Payback

someone was following. 'By the way,' Shy said. 'how long was I gone?'

'Four days.'

'Four days. Oh yes, I really do need something else to wear.'

Since Shy knew how much Mike hated shopping, and because they had things to do, she agreed to get one outfit and come back for more clothes some other time. When they got to Macy’s, Mike grabbed a pair of black pants and a shirt. Shy bought a Calvin Klein stripe blazer and cropped pant and a pair of KimelEfik slide shoes and they were out of there. On the way out Shy took her old clothes and threw them in the garbage. 'I’ve had those clothes on for four days. I don’t ever want to see them again. I don’t need anything to remind me of that experience.' Mike kept his old clothes.

After leaving Macy’s, Mike and Shy caught another cab to Harlem. Along the way, Shy looked out the window enjoying the ride through the city, and thinking about turning herself in and serving her time if necessary. Now that she was finally back in New York, she found it was a lot easier to sit in her own island paradise and talk about going to jail. Being in the city was forcing her to realize that she didn’t want to do time at all.

When they got to 125^th street and Malcolm X they exited the cab and lost themselves in a sea of people. They didn’t buy anything, Mike thought that if anyone was following them that they would be easier to spot. Half an hour later, they were back in a cab and heading uptown through the Bronx on their way to Yonkers.

It was late afternoon when they got to Angelo’s place, and to Mike’s surprise, Angelo was sitting outside. 'Angelo hates the sun.' Mike got out of the cab and extended his hand for Shy.

Angelo stood up. 'Mr. and Mrs. Black, this is definitely my lucky day. Jimmy, was I just sayin’ I feel lucky?'

'Yeah, you was just sayin’,' Jimmy agreed.

'Shy,' Angelo said and hugged her. 'It’s good to see you’re all right. They didn’t hurt you or nothing?'

'No, Angelo, I’m fine. And thank you for helpin’ out. I really do appreciate it.'

'Forget about it. Anything you need, ever, I’m here for you, the both of you. Now, have a sit down, and let’s enjoy this beautiful hot-ass day.'

'What’s up with that anyway? You hate being out in the sun,' Mike said.

'I thought, you know, I could sit out here, maybe I could work on my tan or whatever. But the truth is Mikey, you got your problems, I got mine. Better we talk out here; if you know what I mean?'

'I may have those same kind of problems, but I’m sure we’ll talk more about that at another time,' Mike said.

'To be sure. You still a Yankee fan?' Angelo asked.

'Til they bury me.'

'Let’s go to a game while you’re here.'

'A night game.'

'Of course. Hey, we could sit out in the bleachers like we used when we was comin’ up,' Angelo said and turned to Shy. 'Me and this guy, we used to go to the stadium, drink all the beer we wanted, get drunk, watch a ball game. Those were good times, huh Mikey?'

'Life was good then, Angee. Look at us now, both of us business men with problems.'

'Nothing we can’t handle.'

'That’s why I came to see you.' Mike leaned close to Angelo and spoke softly. 'What can you tell me about this five mill that Diego is here for?'

Angelo looked at Mike for a second and then he smiled. 'That’s why I love you, Mikey,' he said and then said softly. 'You know Diego owns a pharmaceutical company, Frontier pharmaceutical is what it’s called? But in addition to their legit business, they also manufacture all kind of other drugs. You know like Valium, Viagra, Prozac, Paxil, Xanax, shit like that. Well the way I get it is that he’s got a deal with some people from one of the old soviet republics, Lithuania or someplace like that. Anyway the deal gets done in a couple of days. Now, let me ask you something?'

'What’s that?'

'Why you wanna know?'

'I think five million dollars will make this right.'

'You gotta love this guy, but it ain’t gonna happen. What, you think you was gonna walk in there, take their money and walk out with it?'

'Something like that,' Mike said confidently. 'Unless you got some reason why I can’t.'

'It ain’t gonna happen ’cause there’s no money to walk out with. The five million gets transferred from one account to the other. It’s all done with computers, gives it an air of being a legit transaction.'

Mike sat back and thought for a second. 'How’s Gomez? He still live the same place?'?

Chapter Thirty-eight

It was a little after seven when Nick parked his car on 74^th street and walked up to Amsterdam. When he got to Citrus, Nick noticed that there was a limo parked out in front and a man that he thought he recognized was getting in the back seat. Nick remembered the place from the old days. The last time he and Mike were there, they threw somebody out the restaurants front glass window.

When he got inside he, Mike and Shy were seated at table in the back. When he saw Nick come in, Mike stood up and motioned for him to join them.

'Hello, Shy. It’s good to see that you’re all right.'

'Thank you, Nick. I’m just glad it over. You look nice,' Shy said of Nick, who was dressed in a tuxedo.

'Thank you, Shy,' Nick replied graciously as he sat down. 'Wasn’t that Gomez I saw gettin’ in that limo?'

Mike looked at Shy and smiled. 'Was it? I didn’t see him.'

'Must not have been him. You couldn’t miss him a place this size.'

'Guess not,' Mike said.

'Where you goin’, Nick?' Shy asked.

'I’m goin’ to meet Wanda. We’re goin’ to a party at Martin Marshall house.'

'What are you gonna do? Walk up to him and ask if he had that reporter killed?' Mike asked.

'Something like that.'

'Handle your business,' Shy said.

'How’s your partner, Monika?' Mike asked.

'She doin’ a lot better. She’s coming with us tonight, were gonna set up a little something on Marshall tonight,' Nick said as Travis, Jackie and Vonda walked in restaurant.

Mike stood up. 'Hello, Jackie,' he said and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Shy rolled her eyes and Jackie returned the favor by rolling her eyes right back at her. 'Travis,' Mike said and extended his hand. 'It’s good to finally meet you.'

Travis accepted his hand. 'Good to meet you too, Mr. Black.'

'Black will do. This is my wife Cassandra, Travis Burns and Jackie Washington.'

'Please call me, Shy,' she said.

Mike turned to Nick. 'Have you two met?' he asked and pointed at Travis.

'No,' Nick told him. 'Nick Simmons.' The two shook hands.

'I know you gotta go, Nick.' Mike paused. 'Why don’t you take Travis with you tonight. From what I hear, Mr. Burns is very good with computers. He might be useful.'

'Yeah,' Nick said nodding his head. 'I think we can find some use for him tonight.' Nick turned to Travis. 'You ready?'

'Yes,' Travis said and followed Nick out the door. He was excited just to be invited to meet Mike Black and to have him say that he might be useful made his night.