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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 5446960" data-attributes="member: 3285">The Windthrope Legacy: Part 2 – The EnforcerThanks, RT!  As promised, another update.  There's not much action in this chapter -- it establishes that 1) there's no going back to the old way any time soon, and 2) helps set up the insane chapter that comes next.====Hammer entered the Strapping Lad pub with some trepidation. Lower Brichester was a seedy area of decay and degeneration. Burned-out shop fronts, condemned buildings, pornography shops, slums, sagging flats, and seedy pubs made up much of the town. The Beretta tucked into his belt was cold comfort – he felt naked without his Glocks.He half-expected to be ambushed by PISCES goons when he entered, but the Strapping Lad was sparsely populated.  The proprietor, Nobby, approached Hammer.“You must be Mr. Grange?”Hammer looked around.  He was probably the only dark-skinned man for miles around.  “Yes?”“Mr. Cornwell is in the back, sir,” he said curtly, all business.  “Two beers please,” said Hammer.  Before Nobby could ask, he added, “whatever you recommend.”Nobby nodded and went back to the bar.  Hammer got the impression these sorts of meetings were commonplace.Cornwell sat at the pub booth and didn’t rise when Hammer approached.  “Well, if it ain’t me old friend, back from th’ States,” he said, his Gloucestershire burr evident.  He was a hard-looking man, with slightly curly gray hair and sharp features.  Cornwell looked like he would just as soon punch you as shake your hand.Fortunately he did neither.  Hammer sat across from him.  Cornwell had just finished a drink.“It’s good to see you John.”Cornwell was an enforcer for a London firm run by the notorious Roy and Dave Dixon. The Dixon brothers specialized primarily in porn and prostitution with occasional forays into armed robbery to improve cash flow. Possessing brains as well as brawn Cornwell worked his way up to become the firm’s chief enforcer and fixer. The Dixons disappeared in 1978, killed by Cornwell with the connivance of Roy’s wife, Kate. Cornwell and Kate took over the brothers’ organization and remained in charge ever since.“I'd be lying if I said it was good to be back.” Cornwell had left Brichester for London in the 1970s. He flashed a sardonic smirk.  “I assume this ain’t a courtesy trip.”Hammer shook his head.  “I need your help.”“Is ‘at so?”  He cocked his head.  Hammer instantly regretted admitting he needed anything.  Cornwell was the kind of person that could smell weakness.“I need…tools.  Tools only you can acquire.”Nobby dropped the dark beers off and Hammer paid the tab.  He wasn’t planning to stay long. “This ain’t the States, mate.  Across th’ pond, tools are difficult to come by.”Hammer slapped an envelope on the table, filled with bills covering the fee of just getting Cornwell to show up at all. He started to get up.  “I must be mistaken then.  Beer’s on me…”“I didn’t say I couldn’t get ‘em,” said Cornwell, moving on to his second beer.  “Only that it’s difficult.”  He took a sip.  “For you.”Hammer sat back down.  It was his turn to take a drink.  “I see.  What will it cost?”“I haven’t decided yet. What are ye lookin’ for?”Hammer tapped the envelope. “It’s all here.”Cornwell slipped the envelope off the table, removed the note, and secreted the money into a coat pocket.  “Let’s see.”  His dishwater blue eyes scanned the list.  “Things must be pretty bad.”Hammer simply nodded. “Tell you what.  This isn’t simple stuff – you and yer boys are gonna have ta prove yerselves a bit.  I don’t make deals lightly, even with Yank spooks on the run.”  Hammer let the jibe pass without confirming or denying it. “If ya prove trustworthy, we’ll work our way up.  We’ll start small: Brococks, shotguns. ”“When?” asked Hammer.“Soon,” said Cornwell.  “I’ll tell ye when and where.” He looked around with a grimace.  “Are ye holed up here?”Hammer nodded.  Cornwell sniffed.  “Buncha backwards bumpkins.  Not sorry I left.” He slurped the rest of his beer and got up.  “Got t’ get back to th’ wife and kids.”Hammer rose and this time they shook hands.  “You watch yer back mate,” said Cornwell, eyes boring through Hammer’s skull. “If yer in the kind of trouble I think ya are, life’s not gonna be easy from here on out.”  He shrugged on his overcoat.  “This town…it eats people up.” Cornwell put up one finger.  "I nearly forgot.  Here's your phone.  Consider it a token of good faith on my part.  Untraceable.  Throw it away when you're done."Hammer pocketed the phone.  "Thanks.""Calling home?" smirked Cornwell.  "Don't be surprised if your parents don't want to pick you up."Hammer left without explaining that he was more concerned what would happen if Majestic did.</blockquote>

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