He held his stomach and bowled over. “Fuckin’ too bad. She seemed like a cool chick. Do you have the money? I gotta go.”
“All right. Give me Candyman’s number. I’ll set something up.” He balked. “If you can’t do this one thing for me, then I’m done with you.”
He took out his phone. “I’ll call him. I’ll tell him I’ve got a shitload of money that I stole and want to buy three pounds of Asian smack. He’s got the good pure stuff, but the mixed stuff is the cheap shit that’s sold the most.”
“He’ll be able to tell you’re strung out. I’ll just make the call.”
“Let’s get this the fuck over with! He won’t meet you. He doesn’t know you from shit.”
She watched as he plugged in the number.
It was a quick call, and at the end of it he’d set up an appointment for that night to meet Candyman at the back of O’Riley’s Market on Fifth and Grape. “Just stay in the bushes where he can’t see you. You can get his fuckin’ license plates on his car or something. Now give me the forty bucks.”
She handed it to him. “I’ll meet you at seven. Please show up.”
“I will ’cause I’ll need more smack by then.” He ran out and slammed the door.
Sadness enveloped her as she stared at the door.It’s just a matter of time before I receive the same call Steel did. I don’t know what to do anymore.She wiped at the corners of her eyes and picked up her phone. Steel was going to come that night, and they’d planned to pick up some Mexican food and spend the night together. It would be her last night in her house. She’d lived there for several years, so the move was not without some anxiety and angst.
She wanted to tell him what was going on, but she hoped he wouldn’t overreact and want to take charge of the situation. She feared it would spook Nicholas to the point where she’d never hear from him. When Steel’s voicemail picked up, she remembered that he’d told her he was going for a long ride to the sacred mountains. She figured the reception probably wasn’t the best around there. Since Nicholas had made the arrangement for seven thirty that night, she’d be home in plenty of time to meet up with Steel at eight thirty.
She picked up another empty box and the tape dispenser, then headed into the bedroom to pack up her shoes, clothes, and accessories.
***
Nicholas was lessjittery when he came by her house that night at seven o’clock. She drove to the agreed place, parking a few blocks away.
“There’s a big tree that you can stand behind. That should cover you good. Do you have any money to give me for a hit? I’m gonna need that.”
“I have another forty. The money comes hard earned, Nicholas. You’re shooting up my tips, and my feet are hating you for it.”
He wiped his nose. “I’m just saying I’m gonna have to buy something, especially since I’m gonna have to tell him the money I stole was stolen from me when I was shooting up.”
She took out the bills and handed them to him. “That’s it. I’m dry for the week.”
He nodded and shoved the money in his jacket pocket.
When they arrived at the location, she spotted the big tree Nicholas had told her about. The trunk was enormous, and it could easily conceal her. She glanced at the time on her phone—7:20 p.m. “We better split up. He may come early. I’m going to go behind the tree,” she said in a hushed tone.
As the minutes ticked away, her skin prickled and the hairs on the nape of her neck rose. The wind had picked up a bit and it groaned through the trees as leaves swept across the pavement. It was so damn dark that the shadows of the buildings melted into blackness. She shuddered and yanked her jacket tighter around her.
“I don’t think he’s coming,” Nicholas said in a low voice.
“Let’s wait a little longer,” she whispered back.
Time passed slowly. Breanna stayed hidden within the darkness, feeling every beat of her heart pounding against her hand, her pulse throbbing in her ears. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached, and she held her breath. Nicholas looked up from his phone. Enshrouded in the shadows, she could only see the outline of the man’s form. He looked like a dark smudge against a slightly lighter background. She strained her ears to pick up the conversation.
“I didn’t think you were coming,” Nicholas said as he slid his phone in his jacket.
“You got the money? I wasn’t sure you were serious, but I’m a greedy bastard, so I thought I’d give you the benefit of the doubt.” The cackle of his laugh assaulted Breanna’s ears.
“Uh… yeah… about that. Some fucker robbed me when I was shooting up at the warehouse. I’ve been searching for him for the last couple of hours.” He scratched his neck.
Stay cool, Nicholas.
“What the fuck? I came over here for nothing? What fuckin’ game are you playing?”
“No game, honest. I only got forty bucks, but I do want to buy a bag.”
