“You’re in deep water, little girl.”

“To carry the metaphor, I’m actually sailing on top of the water in my pretty pink sailboat. You’re the one sinking beneath the water, dude. You just fell two stories. Possibly broke your leg or, at the least, aggravated an old wound–”

“An old wound you gave me.”

“And to make it worse, your Boss is dying. And everyone knows it. You know how everyone knows? Because I told them. They’re going to come for you guys. And they’re going to tear your little Organization apart, limb by limb.”

“The Organization is all you piss-ant gangs have protecting you from the–”

“From the Underworld?” She snorts. “Please. I think you’re keeping us from it. Keeping us from all the awesome. We want to get rich and you won’t let us.” She fakes a pout.”You’ve gotten fat and comfortable in your beds and didn’t see the rats in the walls, Werth, but the rats see you.” She mimes a rat gnawing and nibbling. Then laughs.

“From sailboats to rats. Now you’re mixing your metaphors.”

“I’ll assume you can keep up.”

“You’re father doesn’t know I’m here. Just so you know.” He clears his throat. “This is all me, little girl.”

“My father can go fuck a duck.”

“Interesting image. He loves you very much, you know. He shouldn’t. But he does.”

Another laugh, this one loud and echoing and hollow. “Right. Love. Like he loved my mother? The only thing Mookie loves is you and your Boss. He loves the work so much it’s not even work. I was always the chore. The hard work wasn’t going down into the dark. The hard work was just… sitting with me. Playing dollies. Listening to my stupid stories. Pretending we were cooking food for princesses and presidents.” She sighs. “After he left us, I asked him to stay… I don’t know how many times. He never did. Not once. So don’t sell me on his love. It’s a lie, a scam, a joke.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

“You said you needed a messenger.”

“Yup. I want you to send a message to your Boss and all his people. Actually, I want you to tell everyone.”

“Tell everyone what?”

“That I killed Casimir Zoladski. And I’m just getting warmed up.”

As if the fall wasn’t enough, they worked him over pretty good. The one called Lulu picked him up. Got a belt around his neck. Held him as the others brought the gauntlet to him – Skelly clubbed him with her skates. Another chick in a slashed-up mint-green poodle skirt whacked him in the face with an old-timey sap – he didn’t even know they made those anymore. The rest just got him with fists and elbows and feet.