Crash!


    The porcin vase Zeb was holding smashed into pieces.


    “Fuck!” Zeb bellowed furiously before wheeling on Frank, who was over two meters away.” How dare


    you trip me!”


    Frank simplyughed coolly in turn. “You’re a riot–you tripped over yourself, and you have. the cheek to


    me me?”


    “Shut up! Why would I trip for no reason?” Zeb growled through his teeth. “You definitely did something!


    You’re paying for that porcin vase!”


    “You have the cheek to tell me what to do?” Frank glowered. “Buzz off.”


    He started to leave, but Zeb quickly moved to stop him while shrieking, “You’re paying up today, or


    you’re not leaving!”


    Then, turning toward the people around them, he said, “See?! He broke my vase but refused to pay!


    Where’s the justice here?!”


    Everyone quickly crowded around them at Zeb’s call to get a look.


    Frank sneered at Zeb in turn–he was never going to pay up.


    A group of uniformed men strode toward them just then, and the crowd quickly made way. “What’s the


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ruckus here?” the man in the lead growled through his cigarette..


    Zeb recognized him and happily ran up to him. “Yo, Dee! It’s me,


    Zeb!”


    Dee Hampton’s ratty eyes widened as he looked closer. “Oh, Mr. Larkin? What brings you here today?”


    Zeb smiled and pointed at Frank. “My grandfather–inw’s birthday ising up, so I came here to


    buy a present, but this fucker had to trip me! The vase is all shattered now–you have to help me out


    here.”


    He was not even sure that Frank tripped him, but he did not care–Frank was there, and he would make


    Frank pay! Who knew–perhaps he might not have tripped if he did not run into Frank here!


    “Shit, that happened?” Dee frowned.


    Zeb often shopped here in Riverton’s antique bazaar, and they eventually made their acquaintance.


    With Zeb proving to be a generous soul as well, Dee was naturally happy to help now that he


    needed a favor.


    “You broke my friend’s stuff, brat! Now pay up!” Dee bellowed, pointing at Frank’s nose.


    Frank replied coolly, “You two know each other, don’t you?‘


    “So what if we do?” Zeb gloated, standing akimbo.


    “Do you have proof that I broke his vase?” Frank asked in return.


    Dee froze–he certainly did not have evidence.


    Even so, he snapped stubbornly, “Evidence? What evidence? My word isw here, and if I say you


    broke it, then you did! Not only are you going to pay for my friend’s vase, but that’s also a ten grand


    fine for viting the peace!”


    Frankughed at that. “Viting the peace? Who do you think you are, collecting protection money


    here?”


    A nearby vendor nudged his arm just then, whispering, “Look, man–Dee here is like the supervisor.


    Just pay up already.”


    “Yeah.” A stall owner nodded beside them. “See the guys with him? You’ll suffer if you y hardball.”


    Their kind were especially scared of Dee, as he lorded over them every day, demanding money. It


    would be their stall destroyed if they did not pay up and a harsh beating if they spoke out of turn!


    Dee was grinning smugly in turn. “You know who I am now, kid?”