Sacrifice

103

Still wasn't tired when I got back to the office. I gave Pansy a couple of pints of chocolate chip ice cream I'd picked up at an all-night deli, smoked a cigarette, read through Michelle's letters again.

I flicked the channels on the black&white set, ignoring Pansy's annoyance when I couldn't find any pro wrestling. Finally settled for Mayberry, R.F.D. Fell asleep wishing Andy Griffith had been the Sheriff last time I'd stuck up a liquor store.

104

In the morning, I thought it through again. Stepping back, watching the edges. I had the bag. Wolfe had agreed to the meeting. It didn't feel dangerous to me. I could square it all up, get out, go back to taking off Carlos.

Time to roll, right? Get on with it.

Something holding me back.

Maybe I wasn't scared enough, yet.

105

At Mama's, waiting for Teresa. After my soup, Luke brought out a deck of cards, asked me if I wanted to play.

'What do you know how to play, kid?'

'Gin. Max taught me.'

We played a few hands. Played a few more before I realized the little bastard was no amateur.

'How many cards left outside your hand?' I asked him.

'Twenty-six,' he said, guilelessly.

'Where are they?'

'You have ten, there's one up, so there's fifteen in the deck.'

'What are the cards, Luke?'

'If I tell you, then you'll know what's in my hand, kind of.'

'Yeah. Like you kind of know what's in mine, right?'

'Right!' He smiled brightly.

'So you always beat Max?'

'No. Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you know. Some of it's just luck.'

'Un-huh. You like it better when it's not luck?'

'Yes. Mama's going to teach me another game. Blackjack.'

Mama loomed over my shoulder, putting her finger to her lips, smiling indulgently at her prize pupil. 'Luke, remember what Mama tell you…blackjack a secret, yes?'

'I don't like secrets,' the boy said, his voice dropping a register, eyes flickering.

'It's okay, Luke,' I said, shooting a warning look at Mama. 'There's no secrets here. Nobody's going to give you secrets. Mama was only playing.'

'Playing?'

'Yeah. Like joking. Understand?'

His eyes flickered again. 'Can I have some duck, Mama?'

Mama only serves duck about once a week— says it's a real pain to prepare properly.

'Sure, baby. Maybe some prawns too?'

'Yes!'

'Good baby,' Mama said, reaching over to muss his hair.

106

While Teresa was downstairs with Luke, Max came in. Sat across from me, watching.

The phone rang in the back. Mama came to the table. 'For you,' she said. 'Sunny man.'

'It's me,' I said, picking up the receiver.

'It is me too, mahn. With some news for you. I spoke to those people. Tomorrow night, you know Corona?'

'Yes.'

'On Astoria Boulevard, city side of Ninety-fourth, a few blocks down, you will see an old drive-in. Hamburger joint, abandoned now. Drive there, midnight. They will meet you, take you to her.'

'Okay.'

'You have her property, mahn?'

'Yes.'

'Sure. You understand.'