The Gallagher House.
Since Fiona had relented, Lip didn't waste any time. After saying a few more words, he got up, left, went back to the first floor, and called Ian.
In Lip's view, compared to Carl, Ian was actually easier to persuade.
After all, for a long time, Ian mostly did whatever Lip said. Ian didn't have much of a mind of his own, whereas Carl was stubborn and one-track-minded, making him harder to convince.
Ian had gone to work earlier and was currently at the grocery store, flirting with Kash.
His phone rang.
Seeing it was Lip calling, the smile on Ian's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of annoyance.
After hesitating for a moment, Ian chose to answer. "Lip, what is it?"
Lip lit another cigarette. "Where are you? I need to talk to you about something."
Lip believed this kind of thing was better discussed face-to-face. Telephones made it easier for people to be cold and easier to refuse.
"I'm at work. What's up?" Ian asked again.
"Grocery store?" Lip asked back instead of answering.
"Yeah," Ian replied.
"Okay, I'll be right there," Lip said. Without giving Ian a chance to say anything else, he hung up directly and called Carl.
The content of the call was basically the same.
Knowing Carl was also at work at the shooting range, Lip hung up. Then, without dawdling, he turned to Mandy, who had just sidled up to him. "I have to go find Ian and Carl. What about you?"
"I'll go with you," Mandy said with a smile, happy she hadn't been chased away.
"Okay," Lip actually knew Mandy should be at work right now, but because he hated Dexter, he didn't care about Mandy's employment situation. He didn't mention it and agreed simply. "Let's go. The sooner we solve this, the sooner it's done."
Mandy nodded with a smile.
Soon.
Mandy picked up Liam, and she and Lip walked out together.
Jimmy leaned against the kitchen counter, holding a cup of coffee, watching quietly.
By this moment, although Lip hadn't explicitly said it just now, Jimmy had pretty much figured it out. He knew Fiona must have wavered.
Truly a pathological, codependent relationship, Jimmy sighed silently. Then, he started thinking about how to make Fiona waver back and completely give up on these bratty kids.
With this.
An invisible game of tug-of-war began.
Fiona was tied in the middle of the rope. On one end was Lip, on the other was Jimmy.
Jimmy wanted to win.
So...
Send Lip away? Send him to Mexico?
Probably won't work. Distance makes the heart grow fonder; if Lip disappeared, Fiona would miss him instead.
Then, he had to make Lip stay, and make Fiona realize Lip's stupidity even more...
How to do it?
Lip was a self-righteous idiot who thought he was hot sht and looked down on everyone, but in reality, he was short-sighted, could only see immediate benefits, and didn't mind stealing or scamming...
Heh.
After thinking for a bit, Jimmy already had an idea and couldn't help but smile smugly.
Jimmy smiled too early.
Because, in fact, there was a fourth participant in this game of tug-of-war.
And this person stood on Lip's side.
---
Dex Restaurant.
Having sensed the information fed back by Little Black (the crow) who was staking out the Gallagher house, and knowing Fiona had wavered just as he predicted, Dexter shook his head with a smile and made a plan for what to do next.
A fact that many people know but haven't necessarily experienced personally is that losing something after having it is far more painful than never having it at all.
Fiona had the Gallagher family, then she gave up the Gallagher family. Soon, if she regained it for a while and then finally gave it up again...
Would she go back again?
An average person probably wouldn't.
Of course, even if Fiona would, it wasn't a big deal. Just let Fiona go through the cycle of possession and loss one more time.
So, Dexter planned to give Fiona a little push, letting her return to the Gallagher family's embrace.
As for how to do it...
He already had an idea.
Time flew by.
Lunch service ended.
Dexter didn't stay long. He immediately took off his apron, left the restaurant, and moved toward the Alibi Room to find Frank.
Frank, who had found a random crack house to sleep in with Monica last night, woke up at noon and immediately dragged Monica back to the Alibi. They were currently drinking happily and getting clingy with each other.
Dexter glanced at them with a smile, not rushing to approach. He sat at the bar by himself and ordered a beer.
After drinking leisurely for a while and feeling the time was right, Dexter turned his head toward Kermit.
Recently, Tommy had been working during the day and couldn't come to drink, only showing up after work.
Without Tommy's company, Kermit was truly a bit lonely.
Dexter wanted to laugh looking at him but held it back. He spoke to Kermit, "Kermit, I'm curious about a question. Can I ask you?"
Kermit, being lonely, was instantly a bit excited that Dexter was talking to him. He nodded. "Ask away, Mr. King."
"Does Frank always drink like this? Has he ever quit drinking?" Dexter asked.
Hearing this, Kermit laughed and shook his head decisively. "Alcohol is Frank's life. He's always drunk like this. He basically falls asleep drunk every day. He's never quit. Ask him to quit, and he'd probably rather die."
Dexter smiled brilliantly. "That's an exaggeration. No matter what, life is more important than alcohol. I don't believe it."
"You can ask him," Kermit said.
"Okay," Dexter agreed. Without dawdling, he opened his mouth and called out to Frank. "Frank, would you be willing to quit drinking?"
Hearing this, Frank laughed loudly immediately. "Haha, of course not! I'd rather die!"
Dexter immediately asked again, "What if I give you five thousand dollars to not drink alcohol or touch any drugs for two weeks?"
The words drifted out.
Instantly.
The originally somewhat noisy bar went abruptly silent.
Kermit and the others turned their heads in unison, looking at Frank with perfect tacit understanding. Many of them had a clear look of envy in their eyes.
Frank's reaction was even more intense. The smile on his face vanished cleanly. Immediately after, his mouth moved, and a voice full of seriousness came from his ugly face. "Ten thousand dollars!"
Dexter shook his head simply. "Just five thousand."
Failed to haggle. Frank didn't mind. He stood up immediately, walked quickly to Dexter, and extended his filthy hand toward him. "Deal!"
Dexter really didn't want to shake Frank's dirty hand, but since it was a deal, the procedure had to be followed. He shook it reluctantly. "Deal. From now on, for two weeks. During this period, if you drink a single drop of alcohol or take a single pill, you won't get a cent."
"No problem!" Frank nodded excitedly with a smile. "Your five thousand dollars is mine!"
"Frank, can I trust you not to cheat?" Dexter asked with a smile.
"Don't worry, absolutely not!" Frank said decisively. "I guarantee it on my character!"
Hearing this.
Several barflies, including Kermit, couldn't hold back and burst into laughter together.
Dexter laughed too. "How about this. Let me be clear upfront. I have my ways of knowing if you cheated. If you follow the rules honestly, you get the money. Otherwise, you won't get a dime."
"Don't doubt my methods, or you'll lose."
With five thousand dollars at stake, Frank was full of confidence.
It was just two weeks of not drinking and not doing drugs!
What's the big deal?
"I promise I won't cheat!" Frank said loudly, as if taking an oath.