Bosco Sam and Dukey K. Williams met at the zoo.
‘I ain’t truckin’ with you past those goddamn monkeys again,’ Bosco Sam complained. ‘I’m still smelling monkey piss every time I wear my damn coat.’
Dukey laughed.
Bosco Sam glared.
‘So, what’s goin’ on?’ Dukey asked. ‘Lay it on me, bro’, ’cos I gotta be at rehearsal two hours ago. Little blond number held me up.’
‘Dukey, boy, we had a deal.’
‘Right on. Ain’t nobody arguing that fact.’
Bosco Sam produced a Hershey bar from his coat pocket and carefully peeled off the wrapper. ‘Deal was I forget the two hundred thou, and you arrange a hit on the Bassalinos. Right?’
Dukey nodded.
‘Okay, Frank Bassalino I give you. But the others? C’mon Dukey, who’re you shittin’?’
‘Hey, man—Enzio was the important one. Leroy did a great job.’
‘Leroy Jesus Bauls got his ass chewed off by a pack of fuckin’ wild hounds. What was left of him his own mother wouldn’t recognize. The cops showed me the photos. I got very fine connections with the police.’
‘So?’
‘So the word is that Enzio was got at before the house blew. Someone shot him through the heart an’ sliced him up with a butcher’s knife—just for kicks. You gettin’ the picture?’
Dukey licked his lips. ‘No, man, I’m not.’
‘Angelo Bassalino got his in a car wreck. Nick Bassalino’s back in L.A. I reckon that still leaves you one hundred and fifty thousand in my debt.’
‘Don’t fuckin’ lay this shit on me, man,’ Dukey said angrily. ‘You can’t possibly mean—’
‘I’ll tell you what,’ Bosco Sam interrupted. ‘With interest we’ll call it a straight two hundred thousand. Two days, my man. I’ll give you two days. An’ that’s generous of me.’
‘Come on,’ Dukey groaned. ‘You’re full of shit. This ain’t fair!’
‘Fair? I’ve been very fair with you. I don’t have to tell you what happens next. Two days is generous.’
‘You fat fuck!’ Dukey exclaimed. ‘You jealous asshole. You’ll get your money.’
Bosco Sam nodded. ‘Sure I will, Dukey boy. Cash. An’ I want it by six o’clock tonight.’ Abruptly he shoved the rest of the chocolate bar in his mouth and walked away.
Dukey began to sweat.
There was no way he could get two hundred thousand together by six o’clock. No way.