Utterly Mad

Chapter 1 part 2
Spades smiled to himself as he watched the TV hanging over the bar that was actively playing the news story about the bank robbery. He took a drink from his beer and looked around. As per usual for this kind of place there was several of the local ‘ladies of the night’ looking for customers. One of them walked up to Spades and went through what he imagined was her usual pitch. He sent her on her way with a free hundred-dollar bill and his usual word of advice to get out of that business.
As she walked towards the door Clubs whistled as he walked by and took a seat next to Spades. Spades looked at him and shook his head as Clubs said “Wassup Zachary?”
Spades shrugged, still not used to being called that by anybody, and said “Not much, stayed up late working on accounting books for the boss. Finally got some time to grab a few beers and have a night out, what about you?”
“Had to take care of the kids, but the missus is going to keep an eye on them, told me I needed to have a night out after a long day of work.”
Spades nodded, figuring the bit about the kids and the wife was true, and after all Clubs had a family he was taking care of. Spades was just surprised Clubs had gone along with doing a job in his home city. “And how’s good ol’ Saint Nicholas doing? Thought he was going to come grab a beer with us.”
“Told me he had something come up and needed to take care of it. He told me to have a beer on him.” Clubs said, motioning to the bartender and asking for a couple of beers.
“Shame, I was hoping to get that casserole recipe from him. Guess I’ll have to get it another time.” Spades said, finishing his beer and putting two twenty dollar bills on the bar. “Anyway, I need to head home. Have fun.”
Clubs nodded and said his good bye as Spades walked to the door. He sighed into the cold night air and walked to the sidewalk to hail a cab. One pulled over and he got in “Take me to Third Street.”
The driver acknowledged his destination and began driving. Spades looked out at the bright lights that were quickly passing by the car and thought back to a simpler time in his life. One where he just walked into a business and threatened the owner, talked some tough shit, and then brought the money back to his boss. It wasn’t long before the driver pulled over and told him they were at his destination. Spades handed the driver a hundred-dollar bill and told him to keep the change as he walked towards his apartment building.
Spades unlocked the door and walked into his apartment, tossing his keys into a small metal bowl that sat next to the door. He walked into his bathroom and stared at himself in the mirror. It was several minutes later he asked himself “Are you Spades, or are you Vincent? I can’t tell anymore.”
He pulled out a razor and shaved his beard off. He blinked a few times and decided he was going to a barber in the morning, he was terrible at this. He sighed and leaned toward the mirror to inspect himself. Scruffy beard that was now missing a couple spots, hair that looked like it had been put through the spin cycle of a washing machine, and a few scars that he couldn’t quite remember getting. “Jesus, what the fuck happened to me? Well, probably the bullets and the knife fights and the grenades and…all the other shit.”
Spades walked out of the bathroom and towards the bedroom. Once there he sat down and grabbed the landline, dialing a number. Nobody picked up so he left a voice mail “Hey, it’s Vincent. I know it’s been a while and all but I thought I’d let you know I’m doing good, the job is paying really well now. I’m going to be moving again though, I guess that’s one of the benefits, I travel a lot. Anyway, I just wanted you to know I’m doing okay, and that you shouldn’t worry. I’ll be all right. I gotta go now so I’ll talk to you later.”
He sighed yet again and pulled out his wallet. He tossed a couple hundred dollars on the bed for the cleaning lady and left a note to the land lord telling her he had to suddenly leave that night for business and that he had left the money for the leftover rent in the cupboard, which he did. After that he left the apartment and took a walk to a barbershop he knew was always open late. He walked through the door and took a seat in one of the chairs. The barber walked up behind the chair and asked “What kind of cut do you want?”
“Shave the beard off, then shave the head, buzz cut though I don’t want to get an ingrown hair. I have to wear helmets a lot.” Spades said, looking at the mirror in front of him.
“Smart man.”
The barber provided some idle chitchat while he cut Spades hair. When he was done Spades stood up and handed the barber a pair of tens. “Good work, keep the change.”
Spades walked out of the shop and took a ride to the air port, time to set up another job.