A Dangerous Man

enjoyable.

– Sure. Thanks.

– But.

– Yeah?

– But this is not why I am calling you.

He’s not calling me to talk about his constipation. Somehow I had a feeling.

– I am calling to talk about the work I mentioned to you. When we were talking earlier this week, I mentioned work to you?

– I remember.

– Yes. Good. This work then, this work begins tonight. Is your car clean?

– My car?

– You have. It is a Cutlass?

– Yeah.

– This is a nice car?

– It’s, it’s not fancy, but it’s in good shape. I keep it clean. Clean enough.

– It will need to be very clean. Waxed. The windows will need to be washed. Vacuumed. Detailed, yes?

– Sure. Detailed.

– Good. And then you will drive it to the airport and pick someone up.

My head is still packed with Demerol-flavored cotton. I don’t know if he means pick up, or pick up.

– I. David. Should we be talking about this on the phone?

He laughs. Once again I can picture him, shaking his head, a hand waving misunderstanding from the air. No, I am unclear, forgive me.

– No. Just to pick up. And to drive. You will pick up this young man and he will spend the evening in Las Vegas and you will drive him around and see that he gets in no trouble. That is all. A good job, yes?

– I don’t.

– Yes?

I look at my right foot. Cheese and tomato sauce cling to my heel and a piece of pepperoni is wedged between my toes.

– I don’t know if I’m up to this kind of thing.

– This kind of thing?

– People. Dealing with people.

He makes a little tsk.

– Dealing with people.

The sound again.

– We are on the phone, yes?

– Yeah.

– Yes, we are on the phone. And you know this is something I do not care for. To be on the phone. This job, I want you to have it. And I want you to know how important this job is. So I want to give you this job from my own mouth. But I am in New York again. So how to give you this job but on the phone? There is no other way. Do you understand?

– I guess. I mean.

– No. No, you do not understand.

He is scolding me now. Scolding me gently as a parent scolds a child, or a pet.

– I am in New York with my family. My whole family, we are on Long Island. My sister-in-law, she is here.

Oh.

– Yes? She is here and she is talking to me from the second she arrives. Asking me questions.

Oh. Shit.

– She is. The woman is a pain in my ass. Worse than constipation the woman is. Since her son was killed.

He doesn’t say it. He doesn’t have to say it. He doesn’t have to say, Since you killed her son. It’s not like I’m going to forget. I spin my mental wheels on the memory for a second; he keeps talking.

– She asks me again and again, when will I find you? When will she have revenge for her son? I tell her, I say, Anna, he is most likely dead. There may never be revenge. I say, Forget, Anna, live your life. This will not bring you happiness. But she is drinking. She says, No, if you will not find him, I will find him. I will have my nephews look for him.

There’s a sharp smack over the phone as he claps his hands in frustration. This woman!

– You see what it is I am putting up with? Two years I must have this from this woman. This woman I would not be in the same room with if she had not been married to my brother. Some days, I tell you this, some days I wish I could kill my brother for dying and leaving me this woman to deal with.

We are both silent a moment. I think about David’s nephew. Mickey. The boy I killed in Mexico. Who knows what David thinks about?

He coughs, clearing his throat, signaling a change of tone.

– This is dangerous, this threat of hers to involve her nephews. They are here from Russia. They are here for their own protection. They are young and troubled and I do not want them involved in my business. There is a risk if she does this. A risk in my protecting you. And a risk can only be taken if there is something of value to be gained.

I tilt my head back and stare up at the cracks in the ceiling.

– This young man you will look after, he is an investment of mine. And he must be protected.

– Branko.

– No. You.

The cracks in the ceiling remind me of the fractured surface of the mirror. I look away from them.

– It must be you. Why?

– I don’t know.

– Yes you do. It must be you because now is the time that I must know what is your value. Can Branko protect this young man? Of course he can. Better than any. But Branko is not, he is not…he impresses only those who know him. That is part of his great value. You. You will make an impression on this young man. You are a large man. And you have your face. You will pick him up not in a limo, but in your own car, you will look to him dangerous. This will be interesting for him. Fun. And you will have this chance to show me your value. To impress this man with yourself and keep him safe.

His voice drops.

– If I am to deal with my sister-in-law, this threat of hers, if I am to take that risk, I must see your value. Now. Show me your value. Do not let these trials be for nothing.

Help me to save you from yourself.-You understand now?

– Yes.

– Good. Good. Branko will come to you soon with money and details. Then you will do this job and this will be all behind us, this unpleasantness. Yes?

– Yes. David?

– What?

I force the words from my mouth.

– My mom and dad.

– No.

– I. I need to.

– No. This we do not talk about. Not now.

I can picture his finger pointed at me. There are lines not to be crossed.

– But if.