Part 5 (1/2)
”Twenty bucks.”
”For just the burger?”
”Yep. Don't even ask how much they charge for the booze.”
”And then there's the tip.”
”Yep. But that's the best part. Oh, I hope I've got some cash.”
”Where do you put the tip?”
”Under the thong strap.”
”Men.” Rebecca shook her head. ”So predictable when it comes to s.e.x.”
”True.”
”Grabbing a hamburger with you kind of reminds me of when we used to go to Jackie's after home games.”
”Except Jackie was wearing clothes.”
Rebecca winced. ”Oh, great. I'll never get that image out of mind.”
”What image?” Gabby grinned.
”Of Jackie walking up to our table in a thong. How old was she? Ninety?”
”At least.”
Rebecca grimaced.
”You just pictured the b.o.o.bs, didn't you?”
”I'm changing the subject now.”
”Okay.”
”This is kinda fun, Gabby. But what can we hope to accomplish here? Our waitress is not going to tell us anything.”
”A guy named Joey Ketrousie runs the place for Big Bill. I hear he's from New York City. Maybe he's Mafia.”
”Oh, great.”
”Anyway, we'll find out if he knows what happened to Big Bill tonight. He wouldn't know yet, unless...”
”Unless he had something to do with it.”
”Right.”
Cotton Candy delivered their food and drinks.
”Wow, that was fast,” said Rebecca.
”Thank you, Ma'am,” said Cotton Candy.
Rebecca didn't appreciate being called Ma'am by the perky young thing.
After the waitress walked away, Rebecca leaned in. ”How are we going to talk to Joey? I mean, where is he? And even if you find him, how are we going to ask him about Big Bill without getting ourselves killed?”
”You mean capped, right? I love that cool gangster talk.”
”You won't love it so much when you're dead.”
”Gabby grabbed his burger with both hands, took a big bite, and began to chew. He stopped and contorted his face.
”What?”
He jumped up from the table and yelled, ”What the h.e.l.l kind of c.r.a.p is this?” He threw the burger on the floor.
”Oh, G.o.d.” Rebecca slumped down.
Cotton Candy ran over to Gabby, followed by two other waitresses. ”What's wrong, Sir?”
”How much was this so-called steak burger? Twenty bucks?”
”Yes, Sir.”
Gabby's face turned red with rage. ”Well the d.a.m.n thing's not worth fifty cents. h.e.l.l, it's not worth one cent.”
Cotton Candy said, ”I'm so sorry, Sir. Please let me get you another one that's cooked to your liking. Now if you'll have a seat-”
”-no. h.e.l.l, no. I want to speak to the owner of this joint. Right now.”
Throughout the room, half-chewed bites and half-spoken words awaited the resolution of the spectacle Gabby had created.
”Yes, Sir. Sure. Come with me.”
Gabby motioned for Rebecca to come too.
They followed Cotton Candy down several hallways to an empty office in the back.
”Please have a seat. Someone will be with you in a moment.”
”The owner,” Gabby insisted.
But Cotton Candy had already closed the door.