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Marco stopped the car in front of Magnolias and Eddie got out.
“See ya’ in an hour or so, ‘eh?”
“You got it, Eddie.”
Despite the approach of October, the humid air clung to every part of Eddie as he hurried into the restaurant. The air conditioning felt weak but cooler than outside.
“Charles, how you doin ta-day?” Eddie said to the muscular Black teen standing at the podium. He patted him on the back.
Charles laughed, shaking Eddie’s hand. “Hey, Mr. Bracchio. I’m doin’ good. How you doin’?”
“Good. Sure is a hot one out there, ‘eh?”
Eddie rounded the corner and headed toward the booth where Dario and Tau were seated.
“Oh hey—Mr. Bracchio,” Charles called out.
Eddie turned back, “Yeah?”
“Thanks for helpin’ out my dad the other day. We all appreciate it.”
Eddie smiled and pointed at him.
“My pleasure. See you’se at the restaurant sometime. Bring ‘em all in.”
“You got it, Mr. Bracchio.”
Eddie continued to the table. He tipped his head at Dario to move to the other side of the table next to Tau. He obliged without argument.
Dario pointed in the direction of Charles. “What’s Charles talkin’ ‘bout?”
“Nothin’. His dad needed help with some problems he was havin’ at his shop. I helped him out. No big deal.”
Dario opened his mouth for a follow-up question, but Eddie shot him a look, so he snapped it shut.
After their sandwiches and salads arrived, they settled in to eat and discuss their miscellaneous business matters.
Eddie dug around in his salad before taking a bite.
“Alright. Next? What-d-ya-got?”
“Yo, man. Tau’s got some news. It’s big. Really big. He—”
Eddie raised his hand. Their table went silent for a moment.
“Tau? What-d-ya-got?”
Dario sat back in the booth and rocked his head as he chewed his thumbnail.
Tau, always with perfect posture, leaned in, speaking in his usual calm voice with proper English.
“I have a friend. He drives a truck for a big distributor.”
Eddie shrugged. “So?” He stuck a toothpick in his mouth and waited.
Dario leaned forward and opened his mouth to speak, but Eddie raised his hand again. “Uh-uh. No, Dario.” He turned back to Tau. “Go on.”
Tau gave Dario a side-glance before continuing.
“So, my friend—his name is Lang—he told me he delivers lots of different stuff, including cigarettes. I talked to him, and he would be interested in lifting some product for a price. Fifty percent of the take.”
Eddie sat back against the booth. “Tell Lang we’d give him thirty percent. Otherwise, it ain’t worth our time.”
Tau stared at Eddie.
Eddie raised his brows. “What?”
“Lang said fifty percent or forget it.”
Eddie smiled and shrugged, pausing for effect.
“Listen, Tau. You got a few things-ta learn about business, but I like your creativity. Now, you go back to Lang and tell him thirty percent, or he can go fuck himself. Got it?”
Tau looked over at Dario who held his fist to his mouth to hide his chuckle.
“Okay. I’ll tell him.”
“Good. And now that things are pickin’ up and you’re both makin’ new contacts and doin’ good work, I wanna’ talk about the problem you mentioned before. You said word on the street is that some folks ain’t too happy with me steppin’ in.”
Tau and Dario nodded, but said nothing.
“Who?” Eddie asked.
“O,” Tau answered.
Eddie nodded and continued. “So, this O.” He snapped his fingers. “Last name?”
“Jackson,” Dario said.
“Alright,” Eddie said. “That guy, I’m interested in. He’s the one in charge-a the drugs in this neighborhood, right? Just this neighborhood?”
The boys nodded.
“But Eddie, why? Why-you interested?” Dario asked. He shot a quick glance at Tau, who’s eyes betrayed his concern.
“Because,” Eddie said, “O, I can take. We just need his supplies. Then, we—I mean I—take his place. Get what I’m sayin’? Just take over the piece—for just this neighborhood.”
The boys shook their heads.
“No,” Dario said. “I don’t get it. That sounds like a bad idea. They don’t trust me, they don’t trust Tau, and they don’t trust you. They don’t even know you. Know what I’m sayin’? It’s all about the trust.”
“I know all about trust, Dario, okay? Listen, I take over for O, and before they even find out about it, we got the business runnin’ like a top. Hell, they won’t even know I’m involved. It’d be all the same people, except for O. And I wanna’ do it quick. Before they even know what happened.”
Dario let out a slow breath as he shook his head.
“Listen,” Eddie continued, “this is business. And I know what I’m doin’. So, O’s distributor-guy—it’d be nice to have a name, by the way.”
Eddie saw Dario’s eyes pop.
Eddie paused. “What?”
“Well, ah’,” Dario lowered his head as he looked around the restaurant. “Let me tell you—” he put up his hand “—this is what I know.” He flicked his thumb across his nose and looked around again before continuing. “One time, this dude came up to us over in Swede Hollow. Big Mexican dude, right? Came up to us waving a forty-five around our faces—”
Eddie cut him off. “Yeah, yeah. Get to the fuckin’ point. This is O’s distributor? He brings O the drugs?”
Dario nodded. “Yup.”
“He gotta’ name?”
Tau and Dario exchanged a look before Dario finally mustered up some courage.
“Magic Man,” he said. “Dude’s the leader of F.A.M.”
Eddie shook his head and frowned. “Nice fuckin’ name. What the hell is F.A.M.?”
Dario leaned in and whispered, “That’s a Mexican gang. Their colors are green, white and red. Name stands for ‘Forever After Money.’”
Eddie smiled and tipped his toothpick toward the boys. “Okay. Alright. Now we’re gettin’ somewhere’s. You got the local cartel contact—this ah’ Magic Man character; then, you got O Jackson—the guy in charge-a this neighborhood. That it? I need to be sure that’s it.”
“That’s it,” Dario said.
Eddie continued. “So, O’s just the middle man? Magic Man’s flunky, right? The guy who distributes and takes in the cash and drugs for the neighborhood?” He jammed his finger into the tabletop. “Just for this neighborhood?”
Dario didn’t hesitate. “Yep. That’s right. O Jackson, Jr.”
Eddie wiped his mouth with his napkin and pushed his empty salad plate to the side.
“So, Magic Man, he don’t care who sells his shit, right? He cares about the money.” Eddie swished his thumb and middle finger together. “Sure, he’ll be suspicious at first, when O don’t show up, but we’ll step into O’s shoes before he even gets a chance to question it. We keep O’s crew, everyone and everything—it all stays the same.” Eddie smiled. “For all he knows, O’s outta’ town. And for all O’s boys know, O’s outta’ town. And they can tell Magic Man that.”
He paused for affect. “You see what I’m sayin’? We start handlin’ the sales, give the guy his money, and we keep the cut that normally goes to O.”
Dario rubbed his face before burying it in his arms on the table.
“No, man. You can’t do that. What do you think O’s gonna’ do about this? Huh? You’re gonna get us all killed. You’re makin’ this sound too easy. It don’t work like that.”
Eddie frowned at Dario and ignored his pleas. “Don’t you worry about O. I’ll handle him.” He paused to let that sink in. “So, where do we find him?”
Dario looked up at the ceiling appearing to say a silent prayer, before he leaned in. He spoke quietly. “So, O’s ol’ man, O, Sr.? His garage is over on Desoto and East Beaumont,” Dario said. “There’s a back alley. They come and go through the back entrance most of the time, especially at night. No cameras in the back. Only in the front of the garage. The main entrance.”
Tau nodded. “During the day, that’s when the regular customers come in. O and his crew—they hang out back. The owner—O, Sr.—he lets them hang there—I think cuz’ he’s scared to say no.”
Eddie sat back and smiled. “I like the sound-a this.” He knocked his knuckles on the table. “Dario, I need you to take me to see O.”
Dario let out a sputter. “Wha-? Come on, man. Why me?”
Eddie shrugged. “Okay, you and Tau. Both-a you’se.”
Dario and Tau snuck a glance at each other, as Eddie leaned in and whispered to them.
“Listen, if we pull this off, it’ll be the start of somethin’ real big for us. I can feel it. And remember, you’se two’ll get a generous piece-a the action. But—” he pointed his finger at both of them—“you fuck me and I’ll know. As soon as I know I can trust you, your piece-a the action will grow. Got it? I need your loyalty. You gotta’ prove it to me. After that?” He leaned back. “Sky’s the limit, my friends.”
Dario nodded furiously. “Okay, Eddie. Cool, cool. We’d never fuck you over, man. Come on, now. We know who’s boss. Who’s got the brains.”
Tau nodded and smiled. “You can trust us, Eddie. I’ll make sure of that.”
Eddie pointed at Tau. “You? I believe.” He pointed at Dario. “You? You gotta’ lotta’ work to do to prove your loyalty.”
Dario let out a breath and closed his eyes for a second.
“Fine. I’ll prove my loyalty. Let’s go. I’ll show you the garage where O hangs out right now.”
Eddie shook his head. “Tonight. Show me tonight.”
Dario’s jaw fell open as he exchanged a glance with Tau.
“Tonight?” He shook his head. “Come on, man I—,” Dario shut his mouth for a second before starting up again. “Look, man. I can’t tonight. I got this thing ...”
Eddie’s eyes narrowed as he pressed his finger on the table.
“Tonight.”
“Okay man,” Dario said, laughing nervously. “Sure. I can cancel my plans. It’s cool.”
Eddie continued. “We’ll start small. With O.”
“Small? O?” Dario said. “He ain’t small.” He raised his hand high above the table. “Big dude.”
Eddie shrugged. “That right? Well, that’s important information, I guess. Now, here’s what I want the two-a you’se to do. I want you to go over to this garage and give this O mother-fucker a message from me. You tell him—”
Dario’s voice whispered in a higher-than-usual range. “Are you crazy man? That guy’ll shoot us down like dogs if we go anywhere near his territory. He don’t like me man, I’m serious.” Dario rocked forward and backward as he rubbed his thighs under the table.
Eddie frowned at Dario. “Jesus, Dario. Man the fuck up.”
Dario stopped his fidgeting and sat up tall, as Eddie turned to Tau.
“What’s O’s story, anyway?” Eddie asked. “What’s he into?”
Tau leaned forward. “Mostly meth. Weed.”
Eddie nodded. “They makin’ money with this shit?”
“Yeah, they’re makin’ bank,” Dario said. “O may be workin’ outta’ that shitty car repair shop, but he’s livin over on one-a them lakes over in Minneapolis. Gotta’ real nice house, too. That’s what I heard, anyway. I ain’t never been invited over for a cup-a tea, know what I’m sayin’?”
He smiled and fist-bumped Tau before he remembered they were sworn enemies. His smile fell.
Eddie eyes narrowed as he shook his head. “You’se two better start gettin’ along. You’re business partners now. You got that? You work fa-me now, and this feudin’ shit’s gonna’ get in the way-a all of us makin’ money. So figure it out.”
“Yeah,” Dario said, “but we might be dead before we make a dime.”
Eddie slapped the table and smiled. “Come on, Dario. Don’t be such a chicken-shit. Listen, you stick with me—do as I say—and not only will you live, you’ll prosper.”
Dario and Tau gave him blank stares.
He pinched his thumb to his forefinger. “It means you’ll make money. You’ll be successful without havin’ to shoot people—well, not very often anyway. Trust me. You’ll be fine.”
Tau spoke up. “Mr. Bracchio. You say we’ll be fine because we’re with you now.”
“That’s right.”
“Well, how is O Jackson going to know that? He’ll shoot us on sight.”
Eddie looked at the table, thinking. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right, Tau.”
Tau smiled and folded his arms. He shot a cocky look at Dario who flapped his hand at him.
“When is O usually at the garage?” Eddie asked.
“Most nights, I guess,” Dario said. “Probably after eleven.”
“Okay. Here’s what you’re gonna do. You’se two are gonna’ go down there tonight. Walk into that garage—”
“Say what now?” Dario brought his hands to his head. “Oh my God.”
“Jesus, Dario. Man-the-fuck-up. Christ-almighty.”
Dario lowered his hands and held his tongue. Tau remained quiet. Calm.
“Don’t worry about it,” Eddie whispered. “You’ll be fine. I guarantee it. You’se two make the introductions, and then,” he slapped his chest, “I come in. Come on. It’ll be fun.”
Dario’s eyes bulged. “Fun? That ain’t fun, man.”
Eddie turned to Tau. “Tau. You in?”
Tau nodded. “Yes, Eddie. I’m in. I like this idea, actually. I had a run-in with O a while back. I don’t like him.”
Eddie stood, ready to leave the restaurant. “Good. It’s set.” He pointed at Dario. “Do not disappoint me.”
“You can trust us,” Tau said. “We’ll be there.”
Eddie nodded. “Alright then. Good.”
After paying the bill, he moved toward the door putting one arm around each of their shoulders.
“Cheer up. You guys are gonna’ make me proud.”
Marco stood outside his car waiting for Eddie.
“My ride. Gotta’ go.” He turned to the boys. “Okay. I’ll see you’se two outside the house. Tonight. Eleven o’clock.”
“Okay, Eddie,” Tau said.
He felt the eyes of the boys on his back, as he climbed into the passenger seat of Marco’s shiny black Mustang. He gave them a dismissive wave as the car pulled away.
He was looking forward to the evening. It had been too long since he’d had any fun.
