Part 11 (1/2)

”Where'd you hear that?”

”What difference does it make? You don't believe it noways.”

”That's right, I don't!”

”Good! So let's get down to business. First, you owe me, and I intend to collect on that debt.”

”I still got the money. I can go get it.”

”I'm sure you can, but I ain't that dumb. I let you go now, I'm gonna have to come looking for you all over again, and I don't got time for that. Now, I also believe there's some interest due. And last, there's a little matter of loyalty-it don't look good for business if I let someone get away with what you did, understand?”

Only too well, Joshua thought. ”So, what are you gonna do?”

”What am I gonna do?” he mimicked. ”I ain't gonna do nothing. Fact is, I already done it.” More laughing. ”You see, Peanut, my man, I know where your little girlfriend is. Like I said, I know everything. Get my meaning?”

Joshua knew Big Bob wanted more than to simply kick the s.h.i.+t out of him. ”Where is she?” he asked.

”She's safe, for now,” Big Bob answered, as he looked out the alley, across the street toward the hookers. He turned back to Joshua with another wicked smile.

One day I'm going to kill you, Joshua thought; ”What do you want?” he said.

”You sure you wanna do business? You know, that girl is a lot safer with me than with her daddy. At least with us, she makes good money for doing that sort of thing.”

Bones laughed hard.

”What do you want?” Joshua repeated. He tried to stay calm, despite what he'd heard about Celeste's father.

”Looks like the boy wants to do business,” Big Bob said to Bones.

”Seem so,” Bones replied.

Big Bob was pensive for a moment. ”This here's what I want from you. Listen now, so there ain't no misunderstanding!” He looked at Bones who nodded and echoed, ”No misunderstanding!”

”First,” Big Bob began, ”I want my five hundred dollars. Second, I want an additional five hundred dollars interest...”

”But I ain't got...”

”Don't interrupt me, boy!” He looked at Bones. ”I think we might have to teach the boy some manners.”

Bones nodded again.

”Now, where was I?” Big Bob mused. ”Ah yes, the third thing-your disloyalty. There are many ways to make you pay for that.” He stuck his face in Joshua's, and pressed his forefinger into Joshua's chest. ”Many ways,” he repeated. ”But I'm in a generous mood tonight, so I think I'll just tack on another five hundred dollars.”

Joshua's face burned.

”Yes, another five,” Big Bob said again. ”What's that come to?” he asked, looking at Bones.

”One Thou-sand Five Hun-dred Dollars,” Bones proclaimed.

”That sounds about right,” Big Bob confirmed.

”Where do you expect me to get that kind of money?” Joshua asked.

”I hear your Mama has a rich boss, the same boss your girlfriend's daddy has. I also heard this man once paid a lot of money to get you out of trouble with the police. He'll pay again to get you out of this.”

”What if he won't?” Joshua asked.

”If he don't,” Big Bob said, leaning in to Joshua's face, ”then your little girlfriend's gonna have to work it off in trade! Get my meaning?”

Loud and clear, Joshua thought.

”Now, you get going and round up the money. You got twenty-four hours, not a minute more. Tomorrow night, at this time, I want you to walk up and down the sidewalk. I'll find you. Any cops or surprises, deal's off, and the girl stays with me.” He looked at Bones, adding, ”That wouldn't be so bad, she's a nice looking thing.”

It was close to one in the morning when Joshua entered the front door of his building. He had been dwelling on Big Bob's a.s.sertions about Celeste and her father, which made some sense in light of Celeste's recent behavior. He walked through the lobby, and took the stairs to the bas.e.m.e.nt. He came to the Williams' door, rang the bell, and waited.

Through the s.p.a.ce under the door he could see that the lights were on, and figured they were still awake, waiting for news about Celeste. The door opened and Mr. Williams' face appeared.

Williams, who had probably been expecting the police or even Celeste herself, appeared shocked. He instinctively grabbed Joshua by the s.h.i.+rt, pulled him inside, and threw him across the room. Joshua knocked over a lamp and some other ornaments, landing hard on the wooden floor. The lamp came down on his head and fell to his side.

”What's going on?” Mrs. Williams yelled, running from the kitchen. She saw Joshua on the floor, and was about to help him.

”Stay where you are!” Williams demanded. ”I'm gonna teach this boy a lesson.”

Joshua was lying face-down; the room was spinning; he felt nauseous. He vaguely heard a woman yelling, ”No, No!” but it was hard to hear anything above the ringing in his ears. Through blurred vision, he was barely able to see Williams come at him a second time. He tried to get up, but couldn't.

Williams lunged through the air. Joshua managed to turn on his side to avoid getting crushed, causing Williams to also land on the floor. Joshua saw that the impact had weakened Williams, and tried once more to hoist himself up. But Williams' arm reached out and held him down, though the man's face was also on the floor.

Joshua saw the solid bra.s.s base of the broken lamp about two feet from his eyes. He reached and grabbed hold of it, feeling it was heavy enough to be useful. Without hesitation, he swung it with all his strength and smashed it into the back of Williams' head. Williams' hold loosened, then went limp.

Joshua pulled away.

Williams wasn't moving.

Joshua figured Williams was unconscious, and was about to drop the lamp. But he couldn't, he had to make sure that Williams would never again bother Celeste. He had to finish the job. All he knew was madness as he raised the lamp and delivered the final blow.

CHAPTER 16.

Rachel Weissman and Esther Mandlebaum tried to be inconspicuous as they stood across the street from the main entrance of the Kingsbrook Jewish Hospital. They'd been waiting several hours, and Esther was growing impatient. ”Just a few more minutes,” Rachel pleaded, ”I'm sure she'll be coming out soon.”

Rachel was referring to Doctor Marcia Schiffman, the wondrous young resident Rachel saw as possessing all the things she wanted for herself. Over the past few months, Rachel had replayed her encounter with Doctor Schiffman for Esther ad nauseam until, finally, Esther had agreed to see for herself what the big deal was. Of course, Esther thought Rachel was crazy, these plans of becoming a doctor and all, but figured that she should at least humor her friend. After all, Esther had crazy dreams of her own.

”Look! There she is,” Rachel exclaimed as Doctor Schiffman emerged from the hospital. ”Wait! Stand over here, or she'll see us!” It was too late; the girls had done a poor job at hiding, and Doctor Schiffman happened to be looking their way. Rachel was nervous, but figured the doctor wouldn't recognize her; it was so long ago.

But Marcia Schiffman's face lit up when she saw Rachel. It was hard for her to forget the young Hasidic girl who showed so much interest. Rachel saw Schiffman's smile from across the street, and felt embarra.s.sed.