Read Online This Machine Kills by Steve Liszka - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Steve Liszka
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opportunity. Taylor liked Mason though, and compared to most of the other offices who knew nothing about security matters but spoke instead about profit and risk, and insisted on using terms like ‘corporate sustainability’ when discussing operations, he was by far the best of them.
Entering the room, Taylor was greeted by Mason’s massive bald head, which sat on equally broad shoulders. His bushy moustache may have looked camp on another man but in Mason’s case it was an essential piece of furniture to fill some of the excess room on his face.
Taylor’s hand was swallowed up by Mason’s iron grip as they shook. He tried his best not to grimace as the older man squeezed his paw.
“How are you keeping kiddo?”
“Pretty good, Cap.”
Being an avid fight fan, Mason loved Taylor. When he first got back from Canada, Mason had pulled out all the stops to make sure Taylor would be working for him, or at least that’s what he told him whenever he got the chance.
“I hear you’re fighting tonight.”
Tayor nodded, “You coming?”
“I’d love to boy, but I’m snowed under here.”
Taylor shrugged.
“And after what went on yesterday,” Mason said accusingly, “I’ve got even more to worry about.”
His face grew serious as he combed his fingers through his moustache,
“I’m sorry about what happened to Rogers, he was a good soldier.”
“We’re not soldiers anymore, we’re security personnel remember?”
Mason tutted, “Different name, same shit.”
Taylor leant forward in his chair, “So Cap, you going to give me another man?”
Mason laughed and opened up his hands to show he was not concealing one up his sleeves, “Where from?”
“What about one of the new recruits?”
“You’ve already had your recruit. You’ll get another when the next lot finish their training.”
“And when’s that going to be?” Taylor asked, sounding a little more aggressive than he’d intended.
Mason raised his eyebrow, “Come now Taylor, you got by for six months without Goldman, you’re just going to have to do the same again. It shouldn’t be more than three or four months maximum.”
Taylor shook his head, “You know something Cap, if you weren’t such a frail old bastard I’d have to beat the shit out of you.”
Mason gave a hearty laugh that made his chest shake,
“Listen sonny, you may have been a hotshot once but you ain’t no match for this old dog. I’d have to be in a coma before you got one over on me, and even then I think I’d still take you.”
Taylor joined his boss in a quiet chuckle.
“So what’s going on outside,” he asked when the joke had worn off, “who are all those guy’s shifting boxes?”
“That’s a good question,” Mason answered, not caring if he sounded patronising. He leant forward and lowered his voice,
“And one with a very interesting answer at that.”
Mocking his boss, Taylor enthusiastically leant forward so their faces were only inches apart, “I’m all ears, do tell.”
Before Mason could divulge there was a knock on the door,
“Guess that’s him. I’ll tell all later,” he whispered before giving his protégé a wink.
The door opened and Freddie Milton walked in, meeting Mason in the middle of the room. I bet he doesn’t try to crush that fucker’s hand, Taylor thought. After a few hushed words, Mason left the room only for Milton to occupy his chair. Taylor went to stand but was quickly motioned to stay where he was.
Freddie Milton was easily the most powerful man in Hope City and according to the experts, a modern day prodigy. He was the City’s CEO, not just overlooking what ClearSkies did but also all its umbrella organisations too. As this covered every function of life in the City from fuel and sewerage to security and schools, Milton pretty much ran the
Entering the room, Taylor was greeted by Mason’s massive bald head, which sat on equally broad shoulders. His bushy moustache may have looked camp on another man but in Mason’s case it was an essential piece of furniture to fill some of the excess room on his face.
Taylor’s hand was swallowed up by Mason’s iron grip as they shook. He tried his best not to grimace as the older man squeezed his paw.
“How are you keeping kiddo?”
“Pretty good, Cap.”
Being an avid fight fan, Mason loved Taylor. When he first got back from Canada, Mason had pulled out all the stops to make sure Taylor would be working for him, or at least that’s what he told him whenever he got the chance.
“I hear you’re fighting tonight.”
Tayor nodded, “You coming?”
“I’d love to boy, but I’m snowed under here.”
Taylor shrugged.
“And after what went on yesterday,” Mason said accusingly, “I’ve got even more to worry about.”
His face grew serious as he combed his fingers through his moustache,
“I’m sorry about what happened to Rogers, he was a good soldier.”
“We’re not soldiers anymore, we’re security personnel remember?”
Mason tutted, “Different name, same shit.”
Taylor leant forward in his chair, “So Cap, you going to give me another man?”
Mason laughed and opened up his hands to show he was not concealing one up his sleeves, “Where from?”
“What about one of the new recruits?”
“You’ve already had your recruit. You’ll get another when the next lot finish their training.”
“And when’s that going to be?” Taylor asked, sounding a little more aggressive than he’d intended.
Mason raised his eyebrow, “Come now Taylor, you got by for six months without Goldman, you’re just going to have to do the same again. It shouldn’t be more than three or four months maximum.”
Taylor shook his head, “You know something Cap, if you weren’t such a frail old bastard I’d have to beat the shit out of you.”
Mason gave a hearty laugh that made his chest shake,
“Listen sonny, you may have been a hotshot once but you ain’t no match for this old dog. I’d have to be in a coma before you got one over on me, and even then I think I’d still take you.”
Taylor joined his boss in a quiet chuckle.
“So what’s going on outside,” he asked when the joke had worn off, “who are all those guy’s shifting boxes?”
“That’s a good question,” Mason answered, not caring if he sounded patronising. He leant forward and lowered his voice,
“And one with a very interesting answer at that.”
Mocking his boss, Taylor enthusiastically leant forward so their faces were only inches apart, “I’m all ears, do tell.”
Before Mason could divulge there was a knock on the door,
“Guess that’s him. I’ll tell all later,” he whispered before giving his protégé a wink.
The door opened and Freddie Milton walked in, meeting Mason in the middle of the room. I bet he doesn’t try to crush that fucker’s hand, Taylor thought. After a few hushed words, Mason left the room only for Milton to occupy his chair. Taylor went to stand but was quickly motioned to stay where he was.
Freddie Milton was easily the most powerful man in Hope City and according to the experts, a modern day prodigy. He was the City’s CEO, not just overlooking what ClearSkies did but also all its umbrella organisations too. As this covered every function of life in the City from fuel and sewerage to security and schools, Milton pretty much ran the
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