Torn Teaser: Not An Ounce Of Trouble

Last week was Luc's extra scene -- today it's Colin's.

As before, this was originally posted on KTeen's Facebook page, where there's all sorts of extra content to be found.

 

Not An Ounce of Trouble

The heat wave over Chicago hasn't broken, and by the end of the day, all I want is a beer and a shower. Instead, I pull open the door to Black Morgan's and let my eyes adjust while the A/C works its magic. Billy's expecting me, and the beer will have to wait.

He stands as I make my way to the last booth. "Colin! It's hotter than blazes out there. Hard to work in this kind of heat, I'd wager."

I lift a shoulder. The crew will risk heatstroke rather than fall behind schedule. Nobody wants to be the guy Billy calls on the carpet.

Which makes me wonder why I'm here.

"We'll come in on time. Under budget, too. Another couple of weeks, tops."

He nods in satisfaction. "Walk with me."

Outside, the heat reflects off the pavement, but Billy doesn't notice. "You've eaten at my sister's restaurant before, haven't you?"

"Yeah. She's a good cook."

"Have you met my niece? Jack's girl?"

Sure, I've noticed her. But only a moron would admit it to Billy's face. "She a waitress here, right?"

"Yes. She's a darling girl, our Mo."

Darling isn't the word I'd use. She's quiet. A decent waitress. She seems nice enough, but underneath that ugly uniform and polite smile, she's watching everything with eyes as sharp as her uncle's. I wonder if Billy's underestimating her.

Billy lifts his chin toward the plate-glass window. Inside, Mo is wiping down tables and talking on her cell. She snaps the phone shut with a frown, then drops it into her apron pocket. A minute later, she spots her uncle and waves, her face smoothing out into the same pleasant expression she wears when she pours coffee.

He waves back, watching her for a moment. "She's all my sister has, you know. Mo and the restaurant. And the two of them, Mo and her mother…they're all I have. You can understand that, can't you?"

He transfers his gaze to me, hard and blue and unblinking.  I understand him perfectly. And I am really missing that beer right now. "Yeah."

"I've taken care of them as best I can. It was the least I could do, considering what happened to Jack." He pauses. "Did you know she's top of her class at St. Brigid's? She wants to go to school in New York next year, leave us all behind."

Like I said. Sharp.

Mo starts mopping the floor in quick, staccato movements. "I'm worried she may need more protection than my reputation can provide."

"You want me to keep an eye on her?"

He strokes his chin, like he's pondering the question. "Not yet. Finish the current job, and we'll talk more. It may be nothing, after all."

"Sure." But Billy wouldn't have called me here for nothing. And he knows I can't tell him no. "Happy to help."

"She won't be an ounce of trouble," he assures me.

I watch Mo Fitzgerald and her too-sharp eyes through the window, and hope to hell Billy's right.