The King of City

40 THE FAREWELL

"Lionel came up with a way for you to further earn gang loyalty".

"What did Beau come up with?".

"Let's run this gang as a kind of business where gang members also win".

"I don't know what you mean Beau, explain yourself".

"It's simple Cheetah, let's offer everyone a kind of performance commission".

"I still don’t understand you".

"If they do a job or a task well, we reward them with a little more money, so they will be motivated to give good results. Think about it, we can send them to do intelligence work, for example Elizabeth's, that would help you and take a lot of work off your back”.

"I don't know Beau, I don't want to involve anyone in my affairs, least of all these gang members".

"Okay Lionel, you're right".

"But wait, Beau, what you say about the investigative work doesn't seem so far-fetched to me. We can try it, it could be another line of business for gang members, they would be a kind of private investigator and they would earn extra money there”.

"Yes Cheetah, you can mention that idea, it will surely attract them the possibility of increasing their income". Said Beau.

"I’ll Beau, I'm going to bring you together to talk to you about the idea".

Lionel thought it was a very good idea for gang members to carry out other types of work in addition to the collection, so if he required information from someone specific, he would only have to ask the gang members to obtain it without raising as much suspicion as they had been doing. On the other hand, the extra payment would come in handy.

The meeting, in which he would comment to the gang members about his idea, was called by Beau, whom the gang members admired too much because Lionel had asked him on some occasions to help him with the training and he had taught them some of the feats he had learned in Frederic as agent. Everyone was intrigued to know what news the boss would have for them.

"Beau, can you tell us something about what the boss wants to tell us?" one of the gang members asked.

"I´m afraid not, comrades, it’s news that he himself will give you". Said Beau, sowing anxiety among them.

"I hope that no one has tried to attack Larson again, until now he has been our best leader" said one of them.

"If someone dared to betray him, Larson will have no compassion". Interrupted another gang member.

"Easy friends, the meeting isn’t bad at all. Until now you haven’t betrayed him again or at least that is what I understand”. Beau said laughing, trying to reassure the gang members who were beginning to freak out at the reason for the meeting.

"Thank God Larson is very cruel when someone betrays him". Said a gang member.

"I already think so, nor do I think I have so much guts to make someone suffer so much". Warned another gang member.

At the time of the meeting, the gang members were speculating among themselves trying to guess the purpose of the meeting, therefore, they didn’t realize when Lionel arrived.

"Gentlemen, good evening". Said Lionel. Immediately, everything was in absolute silence, none dared to open their mouths. "Why so much silence suddenly? A few minutes ago you were very noisy”. Said Lionel, realizing the uncertainty he was causing among his men.

"Does anyone think of the reason I quoted them earlier today?". Lionel asked. Everyone was silent, nobody wanted to talk. "Don't worry friends, I have good news for you". Said Lionel. "I want them to be dedicated to conducting research, and for this they will receive an additional payment".

The men were surprised to hear the proposal that Lionel had for them, they didn’t dislike at all earning a little more money, while they started their new tasks, first they started with very simple investigations such as searching for unfaithful husbands and wives, catching to small hackers who stole pictures of girls to sell them on p**n pages and other types of investigations. To achieve all this, Beau trained them in different skills that would serve for their inquiries, in less than two months, they were known for their effectiveness, which gratified Lionel and the gang members who were engaging in other types of activities.

However, Lionel still hadn't managed to find anything about his sister on his own; Regarding the subject of Mary, he decided that at the moment it wasn’t a priority because he hadn’t suffered any type of attack from him, what he had to do was return to the capital to look for more clues in order to entrust his men with the work. of investigation because he had already verified that they were good enough with these tasks.

"Beau, I must tell you something". Lionel said very seriously.

"Is something wrong with you Cheetah?".

"Yes Beau, I still haven't found anything about Elizabeth. I must return to the capital to speak with some contacts and if I get good information, I’ll ask the boys to investigate".

"Are we going to leave this town?".

"I’ll leave it, you won’t".

Beau didn’t understand Lionel's statement very well.

"I don't know what you mean Cheetah".

"It's simple Beau, I can't leave here forever and if I leave these gang members alone, chances are some i***t will come to relieve me. That’s something that I cannot allow, you know the work that has cost me to gain the trust of these men and that they work for me”. Said Lionel.

"Who will you leave in charge then?". Beau asked.

"You will be the new leader Beau". Said Lionel.

"I can't do that Cheetah, I don't have any attributes to be a leader. If you do that, these men will overthrow me”. Said Beau, very concerned about the news his friend had just given him.

“Don't be a fool Beau, don't think that I haven't realized the respect that these gang members have for you, in every training you give I’ve analyzed how they appreciate everything you teach them, if someone should replace me, that's you. I know you will do very well”.

"I don't know Lionel, I don't want to meddle with your plans". Said Beau.

"You won’t, I need your help in this, take command for a few days if you realize that it’s not for you, I’ll return to relieve you myself". Was the offer Lionel made to his friend, in order that this have a little confidence.

"Okay Cheetah, I accept, I really want to help you with this".

"I knew I could count on you friend, listen to me well, we are going to adapt the bar to be the center of operations, you will be safe there and if you want you can stay there so that you do not continue in a hotel". Were the instructions that Lionel gave his friend.

“Understood Cheetah”.

"Tomorrow I’ll tell the gang members that you will be the new leader".

Lionel wasted no time and the next day made the official announcement:

"Gang members today I must tell you later". As soon as he said those words, everyone looked at each other without understanding the reason why their boss was saying goodbye. "I must travel, I don’t know if I stay a few days, months or more outside". Lionel explained to his gang members. "Therefore, I must appoint someone who is in charge and, of course, a leader for you".

"Boss, why are you leaving?". asked a gang member.

"I must attend to some very delicate matters that require my full attention". Said Lionel, without elaborating further. "Well friends, I want you to know that from now on Beau will be the boss in charge, I want you to be respected as much or more than you respect me".

The gang members welcomed the news. Beau Sánchez was a great leader from whom they had learned a lot.

"Thanks Larson, we'll keep everything in order!". Were the shy words Beau gave after his appointment was made.

"Gang members, I want you to put your entire disposition at Beau's command, we will see each other soon". Was the farewell to Lionel, who left with the firm conviction that he would soon be with Elizabeth.