Hell To Pay

“You got a nice business. Nice woman, too. And that boy she’s got, he seems clean-cut, doesn’t look like no knucklehead. Living up there on Quintana. You spend the night there once in a while, don’t you?”

“You’ve been tailing me awhile.”

“Yeah. Let me ask you somethin’: Does your woman know you get your pleasure down here with these hos like you do?”

Strange narrowed his eyes. “I asked you what you wanted.”

“All right, then, I’ll get to it. Won’t take up much of your time. Just wanted to tell you one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

Tucker looked around the alley. When he looked back at Strange, his eyes had softened.

“I love Alisha Hastings. I love her deep.”

“I don’t blame you. She’s a fine young lady. From a real good family, too. You got yourself a piece of gold right there. Somethin’ you should’ve thought of when you were runnin’ around on her.”

“I think of her all the time. And I plan to be good to her. To take care of her on the financial tip and be there for her emotionally, too. This is the woman who is gonna be the mother of my children, Strange.”

“You got a funny way of preparin’ for it.”

“Look at yourself, man. Is it you who should be judging me?”

Strange said nothing.

“I’m a young man,” said Tucker. “I am young and I have not taken that vow yet and until I do I am gonna freak. Because I am only gonna be this young and this free one time. But, you got to understand, that ceremony is gonna mean somethin’ to me. I saw a bond between my mother and my father that couldn’t be broken, and it set an example for me. For my brothers and sisters, too. I know what it means. But for now, I’m just out here having fun.”

“George Hastings is a friend of mine.”

“Then be a friend to him. I’m lookin’ you in the eye and telling you, there is nobody out here who is going to love and respect his daughter, for life, like I know I am going to do.”

“I can only report your history and what I’ve seen.”

“You’re not listening to me, Strange. Hear me and think about what I’m telling you. I love that girl. I love her fierce enough to make me do something I don’t care to do. You want to take me down, fine. But you’re gonna go right down with me.”

“You threatenin’ me?”

“Just telling you how it’s gonna be.”

Strange looked down at his feet. He rubbed his face and again met Tucker’s eyes. “Whatever I’m gonna do with regards to you, young man, I am going to do. You standing there talking bold, it’s not gonna influence me either way.”

“Course not.” Tucker looked Strange over. “You got principles.”

“You don’t know me that well to be talking to me that way.”

“But I do know your kind.”

“Now wait a minute—”

“Let me put it another way, then. This is all about what kind of husband I’m gonna be to Alisha, right? Well, I can promise you this: I ain’t gonna end up like you, Strange. Sneakin’ around down here in your middle age, paying to have some girl you don’t even know jack your dick. Out here tellin’ on others when you got a fucked-up life your own self. So do whatever you think is right. I’ve said what I came to say. You want to listen, it’s up to you.”

Tucker walked back to his car, got behind the wheel, and lit the ignition. Strange watched the Audi back out of the alley. Then it was just Strange, standing on the stones under the humming street lamp, alone with his shame.

JANINE Baker came down the stairs and unlocked the front door of her house at a little past one in the morning. She had been lying awake in bed and had recognized the engine on Strange’s Cadillac as he had cruised slowly down her block.

He was out there on the stoop, one step down from the doorway. She looked down on him, rumpled and glassy-eyed, as she stood in the frame.

“Come on in. It’s cool out there.”

“I don’t think I should,” said Strange. “I just came by to apologize for being so short with you on the phone.”

Janine pulled the lapels of her robe together against the chill. Behind her, Strange could see Lionel coming down the staircase. He stopped a few steps up.

“Tell him to go back to bed,” said Strange softly. “I don’t want him seeing me like this.”

Janine looked over her shoulder and directed her son to return to his room. Strange waited for Lionel to go back up the stairs.

“Well?”

“I’m all turned around,” said Strange.

“And you’re trying to say what?”

“I just don’t feel . . . I don’t feel like I’m right for you now. I know I’m not right for the boy.”