Now and Then

“I have your money,” Alderson said.

“Good,” I said. “I have your tape.”

“Will this be the end of it?” Alderson said.

“You mean have I made a bunch of dupes,” I said. “And is this the fi rst of many payments?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve kept a backup to protect myself,” I said. “But I won’t ask for more money.”

“Not acceptable,” Alderson said.

“Does this mean you’re not going to give me the fifty large?”

I said.

“Not unless I get everything,” Alderson said.

“Okay,” I said.

“Okay?”

“Give me the fi fty, you get everything.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” Alderson said.

“I’m paralyzed with fear of Big Red?”

“Mr. Spenser,” Alderson said. “I do not respond well to frivolity.”

“What a shame,” I said.

“I will not be treated like this,” Alderson said. “I will not pay you any money.”

“And the tapes?” I said.

“There are many ways to get them,” Alderson said. “Please remember that I attempted the most civilized way fi rst.”

“How could I forget,” I said.

“This,” Alderson said, “is not a whimsical matter.”

“What kind of matter is it?” I said.

Big Red was eyeing Chollo as we talked. Red looked scornful. Chollo appeared to be thinking long thoughts about pleasant things.

“This government will use any means to silence me,” Alderson said. “The tapes would give them a pretext.”

“You don’t even know what’s on the tape,” I said. “Except for the excerpt I played. What do you think they’ll hear when they play it.”

“You won’t give the tape to them,” Alderson said. “You will lose any chance at fifty thousand dollars and any other leverage with me that you might need.”

“What other kind might I need?” I said.

“I will have those tapes one way or another,” Alderson said. Alderson turned on his heel and headed for the door. Big Red followed him. He stopped at the door and gave Chollo a long last look.

“Maybe I’ll see you again,” he said.

Chollo raised his head slightly and looked at Big Red through his half-closed eyes. Alderson was already in the hall.

“Ay caramba,” Chollo said.

Big Red went out without shutting the door behind him. Unmannerly.

“Well,” I said. “That went well.”

Chollo smiled.

“I’m here to protect you from that?” Chollo said.

“Give them a chance,” I said.

“Why don’t I go back to LA and send my little sister out?”

“They’ve killed a couple of people,” I said. “One of them FBI.”

“Anybody can kill anybody,” Chollo said. “These people are amateurs.”

I nodded.

“I know you won’t go for it,” Chollo said. “But I could spike both of them and be kicking back in Boyle Heights tomorrow.”

“When’s the last time you were in Boyle Heights?” I said.

“Kicking back?”

Chollo grinned.