“What did you have in mind?”
“Fifty thousand dollars, half up front, the rest when the job is done.”
“I can manage forty, twenty now.”
“You’ll have to manage fi fty.”
Evan pretended to think it over for a few seconds, then he nodded. “All right,” he said, “but there are time constraints. I need it done tonight if possible.”
Manny looked at his watch. “That may be possible. If not, then tomorrow night.”
“No later than that,” Evan said. He took the envelope from the briefcase and removed three bundles of $10,000 each. He removed five thousand from one bundle, then slid the stack toward Manny.
“I don’t give receipts,” Manny said, raking the money into a desk drawer. “How can I reach you?”
Evan wrote down the number of his throwaway cell phone and handed it to him.
“I’m expecting a call from my man soon,” Manny said. “I’ll call you when I know. Here’s how we do the final payment: You and I will meet for a drink around the time of the work being done. When I get a call that it’s complete, you pay the rest.”
“How will I know he’s dead?” Evan asked.
“You can drive up there and take his pulse if you want to, but 2 6 0
L o i t e r i n g w i t h I n t e n t
you pay when I get the call. Wally will tell you that I don’t welsh on deals. Anything goes wrong, you get all your money back.”
“I’d rather be out of the state when it happens,” Evan said.
“We’ll be in a public place where I’m known. The waitress and the bartender will remember you, but not me. You’ll have a solid alibi.”
A cell phone rang, and Manny took it from a drawer. “Yeah?” He listened for a moment. “Good news.” He covered the phone and said to Evan, “It’s my guy,” then he continued. “What’s your ETA?” He listened some more. “Are you up for something good tonight? It’s a couple of hours north of here. The usual price. Good. Instead of my picking you up, rent a car. Call me when you’re on your way, and we’ll meet at that place we met last time, say four o’clock? I’ll have all the details and the first payment. See you then.” Manny hung up.
“He’s available tonight,” he said to Evan.
“Good.”
“You and I will meet at a restaurant called the Steak Shack. It’s on this street, about two blocks down.” Manny pointed.
“Good.”
“Seven-thirty and bring the rest of the money.”
“I’ll see you then,” Evan said. The two men shook hands, and Evan left.
Manny stood at the rear window and watched Evan get into a car and drive away, then he called Larry again.
“Yes?”
“Listen, the job is going to involve a boat.”
“I don’t do boats.”
“Put Gigi on.”
“Hello?”
“Listen, kiddo, I need your help for an important job tonight. It needs to be done from a boat, and Larry doesn’t mess with boats.”