Cool, cautious, flamboyant and clever as ever, RJ strolls into the blue-collar bar known as the Crossroads. This seedy, working class dive located on the edge of town was nothing like Rodi's with its unique mixture of people from all walks of life. In this place, RJ stood out like a penny in a piggybank full of quarters. Nonetheless, RJ was used to being the center of attention wherever he went. He quickly noticed a young woman behind the bar that wouldn't keep her eyes off of him. He wondered, "Could that be the person who I'm meeting?" It was real hard for RJ to identify who the caller was since the person's voice was disguised. Then when he least expected it, a man wearing a baseball cap backwards, with dark shades and a New York Yankees jacket bumped into him."My bad." The man said.
"Damn. Can you see with those shades?" RJ quipped.
"I can see very fine, thank you. Speaking of which, I have something you really oughta see. Let's have a seat. I'll buy you a drink."
RJ and the man sit down at a booth and order two drinks from the waitress. After they get their drinks they begin to talk about the reason for their meeting.
"So you're the man who called me." RJ said while he took a sip of his wine cooler. "Who put you up to this?"
"The person whom I represent wishes to remain anonymus at this time."
RJ was curious as to what the man's ulterior motives were and he remained very suspicious of him. He then began to ask the man more questions.
"So why are you helping me and what's in this for you?"
"Nothing but justice. I can't stand corrupt cops. They're nothing but pigs that don't fly straight." The man stated.
"You're speaking my language." Smiled RJ.
"I have a briefcase for you. In it is a videotape and some documents that will aid you in your quest to take down Sykes." The man hands the briefcase to a curious and very eager RJ. He takes a peek inside the briefcase and he's happy with what he sees. He closes the case and takes it off the table and sets it right beside him.
"Pretty impressive." Responded RJ.
"You use this information to your advantage and make that crooked SOB of a police officer pay for his crimes."
"What is Sykes to you?" Questioned RJ.
"Nothing. Let's just say he's on my list of cops that should be penalized."
"So that's your angle? Punisher of police?"
"If you want to put it that way, yes. Listen, I have to jet. Remember to use this information. If there's anything I can't stand, it's valuable info going to a waste."
"Take my word for it. These dirty documents and this videotape won't be wasted. By the way, I didn't catch your name."
"That's because I didn't throw it." The man tips his dark shades and reveals his beedy eyes to RJ and then quickly covers his eyes once again with his shades. "My name is unimportant. I'm just an average joe looking out for my fellow underdog."
"Well, Joe, thanks."
"Sure thing. C-ya." The man leaves the Crossroads Tavern. RJ's left with a briefcase and the beginning of his plan to take down Detective John Sykes. Once again RJ would engage in his favorite criminal pasttime, blackmail. This time it wouldn't be his District Attorney brother Hank Gannon. It would be the cop who falsely arrested him and his friend Dorian Lord-Hayes. Vengence was destined to be his.
It was now last call at the Crossroads and the song playing on the jukebox was "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots. As the barhoppers rushed to get the last drink of the night, RJ spent the remainder of the time playing pool with a biker named Rufus. After defeating his opponent in two back to back games, the lovely bartender with the Betty Davis eyes, the hourglass figure and angelface walks over to RJ. She brings RJ a complimentary drink in an effort to break the ice.
"Hi. I loved the way you played pool and I thought I offer you a drink on the house." She said as she looked into his big brown irresistible eyes.
"Why thank you for the Sex on the Beach. This must be tonight's special. And I thought Happy Hour was over." RJ takes the drink away from the bartender and has a sip of it. He's pleased with the taste of the beverage. RJ and the bartender have a seat at the booth.
"Refreshing." RJ sets his drink down on the table. "I'm glad I've come here for a change of scenery." Remarked RJ.
"Well you've come to the right place. Most of the time we get nothing but your run-of-the-mill redneck beer-guzzling potbelly truck drivers with their perverted remarks. Now we're finally getting an upscale crowd."
"They must have heard of about the great service you got here."
"You mean the best service. Speaking of service, can I get you anything else?"
"No thank you. I'm all set for the night."
"You don't have to leave so soon. Listen, It's my turn to lock up. Why don't you stick around and we'll play a little after hours game of pool?"
"Sure. What the hell. I need another challenger."
"I'll see you at pool side in about ten minutes." She said with a smile on her face.
It's now after hours at the Crossroads Tavern and the only two people inside are the sexy bartender and RJ Gannon. He just finished beating her in an intense pulse-pounding game of pool. The song playing in the jukebox is "I'll take you there." They both throw their pool sticks on the table. The woman quickly compliments on RJ on his game and shakes his hand.
"Damn, you're good. How come you never gave me a turn?" She asked.
"Now how good would I be if I was to give you a turn?"
"You got a point. You should enter the pool tournament? First place is one-hundred thousand dollars."
"Not really, but since you mentioned it I might consider it."
"Great. I need a partner for it."
"When your pool playing becomes as good as your service, I'll be happy to team up with you."
"Why don't you teach me?"
"Alrighty. I'll give you crash course in billiards." RJ and the bartender head toward the pool table. He racks the balls up and prepares to give the woman her first lesson in pool playing.
"You see, the secret to playing pool is all in the concentration and how well you hold your stick and focus on your target." RJ hits the white ball and the other balls scatter all over the table. He gets a couple of balls in the same pocket. After RJ gives the woman a quick demonstration, him and the lovely lady grab the same stick and he continues to instruct her.
"You hold the stick firmly like you would your lover." He said in a smooth and charming manner.
Suddenly an armed robber breaks into the bar.
To Be Continued....