Page 32 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures
Rosa grinned. “Might ‘ave. But it’ll cost ya extra.”
Zacharia took out another bill from his leather jacket and set it on the table.
Rosa turned to Sal. “Would we get another fifty if this bimbo”—she pointed to herself with her thumb—“hadn’t been snoopin’, huh? Ya old goose.”
Sal lowered the rifle and smacked a loud kiss on his wife’s cheek. “My wife – not just pretty as a rose, but clever like a fox, eh?” He smiled, showing off his many missing teeth.
Rosa, encouraged by the compliments, babbled at a pace that was hard to keep up with. According to her, the madam, whose name she confirmed they didn’t know, was a rich widow. She’d led a reclusive life and had rarely spoken to them. When she had, it was always related to their work.
“Very closed-off but polite woman,” Rosa concluded, “but there’d been somethin’ covert ‘bout her. She be hidin’ either from the police or from the mafia. So rich and pretty, but single, ya know? At least… ‘til recently. Then again, was I in her shoes, I’d have a young gigolo over ev’ry night. Drain him fully.”
“What’d ya say, ya scarecrow?!” Sal pointed the gun at her once more.
Zacharia slapped another fifty on the table to attract their attention. “Who was visiting her lately?”
“For a long time, there wasn’t no one. But then that guy starts showin’ up. A big man. Important man. Big car! Comes in at night. Leaves a couple big lads, just like ya, waiting out front. Always bringin’ gifts for the mistress. Jewellery – rings, big bling. He mops the floor with his tongue when he be here.”
“His tongue?”
“He be droolin’ over the mistress. Head o’er heels. But ya see, I’m a woman, I read faces. Mistress doesn’t give a rat’s ass about him. She has him in ‘er pocket, all right.”
“Important man, you say. Is he famous?”
Rosa nodded. “Very, very. He be on TV a lot.”
“An actor?”
She shook her head.
“A host?” Zacharia guessed, humouring her in her game.
“No.”
“A politician?”
Rosa grinned.
“So, he’s a politician?”
“Very, very. He be on TV a lot.”
“Yeah, I got that. Who is he?”
“Umm… What was his name…” She stared at the ceiling as she tapped her lips with her finger.
Zacharia dropped another fifty on the table.
Rosa kept scratching her brain. “Sal, what was that guy’s name?”
“Dunno, woman. Ya’re the one watchin’!”
Despite the maid’s best efforts, she couldn’t recall the name of the man, so Zacharia took out his phone and showed her pictures of famous politicians until she recognised him.
“This is getting more interesting by the minute.” Zacharia glanced at Rosa, then Sal. “I have a proposition for you two. Why don’t you stay here for an hour while I search around, then the house is at your disposal. Do whatever you want with it.”
“No way! Whatcha think, we look dumb to ya? Ya’ll just steal all the valuable stuff!” Sal aimed the rifle inches from Zacharia’s temple.
The hybrid didn’t hesitate. In one swift motion, he confiscated the weapon and twisted his opponent’s wrist. “How about you listen to your wife here and put this toy away, huh?”