Danny’s Big Deal (revised)

Warning: Contains mild cursing

This story is set in Pentameter City. A fictional place where the residents often get caught up in any number of difficult situations.

Danny’s Big Deal

It's just after 9 pm, on a Friday night in Pentameter City. The first weekend of summer. The streets are alive and gritty, with deals going down all over. Young toughs prowl the strip, restless, full of energy, and looking for action. Drag racing on Thunder Road lets them blow off steam. Cops won't step in unless there's bloodshed, and even then they're slow to arrive. The young punks know this, and it makes them crazy with power, willing to try anything to shake off the shackles of boredom and conformity that their parents place on them all week.

All except for Gatts, that's what his friends call him, Danny De Gatt is his real name. A nineteen-year-old dropout, with a fix for nose candy. His parents know they cannot control him, so they let him do whatever he wants, and they clean up his mess. They're rich, have high-paying jobs, and have connections all over the city. Deckland De Gatt, Danny's father, owns Gatt's Construction and pulls in over $800,000 a year. He and the state governor play golf together and go fishing and hunting on the weekends, along with the Chief of Police, Maxwell Raiford. They all belong to the Gentlemen's Club.

Danny's mother, Rachel De Gatt, is secretary for the state attorney. His name is, Franklin Lombard. Both he and Rachel share a long history of on and off again affairs. She knows Franklin adores her, and would do anything she asks, and when it comes to her only son...that kind of power goes a long way. Both Mommy and Daddy pulled out all the stops for his last little fuck-up. He ended up with just a warning and six months’ probation. His probation ended just one week ago, and he's taking full advantage of that fact tonight.

Danny is driving his "Stallion" as he likes to call his 61' Midnight black convertible, through downtown Pentameter. He's got a deal going down, and he's late to make the score. His driving is reckless at best. Weaving in and out of traffic, barely missing other cars, he does not care. All he can think about is getting that cash so he can buy some more blow to satisfy his need for the potent white powder.

He drives by the spot where the deal is supposed to happen. He slows down and looks to make sure the buyer's car is parked nearby. It is, so he continues on, turns down a side street, parks his car behind a boarded-up warehouse, and begins to walk toward the meeting place. Which in this case, happens to be an old antique store that went out of business long ago.

There is only one way into the place. He gets to the building that the store is a part of, walks down the alleyway, and knocks twice on a side door, then waits and knocks once more. An old tattooed war vet cracks the door open a little, sees who it is, and lets him in without a word. He descends a flight of stairs, to below ground level. When he gets to the bottom, he walks over to a door that leads into the storeroom, which is just under the antique shop. He knocks a couple of times, and a heavy-set, mean-looking fellow, opens the door and beckons Danny in with a mock gesture of welcome.

"So glad you decided to grace us with your presence," the guy says to Danny.

"Hey Lonnie, I had some major business to take care of, that's why I'm late."

"The agreed meeting time was 9 pm Gatts. You knew that and still took your sweet old time. So don't blame me if the guy backs out."

Danny smirked, and said, "He won't back out, trust me."

"If you say so man, but you'd better hurry your ass up, this guy is in no mood to play."

Danny nodded briefly, and asked in a low voice," You check him out already?"

"Yep, he's clean."

Danny nodded again, turned and walked away to another part of the storeroom. He went around the corner, to where some big Persian rugs were lined up against the wall. Sitting next to them was a big crème-colored sofa, out of view from the rest of the storage area. There on the sofa, sat a man who although dressed nicely, had a dangerous air about him.

The man stood up and nodded, as he saw Danny approach.

"You Danny?" the man said.

"Yeah. My friends call me Gatts."

"I don't care what they call you. I'm only here for one thing, and I don't like to be kept waiting."

"Well, some things came up that had to be dealt with right then. So if you wanna make the deal, let's do it. If not, then get the hell out, and stop wasting my time."

"Look, Danny, or Gatts, or whatever the hell they call you. You talked to my man, right? So you know who I am, and what I can do for you. I'm willing to send a lot of business your way. But you have to play by my rules. Got it?"

Gatts looked the man, straight in the eye, and drew two steps closer. "I don't play by anyone's rules. You got that?" Danny said calmly, with half a shrug. Then he turned and began to walk away.

The man reached out and placed his hand on Danny's shoulder.

"Wait a minute Gatts! I have to get that stuff right now. Some friends of mine, or associates, I should say, are waiting on me. So let's just make the trade, stop the bullshit...and I'll be on my way."

"Fine," Danny said. "You got the cash?"

The man pulled out a gold money clip, which held a large-sized roll of hundred dollar bills. He peeled off five and handed them to Danny.

"Here you are. Five hundred, just like you said. Now, where's my rocks?”

Danny reached into the upper left side of his jacket and pulled out a plastic baggy, which contained five chunks of crack cocaine. He then handed the baggy over to the man. The guy opened the baggy, took out each rock, looked at it, smelled it, then he tasted one. Once he was satisfied with the contents, he stuck the baggy in his suit pocket. Then

he nodded and smiled at Danny.

"Everything looks good."

"Of course. Now, was there anything else you wanted?"

"Hmmm, not right at this moment. But if I think of anything, I'll have my man get in touch with you. A pleasure doing business with you Gatts."

"Likewise...uh, what's your name again?" Gatts asked him.

"Just call me, Trevor, alright?"

"Sure Trevor, and listen....spread the word around, okay? Because I'm real easy to find."

Trevor smiled without answering then walked around the corner, leaving Gatts to recline on the sofa alone, and muse happily, about the little taste of heaven, soon to come his way.

A couple of hours had passed, when Lonnie poked his head around the corner and called to Danny.

“Hey man, there’s a dude out here, who says you’re late with his payment.”

“Fuck! Where is he Lon?”

“He’s still out in the alleyway, Riker wouldn’t let him in.”

“Okay. Tell Riker I’ll be up there in a few.”

“Alight,” Lonnie answered, then disappeared around the corner again.

Danny then went over to the big green-colored sofa, which was across from the one he sat on, and slid his hand under one of the cushions.

As he reached back, his fingers touched what he was looking for, his snub-nose 38 special.

“Ahhhh, there you are, my little friend.”

He pulled the gun out, then reached around, stuffed it into the small of his back, and headed towards the front door of the storage area. As he approached the door, Lonnie held it open for him.

“Good luck man,” Lonnie said, with a worried grin on his face.

Danny winked at him, as he walked calmly through the door.

As he approached the flight of stairs that led to the main door, the grizzled old vet, Riker, stood at the top, with his hand on the knob.

“You ready Gatts?” he asked.

“Yeah, open it.”

Riker opened the door, as Danny bounded lightly up the stairs then stepped outside. He stood in the alleyway and looked around. There, right across from him, he saw a tall, gaunt figure standing in a shadowed doorway. He walked over a few steps and halted.

“Rico, is that you?” Danny said.

The tall lanky frame of Rico Galazari stepped into the dim light of the alley. He stood there, perfectly still, like a statue of some fearless warrior who time and all the elements of nature had worn down, yet was not able to destroy.

The dark-skinned, menacing figure walked towards Danny and stood across from him. He stared Gatts, dead in the eyes, and slowly stroked his long, black goatee with bony fingers.

“You better have my money Gatts, or only one of us is leaving this alley alive,” Rico stated in a deep, gravely voice.

“Look Rico, I almost got it all together man. You just gimme a few more days, that’s it.”

“Bullshit Gatts!” Rico yelled, suddenly becoming livid. “You’d better come up with my money right now, or I’m gonna bust a cap in that skinny white ass.”

“C’mon Rico. Just a few more days man. You’ve waited this long, right? What’s a few more days gonna matter?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to Gatts? I’m not one of your mangy-ass, dope-head friends you can blow off anytime you want. Now, you’d best come up with my cash real fast, or I’m gonna plant you six feet under."

Suddenly, Rico started whispering something to Danny that caught him by surprise.

(“Run Gatts. Get outta here now kid.”)

Danny drew his head back like he had been slapped in the face.

“What the hell you talking about Rico? I’m not gonna run anywhere… and why are you whispering like that? There something wrong with your voice all of a sudden?”

(“I ain’t playing around man…get the hell outta here while you still can.”)

Just then, Danny caught something moving out of the corner of his eye. He glanced further up the alleyway and noticed some shadows shifting, around a large stack of barrels.

“Oh shit. Rico, you sold me out, you lousy bastard!" Danny said, as he started to back away slowly, then broke into a full sprint.

Just as he did, two cops came darting out from behind the barrels and ran after him, full speed.

“Come back here Gatts!” the older cop yelled. “Don’t make me shoot you, kid.”

As both of the officers ran after Danny, the younger of them holstered his gun and shot after Danny like a bullet. He hadn’t followed him long when he got almost within arm’s reach of him. Suddenly the young rookie hurled himself at Danny and body-tackled him to the ground. They wrestled around a little, and eventually, the newest member of Pentameter City’s finest got the upper hand. Just then, the older officer, Sergeant Roy O’ Donnelly came trotting up to the scene.

“Good job Buckner. Guess I don’t have that lightning speed like I used to in the old days.”

“No problem Sarge. I live for catching little punks like this. C’mon

Gatts, get your ass up,” Buckner said, as he rose slowly to his feet, pulling Danny up along with him.

Once he got Danny up, he pulled his arms behind his back and slapped the cuffs on him.

Danny stood there; silently fuming that had allowed himself to be caught so easily.

Buckner looked down and saw the gun that Danny was packing lying on the ground. He reached down and picked it up. Then, he turned the gun around admiringly.

“Well, I’ll be damned, a snubby! One thing I got to say for you Gatts; you got good taste in guns. I have one of these myself. I hope you got a license for this thing.”

“Yeah, my dog ate it, so frigging what?” Danny said as the eager young officer patted him down.

Buckner reached up and grabbed a fistful of Danny’s shirt.

“Just keep popping off, you little wise-ass punk and I’ll make you eat this gun!”

O’Donnelly reached over and pushed Buckner off him gently. Then, he stood there shaking his head.

“You never should’ve run, Danny. When I have to chase someone, then I get real upset, and it becomes a little more personal for me. You get what I’m saying, kid?”

Gatts shifted about, shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah, I get what you’re saying, O’Donnelly. Big frigging deal. What exactly am I being busted for? You pigs never caught me doing a single thing. So tell me right now, why this maniac ran after me like a bat out of hell, and what you got on me?”

“Dealing kid. We got you for dealing again.”

“Bullshit O’ Donnelly! I just got off probation. You really think I’m gonna do some stupid shit like that?”

“Look, forget trying to deny it, kid. You know that guy you sold to, Trevor? We found him with the goods still on him. We pressed him real hard, and he gave you up. So, c’mon Danny, let’s not make this any harder than it has to be.”

“Fuck you O’Donnelly! I’m going to make it real hard on yer ass!”

Buckner smacked Danny upside his head and pushed him against a nearby wall, and shoved his elbow into the middle of his back.

“Watch your mouth, you vile little punk! You’re talking to a twice-decorated, 20-year vet! Show some respect!" Sergeant O’Donnelly held his hand up, attempting to calm the young rookie down.

“Easy there Buck, Danny’s a good kid. He’s just been steered in the wrong direction too many times by the wrong people. Ain’t that right, Danny?”

Buckner took his hands off Danny, allowing him to turn around and face the older cop.

“Yeah, I guess so…whatever,” Danny said. “What I wanna know is how in the hell you ever got Rico involved? I never pictured him as a rat, not after all the shit he’s done.”

“That’s exactly how we got him to talk. We got so much dirt on him, we made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Know what I mean kid?”

"No, I don't know what you mean O' Donnelly. Why don't you explain it to me," Danny said as he stood there frowning sullenly for a few moments. Then he turned his head away and spit out a tiny bit of blood.

“We needed him to flush you out kid,” O’Donnelly continued. “You know that hideout too well. We never would’ve been able to find you if we came busting in there like a couple of bulls. So we offered him a pass, if...he led us to you and flushed you out for us.”

"I wish you had come busting in there," Danny said. "If you did, I promise you we would not be having this conversation right now."

“"Sure kid, whatever you say. Alright Buck, read him his rights.”

“Gladly,” Buckner said. “You have the right to remain silent, you little punk. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, then you'll rot in jail where yer little ass belongs…”

“Yeah, whatever...okay? I know the drill,” Danny said impatiently. “Now, just take me downtown and book me so we can get this shit over with. I got some business to take care of.”

Both the law officers grabbed Danny’s arms and led him back to the spot where they had parked their squad car.

Once they got there, they put him in the car and drove off.

When they got Danny to the police station, they performed the typical

screening process for inmates, which took about three hours. When they were all through he was allowed to make his one phone call. Danny dialed his dad’s cell number and waited. The phone rang three or four times, and finally, his dad picked up.

“Hello?” Deckland answered.

“Hello, Dad. They picked me up again.”

“Danny? Where in the hell are you Son?”

“I’m in jail Dad. They got me for dealing crack again.”

There was a moment of tense silence.

“Jesus Christ Danny! Your mother and I just moved heaven and earth to get you off the last time, and now you’re telling me you’re back in prison…AGAIN?" Danny’s father screamed the last word so loud that everyone around him stopped what they were doing and looked in his direction. Danny held his hand over the receiver.

“I’m sorry Dad. I promise this is the last time. Just get me outta here,” Danny said almost pleadingly.

There was another moment of silence, which for Danny, seemed like an eternity.

“No, Son. Not this time. I think you’re better off where you are. You need to get off the powder, and if this is the only way to make that happen, then so be it.”

“Look, Dad, I give you my word, it’ll never happen again. You just gotta help me out this one last time, please. You’re right, I do need to get off that shit, it’s messing with my head. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. But, if you get me off the hook this one last time, I’ll get some help, Dad. I promise.”

“Look Danny…that’s the same thing you said last time, and the time before that, remember? It’s not going to happen again, son. I’m sorry, you did the crime, you do the time.”

“Wait, Dad. Please…DAD!” Danny yelled.

The line went dead. Danny pulled the phone away and stared at it, almost in tears, then he

placed it back on the hook.

O’Donnelly was waiting off to the side until Danny finished his call. At that moment, he walked over and stood beside him. “I’m sorry, kid, I'll have to put you in the cell now."

Danny stood there, just staring at the floor.

O’Donnelly placed his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “C’mon son, let’s go.”

The two of them walked over to the holding cell, and after he unlocked it, O’ Donnelly pulled the cage door open, allowing the worried, young Danny Gatts to walk inside. Then, he closed it and locked it up again.

Danny walked over and just sat on the floor. There was one other inmate in there with him, but Danny paid him no attention. He just sat there with his back to the wall, and his face in his hands.

After a few minutes, Danny looked up at his cellmate; a black dude, about his size, but much older looking. The guy nodded his head and smiled.

“What they git you for man?” he asked Danny.

“Dealing crack,” Danny answered, as he went over and sat on the bench, right next to him.

“Name’s Curtis my man, what’s yours?”

“Danny. What did they get you on, Curtis?”

“Got me on a charge of Domestic Violence.”

“What did you do man?” Danny inquired.

“Me and my wife had it out, and I just slapped her around her a little, that’s all.”

Danny sat there, shaking his head. “What happened, you catch her cheating on you?”

“Nah, we got into an argument, and she said some stupid shit that wasn't true. We fight all the time. Only problem this time was, my little boy saw me hitting her. My little six-year-old son, saw me beating up his mom.” Then he slammed his fist down on the bench.

"Aw hell, man. How am I gonna explain to my little boy, why I was beating up on his momma?" That shit stays with a kid forever. I don’t want that little boy growing up like I did. I don’t want him out on the streets, getting all mixed up in crime and drugs. Hell, man, that's the age when I started going bad.”

Danny just nodded his head sympathetically.

Then, Curtis started to mist up a little. “Man, I think about my son all the time. I worry about him constantly. A father doesn’t want his son growing up to be a bum. He wants him to live a good life. A father wants his son to have all the things he never had. I wish I could just protect that little boy from everything bad out there. I wish I could just pick him up in my arms right now, tell him how much I love him, and that everything is going to be alright.” Then, Curtis started to weep.

Danny sat there this whole time, just listening.

“Curtis, now I think I understand how my dad must feel. My father has helped me so many times, and I just keep on messing around and ending up back in here again. I know he wants me to live a good life, to get out there and make something of myself. But, I just get back on the street man, and end up making the same mistakes over and over, and I know he’s sick of it. He wanted to help me just now when I called him on the phone, I could sense it in his voice. But, I guess he felt at some point, like he had to let me go to live my life as I see fit, and I know how much that hurt him.”

Curtis just sat, staring at Danny the whole time and shaking his head.

“I’m sorry I disappointed you again, Dad. I’m so sorry,” Danny kept saying over and over again, as he held himself, and rocked back and forth on the bench, trying to ease the pain and guilt he was feeling.

Curtis, though in pain himself, could see that here was someone who was suffering way more than he was. He suddenly reached over and put his hand on Danny’s shoulder.

“Listen, Danny. Your dad still loves you man. Sure he’s mad at you right now because you screwed up, and probably a little hurt too cause he can’t help you like he wants. But he’ll never stop loving you, my friend. Take it from me, Danny, no matter how bad you mess up, your dad will always love you. A father loves his son more than anything else on this earth, and that will never change. Just give him a little time, Danny. He’ll forgive you.”

Danny’s face brightened a little. “Yeah, I guess so,” he said.

Then, Danny went over to the other bench and lay down, trying to figure things out. After they talked a little more, both of them nodded off. About two hours later, O’Donnelly came over, trying to rouse the young inmate.

“Wake up, Danny!”

Both of the cellmates stirred on their benches. Danny sat up, looked around, and saw O’Donnelly standing outside the cell door.

“Let’s go, kid…you’re sprung.”

“I am, by who?”

O’Donnelly stepped aside and Danny’s father walked up.

“Dad! Man, am I glad to see you,” Danny said, as he walked over, reached between the bars and shook his father’s hand.

“I bet you are, Son. C’mon, let’s get you out of here and take you home where you belong.”

“Okay, Dad, I’m coming. Just one second” Then he went over to where Curtis was still sitting, reached down, and shook his hand.

“Don’t worry about your boy, Curtis. A son loves his father more than anything else on this earth, and that’s something I should know about. He’ll turn out alright. I know he will.”

“Thanks, Danny, Curtis said. Then, he stood up and they embraced each other for a few seconds.

“No, thank you, Curtis. You’ve helped me make up my mind about a

lot of things and I’m grateful.

Curtis smiled. “No problem, Danny. You’ve helped me a lot too. I won’t forget you, kid.”

“Same here Curt,” Danny said, as he gave him a fist-tap, then walked over to where his father was waiting outside the cell. After Danny got signed out and collected all of his belongings. The two of them walked out to the car and got in.

“Thanks, Dad. I wasn’t sure if you were going to get me out or not,” Danny said, as they headed back home.

“Neither was I, Son.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“Well, you’re my boy. And even though you make me mad sometimes, I still love you, and there was no way I could leave you in there to rot.”

“I knew you couldn’t, Dad."

"But, listen to me, Danny. I pulled a lot of strings to get you out this time. I mean I had to call in some pretty big favors. So please, don’t disappoint me again.”

“I won’t, Dad. I've learned my lesson, and I give you my word. I’m done with all that crap. Today is a brand new beginning for me.”

“That’s good to hear, Son. It really is. But, I just want to tell you now, your mother doesn’t know anything about all this. She has no idea that her son got thrown in jail twice this year for the same thing, and it would break her heart if she found out. So, please just do me a favor and don’t bring it up when she’s around. We’ll get around to telling her eventually, just not right now. I don't think she could handle it.

“I won’t tell her yet, Dad. I promise you that.”

“Good boy. So, it looks like you made yourself a new friend while you were in there.”

“I did, Dad. Curtis is a really great guy. He explained to me that a father loves his son more than anything else on this earth and that helped me see things from your point of view. It made me understand the kind of pain you must’ve been going through because of what I had done.”

“This Curtis sounds like a very wise man, Danny. Is that all you learned from him?”

“No sir. I also learned that listening to someone else’s problems can sometimes help you see where you’ve gone wrong in your own life. He gave me hope and that’s something I’ve been without for a long, long time. I wish we didn’t have to leave him there.”

Right then Danny’s father put the brakes on, turned the car around and headed back in the opposite direction.

“What are you doing Dad? I thought we were going home.”

“Not just yet, Danny. We’re going to get your friend out first. Anyone who gives my son that kind of outlook on life doesn’t need to be spending the night in a place like that.”

“Thanks, Dad. You’re the best!”

That day, Danny obtained two of the most precious things he could ever hope to find.

He got a second chance at life and a friend who understands.