Sweetie's Diamonds by Raymond Benson Page B

through the turnstile.   He stepped through the open doors and squeezed in, careful not to look anyone in the eye or improperly rub against a woman.  
    The ride took about fifteen minutes and thankfully there were no delays.   He got off at the 61 st Street/Woodside stop, ascended the stairs, and was happy to be in the open air again.   Oddly, it felt cooler outside of Manhattan.   He walked north, crossed Broadway, and within minutes was standing outside his apartment building.  
    He didn’t notice the stranger lurking a few feet away.  
    Rabinowitz opened the outer door and entered the lobby.   He used a key to open his mailbox and found nothing but bills.   He then used a different key to unlock the security door and as he did so, the stranger stepped inside the building and held the door open.
    â€œHere you are, sir,” the man said.
    â€œThank you,” Rabinowitz said as he turned to see who the gentleman was.   The sight of the tall man with shoulder-length blonde hair and an eye patch startled him so badly that he gasped.
    â€œTake it easy, Mister Rabinowitz,” the man whispered.   “I have a knife.   Don’t say a word, just take me up to your apartment like we’re old friends.”
    Rabinowitz felt his heart flutter.   “I… I don’t have any money with me…” he stammered.
    â€œShhh,” the man with the eye patch said.   “We’ll talk about that upstairs.”
    The two men walked through the empty lobby to the elevator.   The man with the blonde hair put his arm around Rabinowitz as if the old man were his grandfather.   When the elevator door opened, an elderly couple stepped out and recognized Rabinowitz.
    â€œHello Hiram,” the man said.   “How are you?”   They looked at the intimidating figure with his arm around their friend.
    â€œHello Abe,” Rabinowitz managed to say.   “Ida.”   He could see that they were expecting him to introduce them to the younger man.   “Uh, this is… uh…”
    The man with the eye patch held out his hand and said, “John Hancock.   I’m Mister Rabinowitz’s nephew.”
    The couple cheerfully went “Oh!” and the man called Abe shook hands.   “Are you here visiting?” the woman named Ida asked.
    â€œYes.   I’m here from Cincinnati.   Great city, New York,” the blonde man answered.
    â€œWell, enjoy yourself.   Shabbat shalom , Hiram,” Abe said as the couple nodded at them and walked on.
    Smiling, the blonde man put his arm back around his “uncle” and led him into the elevator.   “Nice work, Mister Rabinowitz.   You handled that real good.”  
    The elevator stopped at the third floor and the two men walked out.   Rabinowitz was shaking so badly that he could barely stand.   The man with the eye patch had to help him.  
    â€œYou can make it,” the blonde man said.   “Just a little further.”   When they were in front of apartment 3G, he commanded, “There.   Now, the keys.”
    Rabinowitz struggled with the key ring and couldn’t manage to insert the appropriate one into the lock.   The man with the eye patch took the keys and did it himself.   The door opened and the blonde man shoved Rabinowitz inside.   The old man fell to the floor as the door slammed shut.
    â€œWho… who are you?” Rabinowitz whispered.
    â€œCall me Emo.”
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    â€œInformation.   About some diamonds you’ve been selling.   Do you recognize this?”   Emo Tuff reached into his pocket and stooped by the old man.   Tuff brought out a small, black velvet bag and opened it.   Inside was a large, sparkling diamond.  
    Rabinowitz saw the gem and winced.  
    â€œWell?” Emo Tuff asked.   “You sold one like this recently,