While I was in my car with Randy, I received a phone call from Tommy. I was stopped at a stoplight, so I decided to stop for some gas before
heading to the mall.
But he didn’t respond, at least, not at first.
He then said on the phone, “I gotta be quick, so just listen….”
I then tried to reach him, but he no longer answered his phone. It was still on, as I presume he put it in his pocket.
I heard a few punches. I presume he was dragged away, as they tossed his phone somewhere, trying to break it, but it didn’t. So, I kept
listening, for better or for worse. And worse it was.
There were two men with Tommy. I immediately recognized one of them being Mitch’s voice. Instantly, I recognize something wrong with this
situation already. Even worse, Mitch tried to instill a rep with me as being a good guy.
As I listened, here was what played out:
Tommy was dragged away from the car, as two men carried him to a deserted, remote location in the middle of a tunnel below the highway.
Mitch did all the punching, as he threw in five heavy, hard punches to Tommy’s gut. Luckily for Tommy, he spends a considerable amount of
time in the weight room, as we spent some time hanging out in the gym, playing basketball, racquetball, doing weights, and so forth between
classes. Therefore, he’s prepared to handle the punches much more so than the average man, though the punches stung and were quite
gruesome.
Tommy yelped in pain.
Mitch said after the first punch, “Didn’t you forget it was ‘Mr. Hastings, to you pal?’ I need you to address me as such.”
Tommy replied back with an annoyed vengeance, “I didn’t know you were such a stickler for details.”
Mr. Hastings punches Tommy again, this time in the stomach.
Aggravated and in intense pain, Tommy yells out, “Owwwww!!!! I don’t have the lease contract from you, Mitch. They said they’re not ready,
that it’ll take them a couple more months until the space is officially open. I’ll try to get them to settle so they can get it to you A.S.A.P., but
it’s a hard and trying process.”
Mr. Hastings punched Tommy again, this time to his balls, which hurt like hell.
Mr. Hastings snapped, “You know what I just did? You just had, my fist, in your balls. I bet that must hurt like hell. But that’s not, what I’m
here to discuss.”
Meanwhile, another anonymous man was standing ominously next to Mr. Hastings. His voice sounded like an old, mid-50s, corporate
executive, and was probably wearing a suit, black tie, white collared shirt, and black pants.
The mysterious stranger said, “Do you know who I am?”
Tommy replied, “You’re a dangerous criminal. I mean, very important person. Just let me go in peace, please.”
The man said, “I run the mafia, bitch. I won’t kill you, you’ll be my eyes and ears. Our target is Josh Regence and his friend, Rachel Wernes.
We must find them, because they have something we want.”
Tommy replied incredulously, “They wouldn’t have anything you want! They are peaceful people! Just friends of mine. Mitch, you’re in the
mafia?”
Mr. Hastings nodded, as he said, “Gotcha, my friend.”
Tommy responded with vicious anger, “Real sneaky tricky, my friend! You’re a real douschebag, Mitch!”
Mr. Hastings punched Tommy in the chest again, replying, “No, no, no, no, no. I’m a good guy, just like you, and George over here. I played
my cards, and I duped you. You fell for it. I dropped in hints, with the big silver lining, shining right here, as you put it all together. But it’s
too late, and now you’ve got to work for us.”
Tommy replied, “Or else what?”
Mr. Hastings replied, “You’ll do what we want you to do. George and I have some business to run. Get me some info on Josh, Rachel, or
whoever is helping them, and take them to us.”
George replied, “Do it, Tom. Also, I’m Mr. Dodson to you, pal. We’re recruiting Josh to join us, but if he doesn’t, he is in for a world. A world
of pain. We need to know. If he doesn’t work for us, we have something else up our sleeves. We just need all of the lawyers, the enforcement,
and prospective trainees to stay up our back. Here’s a payout if you keep quiet about this.”
Tommy replied angrily, “I’m not taking it. I’m not betraying my best friends in the world. I love them.”
Mr. Dodson said, “You won’t have to. Take it. The next time you meet with us, you’ll be a double agent, for us.”
He handed him the card as both of the men left.
As soon as I heard that, I was ready to hang up, and storm off to drive somewhere else. But Mr. Hastings and Mr. Dodson both left and drove
off, stranding Tommy at the site where he had met up with them.
After the two men left, Tommy muttered, "What the hell was that?"
Tommy went back to retrieve his phone, which was almost nearby the ocean water.
He said to me in shock, “You just heard that, didn’t you?”
I said, “Yup. They don’t know about the party, do they?”
He said, “Nope. You guys are still in to hang out with us?”
I said, “As long as those mafia guys aren’t there.”
Tommy replied, “Cool. Talk to you when I get there.”