I was ready to get it over with, but I wasn’t going to rush.
I asked Arizona, “How’s the play going?”
“Losing money. This production has turned out to be a money pit.”
“Why don’t you shut it down?”
“Not yet. It’s a great way to clean up some dirty money.”
“You’re doing a lot. Got your hands in a lot of pots.”
“I want to work my way up the ladder and be Queen Scamz one day.”
“Credit cards. Ripping off the Internet. Sounds more like organized crime.”
“A fool is born every minute and there’s enough business for everybody.”
“Ambitious.”
“Would love for you to tag along. For personal reasons if nothing else.”
She tiptoed and kissed me. Her tongue got reacquainted with mine.
I thought about Panther.
Arizona said, “When I was naked in front of you, I wanted you to take it.”
“That’s what got Kobe in the situation he’s in now.”
“Baby, this ain’t Denver.” She laughed. “Was so wet for you.”
We kissed again.
She whispered, “Imagined your tongue moving inside me ... just ... like ... that.”
I wasn’t into her, not like I was the night we met. Was playing the role. I was doing like Panther did at her job. In the back of my mind I saw how she let men touch her, how she teased them with her real estate in order to get over. Ten dollars a song. Slow dance to heaven.
Arizona pulled away, held my hand, looked me in the eyes, her eyes dreamy, that cunning smile back on her lips, and asked me, “That package you have ... ?”
“Back to the money.”
“Yeah.”
“Told you I don’t like being played.”
She asked, “What are we going to do about Freeman?”
“The ball is already rolling.” I let her hand go. “I want a bigger cut.”
“Define a bigger cut.”
I said, “My crew gets fifty. Your team gets the same.”
“You’re insane. No deal.”
“Fifty percent.”
She laughed, still gloating from the work she had done.
I didn’t laugh. I told her, “So you get a dime, I get two nickels.”
“And if I get nothing?”
“I get half of that.”
She twisted her lips. “Fifty percent. Geesh.”
“My crew bumped it. Now it’s between you and Freeman.”
She ran her tongue over her bottom lip.
Time danced around us while I waited for her decision.
She said, “Guess we should look at the merchandise. Right, partner?”
I told her, “I’ll get the briefcase.”
Her lips went back up into that slick smile. “I already have it.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“Bummer.”
“Expected your valet guy to go through my car. I’m guessing that’s what you told him in Spanish. Figured that was why you wanted to take a stroll over to Pink‘s, to buy some time.”
“You’re thinking like a con man. I like that.”
I said, “One more thing.”
“Uh huh?”
“Let’s say I buy the bullshit you sold me about picking me at random, about looking at all the employees at Wolf’s company. That meant you could find me at work. Or home. But how did you know I’d be at Back Biters? That’s not on my resume or in my credit report.”
She chuckled, didn’t give up any answer. Kept that answer to herself.
I followed her around the corner. Her car was there. Another one of her workers was waiting for her. More Spanish words and he used the remote to open the trunk. Her trunk was filled with more high-end clothes, all sorts of designer dresses and shoes. Freeman’s silver briefcase was resting on top of it all. She checked the locks, then said more Spanish words. Her worker ran off, came back with a black bag, pulled out tools that would make any lock useless.
She asked, “In a hurry?”
I wasn’t. Nothing but trouble and death were waiting for me.
“Let’s inspect the merchandise.”
I nodded. Didn’t expect Arizona to let me raise up without an inspection. Didn’t want to leave before I knew what I had given her. I hadn’t opened it, not because of the lock, could’ve broke that myself, but I was scared of what might be inside. Or what might not be inside. Scared that what China Doll had grabbed might not be the real prize, but a briefcase loaded with those damn bobbleheads. The lock popped. I held my breath. Expected it to fly up and see a hundred little Freemans running for freedom, heads wobbling, images of the new black aesthetic with two books held high, the Moses of the book world.
The briefcase was sturdy and professional, designed especially for a laptop, lined with black protective foam. Had separate compartments for the power cord and other accessories.