type as me

The Charming Monkey, Part 8

"Can I help you?", enquired the man who stood menacingly in the doorway to The Artemis Casino. I was surprised to see that there was already a queue forming, and the doorman was being kept busy.

"You can let me in, for a start", I replied, "I'm here at the big man's request".

The ape looked at me through suspicious eyes. I don't think he was impressed with my attire for a start. Although The Artemis wasn't that high class, it wanted to be. It was the only casino in town, so it attracted a lot of business. If people wanted to throw away money it was either coming here, going to the dogs, or burning it. As a result it tried to get some exclusivity. In my opinion it failed miserably, but that's probably why I'm wearing a cheap suit and am behind on my mortgage repayments.

"Hey, you can go and check with him yourself", I said, "but make it quick because I got a busy day, and you're annoying the heck outta me".

With a grunt the doorman turned and went to the reception desk, that was just inside the lobby. He said something to the girl manning the desk, and she handed him a phone. He exchanged words with the person on the other end, and looked at me. His expression became more and more disgruntled as the conversation went on. I smiled at him, and winked. He hung up the phone and plodded over to me.

"Come on in, Mister Cane", he huffed, "Mister Vadas is expecting you".

"Why thank you, chief", I replied with a grin, and stepped inside. The doorman pointed past the reception toward a stair case leading up to a set of double doors. I began to walk toward them, when a voice from my left stopped me.

"Hold it!", said the voice. It was a nasally, high pitched voice that grated me. I turned to my left to see a man sitting in a chair, hidden by the reception desk. He got up and walked over to me.

"Please come with me, Sir", said the guy, every syllable making me shudder.

"Hey, pal, I've only just met you", I replied. The expression on this stiff's face made me think he didn't have a sense of humour. He definitely didn't. With a swift movement, he pushed me against the wall, and grabbed my .45 through the material of my jacket. He pressed the barrel against my ribs.

"Why are you packing, Mister Wise Guy?"

"Bad neighbourhood", I replied, "and you should hear some of the stories I've heard about this place". The nasal man dug the barrel into me harder. I winced.

"Still with the funnies, eh?"

"I'm sure I'll be laughing more when Vadas wonders why he's been kept waiting".

"You obviously don't know Vadas that well. He doesn't appreciate people bringing pieces into his establishment".

"With such a warm welcome, I'm surprised that it doesn't happen more". The nasally man grabbed my collar with one hand, and pulled me away from the wall. He was surprisingly strong, and lead me over to the reception desk. A few of the people outside were beginning to peer in, and the guy signalled to the ape at the entrance to shut the front doors. The ape obliged, and closed the doors, leaving me and the nasally guy in the privacy of the lobby. He pushed me against the desk, and pulled the gun out of my jacket. He set it down, and the girl on the reception moved away. He then kicked the back of my knee, which I wasn't expecting. My leg buckled, and I dropped down on one knee. The girl gasped.

"Perhaps you'll be a bit more co-operative, now", said the guy, who was beginning to push my head against the counter.