1 Chapter 1

"Monty, my boy!", my boss, Mr. Ross called out as I entered the barbershop. He had a big smile on his face, "Come over here, I have some splendid news!" The last time I saw Mr. Ross like this was when he told everyone at the barbershop that his favorite jazz band was coming to a local bar.

"What's got you so worked up Mr. Ross?"

"Just come into my office and I'll tell you.", Mr. Ross said cryptically.

Mr. Ross grabbed my wrist and the next thing I knew I was led to the back where Mr.Ross' office was. The lights in the office were dim and the only natural light was from a window that looked out to the alleyway that was between the barbershop and the bookstore next door. The air had a ripe smell of stale ale and cigar smoke, if a mobster film had a smell this would be it. The walls were adorned with wallpaper that was made up of a repeating geometric pattern. The floor was made of dark wood with a rug resting on it. In the center of the room a desk made of white oak stood proudly. Behind the desk was a large leather chair and in the front of the desk rested two smaller leather chairs. The barber shop used to be a restaurant and the office is where the kitchen once was. Mr. Ross had some walls knocked down and that one window added and of course he got rid of the kitchen equipment. My coworkers and I always jokingly called Mr. Ross's office Mr. Ross's Kitchen.

"Take a seat Monty, it's best if you hear this sitting down.", Mr. Ross said like a child waking up their parents on Christmas morning.

"Okay, okay but this better be worth my time.", I said with a soft laugh.

Mr. Ross fumbled around in a drawer and grabbed out a pack of cigars and a lighter, "A very important man is coming here and I want you to do his hair Monty."

My heart began to race, I couldn't believe that Mr. Ross wanted me to do the hair of someone important. My mind began to feel like it was being put through a rock tumbler when my mind raced with ideas of who this important man was.

Mr. Ross lit his cigar, "His name is Robin Watts and I believe tha-"

"Robin Watts? The socialite? No way!", I blurted out. I blushed and placed a hand on my mouth. Mr. Ross chuckled and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay Monty, I reacted the same way when I found out.", He paused to exhale a puff of smoke, "As I was saying, I believe that Robin Watts will finally put us on the map! Imagine the publicity, the money, the spotlight will be on us!", Mr. Ross bursted into laughter as if he was holding it in for years, "I can see myself retiring to Florida in a lovely beach house!"

I was too stunned to speak, Robin Watts coming to this small town barbershop that had the same handful of men as clients and the rare traveling salesman, I thought, what would a man like Robin Watts want with this place?

"When is he coming?", I managed to ask.

"He's coming in three days, I suggest that you prepare yourself so you're not a nervous wreck when he arrives.", Mr. Ross replied with his cigar now in between his fingers, "But there's one more thing Monty, don't tell anyone that Robin Watts is coming to visit. Last thing I want is the others thinking I favor you over them because I'm letting you cut his hair."

I nodded and got up to leave the office, my mind still reeling from the conversation. I must've not been looking where I was going because when I turned the corner that led to the main area of the barber shop I bumped into my best friend and coworker, Clark Beltran.

"Woah there Monty, use your eyes for once!", he teased with a playful nudge.

"Sorry Clark, my head was up in the clouds, thanks for bringing me back to earth.", I said as I grabbed an apron off a hook mounted on the wall and tied it around my waist.

"What did Mr. Ross want?", Clark said as he walked back over to his client with a container of hair gel. His client was asleep which was a usual thing that Clark has to deal with because his touch is really soothing and his voice was the perfect blend of masculine and feminine.

"He…uh…", I paused for a moment trying to make up an excuse, "He wanted to get me a drink later."

Clark gave me a questioning look, he always knew I was a bad liar, "Come on Monty, I'm your best friend you can tell me anything."

"I'll tell you when our shift is over", I responded as I ran my fingers through my hair.

Clark was about to say something but a deep and loud voice interrupted him, "Monty, quit chatting and get over here! Mr. McDaniel is here!"

The voice belonged to Thomas Fletcher, a grumpy middle aged man that always seemed angry at the world. Somehow he always finds a way to be mad at anything and everything. He was working the front desk today, and he hated it with a passion.

"You don't have to yell Thomas, I'm right here.", I said cheekily and then turned my attention to Mr. McDaniel, "Okay Mr. McDaniel come take a seat at my station."

Mr. McDaniel was one of the barbershop's regulars and I knew how to style his hair like the back of my hand. Mr. McDaniel was a factory maintenance worker that took great pride in his appearance. He loves to chat about the latest news or sometimes he just shows off his knowledge.

Mr. McDaniel sat on the barber chair and I put the smock around his neck. I was internally bracing myself for a wave of information to come spilling out of his mouth.

"Did you hear about the Crimson Killer's latest victim?", He began with a voice that sounded like he was telling a ghost story, "A man was found with all the blood drained from his body but the strange thing is, the murders are in completely different locations. People are starting to think multiple people are involved."

"That makes sense", I responded absentmindedly."

"The FBI are saying nothing about the situation, they must know something we don't."

"Mr. McDaniel, I wouldn't go doubting the FBI all willy-nilly."

"Why? Because I'll be labeled as a communist? I don't care what I'm labeled as if it means I'll know the truth."

"I just don't want to see you get hurt…", I said softly.

Mr. McDaniel sighed and I couldn't tell if that was a sigh of disagreement or of relief. I've always used to be able to read him but now it seemed like he was covered in fog.

"I appreciate your concern Monty...I just can't handle all these expectations sometimes.", He put a grin on his face, "But enough with the doom and gloom I don't wanna ruin the atmosphere."

I continued to style Mr. McDaniel's hair as he did trivia with the other patrons and barbers in the barbershop. Thomas of course had to be pressured into participating but he surprisingly got the highest score.

Later that day after work Clark took me to a bar, I nearly forgot I was going to tell Clark about Robin Watts and part of me wished that Clark forgot I was going to tell him. We entered the bar and it was lively. The warm lights and the overlapping conversations mixed with the smell of alcohol made my head hurt but I brushed it aside. I never really went to bars often, if I wanted a drink I would just buy something cheap from the liquor store.

"Go find us a booth, I'll get us some drinks.", Clark said in a way that made it seem he could sense my discomfort. I liked that about him, he always seemed to sense if other people needed help even if they didn't say anything; it was like he was secretly a psychic or something.

I found a booth in a dark corner that didn't have many people surrounding it. I sat in the booth, it was very clean…almost too clean. A cold hand grabbed my shoulder and I gasped. I turned around and saw a tall thin man with wild black hair. But the most striking thing about him was how pale his skin was.

"People like you shouldn't sit here unless…let's just say, they want something unfortunate to happen to them.", the man said in a hauntingly breathy voice like a spirit was talking through him.

"Sorry sir, I'll sit somewhere else…", I said my voice barely above a whisper. I shakily got away from the man and moved to a booth that was far away from the one the man was so protective of.

"Monty! I got the drinks!"Clark said gleefully as he joined me, "Hey, are you okay? You look like you saw a ghost."

"Who's that guy with the pale skin in the booth in the corner?", I said pointing at the man who was now sitting at the shady booth.

"Oh, that's Wilbur. Let me guess, you sat at his booth."

I nodded in response, still in shock from my encounter with Wilbur.

"Don't mess with his booth, he guards it like a hawk. He says he uses it to 'conduct business'. If you leave him alone he'll leave you alone."

I nodded and took a sip of my drink but I couldn't enjoy it fully because I felt Wilbur staring at me. It felt like he was trying to memorize every inch of me like a predator stalking its prey.

"Monty, you wanted to tell me what Mr. Ross told you about.", Clark said, snapping me out of my paranoia.

"Okay… in three days a very wealthy man named Robin Watts is going to come to the barbershop and Mr. Ross wants me to do his hair."

Clark nearly spat out his drink and his eyes were wide, "Holy shit…", he muttered.

Hearing Clark swear caught me off guard since he was never one to be so vulgar so I knew that this was a big deal to him as it was to me.

"It's crazy, I know.", I began, "This is a make or break moment for me and I'm scared to mess it up."

"I know you can do it Monty, you're the best barber I know.", he reassured me.

"Oh stop it Clark, you know I'm just an average barber, nothing special going on here."

"Don't be so modest Monty, a man needs to flex his ego once in a while."

Time flew by as we talked and laughed that night but I have to admit that I got a little too much to drink (Clark had to walk me home).

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The next day I came into the barber shop early before it opened and the first thing that greeted me was shouting from Mr. Ross's office.

"Mr.Ross, you should know better than to have a human do business with someone of the likes of him! It's too dangerous for both you and him!", shouted a man that sounded like Thomas.

"I chose him because I trust him! If you can't accept that then you can leave!", Mr. Ross protested.

Then I heard the door to the office slam and I saw Thomas and he was boiling with anger. His eyes were filled with rage and his jaw was clenched. I've never seen him this angry, I wanted to run right then and there but Thomas's anger left me like a deer in headlights.

"Get out of my way, Montgomery.", Thomas scowled as he made his way to the door.

I allowed him to leave and kept my eyes to the ground. I was shaking and holding onto myself for comfort. I couldn't comprehend what I just walked into, I wished I could just forget what I heard so I could act like nothing happened.

I forced myself to knock on the door to Mr. Ross's office and I held my breath. I heard footsteps approach the door. I saw the door knob turn. I heard the door creak. And then I saw Mr. Ross.

"Mr. Ross, what's going on?", I said trying to hide my fear.

Mr. Ross quickly put on a confident smile that was clearly forced, "Oh it was just a little spat, you know how Thomas is."

"You think I can just excuse that as a 'little spat'?", I sneered, "What really happened?"

"It's nothing that concerns you", he grumbled, "At least not yet."