Neon is the Colour of Vengeance (Flappers and False Gods)

THE LIES WE TELL

When Hugo arrived at Borden Tower, he had to force himself to walk calmly. The Verve had given him so much energy that he wanted to run, but he had to act normally.

“Hugo, they’re waiting for you,” Hann said with his trademark flair.

“I bet they are,” Hugo said a little too loudly, but Hann punched in the elevator code nonetheless.

Hugo couldn’t help but bounce on the balls of his feet as the elevator rocketed to the penthouse. He all but jumped out when the doors opened. There was no one there to greet him, so he made his way to Sam’s office and knocked energetically.

“Hugo, come in,” Samuel’s voice said. The sound instantly dampened some of the Verve’s effects. Hugo had never lied to this man, and he was about to do it for a relative stranger. Wiping his sweaty palms on his thighs, he entered.

“Hey, Boss. Bobby said you have a job for me?”

Samuel Conti was lounging behind his desk, a cigar in one hand and an old-fashioned broadsheet open on the desk.

“Seems the TPD are taking Demming’s death seriously. How unfortunate.”

“I cleaned the scene, I’m sure of it. Nothing can lead back to us.” Hugo couldn’t quite meet Samuel’s eye.

“And the witness?” Samuel took a long drag of his cigar and sat upright.

“Dead.”

“How?”

“I broke in, we fought, and I broke his neck,” Hugo lied smoothly, though he could hear his heartbeat in his ears.

“And the body?”

“Tossed it into the SubLevel. No one will look there.”

“Indeed not. There are more than rats in those tunnels these days.”

Samuel turned away from him to stare out the window. Hugo didn’t dare move. “And the other job?” he asked tentatively.

“Oh, someone has been sniffing around Jeffrey Tallow. A woman named Irene Rose. She’s a poacher for the Kellys. I think she’s on orders from Dill to try and steal our resident armourer.”

“Is this a bruise up or a kill?”

“Bruise up if you can, kill if you have to.”

“When?”

“Jeffrey has a shipment coming in tomorrow afternoon. Be there and see if she shows. You’ll have to do the job on our turf. It’s too dangerous to tangle with the Kellys on theirs.”

“A daylight job?”

“It’s not ideal, I know, but it needs done.”

“You got it.”

“What is the matter with you tonight, son? You seem on edge.” Samuel didn’t turn back to look at him as he spoke, but Hugo could see his face reflected in the multicoloured panes of the stained-glass window.

“I should have checked in sooner,” Hugo invented. “But I was at Ward Eight. I thought you’d be mad.”

Sam wrinkled his nose. “Don’t let it happen again. I’d hate to have to put you in The Brig.”

Hugo gave an involuntary shudder. ‘The Brig’ had been a very effective punishment when he was a child. It was a tiny hole, dug into the windowless basement of the tower. Samuel used it to show his displeasure to those he wanted to teach a lesson, but not kill. “Now, tell me about this Steven. Bobby told me you two have been seeing quite a lot of each other.” The shift in topic was jarring. “Is he your boyfriend? Or partner? I never get to meet these guys and give them the once over.” Dangerous mob boss was replaced with doting father in an instant.

“He’s…I don’t know. He’s a pro. I like him but…”

“It’s hard to know what’s real when money is involved,” Samuel said with a sage nod. “Listen, kiddo, I know plenty of couples who have started out that way. It happens a lot in this life. If you like him, really like him, you have to ask the question. Better to know one way or the other.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’ll talk to him next time I see him.” Hugo’s heart was still racing.

“You don’t have to just because I suggested it. Wait until you’re ready. Maybe the relationship will play out, but I just want you to be happy. I love you, kiddo.”

“I love you too.” For the first time, the words had been difficult to say. “Boss?”

Samuel nodded, inviting the question.

“The other job?”

“Hhhm?”

“Won’t it start a war with the Kellys? Are we ready for that?”

“That’s my problem, not yours. Now get on out of here, the night is young. Maybe go see Steven?” He gave Hugo a wink.

“I might just do that.”

“I’ll call you if I need you.”

“Goodnight, dad.”

“Night, son.”

Samuel went back to reading his paper as Hugo left the room feeling shaken.