Part 23 (1/2)
She smiled, showing off those perfect teeth.
”That must have hurt,” I said.
”What? I do presses like that every-”
”The implants.”
”Are you serious? You go to sleep, you wake up with new ones. A couple of weeks on the painkillers, you're good to go.”
”I wasn't talking about-”
”How could you know that?”
”Know what? Look, you lost me a while back. I can't do this stuff.”
”Stuff?”
”Talk in...code, like.”
”Don't like dress-up, do you, Wilson? Okay, then, tell me how you could possibly know it did did hurt. A lot. Most of the time, it's just like I said...no big deal. But the job Albie paid for, they had to take the old ones out first. Those were over the muscle, not under, the way you're supposed to have it done. But I was just a kid that first time. And the pig who ran the club said I needed them if I wanted to work the front pole, make some hurt. A lot. Most of the time, it's just like I said...no big deal. But the job Albie paid for, they had to take the old ones out first. Those were over the muscle, not under, the way you're supposed to have it done. But I was just a kid that first time. And the pig who ran the club said I needed them if I wanted to work the front pole, make some real real money. money.
”It took me three months to pay off that bill. Five grand. Back then, I could've flown first-cla.s.s for that much cash, but I didn't know that. I was even grateful to that sleazeball for fronting me the money. He probably split the fee with the cutter. Then he let me work it all off. Five hundred a week. Plus points, which is why I had to do the whole three months.”
”I didn't know that. Any of that.”
”But you said said-”
”I was talking about your teeth. I know people, had that done. Not even their whole mouth, just a few. They said that that hurt, so I figured, you got a whole new set, it had to hurt even more.” hurt, so I figured, you got a whole new set, it had to hurt even more.”
”Maybe I just have good dental hygiene.”
”That keeps teeth white, maybe. But it can't make them perfect, like yours are.”
”So maybe I'm wearing dentures.”
”Like those things you take out at night? Not a chance.”
”I suppose you're sure about that, too?”
”Yeah, I am. You work too hard at...everything, I guess. You don't take shortcuts.”
”There wasn't one to take-my teeth were mostly rotted out, plus I had impacted wisdom teeth.... They had to come out anyway. So I guess I'm the one who should be saying I'm sorry, huh?”
”You don't have to say anything.”
And she didn't. Sat there without moving until I finished. Then I asked her, ”So can I borrow the Lincoln?”
”Now?”
”Yeah.”
She hopped off the countertop and walked past me. I could hear her rooting around in that big white handbag she'd been carrying when she came in. Taking a lot of time to find the keys. I would have bet serious money she was bending over. I didn't turn around.
When her heels started clicking, I s.h.i.+fted position so I could see her coming. She put down a photocopy of the Lincoln's registration and insurance card. And a letter signed by her saying I was using the car with her permission. The letter was on some fancy stationery, said she was an interior decorator. It was even notarized. And I had a Florida driver's license, too. With my picture on it.
”This is better better than perfect. Thanks.” than perfect. Thanks.”
”Hold on. First off, you understand that we're still in Leon County, but just barely?”
”Huh?”
”Ah, I mean, it's probably forty-five minutes to get into the parts of Tallaha.s.see you're looking for.”
”Okay, so how do I-?”
”See these b.u.t.tons on the key fob? The yellow one turns off the sensors at the front. Always. .h.i.t it before before you go between those stone pillars. The red one opens the garage door. It's pretty long-range-you don't have to be close for it to work. The door'll be open; you just drive in. Press the red one again and the door closes behind you.” you go between those stone pillars. The red one opens the garage door. It's pretty long-range-you don't have to be close for it to work. The door'll be open; you just drive in. Press the red one again and the door closes behind you.”
I nodded to tell her I got what she was saying.
”Good. Now take a look at this,” she said.
It was just a drawing of the dashboard, black-and-white except for one big green b.u.t.ton.
”You push that b.u.t.ton and this screen here”-she tapped where she wanted me to look-”lights up like a big map. There'll be a thick red arrow, like one of those 'You Are Here' signs at the mall. It's preset. So, no matter where you end up, just tap that b.u.t.ton again. All you have to do is follow the arrow, and you'll get right back here. You don't even have to look at it; there's a voice that'll tell you when to turn.”
”d.a.m.n!”
”In the trunk, there's a lot of athletic equipment. Used equipment, years old. I'm pretty sure there's a couple of baseball bats. One wood, one aluminum, if I remember right.”
”Okay.”
She handed me a black knife, the kind that you can open with your thumb. The top edge was all ridges, like a saw. ”In case you get a hangnail or something.”
”Thank you.”
She put her hands behind her back. It didn't look like she was showing off her chest that time; it looked like she wanted to make sure she didn't touch me.
The new shoes were as comfortable as if I'd been wearing them for years. Black lace-ups with a one-piece sole and heel. The chinos had a tongue-and-groove thing in front. The light-blue T-s.h.i.+rt felt like silk. The jacket was a darker blue, made of some kind of fiber that would breathe. It only came to my waist, so I tucked in the T-s.h.i.+rt.
I don't know much about cars, but I could tell the Lincoln had a real soft ride. I guess that's why everyone uses them for the baby limos you see all over New York. They're like cabs, only they don't have meters and you're not supposed to pick up pa.s.sengers from the street, only off calls.
Three hours later, I still hadn't even seen a place that looked right. I didn't want to try the strip clubs yet-I figured I could run names past Rena and she'd be able to tell me something about them. Not what went on inside or anything, just their price range. I couldn't see this Jessop going into a place where you'd look wrong without a suit and tie.
I tried four poolrooms, but they were more like singles bars than the kind of spot I could see this Jessop in. The tables were all different colors, waitresses walking around between them, everything lit up, music playing.
The last one, I figured maybe I'd stay around awhile, see if anyone came over to talk to me. I can shoot a little. Not great or anything, but I wouldn't embarra.s.s myself. If it cost me a few bucks to get some kind of lead, it'd be worth it.