Part 17 (1/2)
Calvin was under the hood of the GTO, installing a radiator hose, when he heard someone open the side door of his garage. ”It's about time.” He had been waiting all day for his money.
”Really? You've been expecting me?”
Calvin stood up and turned around. Three young Hispanic-looking men stared at him. Were they gang members or just some kids looking for trouble? ”Who are you?”
”My name is Larry. This is my brother, Darryl. And this is my other brother, Darryl.” He laughed. The Darryls didn't crack a smile.
”Oh, I get it. The Bob Newhart Show.”
”No, Man. Not the Bob Newhart Show. Just the plain Newhart Show. The one where he lived in that Vermont Inn. You're not much of a connoisseur of cla.s.sic TV, are you, Dude?”
Larry was clearly an American. He spoke English intelligently, and apparently grew up watching the TV Land Network. But the two Darryls didn't appear to know what the h.e.l.l he was saying. ”What can I do for you?”
”Wow, Man. You've got some fine automobiles in here. I love this GTO.” The three men walked around it, checking out the interior, the chrome, and the engine. One of the Darryls rubbed his hand across the smooth, s.h.i.+ny front fender.
”Please don't touch,” said Calvin. ”Do you have a car that needs work?”
”No,” said Larry. ”Why do you ask?”
”Well, if you don't have work for me, why are you here?”
”Because I'm thinking about buying a '69 Triumph Spitfire.”
”I don't work on foreign cars.”
”Why not? Are you prejudiced or something?”
”Prejudiced?”
”Yeah. You hate what you don't understand, Man.”
”I don't hate people from other countries. Is that what you're saying?”
”Yeah. For example, my two step-brothers here. I'm American. But they're Mexican. You hate them, don't you?”
”Of course not.”
”I don't believe you, Man.”
”Look, when you have an American car for me to work on, come by and I'll add you to my waiting list.”
”Oh, I see. I'm not good enough for your regular list. You'd put me on your stupid waiting list.”
”Everybody goes on the waiting list.”
”Yeah, I'll bet.”
”Okay, I've had enough talk. I've got to get back to work.” Calvin began tightening the screw on the hose clamp.
”Okay, Man. I get it. No hard feelings.”
One of the Darryls took a set of gloves out of his pocket and slipped them on. He picked up a large screwdriver from the workbench and walked up behind Calvin.
Larry said, ”So, have a good night, Sir.”
Calvin ignored him, hoping they would leave. He never saw the long, sharp screwdriver Darryl was holding above his back. And he had no chance to react when Darryl thrust it downward with both hands, into Calvin's back, through his heart, and out the front of his chest. As he fell forward, his forehead slammed into the edge of the exposed carburetor.
”I really wanted this car.” Larry looked at Calvin's lifeless body lying across the front of the car, blood dripping down the radiator and onto the concrete floor. ”But not anymore.”
CHAPTER 27 - Tuesday, 7:57 p.m.
Gabby studied Rebecca, as they sat in his car eating McDonald's ice cream sundaes and sipping coffee. She looked so vulnerable. He loved it when she let her guard down. To him, she was still the cute, innocent teenage girl he grew up with.
Was that why he had such a strong urge to kiss her cold, wet, ice cream lips? Or was it because of her topless act at Cafe Nue? Or the excitement of the danger they were in. Whatever the reason, he would resist. Gabby knew they could never be more than friends. And he was okay with that. He was just happy to have his best friend back in his life.
Rebecca's phone rang. She put it on speaker.
”Megan, are you okay?”
”No.”
Her voice sounded weak and hoa.r.s.e, as though she had been crying.
”What's the matter, Honey?”
”We went to Melvin's apartment and some man showed up and started yelling at him. And I think he hit him too. I was in the bathroom.”
”Did he hurt you?”
”No. I climbed out the bathroom window. But I don't know what happened to Melvin. Tell Gabby I'm sorry. I hope his uncle is okay.”
”I'm sure he's fine. Maybe a little roughed up. Don't worry.” She glanced at Gabby.
Gabby was very worried. He wished he hadn't put his uncle's life in jeopardy.
”Where are you right now?”
”I don't know exactly. I'm outside some coffee shop.”
”Okay. I'm going to buy you an airline ticket to Dallas. Do you have enough money for a taxi to JFK?”
”Yes.”