burger! That’s no good for ya! Ya gotta start lookin’ after yourself better. Go an’ get yourself a decent meal, for fuck’s sake!”
“I can’t. I haven’t made any money yet. Red’s gonna be real pissed at me.”
“Fuck Red! She’s a bitch. You should move out and come live with me.”
“I can’t. Red won’t let me go until I pay up what I owe her. She would find me and —”
“Yeah, I know. I owe her too. But you’re only twelve years old, for fuck’s sake. You shouldn’t be out here.”
“I’m almost thirteen. My birthday is a week tomorrow.”
“Like that makes a big fuckin’ difference. They got ya hooked yet? Are ya usin’?”
Marcie looked down at her feet as she spoke. “I’ve tried it a few times, but I’m no junkie. I can handle it. I only use it, like, maybe two or three times a week.”
“Goddamn it! You can’t handle it. Believe me, I know! My little sister died with a spike in her arm. She told me she could handle it, too!”
Danny couldn’t hear Marcie’s reply, but he had no problem hearing Crystal.
“Bullshit! Soon it’ll be two or three times a day, then six times a day!”
Marcie didn’t respond. Crystal grabbed her by the arm and said, “Come on, I’m takin’ ya to buy you some dinner. You’re as small as a mouse. In fact, I think that’s what I’m gonna start callin’ ya. Mouse!”
As Crystal led Marcie away, she glared at Danny. He quickly stood up and entered the tavern. He saw Red sitting near the pool tables and took a seat where he could discreetly watch. He saw Leonard walk over and say something to her. She laughed and slapped him on the arm. Leonard then walked over to the rear door and disappeared outside.
Red stared after Leonard as he left. When the door banged shut, she held up her hand and cupped her fingers to her palm a couple of times as she waved goodbye. It was how a little girl would wave. It didn’t suit her.
Minutes later, Jack entered the bar as the sound of sirens came to a screaming halt in the rear alley. A crowd spilled out of the Black Water to see what the commotion was. Jack glanced at Danny, who gave him a subtle shrug. They joined the crowd in the alley. A police officer gestured for everyone to stand back while her partner radioed for assistance.
Leonard was sprawled on his back behind her. A profuse amount of blood had pooled by his mouth and the end of his tongue lay on his chest. More blood had run down from his forehead where the word RAT had been carved. Jack saw that the blood had stopped running. His heart isn’t pumping. He’s dead.
The crowd eventually started to disperse down the alley. Red caught up to Jack and tugged on his sleeve.
“Let’s take a walk,” she said. “Gotta talk to ya.”
“What was that all about?”
“Looks like he musta been a rat. Good thing someone offed him.”
“Right on. So what do ya want to talk to me about?”
“There’s gonna be some changes around here. Spider’s gonna be handlin’ most of the inside stuff from now on. He’ll be workin’ for me.”
“Spider? I won’t deal with him. Someone at his table got busted just the other night.”
“Relax. That’s why I’m talkin’ to ya. I’ll still come down here sometimes. With the amount you been scorin’, I’ll deal with you direct. I got a pager now. If I’m not around, you can give me a buzz. It’s the type that vibrates. Think I’ll keep it in my crotch, so call me often.”
They rounded the corner toward the hotel and saw Crystal and Marcie walking ahead of them. Red called Marcie over.
“What are you doin’ with Crystal?” she demanded. “You’re supposed to be workin’!”
“She just bought me some food. I was hungry.”
“Yeah? You got what ya owe me?”
“No. I just got here when she came along, so…”
“Next time work first and eat later.”
Marcie nodded her head, then looked nervously at Jack.
“Ain’t interested, girl,” he said, then looked at Red and added, “This kid looks pretty young. With what just happened out back, there’s gonna be a lot of heat around here.”
Red thought for a moment, then replied, “You’re right. You should be an investment consultant or some-thin’.” She turned to Marcie and said, “Someone carved up a rat out back. Fuck off home now. Give ya a few days off before comin’ down here again.”
Jack poured Danny another shot of Jose Cuervo and then leaned back on his sofa and put his feet up on the coffee table.
“So Bart and Rex must have rolled Leonard instead of busting him,” said Danny.
“I hadn’t counted on that, but it’s good police work. They were working their way up.”
“Yeah, but it was us who set him up. What we did got him killed.”
“That was a bonus. Except now we better give things a few days to cool off. His murder could attract some heat from the City.”
“Getting someone killed was a bonus?”
“Took out a rung in the ladder. Red is dealing direct with Wrath now. I’ll start buying more until I get to the kilo level. It’ll just be a matter of time before we find someone to roll over.”
“Yeah, like Leonard?”
“Somebody a lot smarter and somebody with more to lose. Someone on the inside. Leonard was small-time. He probably had a loose tongue.”
“Yeah, real loose. The end of it fell out on his chest. And where the hell do you plan on coming up with the money to buy quantity?”
“Thinking of Leonard gives me an idea. I still have those two ounces I bought from Red last time. I’ll use that to get money. All we have to do is —”
“You’re not! Tell me you don’t plan on selling that shit.”
“Christ, Danny!” Jack slammed his drink down on the end table. “You don’t know me at all, do you?”
No, I don’t. And that’s what scares the shit out of me!
chapter sixteen
Louie Grazia hung up the phone and pursed his lips while straightening his tie. Why did Assistant Commissioner Isaac want to see him? Isaac had a reputation for being both fair and firm. But he also had the power to make or break a person’s career at the snap of his fingers.
Maybe it wasn’t
