Manny sauntered down the street towards Taylor’s apartment. The sun was out, the day not yet stifling hot, and his spirits were high. He gazed through the windows of the shops as he passed: there, he leered at a sexy young woman as she slipped a stiletto onto a foot and twisted her ankle to admire the design; there, he spied a florist preparing a wreath. Manny fought an urge to go in and beat the guy about a little. For no particular reason, he took an instant dislike to the man, flaccid and weak looking as he was. Manny forced himself to move on, and saw a transaction between a couple of young men in a fashion store. He regarded them with indifference. In the next shop someone was buying candy; and in the one beyond that someone shopped for dog food. As he walked, the crowd got busier as people went about their business, whatever it was, and for once Manny was pleased for them. Let them do whatever shit they want, he thought. He didn’t care. Soon his plans would come to their conclusion.
He paused in front of a hairdressers, peered through its window at the staff but made no comment to himself on their respective good looks. His mind had switched to Taylor. One second, he pictured her back beside him where she belonged. He was the complete package with her at his side: he was the attractive, musclebound hard man with the sexy girlfriend. With Taylor beside him, he was a man capable of anything. She made him look good. She made him employable. On the other hand, she had fucked that cop, that Smail. Even though she denied it, he knew it was true. That was a knife in his heart. That was a betrayal that was unforgivable. His fists clenched; his eyes closed to slits. He still didn’t know what he wanted to do to her but he had to figure it out soon.
For now, he dawdled, savouring Taylor’s proximity in the knowledge she was unaware how close he was. He moved next to the door of a bakers where someone was buying bagels and coffee, and found himself shoulder to shoulder with another man. The man inhaled the warm, yeasty odour deeply, and sighed. ‘Hmmm… You can almost taste them, can’t ya? All that warm fresh dough. Their brewing coffee too. Can you smell that? Man, it’s good. The perfect combination. God’s own food.’
Manny glanced at him. The guy was familiar, almost, but then lots of fellas were. Manny tried not to get upset by the intrusion, but the guy was intent on blotting Manny’s day. ‘I could go an espresso.’ He breathed in again. ‘Hmmm… Yes, that aroma…’ He wafted his hand towards his face, then paused to regard Manny as if he’d only now got the time to study him properly. ‘Say, ain’t you Emmanuel Vasquez?’
‘Only to my mother…’
The man patted him on the back, a firm, jovial slap. ‘That’s funny. That’s very funny. Manny, then. It is you, ain’t it?’
This was how they worked, the gangs. They’d send someone out to him, all innocuous, feign a chance encounter, set up a job or two. He squinted at the man, trying to recall where he’d met him before.
‘Last I was told you were inside?’
This one wasn’t wasting time. ‘You were told wrong. I’m a free man now. What do ya want?’
The man’s hand was flat against Manny’s back now, not patting but held there companionably. It was a puny hand at the end of a weak arm. Manny considered spinning around and snapping the appendage in two, but he’d only attract attention and he didn’t want that. ‘Just tell me how that lady friend of yours is. What’s her name again? Tanya? Trisha? No… Taylor! That’s her name. How is she?’
‘What the fuck do you want?’ The man’s manner, it was familiar. They’d met before about a job. Some time ago. ‘Vinnie?’
The man laughed. It was high-pitched, thin, unpleasant. ‘You’ve got me. Yeah. You’ve got me. Been a long time, hasn’t it?’
Manny nodded. ‘Yeah. A while. Are you still sweet with Grapelli’s lot?’
‘Very sweet. Yes. Very sweet. Mr Grapelli is a generous guy. Very generous. But you don’t need me to tell you that. You’ve done jobs for him before and well, you have the receipts. He pays well, don’t he? As it happens, he’s got some prime pieces of work available for you. Good payers, both of them We figured you might be light in employment given you’re just out on the street and would appreciate the help of some lucrative employment.’
It was true, he did need work. But he wanted to deal with Taylor first. ‘I’m not interested.’
‘Of course, you are. These are easy jobs. Won’t take any time at all, especially for a man of your talents… and Mr Grapelli will pay you well. More than well. What do ya say? It will ease you back into the way of it.’
Manny gazed up the street towards Taylor’s apartment. He’d be finished with her in an hour or so, he guessed. On reflection, perhaps it was good luck that Vinnie was putting work in his lap. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’m interested. Give me the details.’
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