trees in a bad economy. Most companies did online submissions, but a few still used paper.
She paused a moment. “I’m really surprised that Eddie Coyle invited you in on his job.”
I closed my duffel and faced her, my expression terse. “You think I can’t handle it?”
“Did I say something to upset you?”
“Don’t question me and what I’m capable of.”
“That’s not what I was doing, but maybe somebody should.”
“If anyone can’t handle it, it’s you. You lost it before. You were ready to face off with LAPD with a .22. You held a knife and wished me dead. You went Elvis Presley and killed the television, and now it feels as if I’m being questioned here. I’ve worked with Eddie Coyle. What he is and how he is are nothing new.”
“Sammy, Rick, and me were supposed to go alone. You weren’t invited.”
“I am now. So, if the job and the payout was a secret, I’m on the crew now.”
“Relax. It’s not that we were keeping the job a secret from you. It’s just that, well, sometimes it’s better to not speak about everything we do.”
“I think Rick was about to tell me. He said he’d wanted to talk to me about something. Maybe he was backing out, going home to his family, and plugging me in on the job.”
She nodded, then asked, “You said that you need four grand?”
“Why? You plan on robbing a few liquor stores tonight?”
“Can you relax for a moment? Loosen your collar and listen to what I’m about to offer.”
I nodded. The alcohol had her humming, bouncing her leg, and smiling to herself.
She said, “Maybe I could float you that baby bankroll until the next job is done.”
“You have access to that kind of money?”
“Say the word and I’ll make a call and make it happen. Provided you agree to the interest.”
There was always a catch. I took a breath and asked, “How much interest?”
“I usually take forty or fifty percent, but I can do thirty this one time.”
“You’re the bank.”
“Yeah. I’m the bank.”
“Thirty percent is outrageous. You’re another predatory lender.”
“Look, I have a kid and I’m trying to increase my funds tenfold so I can fix my situation. Every dime helps. This job has left me with nothing but a headache, heartache, and a bad taste in my mouth. So, I’ll go out on a limb with my money and take a chance and loan you part of my nest egg, but only if it is lucrative for me and my kid in the short run.”
“It’s been a long day. Both of us are on edge. Let me sleep on it.”
“No, I need to know now. You have five minutes. Then the bank is closed.”
She went to the kitchen and poured a little more vodka. This time she opened the refrigerator and found a carton of orange juice, used it to cut the liquor. She sipped, then said, “Five minutes are up. Do you want to borrow four thousand or not?”
“Don’t want to, but have to.” My voice was harsh and just above a whisper, yet it filled the room. “Lower the interest rate and maybe we can make a deal. You have a kid, but I have to take care of a few things too. We all have lives, Jackie. I empathize with your child-custody issues, but your problems are not the center of my universe.”
“Thirty percent. Take it or leave it. Tomorrow, if you ask, it will be back at my usual rates.”
“I wasn’t trying to offend you, just wanted you to know that I have my own issues as well.”
“Thirty percent. That’s all we have to talk about right now. Thirty percent.”
I accepted her predatory interest rate and asked her how soon she could get me the money.
“In a few. Let me wash down your insults and insensitivity and calm my nerves.”
I walked away from her and stood in the window, my arms folded.
She said, “Riddle me this, Batman.”
“What?”
“You wear a wedding ring, but there isn’t a wife around. No text messages, no sneaking off to call and check in. Sammy told me that you and the wife aren’t together, that she left while you were doing
She paused a moment. “I’m really surprised that Eddie Coyle invited you in on his job.”
I closed my duffel and faced her, my expression terse. “You think I can’t handle it?”
“Did I say something to upset you?”
“Don’t question me and what I’m capable of.”
“That’s not what I was doing, but maybe somebody should.”
“If anyone can’t handle it, it’s you. You lost it before. You were ready to face off with LAPD with a .22. You held a knife and wished me dead. You went Elvis Presley and killed the television, and now it feels as if I’m being questioned here. I’ve worked with Eddie Coyle. What he is and how he is are nothing new.”
“Sammy, Rick, and me were supposed to go alone. You weren’t invited.”
“I am now. So, if the job and the payout was a secret, I’m on the crew now.”
“Relax. It’s not that we were keeping the job a secret from you. It’s just that, well, sometimes it’s better to not speak about everything we do.”
“I think Rick was about to tell me. He said he’d wanted to talk to me about something. Maybe he was backing out, going home to his family, and plugging me in on the job.”
She nodded, then asked, “You said that you need four grand?”
“Why? You plan on robbing a few liquor stores tonight?”
“Can you relax for a moment? Loosen your collar and listen to what I’m about to offer.”
I nodded. The alcohol had her humming, bouncing her leg, and smiling to herself.
She said, “Maybe I could float you that baby bankroll until the next job is done.”
“You have access to that kind of money?”
“Say the word and I’ll make a call and make it happen. Provided you agree to the interest.”
There was always a catch. I took a breath and asked, “How much interest?”
“I usually take forty or fifty percent, but I can do thirty this one time.”
“You’re the bank.”
“Yeah. I’m the bank.”
“Thirty percent is outrageous. You’re another predatory lender.”
“Look, I have a kid and I’m trying to increase my funds tenfold so I can fix my situation. Every dime helps. This job has left me with nothing but a headache, heartache, and a bad taste in my mouth. So, I’ll go out on a limb with my money and take a chance and loan you part of my nest egg, but only if it is lucrative for me and my kid in the short run.”
“It’s been a long day. Both of us are on edge. Let me sleep on it.”
“No, I need to know now. You have five minutes. Then the bank is closed.”
She went to the kitchen and poured a little more vodka. This time she opened the refrigerator and found a carton of orange juice, used it to cut the liquor. She sipped, then said, “Five minutes are up. Do you want to borrow four thousand or not?”
“Don’t want to, but have to.” My voice was harsh and just above a whisper, yet it filled the room. “Lower the interest rate and maybe we can make a deal. You have a kid, but I have to take care of a few things too. We all have lives, Jackie. I empathize with your child-custody issues, but your problems are not the center of my universe.”
“Thirty percent. Take it or leave it. Tomorrow, if you ask, it will be back at my usual rates.”
“I wasn’t trying to offend you, just wanted you to know that I have my own issues as well.”
“Thirty percent. That’s all we have to talk about right now. Thirty percent.”
I accepted her predatory interest rate and asked her how soon she could get me the money.
“In a few. Let me wash down your insults and insensitivity and calm my nerves.”
I walked away from her and stood in the window, my arms folded.
She said, “Riddle me this, Batman.”
“What?”
“You wear a wedding ring, but there isn’t a wife around. No text messages, no sneaking off to call and check in. Sammy told me that you and the wife aren’t together, that she left while you were doing
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