“Off somewhere with the big dude, the exterminator.” Creem walked in and closed the door, extending his arm, his sleeve rolled back to his thick elbow. A square pad bandage was adhered to his forearm. “I got this cut I need you to look at. I saw the Mex’s boy there, Joaquin. He’s downright fucked. I need this checked out.”
“Uh, sure.” Eph tried to clear his head. “Let’s see.”
Creem came forward, Eph digging a flashlight out of his pack, taking the man’s wide forearm in hand.
His skin color looked good under the bright beam.
“Peel it back for me,” said Eph.
Creem did, his sausage-thick fingers adorned with silver bling. The bandage pulled off wiry black hairs, but the man didn’t flinch.
Eph shone his flashlight down over the revealed flesh. No cut or abrasion.
“I don’t see anything,” said Eph.
Creem said, “That’s because there’s nothing to see.”
He pulled his arm back, standing there, looking at Eph. Waiting for Eph to figure it out.
Creem said, “The Master said I was to reach out to you in private.”
Eph nearly jumped backward. The flashlight fell from his hands, rolling to his foot. Eph picked it up, fumbling with it to turn off the beam.
The gang leader smiled silverly.
“It’s you?” said Eph.
“And you?” said Creem. “Didn’t make no sense.” Creem looked back at the closed door before continuing. “Listen, homeboy. You gotta be more present, you know? Gotta speak up more, play the part. You’re not working it hard enough.”
Eph barely heard him. “How long … ?”
“The Master came to me not too long ago. Fucking mowed down the rest of my crew. But I can respect that. This is the Master’s block now, you know?” A silver snap of his fingers. “But it spared me. The Master had other plans. Made me an offer—the same one I made you people.”
“Turn us in … for Manhattan?”
“Well, for a piece. A little black market, some sex trade, gambling. Said it would help keep people distracted and in line.”
“So this … this detonator … it’s all a lie.”
“Naw, that’s real. I was just supposed to infiltrate you people. It was Gus who came to me with the request.”
“What about the book?”
“That silver book you’re always whispering about? The Master didn’t say. That’s what you’re giving him?”
Eph had to play along here. So he nodded.
“You’re the last one I woulda thought. But hey—those others are soon gonna wish they’d made a deal before us.”
Creem smiled silverly again. His metallic expression sickened Eph.
Eph said, “You really think it’ll honor its deal with you?”
Creem made a face. “Why wouldn’t it? You expect it to honor yours?”
“I don’t even know about that.”
“You think it’ll fuck us?” Creem was getting angry. “Why? What are you getting outta this? Better not say this city.”