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Lives in the biggest house you ever saw. His mama gave a party for the Panthers one time, not knowing what she was getting into. Thought it was to raise money for the zoo or some shit. Can you see her friends, these people trying to smile? Like they partied with brothers every weekend? Only you know they never been close to one less it was at the car wash or was a sister cleaned their house." Do
The men's room was out the door of the club and across the lobby, kept locked, so people wouldn't come in off the street and use it. You told the club doorman you were going to the men's and he buzzed the men's door open for you when you got to it. Mr. Woody finally went and Juicy followed.
Then Do
"Let me have a few minutes' peace in there doing my business." He slipped on black leather gloves before going in and hit Juicy hard, the knife flying, blood flying, hit him in his surprised face again and got the man zipped up and out of there.
Sitting in the back of the man's car with him, Do
The man said, "You saved my life," reaching for his wad of money.
Do
In the following months Do
"What do you need a cook for living here only cooks white Methodist food and acts superior, won't talk to nobody? I happen to learn food preparation in the slam. I cook good…
"What do you need a fat maid for living here watches TV upstairs all day? I can get us a maid to come in, clean up and get out. A cute maid…
"What do you need to write checks for, pay bills, be bothered with all that picky shit? Excuse me. I can do it for you…
"What do you need to put up with your brother whining at you for? You the one has the musical ear. He don't like it, tell him go do his cock rock someplace else…
"What do you need to call your mother's lawyer for, get charged two hundred dollars an hour? I learn food preparation, I also happen to learn about legal affairs. Most time you don't need to get in it, have to sign all those papers. I can talk. I can make deals. I can tell people how it is… "What do you need to go to court for, have that redhead bitch call a fine man like you a rapist in front of everybody in town? I can talk to her for you."
Coming up pretty soon he would have to look the man in the eye and ask him:
"Don't you need to change your will, now that your brother's gone?" Ask him: "Anybody else you want to put in it?"
Being subtle wouldn't pay, the man spaced on booze and now and then a 'lude slipped him to keep him mellow and manageable, the man always in low gear with his dims on.
It might have to be put to him: "Mr. Woody, I would consider it an honor to be in your will." Play with that idea.
Say it in a way to make the man laugh and feel good.
There was a possibility with the redhead bitch to make some good money.
If he could get her to go along. He could always write himself a nice check if he ever had to leave in a hurry. No, the deal was to get in the man's will for a big chunk and then work out the next step. Having Markie out of the way should make it easier to become the man's heir.
Except, shit, what took Markie out was somebody doing a bomb, and that didn't make any sense however Do
The front doorbell rang.
Do
He'd watched them out front. He'd watched the dude cop talking to the hard-nose cop, Do
The hard-nose cop was back. Standing there with a can of peanuts in his hand.
Chris said, "I hear you're out of these," offering the can of Planters Cocktail Peanuts.
Do
Chris said, "I hear if you hadn't run out of nuts the guy's brother would still be alive. Gives you something to think about, huh? If he hadn't gone out there-what's his name, Mark? Somebody else would've opened the car door."
Do
Chris said, "I can't imagine Woody opening the door.
That's what he's got you for, right? Open doors, drive him around…
What else you do for him? Call up a young lady, tell her there appears to be some kind of a misunderstanding?"
Do
"That what you do? Ask her to call you? Tell her you have a way to settle the matter and make her happy?" Chris tossed the can of peanuts in the air, not high.
Do
"You believe I called some woman?"
"Hey, come on, I heard you. I know it was you. I'll get a court order for a voice print if you want and we'll nail it down."
Do
"You phoned Greta Wyatt."
"Tell me who she is."
"The one you're go
"Oh, that Greta. Yeah, see, I call her Ginger. Now what was it I said to her?"
"You're go
"What we want to know is, how happy?"
"What you saying to me, you speaking for the lady."
"Like you seem to represent Woody," Chris said.
"Who needs lawyers?"
Do
"I see you come to visit, policeman that use to be into high explosives, interested in such things-I thought you want to ask about this bomb business."
"I'll be honest with you," Chris said, "I don't give a shit about the bomb, that's your problem. You're go
"Let me look at it again," Do
"Drive up in a Cadillac you manage on about maybe six bills a week take-home. Yeah, I can see you interested in payoffs, rake-offs and such. Come on inside."
They walked through to the library, Chris reminded of Hooker's house where the old woodwork and paneling had been painted an awful green.
Here, there was the feeling nothing had been changed in the past fifty years or more. Chris chose a deep chair, watching Do