The Amateurs

“What the fu-” Joh

“Me.”

“I was going to call you.”

“Oh? When?”

“I was on my way when these geniuses grabbed me.”

“But you were robbed last night.”

His eyes darted. “How did you-yeah, I was. But I was taking care of it. I have calls in, people out…”

“Calls.” Victor nodded. “People.”

“What is this, anyway? We’re partners, for Christ’s sake.” Trying to recover his bluster.

“Stand up, Joh

“What?”

“Stand up.”

Moving like he was afraid he was going to be knocked down again, Joh

“Rules?”

“Don’t worry, they’re simple. I’m going to ask you questions. Every time I don’t like your answer, I’m going to take a step forward. And you”-Victor gestured-“you’re going to take a step back.”

“What are you…?” Joh

“Where’s my merchandise?”

“I-I don’t know, really, I don’t know.”

Victor took a step forward. Joh

Victor sighed, glanced at one of the men. The soldier started forward, and Joh

“Good. Now. I’m curious. When was the last time you were robbed?”

“I’ve never-never.”

“But you were last night.”

“Yes. They came in wearing masks, waving guns, they-”

“Don’t you find it a little unusual that you were robbed for the very first time on the one occasion we’re doing serious business?”

“It wasn’t me. I wouldn’t do that. You know I wouldn’t.”

Victor took a step forward, his eyes locked on Joh

“Where is what I want?”

“They must have taken it.”

“By ‘they’ you mean the men who robbed you, for the first time you’ve ever been robbed, on the exact night that you were getting my merchandise? Merchandise for which I graciously, and in violation of my general principles, supplied part of the purchase price?” He cocked his head. “Do you see my concern?”

“Yeah, totally, but-”

Victor took a step forward.

“Hey, no, listen.” Joh

“I think you owe me a step. If you make me take it from you, it might be more than one.”

Trembling, the man moved back a scant six inches.

“Joh

He winced and went another foot.

“That’s better. Now. I’m afraid that the money isn’t my only concern right now. I want the materials you promised. I have some gentlemen very eager to take delivery. And I have a reputation to protect. When I say that I have something for sale, I need to deliver. Otherwise, people don’t trust me anymore. And it’s important that people believe every word I say.” Victor curled his fingernails in to look at them. “You, for instance. Do you believe me?”

“Yes.”

“Good. That’s good. Because you have three steps left, and that last one’s a doozy.”

“I swear, I didn’t say anything about you to the police.”

“I know you didn’t, Joh

“I-” He paused. “Maybe it was an inside job.”

“Did you tell someone?”

“No, of course not. I had a bartender working as security, but no way it’s him. He’s a civilian, kind of a pussy. And he didn’t know what was going on.”

“Then how could it have been an inside job?”

“Maybe someone on your end found out about it. No disrespect,” Joh

Victor smiled. “Do you think so?”

“I… maybe.” The man put his hand to his forehead, his eyes widening. “Wait a second. Be

“Who?”

“Be

“Go on.”

“He said he wasn’t going to come himself, right? Told me in advance that he was going to send someone to bring me the stuff and take the money. A kid named David Crooch.”

“The body in the alley.”

“Right, right. What if Be

“So Be

“Exactly. Exactly.” The man hopeful now, his eyes wide. “Sneaky fuck.”

“Of course, you could be doing the same thing.”

“Huh?”

“For all I know, this Be

“No, I would never-” He shook his head violently.

“Or maybe Be

“No, I swear-”

“See, here’s the thing, Joh

“Wait-”

“So you need to understand something.” Victor took a step, and Joh

“Yes!” The man stood six inches from the edge, hands still cuffed, bent slightly forward as though afraid his balance would betray him. “But I swear to God, I didn’t have anything to do with this. I would have come to you right away-I should have come to you right away. I was just trying to handle it on my own. I’ll get you the stuff, somehow, oh Jesus, I don’t want to, please don’t make me.” There was a sharp tang to the air, and the front of Joh

“How?”

“I’ll find Be

“Your mother, who lives in that lovely converted bungalow in Jefferson Park?”

The man’s head snapped straight up. His face was nothing but eyes and panic.

“You wanted to be big-league, Joh

“I will get it for you. I promise.” His voice coming from a ragged place people liked to pretend didn’t exist.

Victor stared him in the face. Lifted his foot, watched Joh

“First,” Victor said, “I want to talk to Be

“Yes. Yes. No problem.” His hands shook as he rubbed at his wrists.

“You can go.”

The man sprinted for the exit. Victor let him almost make it before he said, “Oh, and, Joh

He froze. Victor could see the animal part of the man wanting to continue. Slowly, slowly he turned around. “Yes?”

“From now on, let’s keep the lines of communication open, OK? I find business transactions run much more smoothly that way.”