The man nodded again.
“Take care,” Jack said with a wave. He walked out of the store and climbed into his truck. He wished that Tex had been a bit more talkative. Jack wasn’t sure if he would be calling Frazer Labs or not. But just as Jack was releasing the emergency brake he could see Tex through the window dialing his phone.
Pleased with himself, Jack drove several blocks down Broome Street, then circled the block. He parked about a half block from the pawn shop and turned off the motor. After locking the doors, he broke out the deli food. Whether he was hungry or not, he was going to make himself eat something.
“Are you sure we should be doing this?” BJ questioned.
“Yeah, man, I’m sure,” Twin said. He was maneuvering his Cadillac around Washington Square Park looking for someplace to park. It wasn’t looking good. The park was crammed full of people entertaining themselves in a bewildering variety of ways. There was skateboarding, in-line skating, Frisbee throwing, break dancing, chess playing, and drug dealing. Baby carriages dotted the park. It was a carnival-like atmosphere, which was exactly why Twin had suggested the park for the upcoming meeting.
“Shit, man, I feel naked without some kind of ordnance. It’s not right.”
“Shut your mouth, BJ, and look for a spot for this ride of mine,” Twin said. “This is going to be a meeting of the brothers. There’s no need for any firepower.”
What if they bring some?” BJ asked.
“Hey, man, don’t you trust nobody?” Twin asked. At that moment he saw a delivery van pulling away from the curb. “What do you know, we’re in luck.”
Twin expertly guided his car into the spot and pushed on the emergency brake.
“It says for commercial vehicles only,” BJ said. He had his face pressed up against the window to see the parking sign.
“With all the crack we’ve moved this year I think we qualify,” Twin said with a laugh. “Come on, get your black ass in gear.”
They got out of the car and crossed the street to enter the park. Twin checked his watch. They were a little early despite the trouble parking.
That was how Twin liked it for this kind of meeting. He wanted a chance to scope the place out. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the other brothers, it was just that he liked to be careful.
But Twin was in for a surprise. When his eyes swept the area for the agreed-upon meeting he found himself transfixed by the stare of one of the more physically imposing men he’d seen in some time. “Uh-oh,” Twin said under his breath.
“What’s the matter?” BJ demanded, instantly alert.
“The brothers have gotten here before us,” Twin said.
“What do you want me to do?” BJ asked. His own eyes raced around the park until they, too, settled on the same man Twin had spotted.
Nothing, Twin said. “Just keep walking.
“He looks so goddamn relaxed,” BJ said. “It makes me worried.”
“Shut up!” Twin commanded.
Twin walked right up to the man whose piercing eyes had never left his. Twin formed his right hand into the form of a gun, pointed at the man, and said: “Warren!”
“You got it,” Warren said. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad,” Twin said. He then ritualistically raised his right hand to head height. Warren did the same and they high-rived. It was a perfunctory gesture, akin to a couple of rival investment bankers shaking hands.
“This here’s David,” Warren said, motioning toward his companion.
“And this here’s BJ,” Twin said, mimicking Warren.
David and BJ eyed each other but didn’t move or speak.
“Listen, man,” Twin said. “Let me say one thing right off. We didn’t know the doc was living in your hood. I mean, maybe we should have known, but we didn’t think about it with him being white.”
“What kind of a relationship did you have with the doc?” Warren asked.
“Relationship?” Twin questioned. “We didn’t have no relationship.”
“How come you’ve been trying to ice him?” Warren asked.
“Just for some small change,” Twin said. “A white dude who lives down our way came to us and offered us some cash to warn the doc about something he was doing. Then, when the doc didn’t take our advice, the dude offered us more to take him out.”