Gincy came an hour later, in answer to Steve’s call.
“You want to tell me why this happened?” Gincy asked as he perused the devastation that was Steve’s office.
“No,” Steve said. “I want you to help me pack it all so I can get out.”
“Out where?”
“I have no idea. I’m tired of this building, I’m tired of paying for space here. Maybe I’ll move out to Verner and be closer to my meal ticket.”
“You’re just a little upset.”
“You figured that out, did you?”
“Sarcasm won’t help.”
“As if it won’t.”
“Funny.”
“Just help me get this stuff packed, will you?”
“What’s the rush?”
“I just had a guy in here with a very sharp knife threatening to do an unlicensed lobotomy.”
“What?”
“Yeah, and he looked serious.”
Gincy frowned. “You sure he wasn’t just a repo man?”
“Will you help me clean up or not?”
“Did you report this to the police?”
“You go ahead if you want to.”
“Anything missing?”
“Only my computer.”
“What?”
“And my Dodger bobble-head doll.”
“Did you have it backed up?”
“How do you back up a Dodger bobble-head doll?”
Gincy’s mouth hung open. “Steve, this is serious.”
“I’m seriously getting out of here. I have a backup somewhere. I’ll be fine. But I’ve had it with this place.”
“What about your books?”
“Let’s burn ’em.”
“How about you don’t make any major decisions right now, huh?” Gincy started picking up some of the papers on the floor.
“We’ll deal with the big picture later.”
“The big picture is no better than the little picture. It’s all out of focus.”
Four bags and three boxes later, the floor was clean. Gincy wouldn’t leave until Steve promised not to make a move without thinking about it overnight.
Back at the apartment, Steve fed Nick Nolte in the courtyard, then called Johnny LaSalle.
“You want me?” Steve said. “You got me.”
“What’s up?”
“How would you like it if I opened an office in Verner?”
“Yeah? Great. Why not?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“What got you thinking?”
“City life.”
“That’s all?”
“When the cousin of your recently imprisoned client comes around with a knife and a threat, you get motivated.” That, and a trashed office. An ex-wife who is really ex now. And a woman you’re crazy about who isn’t returning the feeling.
“Come on up then,” Johnny said. “It’s win-win!”