Adrian Del Valle - Diego's Brooklyn (11 page)

“Wait! No, please! Don’t do this!” Joe screamed.

Both Eddie and Tommy grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him out of the back, with Joe clawing at the seat fabric, screaming for his life.

On the other side of the car, The Geek squeezed his huge frame out and with his usual long strides, easily caught up. He grabbed Joe tightly by the scruff of the neck and forced him to walk faster. “Right over there. That’ll do. Now…what happened to the money, Barnes?”

“The horses, Mr. Jimmy,” Barnes hysterically blurted loudly. “Spillane knows I have a bad habit. I lost the whole thing on a bad tip, that’s all.”

“So, that’s why you couldn’t even make a first payment?”

“Y…y…yes, Mr. Jimmy. I swear it. But I’ll make it up. I promise. I…I‘ll pay it all back…right away.”

“We don’t need you to pay the whole thing back right away. We want what’s left of the money. We‘ll talk about the rest, later.”

“No…no…you don’t understand. It’s all gone. All of it.”

The Geek put the muzzle between Joe’s eyes. “This is it, asshole. If you ain’t got any of it, then there’s no reason for you to live, now is there?”

“I did nothing to deserve this,” Joe cried, and shaking like a Chevy Corvair running on 5 cylinders. “I already paid you guys back by shooting Sally Boy! You know I did, you know? What’s a guy gotta do to prove himself around here, huh? I have a sick mother, you know? I never wanted to leave. I had to. I’m loyal to the gang, I tell ya. I had no one else to take care of her, you know? What’s more, I had amnesia. I can get the money…all of it. Give me a little more time. A little time is all I need. I’ll show you, you know? Just give me a little…”

“Yeah, I know, toilet breath,” the Geek barked. Here…take this you stupid fuck!”

“Okay, okay…I‘ll tell ya where…”

FUMPH! FUMPH! FUMPH! “And hears another one for your mother! You know?” FUMPH!

“Damn, you pretty near blew his head clean off,” said Tommy, his mouth wide open as he leaned over to gape at the broken pieces left of Barnes’ scull.

“Yup! like a snake caught in a lawn mower,” said Eddie. “Hey, youz guys know what I’m tinkin’? Didn’t it sound like the ol’ Barnes wuz about ta tell us where da money was?”

“Nah! You think so?” said The Geek.

“I don’t know, he wuz gabbin’ so much, I nearly dozed off, but I think he wuz startin’ to say somethin’ juss when ya pulled the trigga.”

“I think I heard it, too,” said Tommy.

“Too late now,” said The Geek. “And don’t mention that part to the boss, or we’ll all wind up floating down the river.”

“Ya want for us to dump’m in dis here lake, Big Jimmy?” Tommy asked.

Eddie butted in. “Waddya stupid? What da fuck for? Dems cops is gonna find’m anyways.”

The Geek left them to find a place to bury the gun.

“We could tie some cinda blocks to his feet. I saw that in the movies once.” Tommy said to Eddie.

“Ayyy, fugedit! Like we’s gots time to go to a hardware staw and pick up a coupla cinda blocks. He’s only gonna float to da top when he fills up wid gas.”

“Where’s he gonna get gas from,” Tommy asked?”

Eddie smirked and flashed a quick glance at the night sky. “At da gas station, bwittle bwain. Jeesh! We gotta lose dis guy!”

“Shaddup, Eddie! An’ what da hell is a bwittle bwain, anyway?”

Pointing to his head, Eddie shot back, “Dats what ya gots upsteahs… lotsa peanut bwittle.”

“Oh gee, Eddie. Is there a remote possibility that maybe ya might be tryin’ to say…brittle brain?”

“Youz knows exactly what I means, Mista English teacha, da nut job.”

“Fuck you, Eddie.”

“Fuck you, too, and your colored momma.”

“Fuck your momma, too, Eddie.”

“Well den fuck your momma what’s puts out for all o’ da colored boys and takes it up da…”

Jimmy was back and stepping between them. “Hey, hey! Stop arguing, you two knuckle-heads!”

Tommy stuck his head out from behind the side of Jimmy’s huge body and pointed back at Eddie with a beginning of tears. “Your momma, too, Eddie and don‘t be talkin’ about my mamma like dat.”

“Aw golly molly, did I hoit your feelin’s, Tommy wit da momma dats got no teets in ‘er head and da long line o’ colored boys linin’ up around da block for a gum job.”

“I said shut up and stop arguing, before I plug the both of you. Two more isn’t going to matter, you hear me?”

“Okay, Jimmy boy,” said Eddie. “Ain‘t no problem.” He pointed back at Tommy. “Your momma still sucks colored boys, ol’ bwittle bwain Tommy, da wise ass wit peanut bwittle fa bwains and who ain‘t got no…”

“What did I just say, you fuckin’ idiot.” The Geek gave Eddie a shove that nearly knocked him all the way to Astoria Blvd. “Now shut up the both of you. Did any of you think to look through his pockets?”

“That’s a good idea, I’ll check,” said Tommy, wiping the tears with his sleeve. “Here’s his wallet, a pack of Lucky Strikes and, ah…only two cigarettes left though. Some change. Oh, a gold ring on his finga, looks like.”

“Give it here,” said Jimmy.”

“It won’t come off!”

“Den cut his finga off, stupid,” said Fast Eddie.

Tommy took out his switch blade and performed the coup de grace on Joe’s finger.

Grabbing the ring and wallet, The Geek said, “This‘ll keep them from finding out who he is for a while longer. What else is in his pockets?”

“I’m lookin’! I’m lookin‘! A set o’ keys. Hear ya go, Big Jimmy.”

The Geek caught them. “Fantastic! Now get in the car, we’re all going for a ride.”

“Where to, Big Jimmy?”

“Brooklyn!”

8:03 P.M. 240 Dean Street: Diego’s Apartment

“Did ju have a nice time weeth Meester Reechards?”

“We had a great time. I liked the brontosaurus. You wouldn’t believe how big that thing was. Hey, Mom, that was a nice block party we had yesterday.”

“Eet was. Louie and Tony, they are so nice. I like Louie’s wife. She’s veddy nice, too. And all dee music and Meesees D’avino’s lasagna was so good. All those beeg important people, like Meester Reechards and Meester Herzog, I’m so surprise they come. I want to donce last night, but…well, Ju know…dee pain.”

“You used to go dancing all the time with Poppy, didn’t you, Mom?”

“Every Saturday at Roseland in dee city, and heem weeth a wooden leg.”

“I’ll put the radio on for you.”

“Put on dee nice station ju always like to play, 97, I think eet ees.”

“All right, Mom. I’m sure glad you’re not asking for that “Le Lo Li”, Island music, again.”

The radio warmed up, screeching until it cleared into
Dancing Cheek to Cheek
, being sung by Louie Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

(Heaven…I’m in heaven…and the cares that hung around me…)

“Ju done like dee Le Lo Li?” Ana asked. “Eet is good latino music.”

“Not really, I’m not crazy about this one either. It’s old farty stuff from the fifties. I hate when they stick them in like this, especially after a good song. You want me to change it?”

“No, I like thees song. Eets one of dee songs me und ju Poppa use to donce to.”

The song brought Ana back to a time of deep nurtured love when life was at its fullest. Back then, long black, wavy hair flowed to her waist like a fabled princess. It was a time of light heeled dance with a soul mate who shared everything with her. Now, all she had left of his legacy was their shared child, a gift she still worshipped him for. She missed him terribly. And how could their child ever know what she still felt inside for him—the missing, the tears, the loneliness, the forever lost love she now had to endure.

“Mom, as long as you like it, I‘ll leave it on.”

“Si, I like eet. Now come donce weeth ju mamita, Diego.”

“Aw, that’s so silly.”

“No ees not! Come donce weeth me.”

“What about your hip?”

“Ees okay. I’m not too worry for dee pain. Come donce before thees song ees feenish.”

With one hand gripping the edge of the table and the other holding onto the back of a chair, Ana inched herself along until she stood half bent over in the aisle.

(…climb a mountain and reach the highest peak, but it wouldn’t thrill me half as much as dancing cheek to cheek.)

She let go of the chair, took a short step forward and reached out for her son. “Come, Hijo, speen me around and less see what we con do.”

“Yeah, sure, Mom. Just be careful.”

(Oh, when we’re out together…)

Ana stumbled, tried to catch herself and fell into Diego’s outstretched arms.”

(As when we’re dancing cheek to cheek.)

“See that! How do you expect to dance? Why don’t you sit down on the couch and I’ll stay and listen to the radio with you?”

“Oh, Diego!” Ana play slapped him on the arm. “Now donce and leesten to dee song.”

(…highest peak, but It wouldn’t be half as much…)

Holding his mother by the waist, he turned her in a slow circle.

“No, Diego! Ju have to toush my cheek…like dee song says to do.” She grabbed the back of Diego’s head and pushed his cheek into hers. “See, Hijo, I told ju we can do eet?”

“Yeah…right!”

“Leesten to dee preedy words. When me and ju are outside togaythor, we can donse togaythor, Ju und I.”

“I don’t think those are the exact words, Mom.”

“If eet done bother for ju poppa, den eet should not bother for ju. Dame un besito, mi muneco.”

“Diego kissed his mother on the cheek like she asked, then helped her to the couch. “Mom, why are you so afraid of doctors?”

“Because they do notheeng for ju poppa.”

“Well, that’s not the doctors fault, is it?”

“I theeng so. They done know no-theeng.”

“That’s not very scientific.”

“I done care if eet is not sci…sci…”

“Scientific, Mom.”

“Si…I done care. I’m too tired now to talk about eet.”

“You really need to go to a clinic. At least let them take a look. I’ll go with you, please?”

“No, Hijo. I’m too, afraid.”

8:32 P.M. The front of Diego’s building

“Leave the car double parked,” said Jimmy the Geek. “This won’t take long.”

The three entered the building and went upstairs to the top floor. At 2B, The Geek turned the key and pushed the door open.

“I‘ll search under the mattress.”

Eddie pointed at the bureau. “Hey Tommy, go check da drawers.”

“Oh, yeah? And what’re you gonna do, Eddie?”

“I’m gonna stay ova hear and play wit my winky. Whaddya tink I’m gonna do, boid bwain? Doesn’t ya sees me headin’ for da closet wid dem cross eyed peepers of yaws?”

“Yeah, I can see where ya headin’. And what winky are ya talkin’ ‘bout? Not dat short, teenie weenie worm whats in your pants, I hope.”

“Well, at least it ain’t as short as yours. Is that why ya pees on your balls everytime ya goes to da baretroom?”

“How would you know? Was ya salivaten while you was watchin’?”

The Geek’s voice resonated loud and clear. “Are you two going to start that arguing again? Let’s go! Find the money!”

“Nope, nuttin’ in the bureau,” said Tommy, leaving all five drawers opened.

“Then check under the carpet!”

“Now how do I do that, Big Jimmy, wit’ youze guys standin’ on it and alla dis furnicha what‘s here?”

“No, not the whole thing. Pull up the corners.”

“Yeah, woach bwain, maybe you’ll find some of youz’s long lost relatives under dere,” Eddie quipped.

Jimmy shouted at the both of them. “Shut the hell up, you two knuckleheads and keep lookin’.”

“Yeah, yeah!” Eddie buried his head inside the closet. Soon, his muffled voice returned from behind the clothes rack. “Hey, ya know what I foun‘?”

Hopeful, The Geek looked up.

“Dere’s a pencil size whole in da wall what’s looks right ova da topada tub. Hey, dis guy was a freakin,’ peepin’ Tommy.”

“Hey, watch that!” said Tommy.

“Yeah, wudda sleeze bag. Hey, whaddya say we wait and see if some chick uses da turly bowl? Huh? Whaddy say, fellas?”

“Check the clothes and stay focused. There’s gotta be something in here.” Jimmy looked away from him and ripped the back panel off of the TV to search inside. He did the same for the radio. “Tommy! Ain’t you finished yet? Check his shoes and those boxes over there.”

The Geek stood in front of the window and checked behind the curtain. “When you two get done, get out in the hall and look around. I’ll be in the bathroom.”

As soon as he went into the hall, the door to 2A closed shut.

“What the hell were
you
lookin’ at?” He snapped.

He approached the door and knocked. No answer. He knocked again, a little louder this time. Still no answer. By now, the other two joined him in the hall to see what all the noise was about.

“Somebody awfully nosy lives behind this door.”

“Are ya gonna kick it in, Big Jimmy?” asked Tommy.

“Hey, are you two finished in there?”

“Ain’t nuttin’ left in dat room, not even a rat’s butt,” said Eddie.

“Then look in the rest of the hallway like I told you.”

Jimmy banged on the door again. “Hey you in there! You didn’t hear nothing! Got it?”

Entering the bathroom, the first place he searched was under the lid to the toilet tank. Finding it empty, he unraveled a strip of toilet paper from the roll and balled it up. Striking a match, he lit the paper and tossed it under the claw foot tub. Other than dust balls, a toothpaste cap, used Q Tips and cigarette butts, there was nothing else. He lit another and threw it underneath, just to make sure.

Next, he pulled the mirror off the wall and turned the waste basket upside down.

“There’s nothing in this room, either.”

“Whaddya wanna do, Big Jimmy?” said Tommy.

“Come on! I guess we gotta go tell Spillane.”

The Geek got as far as the stairway. Tightening his grip on the banister, he scratched his day old whiskers while giving the whole thing more thought. “I can’t believe he spent all of that money. What time is it?”

Fast Eddie checked. “8:44.”

The huge man shook his head. “The money’s gotta be up here somewhere. You know what? There’s one more place we haven’t checked.”

“2A?” said Fast Eddie.

“Yeah…2A!”

The Geek leaned over the railing and looked down.