types under the cover of doing legal work for the movement with this Kornecki person.
Kelly nodded slowly, in a way that mimicked deep thought. Of course there was no thinking going on, but Jarkey understood that Kelly’s act was a demonstration of respect for all his hard work. “I like it, Jark. Not what I expected, but I like it. It hangs together, doesn’t it?”
“Given the facts, I don’t see a more plausible story.”
“It’s gonna blow the old man’s mind, that’s for sure. If I tell him.”
“Kelly, for crissakes, you’re getting paid to tell him.”
“I’m not getting paid to blow the cover of a couple of federal agents.”
“Well, it’s your call.” By this time Jarkey was double-parked in front of Sammy’s.
“Join me for dinner?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve got some other stuff to wrap up.”
Though he was fond of Norbert, the scene at Sammy’s was too lushed out for his tastes, and he knew that Kelly’s “dinner” would involve a dozen whiskeys. He drove back to Bank Street, parked the car in its usual spot, then walked over to a Greek diner on Hudson for a burger and more coffee.
He was feeling good about the job and about himself.One more day of surveillance, just to put the lid on it, then the case would be done. Once Gloria’s old man found out what she was up to, he’d back off. It was such a neat package that Kelly might even find himself in a bonus situation. They’d get paid and nobody would get hurt.
It started to rain while Jarkey ate. Umbrellas came out. He put his Daily News over his head and walked fast back to Kelly’s car. As he approached it he saw someone leaning against the front fender. A woman. Hooker, but maybe not. He didn’t see anyone suspicious among the random passersby, but that didn’t make him any less concerned. He thought about going back for another coffee, waiting until she moved along. Then he realized, to his horror, that she was making eye contact. He drifted to the far edge of the sidewalk, hiding under his newspaper.
“Hey! Don’t forget your car.”
His head jerked around involuntarily and he looked at the woman. It was Gloria. She’d made him. His shoulders slumped. He stopped and squinted at her through his glasses.
“You talking to me?” He’d fucked it up. The whole deal was ruined now. She’d run to her father and a week of work would go down the drain.
She pushed herself off the fender and faced him, calm and erect, tan raincoat cinched tight around the waist, hair tied back, red scarf.“Aren’t you the gentleman who’s been following us around this week?”
The way she phrased it made him feel foolish. Who followed people around, anyway? Losers like Kelly, that was who. “Lady, I’m just a working man.”
It was worse now that he could see her face. Composed, unafraid. “Sitting in that car all day? I mean, really . . .” Moving toward him. “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell.”
She was making fun of him. He glared at her, shamed and indignant. “Tell who?”
She cocked her head. “Give me a break.”
She was actually quite pretty. Very relaxed, a hint of mirth about her, as if the whole thing were some kind of joke. He realized belatedly that Gallagher and his pals could materialize at any moment and make a mess of him. But that did not happen. This was more than a confrontation. Something else was going on. He took a chance at an explanation and blurted, “I’m just the guy that got hired by the guy . . .”
It wasn’t coming out right but she got it. She chuckled, surprisingly deep, up from the chest. “Give me a minute with that one.”
He was smiling now, despite himself. She was head-tripping him. But it felt better than being beaten up. “What do you want?”
“A little information, that’s all.”
“I’m having trouble with the ‘that’s all’ part.”
“Fair enough.”She turned to the passenger door and motioned him to the driver’s side. “Let’s get out of the rain. Then you can tell me whom
Kelly nodded slowly, in a way that mimicked deep thought. Of course there was no thinking going on, but Jarkey understood that Kelly’s act was a demonstration of respect for all his hard work. “I like it, Jark. Not what I expected, but I like it. It hangs together, doesn’t it?”
“Given the facts, I don’t see a more plausible story.”
“It’s gonna blow the old man’s mind, that’s for sure. If I tell him.”
“Kelly, for crissakes, you’re getting paid to tell him.”
“I’m not getting paid to blow the cover of a couple of federal agents.”
“Well, it’s your call.” By this time Jarkey was double-parked in front of Sammy’s.
“Join me for dinner?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve got some other stuff to wrap up.”
Though he was fond of Norbert, the scene at Sammy’s was too lushed out for his tastes, and he knew that Kelly’s “dinner” would involve a dozen whiskeys. He drove back to Bank Street, parked the car in its usual spot, then walked over to a Greek diner on Hudson for a burger and more coffee.
He was feeling good about the job and about himself.One more day of surveillance, just to put the lid on it, then the case would be done. Once Gloria’s old man found out what she was up to, he’d back off. It was such a neat package that Kelly might even find himself in a bonus situation. They’d get paid and nobody would get hurt.
It started to rain while Jarkey ate. Umbrellas came out. He put his Daily News over his head and walked fast back to Kelly’s car. As he approached it he saw someone leaning against the front fender. A woman. Hooker, but maybe not. He didn’t see anyone suspicious among the random passersby, but that didn’t make him any less concerned. He thought about going back for another coffee, waiting until she moved along. Then he realized, to his horror, that she was making eye contact. He drifted to the far edge of the sidewalk, hiding under his newspaper.
“Hey! Don’t forget your car.”
His head jerked around involuntarily and he looked at the woman. It was Gloria. She’d made him. His shoulders slumped. He stopped and squinted at her through his glasses.
“You talking to me?” He’d fucked it up. The whole deal was ruined now. She’d run to her father and a week of work would go down the drain.
She pushed herself off the fender and faced him, calm and erect, tan raincoat cinched tight around the waist, hair tied back, red scarf.“Aren’t you the gentleman who’s been following us around this week?”
The way she phrased it made him feel foolish. Who followed people around, anyway? Losers like Kelly, that was who. “Lady, I’m just a working man.”
It was worse now that he could see her face. Composed, unafraid. “Sitting in that car all day? I mean, really . . .” Moving toward him. “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell.”
She was making fun of him. He glared at her, shamed and indignant. “Tell who?”
She cocked her head. “Give me a break.”
She was actually quite pretty. Very relaxed, a hint of mirth about her, as if the whole thing were some kind of joke. He realized belatedly that Gallagher and his pals could materialize at any moment and make a mess of him. But that did not happen. This was more than a confrontation. Something else was going on. He took a chance at an explanation and blurted, “I’m just the guy that got hired by the guy . . .”
It wasn’t coming out right but she got it. She chuckled, surprisingly deep, up from the chest. “Give me a minute with that one.”
He was smiling now, despite himself. She was head-tripping him. But it felt better than being beaten up. “What do you want?”
“A little information, that’s all.”
“I’m having trouble with the ‘that’s all’ part.”
“Fair enough.”She turned to the passenger door and motioned him to the driver’s side. “Let’s get out of the rain. Then you can tell me whom
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