SYNDICATE - Season 1 - Episode 8

6 years ago

SYNDICATE - Season 1 - Episode 8

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Carl gathered up all the resolve he had left and looked Kieran in the eye.

“No.”
“Fine. Jackie will reset your fingers. Then get out.”
* * *
After the man named Carl was escorted out of the building, cradling a bandaged hand, Lia was told to bring the men coffee. Since there were only three of them, she brought coffee, tea and a small plate of biscotti. She poured coffee for the other two, and tea for Kieran. Lia sighed. It was going to be another late night. She had heard about the warehouse fiasco, so she knew more late nights were to be expected. She also knew Carl’s screams weren’t going to be the only ones echoing around the house. Lia turned to go.

“Lia.” It was Kieran’s voice that beckoned her. She spun around.

“Sir?”
“Could you stretch my legs for me? They’re probably cramped.”

“That’s because you skipped physical therapy today, you rascal.” Lia jumped at the scruffy voice behind her. It was Alice. She was old and plump, and had been serving the family since Kieran’s father Bill O’Meara was a young mobster. She shuffled in the room and handed Kieran medication.

“Oh be quiet you old hag,” he joked. Alice winked at Lia and shuffled out again. Lia was always shocked at the fondness Kieran had for Alice.

Lia had seen other employees help Kieran stretch, but had never done it herself.

Kieran looked back at her again. She nodded.

“I think so, Sir.”
She knelt in front of Kieran. His wheelchair was custom. It was all black, made for people with permanent handicaps, made to fit him personally, with bigger cushions and a strap around his waist. He usually had physical therapy every day, except for busy days like this one. Lia took one of his legs and stretched it in front of him.

“I’m not going to hurt Martha Flannery,” Will said to Kieran. Kieran shook his head in agreement.

“I wouldn’t want you to.”

“We don’t know that she’ll refuse to talk though,” Murphy said, considering the best outcome.

“And what happens if she does?” Will looked at Kieran.

“We’ve done this before,” Kieran said slowly. They looked at each other.
Lia took Kieran’s other leg. She knew why they hesitated. Martha Flannery was a big gossip, but also a big sweetheart. Most people they dealt with were not as nice. Even most of the women had it coming. Martha just happened to know the wrong piece of information.

“We’ll have to threaten the people she loves,” Will finished Kieran’s thought.
Lia always thought Will was absolutely, unfairly handsome. To her, Will looked like he belonged in some fairytale, as the noble prince who rescues his true love from peril. Lia stared at the way the firelight reflected in his sand-colored hair and his dark blue eyes. He had scruff on his jaw line, and red tints in his hair that only accented his Irish descent. He had been with Kieran ever since Lia could remember, and only grew handsomer with age.

Lia put Kieran’s other leg back on the footrest and stood, bowing her head slightly to Kieran. She then began to clean the dishes they had finished.

“Lia, would you send Alice in? Then you should go home,” Kieran said. Lia nodded again at him.

“Sir,” she answered, and excused herself from the room.

* * *
Carol drank her coffee in two huge gulps. She had never imagined her life would turn out likethis.She tapped a pen on her desk, and stared at the clock. Nine to five. Regular job. Nine to five. She let her head slowly drop to the desk. She was, after all, not a regular person. Carol was a thrill seeker, an adrenaline junkie. She spent most her time at work searching for places to bungee jump, or new features for her four-wheeler.

And here she was, drinking coffee at two in the afternoon, waiting for the regular work day to end so she and the rest of the worker bees could drone out of the office and onto the highway for rush hour. She had to stop herself from grabbing a pen and plunging it into her eye. At least kick boxing practice was tonight.