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

THE KILL

Outwardly, Evan had everything he wanted. As long as he avoided places where he might be recognised, he was free to roam Tenebrium as he saw fit without the fear and threat of the mafia hanging over his head. He had been accepted by many of Hugo’s friends and colleagues and was treated with the same respect any other partner of a made man would be.

While he couldn’t return to his old job and friends, having been declared dead by the police, thanks to Chowdhury and some fake transcripts, he had been able to complete his surgical fellowship under another name and was now fully qualified. As Hugo worked full time in Tenebrium’s underworld, he worked full time at Chowdhury’s clinic.

Though she hadn’t been thrilled at first, his mother had long since warmed to Hugo’s undeniable charm and was now making demands that he too owed her flowers and chocolates on Mother’s Day. He delivered in spectacular fashion.

Finally, Evan felt like that thing that had been missing was found; he felt complete at last and that was all because of Hugo. Evan loved that man more than anything and the longer they were happily together the more seriously he thought that he might not know how to live without him anymore. If he were a more selfish person, he would have been able to ignore the tiny kink in their plan, the little dark spot on the horizon that was their life together, but he couldn’t, and neither could Hugo.

Afraid of what Samuel would do to them if they tried to run, Hugo had sunk back into his life as a hitman, going out at all hours and returning bloody or beaten; sometimes both. On top of that, on his father’s orders Hugo was also moonlighting as a traitor, doing whatever Dill Kelly asked of him. It was dirty and dangerous work, and it was wearing on them both. Evan wasn’t sure he could stomach loving a hitman for much longer, but equally the thought of being without Hugo made him feel like a chasm had opened up inside him.

One particularly subdued evening, Hugo left the apartment in his trademark dark blue suit, with a gun at his back and a knife hidden at his wrist. He had that detached look that Evan knew meant he was going to kill someone. Evan was glad it seemed to weigh on Hugo more, it made it easier to love him, but he worried what would happen when Hugo finally had enough. He watched him go sadly, wondering who would hit their limit first, Hugo or himself.

It was a stupid thought, the one that popped into his head as the door swung shut. Maybe even a dangerous thought, but something pushed Evan to his feet and had him trailing out the door. He kept his distance, not wanting to alert Hugo to his presence, but followed closely enough that he wouldn’t lose him. Part of Evan felt like this was a betrayal, but a darker, more curious part wanted to see. He knew every part of Hugo—except this one.

When Hugo stepped out onto the street, he didn’t hail a Jonk or head for a docking junction, he turned left and walked at a casual but determined pace. It was harder to follow him outside. As was always the case with Tenebrium the streets were filled with people, all oblivious to what was going on around them.

Hugo turned off from the main thoroughfare and Evan had to jog not to lose him in the crowd. They were leaving Eltham and heading into the seediest part of the Pleasure Quarter, a place Evan’s mother when he was a child, and Hugo now he was an adult, had warned him never to tread.

The streets were narrower here and winding. The buildings seemed almost oppressive as they loomed high above, seeming to jostle for position in the skyline.

Hugo didn’t break stride until he came to what looked like an old scrapyard ringed with metal fencing. A sign, crudely erected from some jagged wooden boards, read: ‘Harvelle’s’.

There was an opening in the fence just wide enough for someone to walk through, though clearly not the actual entrance which Evan was sure was on the opposite side of the yard from where they had stopped. Regardless, Hugo slipped between the two metal posts and slowed. Evan hugged the corner of a building so he could watch without being seen.

“Manny?” Hugo called quietly.

He walked lazily into the centre of the scrapyard. Jonks and Jonk parts littered the dusty patch of land, some new and in the middle of repairs, others rusting and forgotten.

“Oh, Manny…” Hugo called again, this time the threat in his voice was obvious like a cat toying with a mouse.

Evan heard the clink of metal on metal as if something had been dropped and then a gravelly voice spoke warily, “Ford. I wasn’t expecting to see you. Mr Conti hasn’t called any orders in.”

“And I don’t think he will.”

Manny Harvell stepped closer to Hugo finally allowing Evan to see him. He was White and wizened, with a shock of silver hair that sat messily atop his head. Despite his advanced years, he looked strong and fit.

“What do you mean? Mr Conti is my best customer!”

“And here was me thinking it was Detective Torrez.”

Even Evan could feel the change in the atmosphere. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Manny took a small step away from Hugo.

“I hope you’re a better snitch than you are a liar.”

Panic was palpable in the air. “I would never talk. C’mon, man. You know I wouldn’t. No one in their right mind would talk knowing you’re the guy who’s coming after them.”

“That’s funny, because you didn’t ask who Detective Torrez is.”

Manny went pale. “It’s not what you think.”

“And what do I think?” Hugo took a deliberate step forward. There was something about him that frightened Evan almost as much as it did Manny. A tangible darkness that he seemed to exude.

“It’s not my fault if some bozo from Vice sniffs around. He asked questions, but I didn’t answer them. I swear.”

“And yet Samuel is still down several thousand credits worth of blow.”

“I didn’t yap. I swear.”

“You’ve got a problem, Manny. I don’t believe you.”

“I wouldn’t lie to you! I wouldn’t! Please. I have a family who need me.”

Hugo laughed. It was a cruel sound. “No, you don’t. Look, tell me the truth and I’ll make it quick, otherwise, I’ll have to torture it out of you. I don’t want to, but I will.”

“I don’t know anything!”

“Where’s the leak? How did you tell the cops about the shipment? That is the first and last time I’ll ask nice.”

“Fuck you.” Manny grabbed a discarded hunk of metal and hurled it at Hugo, but Hugo dodged it easily.

“Go gently into that good night, old man. Last chance.”

The tussle was short lived. Manny was outmatched in every way. Hugo was younger, stronger, and deadlier. In under a minute, he had subdued Manny, and shortly after that, lashed him to one of the rusted Jonks with grubby ratchet straps.

“What is it? A tap? Surveillance? Good old-fashioned dead-drop?”

Manny spat in Hugo’s face. “If you’re gonna kill me just do it.”

With a flick of his wrist, a blade appeared in Hugo’s hand. He sighed and then swiped it across Manny’s chest leaving a long, thin line of red. The man opened his mouth to cry out, but Hugo immediately covered it with his hand. “The only sounds I want from you are answers.”

As Hugo raised the blade again, Evan had to close his eyes. He couldn’t watch. This was not the man he loved with everything he had. It couldn’t be. There were more muffled screams and more muttered questions; it seemed to go on forever.

“What’s the matter, Ford?” Manny’s voice was slurred. “You’re losing your touch. Have you lost your torture hard-on?” It was a pathetic attempt to get Hugo to end him without any further pain.

“I have places to be and better things to be doing than this. Talk or I will go heavy, and we both know what I’m capable of. I’ll make what I did to Dempsy look like gentle foreplay.”

“All right. All right. I’ll tell you. Please just promise you’ll kill me.”

Evan opened his eyes again. Manny was more blood than skin; it made Evan feel sick to know that Hugo had done this horrible thing. Knowledge was one thing, seeing it was something else entirely.

“I’m listening,” Hugo said impatiently as if torturing a man and killing him was nothing more than an inconvenience.

“I take my lunch at the café around the corner. Same time every day. On a Thursday I leave the yard unlocked.”

“And your ledger out in the open, I assume.”

Manny nodded slowly.

“I wish you hadn’t.” Before either Manny or Evan could protest, Hugo had drawn the knife across the older man’s throat. He coughed and gurgled as blood overflowed from the wound, a horrible hissing and bubbling followed and then silence. It was an image that would be burned into Evan’s memory for as long as he lived.

Hugo quickly wiped down any trace of himself from the yard then stepped back out on to the street. He stopped dead when he saw Evan standing there. All the colour drained from his face.

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to know. I needed to know.”

“And now you do.” Hugo looked both terrified and terrifying.

Evan turned and ran. He had no idea where he was going, he just needed to be away. He wandered the city for hours trying to align his thoughts. He should never have followed. It changed everything and he had no idea what he was going to do about it.

When he finally returned home, the apartment was silent. Hugo was sitting on the floor, resting his arms on his knees in front of the door.

“I was worried,” he said. He didn’t get to his feet, like he wanted to remain non-threatening. “Why did you follow me?”

“I thought I wanted to know. I thought that tiny piece that you keep hidden from me was something I should see. I was so very very wrong.”

“What does this mean?” Hugo’s voice was quiet, afraid.

“I should say it means we’re over. But I’d be lying if I said I was going to leave because I don’t know how to be without you anymore. I don’t know how to live without you now that I have you.”

“I feel the same way.” Hugo got to his feet and stepped forward.

“No. Stay back.”

As if commanded by some supreme force, Hugo obeyed.

“But I cannot abide this.” Evan ran his hand over his short hair. “You were a monster out there.”

Hugo’s eyes dropped to the floor. “I’ve told you over and over again.”

“I know. You never lied, I just never understood.”

“What do we do now? What do I do?” He was so earnest it was painful.

“I love you, but I can’t cope with knowing that’s what you do. I can’t. It will destroy me. It’ll destroy us. You can’t change what you are?—”

“What if I could?”

“What?” Evan didn’t dare to hope.

“What if I could change it? Let’s leave Tenebrium like we planned weeks ago. Let’s start fresh somewhere where you can be a surgeon.” He was unashamedly begging for one final chance and Evan was almost powerless to resist.

“What about Samuel? He’ll come after us.”

“Not if I ask. Not if I get permission.”

“You would do that? Leave everything you love behind for me?”

“You are everything I love. I was willing to months ago.”

“But it was too dangerous. We decided that.”

“I’m more afraid of losing you than of anything Samuel might do to me.”

“What if he says no?”

“Then you have a decision to make.”

He was sombre as he left, like he already knew the outcome. Evan thought he knew it too.