Free Should Have Killed The Kid by R. Frederick Hamilton Page A

floor beneath him. Further relief flooded him as he approached and heard chatter emanating from beyond the drop sheet.
    When he stepped through, the scene inside the bar had changed somewhat. Monty still formed a glowering centrepiece but was now surrounded by a handful of others. Most wearing flannelette and blue yakka’s though there was also a rather large lady in a faded floral dress sitting quietly over in the corner.
    He made sure to pull up a couple of feet away from Monty while he waited for Marcus to finish serving down the other end. Still the old man drew his eyes despite his best efforts. Must have had a few more socks squirreled away, Dave thought as he took in the four empty pint glasses surrounding him while he sipped at a fifth. Shit, looks like he’s had the suit on for a week at least. Probably washed it last time he shaved…
    ‘What can I get you?’ Marcus’s voice cut in and Dave gratefully looked away. Whether from imbibing a little of what he was serving – Dave could see the half-filled pint down by the till – or just from the interaction with the other patrons, Marcus’s mood appeared to have lightened. The death scowl had dropped and though it wasn’t quite a smile that replaced it, it was close. ‘Oh, you’re David, yeah.’ Marcus actually turned to face him and did a little double take as he saw it wasn’t one of the regulars propping up the bar.
    ‘Yep, that’ me.’
    ‘Good, good. Enjoying the stay so far? Sorry I didn’t introduce myself properly earlier. The old man, you know? Eh. I’m Marcus, anyway.’ The younger Gallo held out a hand and nearly crushed Dave’s in his grip.
    ‘Nice to meet you. Sorry about the… confusion with the booking and all.’ Dave thought about adding a suggestion that a few choice alterations to their website might be in order but after a moment of reflection decided it just wasn’t worth the hassle.
    ‘Nah, you’re alright.’ Marcus leaned across the bar conspiratorially. ‘It’s just the old man. Got rocks in the head, yeah? Thinks money grows on them trees out there, you know?’
    Dave wasn’t sure he did but he nodded anyway.
    Unfortunately Marcus seemed to take that as an invitation to settle in.
    'Doesn't quite compute that if he wants all this to happen then there needs to be a bit of money coming in. Mate, his idea of publicity is a flyer drop and an ad in the local paper. Old bastard nearly fell over when I showed him the website.'
    'It was very nice.' Dave winced at how ridiculous and redundant a statement he made but fortunately Marcus didn't even seem to notice. Dave was quickly getting the impression that Bruno's son wasn't shy of hearing his own voice.
    'It's going to be hard enough getting people in as it is. 'Specially with the name he picked. Cheerful, yeah? Ha! Try telling him that. Just goes straight over his head. Doesn't even get the pun.' Marcus paused for a shake of the head. 'But bah, don't need to hear my sob story. What can I get you?'
    'Um, a pint, thanks.' After a pause during which he pondered requesting something else just to see if anything but Carlton was on offer, Dave settled for the easier decision and nodded toward the tap, digging his wallet from his pocket at the same time.
    Marcus scuttled down and filled a glass before returning and shaking his head at the twenty Dave offered.
    'Nah mate, this one's on the house, alright? For the mix up, yeah?'
    'Ah, cheers. Thanks.' Dave tucked the money back into his top pocket and raised the glass to Marcus who winked at him before heading for a waving patron down the other end of the bar.
    Kind of chuffed for the freebie, Dave took a long swallow but grimaced as it still went down sour.
    Free pint though, he thought a little sarcastically, placing it back on the bar, maybe things are looking up. The smile that started to spread across his face stalled as he looked across and saw Monty hunched over and staring in his direction. The eyes burning into him, scouring