Maybe we’ve left it too late, but maybe, you still have a chance of opting out.”
She stared at him, her eyes widening.
“I don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I keep thinking about it,” Johnny said. “I keep asking myself if I should drag you into this. Sooner or later they will catch up with me. When the Mafia sign goes up, you’re as good as dead. I mean this, but with luck, if I get the money, if I can buy my boat I’ll settle for twelve months. I could be more than lucky and it might be three years… but no more. Who goes with me also gets the sign. They may not bother with you right now, but if they find out we are together when they catch up with me… and they will eventually… then it’ll be the end of your days as it will be the end of mine.”
She shivered.
“I don’t want to hear this, Johnny. Please…”
“You’ve got to hear it. There’s a chance. We could survive three years. We’d be beating the odds if we survive longer, but sooner or later, they’ll get me and, baby, please think about what I’m saying. Don’t imagine if they get me they’ll forget you. They don’t work like that. They’ll come after you. You could hide, but sooner or later there’ll come a knock on your door and it’ll be them. I want you with me, but I want you to realize the risk. Think about it. We stand a chance, but not for long. If I get the money, I’ll fix it you get a big cut. This I promise you so you don’t have to worry about losing out. In half an hour we’ll get to Jacksonville. You could get off there and get lost. They could forget about you while hunting for me. You have some money now. You know how to take care of yourself. I hate to say it, but I feel it in my bones for your safety you should get off at Jacksonville.”
She closed her eyes, feeling the jogging motion of the bus and she tried to think, but nothing came into her mind except that immense sum of money: $186,000!
Three years of life?
With all that money she could have a ball of a time!
So suppose they caught up with them as Johnny seemed to think they would? So, suppose they walked in and shot them to death as Johnny had shot those two apes to death?
What was death anyway? She tried to believe it as an escape.
But three years with $186,000… that would be living!
She sat there, her eyes closed and reviewed her own life. What a stinking, hell of a life! Her dreary home, her dreary parents, the gruesome men in and out of her life, Ed and the boredom!
But at the back of her mind was the fear of the moment when a knock could come on the door. She forced the fear away and opened her eyes. Somehow she managed to smile.
“You and me, Johnny, together. I don’t opt out.”
The bus roared north and they sat, hand in hand, silent now, but both knowing whatever the future, they could now trust each other.
Sammy the Black rolled out of bed around 07.30. Feeling depressed and half asleep, he went into the shower room. Fifteen minutes later he emerged, shaved and showered and started the coffee perculator.
He had a number of reasons for feeling depressed, but the main reason which had kept him awake half the night was that Cloe had got herself pregnant again. How the hell this could have happened defeated Sammy. She swore she was on the pill, and now she was yelling for a quick abortion… and that cost! They had had a distressing meeting last night. She demanded $300!
“I’m not having any of your bastards!” she had shrilled. “Come on… give me the money!”
But he had no money. Johnny had taken all his savings. He didn’t tell her this, but he did say he had no $300.
She had stared at him, her big, black eyes glittering.
“Okay, if you haven’t the bread, I’ll look elsewhere. Jacko wants me and he’ll pay.”
Sammy had regarded her: lush, tall, with a body like a goddess, and his heart quailed. He couldn’t lose her! He knew Jacko: a big, black buck who was always on the fringe of her life, waiting.
“Give me a little time, honey,” he pleaded. “I’ll get the money somehow.”
“I’ll give you six days… no more!”
That was one problem: then his goddamn brother was again in trouble. Sammy’s mother had come to him. Only a matter of $150. “You can’t let your brother go to jail!”
Sammy had promised to do’ something… but what?
Then his job as Mr. Joe’s chauffeur. Driving a Rolls had sounded fine. The grey uniform with its black piping had made Sammy proud and happy, but he quickly learned this was a job without a song. He was on constant call. After he had driven Mr. Joe to his office, he had to rush back up town to take Mrs. Joe shopping and, man! was she a bitch! She always seemed to want to go to some shop where parking was impossible and he had to circle and circle, getting snarled up in the traffic, and if he kept her waiting did she curse him and could she curse! Sammy thought wistfully of those days when he had collected the Numbers money with Johnny. He had been scared, but being scared was better than this rat-race. Then in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Joe went to nightclubs and he had to sit in the car until after 02.00 waiting for them. He had to keep the car immaculate or Mrs. Joe would curse him. What a mug he had been to take this job!
Wearily, he got into his uniform. He had to pick up Mr. Joe at nine. It took him a good half hour to drive up town against the traffic. As he was sipping his coffee, his telephone bell rang. He winced. This could be Cloe, screaming at him again. He hesitated, then lifted the receiver as if it were a ticking bomb.
“Sammy?”
A rush of cold blood went down his spine and he began to shake. This was too much!
Johnny!
“Yeah… this is me,” Sammy said huskily.
“Listen, Sammy, I want you to go to the Greyhound bus station and take a look around. I want to know if it’s still staked out.”
“Mr. Johnny… I can’t! I’ve got enough troubles. You took my money. Cloe is in trouble again. My brother is in trouble again. Everyone is yelling me!” Sammy was close to tears. “Please leave me alone.”
“This is important, Sammy!” Johnny’s voice was hard. “You’ve got to do it! You do it and I promise you I’ll give you back your money plus another three thousand dollars I promise you!”
Sammy stiffened.
“You really mean that, Mr. Johnny?”
“Have I ever let you down? You check the bus station and if it’s clear, you’ll get six thousand… that’s a promise.”
Sammy hesitated.
“But suppose it ain’t clear?”
“Then you keep on checking and as soon as it’s clear, you’ll get the money.”
Again Sammy hesitated. Six thousand dollars! Cloe would get her abortion! His goddamn brother would be in the clear and he’d have money back in his steel box!
“Okay, Mr. Johnny, I’ll do it.”
“I’ll call you this time tomorrow,” and Johnny hung up.
Sammy was shaking with fear, but if he could get hold of six thousand dollars all his troubles would be over! And when Mr. Johnny made a promise, it was a promise.
Putting on his peak cap, he left his apartment and walked fast to the garage. Why was Mr. Johnny so anxious to know if the bus station was being watched? Sammy cringed. It could mean only one thing, but he refused to let his mind dwell on it.
He drove Massino to his office.
“Get home pronto,” Massino said. “Mrs. Massino has shopping to do. We’ll be going out tonight. She’ll tell you about it.” He paused to look at Sammy, seeing his grey complexion and the sweat glistening on his face. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing, boss,” Sammy said, cringing. “I’m fine, boss.”
Massino grunted, then strode across the sidewalk into his office building.
Sammy looked across at the Greyhound station, then after a long hesitation, he got out of the Rolls.
As Massino entered his office, he found Andy standing at the window.
“Let’s get at it,” Massino barked. “Have you got…?” He stopped as Andy raised his hand, then beckoned to
