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Several days later, Eddie was busying himself with vendor orders, when a heavy rap on his office door interrupted his train of thought.
“Yeah. Get in here.”
Tau and Dario strolled in, arguing about something Eddie had no time for.
“Will you’se two shut the fuck up for once in your lives? Jesus. You’re like a couple-a old ladies.”
“Sorry, Eddie,” Tau said.
“Yeah, sorry, Mr. B.,” said Dario. He opened his mouth to explain their argument, but Eddie put up his hand.
“What’d I say, ‘eh? What part of ‘shut-the-fuck-up’ don’t you understand?”
Dario closed his mouth, as the two boys sat in the chairs in front of Eddie’s desk. He noticed their dress shirts and dress pants and smiled to himself at their transformations.
Sal announced his presence with a quick knock on the door before lumbering in.
“Hey.”
“Sal, come on in, cuz. Dario−”
Eddie shot his thumb in the air.
“Up.”
Dario frowned but gave his chair to Sal.
Eddie leaned back in his chair. “That’s for all that arguin’. You need to learn to shut your hole.”
Dario opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it.
“So?” Eddie said. “What’d’ya got?”
Dario leaned against the wall beside the desk. “Man. Cops came back to the garage today. Two detectives.”
Eddie raised his brows. “Oh yeah? What’d they want?”
“O’s still missin,” Dario said. “Nobody’s seen him—goin’ on weeks now. I think he’s dead if I’m being honest.”
Eddie gave Dario a harsh stare.
Dario’s eyes popped. “What?”
Eddie shook his head. “The way you talk sometimes. Too much. You need-ta learn-ta keep your mouth shut. Stay outta’ shit that’s none-a your business because people will start to think it is your business. Capisci?”
Dario hung his head, nodding.
“Now, what happened with the cops?”
Dario shrugged. “Dax said there were two of ‘em. One white guy, one Black guy, both in suits. They stopped by to talk to O’s daddy for a while. Dax told me he talked to the cops, too.”
“Did he mention our visit?”
Dario shook his head. “Naw. Dax said he and Jones-ie’d never say nothin’ about that.”
Eddie frowned. “Jones-ie?”
“The big dude. Remember? Wears his clothes like a sack-a shit?”
Eddie nodded. “That guy. Right.” He flipped casually through some papers. “So nobody’s talkin’ about me bein’ there? About the screwdriver thing?”
“Nope. They’re too scared-a you.”
“Good. Did Dax say what the cops were askin’ about?”
“Just asked when the last time he saw O—stuff like that. I guess his girlfriend and parents are freakin’ out because he’s been gone so long. They’re thinkin’ the worst. And the girlfriend—her name is Tanya Steele—she’s mad at O’s daddy cuz’ he’s actin’ like he don’t care. She’s stirrin’ up some trouble.”
Eddie nodded. “Okay, well forget about all that. What else? Tau?”
Tau handed him a package of cash.
“How much?” Eddie asked.
“Five K,” Tau said. “Same as last time.”
Eddie turned to Dario. “Where’s yours?”
Dario hooked his lip and rubbed his head. “Had some issues with collection. I’m gettin’ it tonight though. I’ll run it over.”
Eddie scowled and jammed his finger onto the desk. “I want that tonight, Dario.”
“I’ll bring it. I promise.”
“And? Are Mike and Stevie still workin’ the meth over on Phalen?”
Dario nodded rapidly. “For that kinda’ money? They’re workin’ hard. Doin’ a great job.”
Eddie nodded. “Good. Now, for the good stuff.” He leaned down and reached into the lowest drawer of his beat-up desk and pulled out three packages wrapped in brown paper. He tossed them out to Dario, Tau, and Sal.
“Your cuts.”
Dario’s eyes lit up as he put his fist to his mouth. “No way, man. Are you for real?”
Tau shook his head. “Is this what I think it is?”
Eddie grinned. “That’s right gentlemen. Merry Christmas.” He looked over at Sal who was trying not to smile.
“How much, Eddie?” Tau asked.
“Ten K each.”
Tau jumped out of his seat and he and Dario did a celebratory dance around the room.
“Oh my God! Eddie, I can’t believe this. Thank you!” Tau shouted.
“Holy shit!” Dario screamed. “I ain’t never had this much money before in my life.”
Sal hooked a smile as he glanced over at Eddie.
“Thanks, man.”
“Hey, Tau,” Eddie laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side-a you before. I kinda’ like it.”
The room roared with laughter.
“Couldn’t-a done it without all your hard work. This is only the beginning,” Eddie said. “There’ll be more from that last load, so you guys are gonna’ be swimmin’ in fuckin’ cash in a matter-a weeks.”
“Man, I’m already swimmin’ in it,” Dario said, kissing his package of cash.
“Alright. Enough celebratin’. Go on, now. Get back to work.”
Dario and Tau turned to leave.
“Hey,” Eddie called out. “One more thing, Dario.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s the update on your mom’s shop?”
“Oh, real good, Eddie. It’s been quiet. My mom said ever since Mike and Stevie did their thing, she’s had no trouble. Still pretty early though. They’re keepin’ an eye on the place. I’ll let you know if anything happens.”
“Good.”
Dario nodded. “My mom said the guy who owns the laundromat next to her wants to talk to you about helpin’ him, too. Said he’d pay a monthly fee if it’s somethin’ he could afford.”
Eddie clapped his hands. “Alright. Good. Go talk to that guy. Make an arrangement. You can keep the money.”
“Wait, what? All of it?”
Eddie shrugged. “I told you, if you did good work, you’d be rewarded. This is the start-a that. Keep hustlin’ and usin’ Mike and Stevie to clean things up, and you can keep all-a that cash.” He pointed at him. “Pay those boys right though, ya’ here? You need them to make this work.”
Dario nodded as he hid his smile behind his fist. “Thank you, Eddie. Thank you for trustin’ me.” His eyes popped as he looked over at Tau.
“Congratulations, Dario,” Tau said.
“Same goes for you, Tau.” Eddie said. “You’re doin’ good work with the cigarettes. But—” He held up his finger. “I want sixty percent-a that. I still gotta’ do a lot of overseein’ of that shit. For now. That may change down the road, alright?”
Tau smiled. “Sounds great, Eddie. Thanks.”
Dario frowned a little, but then hit Tau’s arm with a smile.
“Congrats, man.”
“And don’t worry, Dario. I know it sounds like you’re gettin’ less than Tau for the neighborhood stuff, but you’ll be surprised at the money we’re all gonna’ make with the meth. You’ll both see.”
“For real, Eddie?”
“For real.” Eddie smiled at them. “I’m proud-a you boys. You’re makin’ real progress.”
Tau and Dario did a handshake hug.
“Now,” Eddie said. “Get outta’ here. Don’t go spendin’ that like crazy. Don’t be stupid and call attention to yourselves. Cuz’ if you do, you’ll have me to answer to, got it?”
“Got it,” Tau said.
“I got it, too, Mr. B.,” said Dario.
Eddie waved his hand at them as they left.
Sal stood to leave too, but Eddie stopped him.
“So, what’s goin’ on with your new place? Kate findin’ anything good to look at?”
“Ah’, yeah,” Sal said. “We’ve looked at a few places.” He tipped his head and frowned. “They weren’t a good fit, but now she knows what I like, and we’re meetin’ up tomorrow to look at more.”
“Good. Bring her in for lunch. I haven’t seen her in a while. I’d like to catch up.”
“Sure thing, Eddie. Hot lookin’ broad. Too bad she’s married, ‘eh? I’d like ta’—”
Eddie scowled at Sal as he jammed a finger at him. “Don’t you ever fuckin’ talk about her like that. Don’t ever disrespect her, you got that?”
Sal’s eyes popped as he raised his hands and leaned back.
“Whoa, Eddie. No disrespect. I didn’t mean nothin’ by it.”
“I mean it, Sal. Do not fuck with me on this.”
“I got it, Eddie. I got it, alright?”
Eddie let the boiling blood release from his face.
“Alright. Good.”
Sal tipped his head. “We good?”
“Yeah. We’re good. See you’se tonight?”
“Sure, Eddie. See ya’ tonight.”
Eddie had already dismissed him and returned to the stack of bills on his desk, as Sal quietly shut the door behind him.
A few minutes after Sal left, Eddie threw his empty scotch glass against the door.
