to dealers. The whole lot, with the exception of the 26
masks, might bring in anywhere from forty to a hundred S 27
thousand. Probably closer to forty.”
R 28
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Walter Mosley
1
“Damn.” That was Ricky. He was standing in the door-2
way to the kitchen. “Four gees just for knowing who 3
should shake hands. That’s what I need to do for a livin’.”
4
He rubbed his hands together and grinned. “You’all can 5
tell me the damage later. Right now I got to go see some-6
body. Have a nice dinner.”
7
Ricky shook my hand, maybe for the first time ever, 8
and he kissed Narciss on the cheek. Then he danced out 9
the front door, full of the expectations of Bethany’s 10
charms.
11
When he was gone I asked, “So how do we do this?”
12
“I’ll come over with a camera and photograph every-13
thing. You’ll get a copy of each image. I’ll give you a re-14
ceipt for the items and have them moved to a room above 15
my shop in Bridgehampton. Then I begin to invite buy-16
ers. As I sell off items, I pass on the proceeds to you —
17
minus expenses and twenty percent.”
18
“Twenty? I thought you got ten.”
19
“Richard wants me to retain his fee also. I said I would, 20
but if you have a problem with that —”
21
“No, no, no. That’s okay. So how soon before I see 22
some money?”
23
“Well let me see. I’m going on a buying trip starting to-24
morrow that will last for ten days. One day for the pho-25
tographing and delivery. Then I have to e-mail, call, or 26
write to the right clients. The museums may take months 27 S
to get back to me —”
28 R
“Months?”
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The Man in My Basement
