Page 155 of Still Bruised
Aaron looked at his boss and his team before quietly shaking his head no. “I didn’t see anything.”
“You motherfucker,” Rick snarled at Aaron.
Rick eyed them all, stunned they no longer seemed under his thumb.
Jude stalked closer to Rick—who stepped back, keeping the distance between them. Foster moved closer, ready to jump in, if needed.
“Oh, are you scared, Rick?” Jude asked. “Did you expect me to lay down and let you pull this bullshit again without a fight?”
Rick chuckled, trying to act cool, but it wasn’t working. That left hook had made an impact. “Do you really want to start something with me?”
“You started it. Fifteen years ago,” Jude said. “I’m ready to end it. So let’s go. Let’s see which one of us is the stronger man.” Jude laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I wonder what they’re going to say about you around town when you lose to a homosexual?”
“You’re awful confident. You got lucky with that sucker punch,” Rick said, narrowing his eyes and trying to look menacing.
“Oh, it feels like my luck has finally changed,” Jude said. “Wanna test that theory?” He waved Rick closer. “Come on, Rick. Let’s finish this shit. Here and now.”
Rick took two more steps back when Jude moved two forward.
“I’m gonna fuck your shit up,” Rick threatened.
“Prove it,” Jude said. He waved Rick closer again.
“You’re about to get what you’re asking for. Don’t start crying when I do,” Rick said.
“I dismember creatures bigger than you for a living. You’re light work compared to them.”
Foster fought a smile after the color drained from Rick’s face.
“Yeah, but they come to you already dead,” Rick said, chuckling.
“Yes, they do. With lots of blood, too. Some nights, I’m covered with it.”
Rick swallowed roughly.
“Ever been to a slaughterhouse, Rick?” Jude paused a moment, inching a little closer to Rick. “I have. It’s grim. A quick bolt to the head and a slice to the throat and they’re gone. They let me do a couple of them to get a feel for it. You’ve got to know where your animals are coming from and understand the work behind it, you know?”
“You’re sick,” Rick said.
“I wonder if a human would die as quickly?”
“Are you… are you threatening me?” Rick asked.
“We’re just having a conversation,” Jude said, smiling. “What you take from it is on you.” He took another step closer. “So, are we doing this or not?”
Rick walked backwards towards the door, never turning his away from Jude. He inched away, keeping his distance as Jude kept advancing closer.
“You’re one sick, twisted motherfucker,” Rick said. “I’m not fighting someone with several screws loose.Fuck that.”
Rick escaped, rushing out of the fire station.
Foster relaxed the second he was gone. Jude spun to face them, and several of the fire fighters took a step back, too.
“Did you really kill animals like that?” a firefighter Foster didn’t recognize asked.
“No,”Jude said. “I went to tour the plant, sure—but they don’t hand you that stuff and let you go to town. Even if they did, I wouldn’t have wanted to.” He smiled. “But Rick didn’t need to know that.”
“I suspected it was all an act with him. Once he didn’t have anyone to back him up, he lost his nerve and went running,” the assistant chief said. “Youse don’t know how long I’ve waited to see someone take him down a peg or two.” He looked at Aaron. “Bring a bag over here so I can clean up Jude’s knuckles.”
