41.
Malloy’s Pub. The big farewell. Highballs and broads. Bones and Rocky working the bar. Whitey and Shorty shooting pool. The guys, enjoying one last round for the life. Scram, on his way.
Bones reached for his cell phone.
"Where the hell are ya? We're at the bar."
"I gotta problem," Tony said.
"What kinda problem?" Bones asked. Eddie's face clicked into pissed-off mode. Bones released the call.
"That was Tony," Bones said.
"Where is he? I gotta broad comin' by that wants to meet him," said the big guy. Bones ignored him. He got up, and approached pool table. Shorty schooling Whitey on a trick shot.
Bones stepped closer.
"What's up?" asked Whitey.
"Yeah Bones, what is it?" said Shorty.
"We gotta situation," Bones answered. All four moved to a rear booth. The women stayed at the bar.
"Tony's on his way over to Mermaids. To settle with Big Dave," Bones said. He pitched the dope. Those damn bastards killed Steve.
"What do we do?" asked Shorty.
"That's what I want to talk to you guys about," answered Bones.
"We can't let him go in there by himself," said Rocky.
"Whitey?" asked Bones.
"Tony's one of us. What happens to him, happens to all of us," said Whitey.
"That's what I think," said Bones. A bottle, and four shot glasses arrived. They let them fly.
"Where's Tony now?" asked Shorty.
"I told him to stop by the bar on his way over," said Bones.
"I'm with Rocky. We can't let him go in there alone," said Whitey. Whitey reached for the bottle, and poured another round.
Once more, the crew drained their shots. The crew all gazed each other.
A horn honked from outside the bar.