Black Market Merchant

Three days had gone by since Richard had started inquiring into how to get a Match fight for Lisa versus the Mad Dogs gang. However, every attempt to negotiate had been met with failure. No one wanted to set up a fight with some random woman that was unknown, not a member of a gang or not backed by some wealthy backer. She was just a nameless no body.

"I'm sorry everyone." Richard said disheartened. "I know who to talk too, but no one is interested. We might have to think of another way to take out the leader."

"It's alright. You did what you could." John said patting his big friends' shoulder.

Sitting in the living room, Lisa was talking with Hanna, Joan and Mary about information from outside the town. It was rare to hear anything about what was happening outside the town and they asked Lisa so many questions. Hanna only listened to the older women talk, she wasn't all that interested. She was still very depressed and though they were so nice to her, the damage was done.

Lisa was also in a negative mood. Even though she enjoyed talking and relaxing here, she needed something to do. Overhearing the men talking she decided she had enough. She was a woman of action, not of relaxation.

"Well ladies, it's time for me to go now." Lisa said getting up from the living room couch. "It seems the men need my help."

"Are you sure you want to do this? Aren't you scared?" Mary said standing up as well.

"Of fighting against the gangsters? Nope. I've dealt with things far worse than some random gangsters." Lisa said giving a faint smile.

"Be safe then." Joan said quietly.

"I will. Dinner was amazing these past few nights. I really appreciate all you've done." Lisa said sincerely. She then turned towards the two men.

"Come on guys. Let's go figure this out my way." Lisa said walking in between them as she headed for the door. The two men looked at each other puzzled.

"Where are we going?" John said scratching his head.

"Richard take me to wherever a Match competitor is. I don't care who." Lisa replied. She picked up her coffin that was leaning on the wall next to the front door. Opening the door, she headed out for where the gangsters liked to hang out.

The two men glanced at each other again and hurriedly said farewell to their wives and scrambled after Lisa. She was at this point rounding to corner and disappeared from sight. Apparently, she had no intentions of waiting for them.

"It seems like the old saying is still true today. If something can't get done right, do it yourself." Lisa thought to herself.

The two guys eventually caught up to her. They were silent for a while before John finally asked Lisa a question.

"I'm not so sure what you have in mind, but I don't see how you can convince anyone to set up a fight with you?" He said bluntly.

Lisa sighed. "I won't be going to set up a fight, but to start one."

"What are you talking about?" John said confused. "If you just barge into the gangster’s hideout and start up something, nothing good will come of it."

Lisa didn't reply right away, like she normally did, but continued heading for their destination. They were soon in an area where the gangsters would hang out in some local bars that somehow had managed to stay in business. Only those that had connections to the outside world could bring such items into town. They arrived at a bar named, The Ragged Flagon.

Lisa couldn't help but laugh to herself. Her father had once mentioned a game that had a similar name in it, and he was obsessed with playing it. It was extremely odd that a bar name like this had lasted several hundred years. Several

moments went by as they walked up to the door then Lisa finally replied.

"Don't worry John, I do have a plan."

Looking through a gunshot hole in the door Lisa could see that the place was packed with many costumers. They were a raggedy lot and many of them were part of the Mad Dog gang. After spending so much time with the others she had learned how to identify who was in the gang or not. They had small tattoo of a dog’s paw print put over the spot on their forearm where their chip had been installed. This way they would always be known as a member of the Mad Dogs, even if the symbol of the snarling dog wasn't being displayed. Tattoo identification was a common practice among gangs in rural areas.

"Richard, you see any Match competitors in here?" Lisa taking a step back for Richard to glance in.

The big guy leaned down and peered inside. "Yep, in-fact I see two. They both are sitting on the table in the far-left corner at the end of the bar." Richard replied seconds later.

"Really? Let me see." John said as he went to look in the hole. Suddenly, someone opened the door to leave and whacked John in the forehead! "Ouch!" John shouted jumping back while rubbing his head.

The man that was leaving then fully pushed open the door again and looked at John with an odd expression. He didn't say anything to John who was still rubbing his head while glaring back at him. The other two, however, laughed loudly seeing the look on Johns face when the door slammed into it.

"Shut up!" John mumbled embarrassed and angry.

"Ah well, wish me luck." Lisa said grabbing the door to enter. "Might be best for you two to stay out here. Might get a bit messy in there." Her voice was low and focused.

The two wanted to go in, but she sounded serious. So, they just stood with the door open and watched. Lisa walked in and did so while making heavy footsteps to help draw attention.

"Hey, I have been looking for you!" Lisa suddenly called out to the whole room. Everyone stopped drinking and talking to look at her. They were surprised to see such a young and pretty woman had entered the bar. Instantly men began gawking at her and nudging their buddies next to them trying to get them to talk to her.

"Are you looking for me, beautiful?" Someone called from the right side of the room.

"I'm over here baby!" Another called on the opposite side.

Ignoring them, Lisa confidently continued walking down the middle of the room towards the bar.

"I sent a guy to set up a meeting, but you ignored me. How mean!" Lisa said loudly in a cutie sounding voice. Someone whistled at her. Then she looked at the table Richard mentioned while exaggeratively crossing her arms under her chest.

Four men were sitting there, and she instantly could see who her opponents were. The first guy was bald and had a small pointy mustache and with well-rounded muscles all over his body. He looked like a man that might perform lifting stunts in a circus. The other guy, though sitting, Lisa could tell he was huge. He had long black hair that covered up his face, so she couldn't see him too well. But his body size was no smaller than the other man across the table. The other two men had to of been their handlers or manager's.

"You two." Lisa said pointing at them. "Why won't you pay attention to me?" She continued her cutie voice.

The two men glanced at her. Then at each other. "Do we know you?" The bald guy asked.

"You should have!" Lisa said with exaggeration. Then putting her hands on her hips, she said, "Can't you tell by looking at me?"

The bald guy shook his head 'no'.

"Well then does this help?" With saying that said she quickly swung off her coffin and used it to crush the table next to her! The men sitting there were knocked back out of their seats and the room let out a collective awed response.

"I'm that 'Coffin Lady'. I beat several of your guys a few days ago. I want to challenge both of you to a Match." Lisa said pausing for a moment and the room suddenly grew hushed.

There had been a rumor that several of Mad Dogs guys had been beaten pretty bad and that a woman with a coffin was responsible, but one believed it. Now she was here and from the way she crushed the table was all the proof they needed.

"What do you want little girl." The black-haired guy said rising slowly rising from his seat. He was even taller than she thought. His head nearly hit the powerless lights hanging from the ceiling.

"I want to see your gang boss and get something from him." Lisa said taking off her leather jacket and tossed it onto the top of the coffin. Then she took off her Yankees hat and shook her jet-black hair loose. Again, someone whistled at her.

"You are joking." The bald man said also getting up.

Lisa stretched and flexed her arms. "Nope. If you win you get whatever you want from me. Sound fair?"

Then she suddenly picked up a bar stool and chucked it at them. They ducked to the side, surprised by the sudden attack and the stool leg punctured the wall and stuck there. The bald guy snarled and charged Lisa.

The two collided as he tried to tackle her and slam her to the ground, but Lisa was also ready. She met him head on and they collided with such force it looked like two sumo wrestlers making contact. The crowded room was a buzz of excitement as many people cleared out of the way and cheered seeing them fight. No one expected Lisa to be this strong. Neither did the bald guy. He struggled greatly to knock her back.

"Who are you? You're not a Match Fight Competitor, I would have heard of you." He grunted as he tried to push her back.

Lisa also was pushing back at him and appeared to have an advantage. "I'm your worst nightmare! Call me Queen."