cash from his jacket pocket and placed it on the small table.  He opened the first box and counted his money.  He didn’t know why he did, he knew how much was in there, he knew they wouldn’t steal from him, but he just wanted the security of knowing what was in each box again.  He opened the second box.  He counted it.  He reached for the money on the table.  He counted it also.  He pulled out enough money to buy the sniper rifle, and bullets, then he grabbed extra, for, spending money.  He knew he needed to buy some clothes for this hit.  He knew they needed to be nice clothes.  He grabbed a little extra to pay his fee here and to slide Martin a little. 

“Cotton.  I have the extra box.”  Martin said as he waited outside the curtain.

Cotton reached out and grabbed the box.  He placed the money on the inside of the box, then placed the lid back on.  He slid his money into his inside pocket, then stepped out.

Martin was waiting patiently on the outside, and as Cotton stepped out, Martin nodded to the dog.  The bulldog came and grabbed the boxes, and Martin led him to where they would be stored.  Martin then walked back to Cotton.  “Is there anything else I can do for you today Mr. Slim?” 

“No, I am good Martin.  I appreciate it.”  Cotton said as he slid his hand in his pocket and retrieved some money.  He handed Martin the first bit of money.  “This should cover my fees.”

Martin took the money and pulled out his notebook; he wrote in it again, then placed it back into his nice tan sportscoat.  Cotton the pulled out his money and grabbed a little more, “This is for you my old friend.”  Cotton handed him the money.

“Why thank you Mr. Slim.”  Martin said as he put the money in his other jacket pocket.

            He led Cotton out of the door.  They walked out and as they did, Cotton noticed a group of Koalas walking out of and upstairs meeting room.  Cotton shook Martin’s hand then started to walk down the stairs.

“Look at this.  I was just thinking of you the other day!”  A voice came from Cotton’s left side.

Cotton stopped and turned to see who it was. 

The whole group stopped, as if they were waiting for a response from Cotton.

Cotton looked at the group, he was trying to decipher who it was that talked to him.  Then he saw him.  Johnny the Fluff.  A Jewish wise guy.  Cotton had known Johnny since he was a joey.  Cotton was only a year older but had been around Johnny since Johnny came out of his mother’s pouch.  They grew up in the same apartment building.  Johnny was known because his fur around his ears fluffed out, more than the average Koala.  Women had loved him since Cotton could remember.  Johnny always had the females chasing him.  It didn’t matter what species, human or animal, they all loved Johnny. 

Cotton was surprised, last he knew, Johnny was in prison.  He had killed a Coyote, from a rival family a couple years back.  He was also a suspect in three or four other murders, one of which was a human.  Johnny wasn’t a bad Koala, he just was involved with the life and didn’t take shit from anyone.  Johnny walked over to Cotton. 

“I’ll be damned.  Johnny!”  Cotton said as the two hugged.

Johnny hugged Cotton tight.  “How have you been?  Long time.”

“Yeah, it has been.”  Cotton didn’t want to ask him about the jail time, he wasn’t sure who within the group Johnny was in, knew about it, and didn’t want to disrespect or embarrass Johnny.

“How is the family?”  Cotton asked.

Johnny, still with a smile on his face, “You know Ma.  She is cooking, taking care of everyone.”  Johnny stepped back.  “Sorry to hear about your ma.  She was a nice, caring woman.  Made the best Carrot Cake I have had to this day.” 

Cotton smiled.  He didn’t talk about his mom too much.  Her passing still hurt him.  She was just walking home when she was run over by a human who had a few too many drinks.  It had been three years since that had happened.  Cotton quickly changed the subject.  “So, it has been at least, what, three four years since I have seen you?”

Just as Johnny was about to speak, A stunning gorgeous female Rabbit stepped in between them.  “Excuse me.  Johnny.  We need to get going.” 

Johnny looked at her as if he was going to slap her.  He looked at Cotton.  “Cotton.  I will get your number from Martin.  We will have dinner.  It is a busy week for us; this Fashion Week thing is killing us.”

  Cotton felt the glare of the female rabbit upon him.

“Yeah.  Martin has it.”  Then Cotton looked at the rabbit.  She was wearing a nice red sequenced dress.  Her figure was athletic; her eyes were immaculate.  She stared at Cotton with intent.  She held out her paw.  “I am Raquel.”

Cotton grabbed her paw; her fur was soft.  “I am Cotton.”  He shook her paw.

Cotton was in awe.  He didn’t let it show though. 

“Charmed, I am sure.”  She said as she then looked at Johnny.  “Can we go now?”

Johnny looked at her.  Cotton could tell Johnny was biting his tongue.  He looked back at Cotton.  “Next week.  I will get a hold of you.”

Cotton and Johnny shook paws.  Johnny leaned in and whispered to Cotton.  “Freaking broads huh?” 

Cotton chuckled.  He watched Johnny walk away.  His brown, three-piece suit looked expensive as he told one of his guys to call Rodrigo and tell them they were on their way.

            The group walked away, and as they did, Raquel looked back at Cotton.  She looked at him from his feet, back up to his eyes.  Then elegantly, walked down the stairs.

Cotton took a cab to the Northside.  He got out on 2^nd street.  He paid for the cab.  He looked around, the streets seemed dead today, maybe the rain, or maybe the preparation of fashion week was keeping everyone inside.  Cotton walked to a small grocery store.  He walked to the produce section.  He looked for some radishes.  He wanted something with a little spice to it.  He picked up a bunch, then also grabbed some water.  He paid the clerk, then walked back outside.  He pulled his phone from his jacket.  He dialed Smiley.  Smiley answered.

“Yeah?”

“Smiley.  This is Cotton.  Where are you?”

Smiley paused. Cotton heard some rumbling around from Smiley’s end.  He must be busy.

“Cotton.  Let me call you back.  The number you called me on, safe to talk?”

“Yup.”  Cotton replied staring at his radishes.

“Okay.  One minute.

They hung up.  Smiley was a paranoid mongoose.  He was an arms dealer.  He looked as if he couldn’t be trusted, but Cotton had never had a problem with him.  Smiley was always nervous, and he always made Cotton a little nervous when he was around him.  His mannerisms, his speech, were just always shaky.  Cotton ate a few radishes and was in the middle of drinking his water when Smiley called him back.

“Where are you?”  Smiley asked quickly.

“At Harts grocery.”  Cotton responded.

“Okay be there in a second.”  Smiley said as he hung up the phone.

Cotton finished his food when Smiley quickly drove up in his white van.  The van screeched to a stop as it pulled up to Cotton.  Smiley was looking in his side view mirrors, then his rearview mirror.  “Hey get in.”  Smiley said.

Cotton opened the door, and before he could close it, Smiley had the van already moving.  Cotton looked at him as they drove out of the parking lot. 

“So, Cotton, what do you need?”  Smiley said as he was driving down Broadway Street.

            “Something powerful.  Something with a scope.”  Cotton said.

             Smiley quickly replied.  “A sniper Rifle?”  Smiley responded as he banged a quick right into an alley.  He quickly stopped the van.  Smiley glanced in his rearview mirror.

            “Yeah.  How much?”  Cotton asked, getting nervous, and catching himself looking in the side mirror, for whatever it was Smiley was looking for.

            “Okay.  For you.  One thousand.”

            Cotton thought for a second.  “With bullets?”

            “You are killing me Cot.  Okay.  With bullets.”

            “Cool.”  Cotton said as he pulled out the cash.  He started to hand it to Smiley, but Smiley quickly put his hand up.  He looked in each mirror.  Then opened the driver side door, he peeked his head out, and quickly scanned the area, then shut the door again.

            Cotton, looked around also.  He didn’t see anything.  Smiley quickly grabbed the money.  He then jumped in between the two seats and jumped in the back of the van.  Cotton watched him in the rearview mirror gathering things.  “Anyone one coming Cot?” 

            Cotton looked in the side mirrors.  He didn’t see anyone.  “Nah we are good Smiley.”

Cotton then looked in the rearview mirror, and saw Smiley open the van’s back doors, and stuck his head and looked around then quickly shut the doors again. 

            Cotton smiled, he almost laughed while he shook his head at Smiley.  The mongoose moved quick.  He was taller than Cotton, he was slim and always had a blue sweater on.  He wore a hat and dark glasses.  He looked, suspect.  He knew Smiley wore that because he wanted to keep a low profile, but his outfit made him look more suspicious.

            Smiley jumped back up front.  “Okay Cot.  When you get out, just quickly open the back.  Everything you need is in the case.

            “Okay.  Thank you Smiley.”

            “Yeah, yeah.  Thanks, bud!”  Smiley said as he peered out his side mirror.

            Cotton got out of the van.  He walked to the back, opened the door, and grabbed the handled case.  He started to shut the door, but he heard the van change gears, he knew Smiley was about to take off.  Cotton quickly slammed the door, and just as he did, the van quickly sped away. 

            Cotton stood there for a second.  He calmed down.  Smiley just always made Cotton so nervous.  Cotton turned around, and started to walk up Broadway, waiting to see a cab, so he could take his new merchandise home.