Part 26 (1/2)
”A necessary job,” H2 added pensively.
”He's angry at all of you for, well, running his name down into the filth,” Lucy finished.
Tony could not believe what he was hearing. ”But... he's Death for Christ's sakes! I mean, how the h.e.l.l can he be offended?!”
H2 looked concerned. ”You sure your boy here is ready? Sounds to me like he isn't.”
”I'm not some-what?-head shrink! You're telling me I have to f.u.c.king apologize to Death?” Tony demanded.
”Yes,” Lucy said, allowing the four-letter swear words to fly like buckshot. Under the circ.u.mstances, she supposed it was okay.
”And why me, again?” Tony strained to understand.
”You're mortal,” Lucy said, her eyes flicking to H2 for the briefest of moments. ”Frank doesn't want to believe or hear us anymore. He won't listen. He wants you to see how life is without him around for a while. He's willing to let people suffer to prove his point.”
Tony clasped his head. ”He wants an apology from me, and he'll go back.”
The pair exchanged looks again. ”We think,” H2 said with a little smile.
”A sincere apology, Anthony,” Lucy said. ”You have to convince him that you speak for all of your kind. You have to convince him to come back.”
Tony shook his head. ”Alright, f.u.c.k it. I'll apologize. Sure, why not.”
”Anthony,” Lucy met his eyes, ”it has to be sincere. You have to convince him that you are being true.”
This made Tony pause. ”I dunno, then. I mean, I'm a brawler if anything. I don't know if I can sweet talk him like you want.”
”A b.l.o.w. .j.o.b might do it, then,” H2 threw in.
Both Lucy and Tony regarded the man with dangerous looks.
H2 shrugged. ”What? He said to me that f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o fascinates the h.e.l.l out of him. I'm trying to help here.”
Lucy's disgust was evident in the way she slowly looked away from him.
”Think of your mom, Anthony.”
Tony's back straightened with shock. ”How do you know about my mom?”
Lucy's voice was full of sympathy. ”It's kind of my job to know these things, Anthony.”
”I'm starting to get really suspicious about your job, Lucy,” Tony almost barked. His nerves were jangled now.
”Look,” H2 said calmly, ”you need motivation. She's it. He hasn't come for her yet right? And with him being the way that he is now, he's not going to anytime soon. And if he doesn't get back to moving people really soon, none of this will mean s.h.i.+t because we'll all be” H2's hand flopped around in the air, gesturing at everything around them. He didn't finish what he wanted to say. He did have a little spot remaining for Lucy and her sensibilities.
And although he didn't say it, Tony suddenly felt... f.u.c.ked as if by a telephone pole.
His mother.
If he convinced Frank to return to work, his mother dies. How did he feel about that? Wouldn't he be responsible then for killing her? No, he would be releasing her. He would be bringing back what should have happened naturally long ago. But it was his mother. He couldn't bear the thought of letting her go. Not her. Not letting her go to... him.
”Tony?” Lucy's voice.
”Yeah?”
”You okay?”
”Yeah. Fine.” Tony looked at her. ”Didn't you say before there were others like me looking for this guy?”
”Yes.”
”So if I blow it, maybe another one will do it?”
”Possibly, but you are the closest now, Anthony. You could end all of this by tonight. But. We. Must. Go. Now.”
”Where?”
”'Tis three in the afternoon,” H2 smiled at him. ”Old Frankie boy will be thirsty after all that swearing. He's going to the Paradise Lounge for drinks.”
”Death drinks?” Tony said, mildly surprised.
”Like a school of fish,” H2 informed him, his smile widening. ”Good thing he's Death if you ask me. The man should be dead himself the way he slams them back. I could tell you stories.”
Lucy glowered at him.
”But I won't.” H2 drew up and coughed uncomfortably ”Not today anyway. Like the lady said, we gotta go.”
”You're not coming,” Lucy told H2.
”I thought you'd never ask,” H2 grinned at her.
”I mean it.”
”But I have to go,” H2 was serious now, ”It's three! Truth be told, I drink like a school of fish, and Frank will be wondering where I am and hey, anyway, I want this whole mess cleared up ASAP just as much as you. Doesn't do my business any good for him to be tempting the ”
H2 clamped his mouth shut.
But it wasn't fast enough. ”Tempting the what?” Tony wanted to know.
”Nothing,” H2 said. ”But you still need me.”
Lucy frowned. ”He does know where this Paradise is.”
The slick grin came back.
”I can find that in a phone book,” Tony retorted, pleased at seeing the man's smile falter.