Cash sat in the kitchen of his apartment, the black guitar resting on his thigh. With his eyes half-open and a cigarette on his lips, he expertly tuned his guitar. On the table, there was a worn notebook and a glass of whiskey. He had been struck by a bolt of inspiration while showering and now he was here, ready to work on a song. Suddenly the phone rang. Cash stretched his arm back. He was able to reach the phone without getting up. He then took the phone off the hook and held it between his ear and shoulder.

"Yes? Oh, hey BlueEyes. Yeah, I know. I know. Sure. One hour, I'll be there."

Cash wasn't the type to let a friend down. He immediately got up, left the guitar on the table, finished his whiskey and went to his room to put on decent clothes to go out. He got ready in an instant. He combed his hair carelessly backwards, took his keys, wallet and cigarettes and went out into the street. It didn't take long and he found a cab to take him to the diner. It wasn't that far from his apartment, so he would arrive a little earlier than the agreed time, but it didn't matter, he liked to arrive early, always.

Cash smoked a cigarette on the sidewalk before entering the diner. Apparently there was already a table reserved for them, but BlueEyes hadn't arrived yet.

Cash listened intently to BlueEyes, his body leaning forward and his elbows resting on the table. Just like BlueEyes, Cash also had a cup of coffee in front of him, and he imitated his friend, taking a sip of the drink.

"2 days is perfect, gives us perfect time to organize. Send me one of your guys and I'll bring one of mine along as well."

That said, they continued to sip their coffees and plan about the upcoming events. An hour later, they said goodbye and each went their own way.

TWO DAYS LATER.

BlueEyes had called Cash the day before to inform him that he would be sending his own LHM on the mission. To complete the team, Cash would bring along one of his best bodyguards, a man named Nelson. Cash had lined everything up, met with them both to prepare, and explained the plan. And now that the big day had arrived, there were the three of them, inside a black Lancia Aurelia provided by BlueEyes especially for that mission. All three were wearing dark clothes. Nelson was at the wheel, SalvatoreVito, the LHM of BlueEyes was in the back seat. Cash smoked a cigarette sitting in the passenger seat. The clock marked the beginning of the night.

"Look, they're coming." Cash said, looking in the rearview mirror. Nelson followed his gaze and Vito turned on the seat to watch.

At the end of the avenue where they were parked, a Liberty Express Deliveries truck was moving slowly. According to information received from BlueEyes, Mutt's goods were transported by this company and would be delivered to Mutt's Philly store, Larry Cigars. Cash had discovered that all deliveries took place at night, as there were fewer people on the street and fewer curious eyes. Furthermore, he discovered that the truck's security was very poorly reinforced. Only a driver and a henchman accompanying him.

"Get ready." Cash said to the two, as the truck got a little closer to them. Nelson started the engine. "Remember, we don't want any victims here."

The plan was to capture the driver and the passenger of the truck. Vito would take the wheel of the truck and they would then go to a warehouse on the other side of town, owned by a friend of Cash. If everything went well, there would be no unnecessary violence. Both Vito and Cash had tapes and pieces of cloth on their black coats, to help disable the occupants of the transport vehicle. 

The truck got a little closer and Cash took out his revolver.

"Alright boys, let's do this."

With the cigarette between his fingers, Cash watched as the two Mutt employees were "gently" placed in the back seat of the car. He glanced up and down the street, making sure no one was watching, and then signaled Vito to get behind the wheel of the truck. Vito nodded and got into the truck, and Cash and Nelson got into the car. Cash took a drag on his cigarette and kept the revolver in his hand.

"You two better behave back there." He said to men in the backseat.

The truck driven by Vito started to move and Nelson followed with the car. All the while Cash looked into the backseat, making sure the men's eyes were tightly blindfolded and that they were still immobilized. One of them was still shaking a little and an uncomfortable smell of urine emanated from him. The other had stopped shaking and had his head down. Either he had fainted or he was saying a silent prayer. Cash shook his head.

The trip to the warehouse went smoothly. The truck and the car were parked outside. There was one of Cash's men waiting for them there, a short guy known as Shorty. Cash jumped out of the car and just waved at Shorty. Everyone already knew what to do and Shorty just got in the car, taking Cash's place, and the car left. No words were needed. Nelson and Shorty were going to drop off the two Mutt's guys at a place on the other side of town. 

Cash watched the car drive away and then went to the warehouse door, to open it so Vito could park the truck inside. So Vito did and Cash closed the wide doors. There were several boxes piled up on the sides of the warehouse, large wooden boxes, full of God knows what. In the back was a small makeshift office and a telephone. Cash walked there and Vito followed. Cash called BlueEyes on the phone. The call was answered quickly on the other end.

"It's done, you can come." And hung up. BlueEyes already had the address. 

Cash then poured a glass of whiskey for himself and one for Vito, while waiting for BlueEyes.

"We deserve it."

Joker looked at Mr. Mutt smiling as he walks over to him saying no and cuts his ties off looking at Mutt with his face in Mutt’s face.  He tells Mutt to relax, he’s going to ask a few questions and then tell him a story.  

If my mother gave you the last name Mutt I’d have an angry deposition too.  Now you called me a clown.  You never met me and you want to be a tough guy and you called me a clown.  Right, now then, I mean, come on let's clown around.  

Joker takes Mutt’s right as he smiles and then smashes it with the telephone the man screams and then he yanks Mutt neck tie pulling the thin piece choking Mutt then shaking his head tell Mutt to relax and stop with the noise and answer his questions.

You're a tough guy right?  Hmmm no answer?

Jokes now standing behind mutt leans down over the man and rubs Mutt’s shoulders and then reaches over and moves the telephone away as he looks at BlueEyes.  Then he asked Mutt

This man is owed something and yet you tell him to go fuck himself.  You see me and say who the fuck is this clown, even before then you said he and his friends where clowns.  I bet you wish you had called us gentlemen, or nice guys hell I bet you are wishing you had given the man what you promised you would.  Butttt Noooooo you had to start this tough guy shit.  You own a cigarette store, man, and you think you're tough, rich and powerful.  You clear what a year a million at best, I touch that amount at least one a month.  He touches that amount, what two or three times a month Blue?  Yeah see we got more money then you.  He runs southside of Chicago me I’m just a fucking clown you never met, yet you operate in New York, you never heard of me. Yet you called me a Clown.  Have you ever heard of Bugsy Siegle?  His real name is is Benjamin Siegle, his friends and coworkers call him Benny and people like you while now people like you, I mean you tough guys call him Bugsy when you should be smart enough to know you should be calling him Mr. Siegle.  But when you met me you call me a fucking clown to my mother fucking face. 

Joker now bent down face to face with Mutt punches him in the eye and face several times.  Then stands up punching downward as Mutt covers up screaming okay, okay,okay.  Then Joker stops and closes his eyes and exhales slowly then his eyes pops open and he looks down at Mutt and sits on his desk and takes Mutt's left hand and leans forward rubbing his left hand and tells him that now its story time.  As he bends Mutt’s thumb backwards as it breaks.

Whis Mr. BlueEyes and I were kids. This kid who was three years older than us borrowed a dime from him.  Then promised to pay him back.  He then refused and refused and refused weeks went by with no payment.  BlueEyes never even charged the kid interest he loaned the Kid money because they were friends.   Then I asked when are you going to pay him back and he grabbed me, can you believe that shit.  He grabbed me and slapped me around.  Then me and BlueEyes came up with a plan.  

Joker breaks Mutts first finger on his left hand then smiles and wipes the sweat off Mutts forehead with his pocket handkerchief then stuffs it back into Mutts shirt pocket.  And continues with his story.

We asked the kid if he wanted this bike we saw at the playground.  Stupid fuck wanted to go see it and walked with us when he should have said yeah bring it to me. He could have paid the dime back but because he thought he was a tough guy wanted us to give him a dime each every week.  You do know a dime back then was lunch at school for a week.  He wanted our lunch money every week.  I digress, we got about a block away from the school and cut through this alley and I saw this gulf club that was bent and sticking out of a garbage can.  BlueEyes had his dads pocket flapjack and we smiled and nodded as I grabbed the golf club and BlueEyes pulls out the flapjack and we went to work.  I mean we beat that poor kid down until he promised to give us a dime a week each.  BlueEyes took the money on him. He had sixty five cents. That was three weeks of lunch money, a piece for us and a nickel worth of candy that we had.  

Joker breaks Mutts next two fingers on his left hand then smiles and again wipes the sweat off Mutts forehead with Mutts pocket handkerchief and tells him to breathe as he again stuffs the handkerchief back into Mutts shirt pocket.  And continues with his story.

From then on he worked for us and so did all his friends. They gave us twenty percent of everything going forward.  You know they still do to this very day and we never even demanded that.  They kicked up out of respect, fear even whatever the reason they paid.  But not you.  You're a tough guy.  I mean you have to, to have a last name like Mutt right.  

Joker looks at BlueEyes who is laughing and pouring himself a drink then.  BlueEyes then asked what was he waiting for?   Joker replied back Cousin you know I love a captive audience and breaks Mutts' last two fingers slowly one at a time as Mutts again screams out in pain.   

You see Mr. Mutt all my cousin wanted was what you owe.  Now it's past that time and you're at his mercy.  If it was me I would have made you sign over half your business to me making me a partner.  A legit business like this could take off and double the income.  But he has had enough of your tough guy shit and now here you sit.  One hand crushed because you fucked up and refused to reach into your pocket and give the man what you owe.  The other hand, now broken because you called me what?  Say it again.

Joker leaned forward as he was still sitting on his desk looking him in the eyes and repeated his question and the man replied, I called you Mister.  Your Mister J.  Joker stood up and then smiled at BlueEyes and said he’s all yours cousin.