Evening

(Before I begin, I'm going to select a random writing prompt from my handy book here. Then I'll start writing.)
(Here we go. The prompt is: "Evening was the time for..." and I have selected a character from a story I am writing named Jack Silver AKA Redeye Jack.)


Evening was the time for rest after a long day's work, for sitting back, relaxing. It was supposed to be when you went to the bar, had a beer and a smoke, and talked with other drunk, smoking people. For Jack, things were different. Sure, he smoked and drank as much as the next man, but he was here for business.

Evening was the time for business.

His current employer asked him to do some dirty work. Jack was good at dirty work. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be making money. Jack had been dropped off in front of a small, rundown apartment building. Apparently, it was the hideout for a gang that was too much trouble for the cops to handle, and not enough for the military to handle. That was Jack. The middle man.

Evening was the time for the middle man.

The sun was barely below the rooftops of New Vegas. A Mars colony started up around 15 years ago. It could be said that is had been going downhill lately, but it's hard to drop below the bottom. New Vegas was a giant slum. Always was. Always would be. A slum full of people who killed people for drugs, or for pleasure. Or, occasionally, if you were good enough, for money.
Jack wondered vaguely as he kicked the door in and fired two bullets into the bewildered man in front of him, how dissapointed these guys would be if they learned how much they were worth to his employer. Oh well.

Evening was the time for 50 bucks a body.

The room was full of gang members, who were now looking at Jack with some vague intrest. A mixture of brown and green eyes stared at the odd mix of blue and red standing in the doorway.
bang. fifty bucks. You had to get a nickname from somewhere, right? bang. fifty bucks. Bullets were now spraying in Jack's direction, a swarm of metal whizzing by. bang. fifty bucks.

Evening was the time for bang.

It was breif, and punctuated. The last man left was the leader, cowering with soggy pants in a back room, which Jack assumed hadn't smelt this bad five minutes previous. He was shaved bald, had a mustache. He had some blood from his fallen lackeys on his face and clothing. Funny thing, really. The top of the pyramid seems high and mighty, right up until you kick out the bottom rung.

Evening was the time for kicking out the bottom rung.

Jack let the man stare into his eyes. Surely he thought he faced a demon. He began to stammer. click. He shut up. Jack regarded him, and opened his mouth. "500 bucks so far." he smirked. "But hey, you should be proud of yourself. You're worth a grand."

Evening was the time for bang. a thousand bucks.