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Jimmy, not about to ask for the specifics of what Maury considered the scent of carnal activity to be, replied eagerly, “But I did! And, wow. Little intense. Okay, like, really intense, but he’s gonna do it. He’s really gonna let me do it, he’ll let me work off the debt.”

Maury actually looked relieved, and he patted Jimmy’s cheek. “That’s good, kid. Real good. Sees, I told you!” He grabbed the fork from the plate, helping himself to the pancakes. “I’m a fuckin’ genius.”

Jimmy laughed. “It’s so freakin’ crazy, Maury. Thank you. It took some, well, some negotiating, but we made a deal. It’s gonna take like a month, but I will be able to pay back everything I owe. You see, he and Jules Price actually came to my apartment yesterday.”

“Ah fuck.” Maury grunted. “Hey, I didn’t tell thems where you lived. Cold got that on his own. He’ll find out everything about you, you know.”

Jimmy shrugged. “Yeah? He’ll be disappointed. My life isn’t exactly that great. Pretty lame actually. But… things are looking up.” He reached into his wallet to show Maury the cash.

“Holy fuck.” Maury gasped, scowled, and promptly popped Jimmy on the forehead with the fork. “What are ya, crazy? Don’t be flashin’ that around, kid. You’ll get your stupid ass robbed in this damn neighborhood.”

“Ow!” Jimmy shoved his wallet back in his pocket. “Sorry!”

“Don’t be sorry, just don’t be stupid.” Maury grabbed another bite of the pancakes. “So. Tell me. What’s the terms of this little deal?”

“Ten grand a night.” Jimmy breathed out each word, still in a bit of disbelief over the figure. He swatted at Maury’s hand and snatched a piece of pancake before he could eat it all.

“Ten fuckin’ grand!” Maury said through a mouthful. “Holy fuck, kid. Nice work. Cold musta wanted that ass of yours pretty bad.”

Jimmy chuckled. “Well, I am pretty irresistible, Maury.”

“I resist you just fine. Just be careful. Don’t be gettin’ all big-headed and shit. Remember what this is.”

“I know, Maury.”

“Are ya sure?” Maury did not look convinced. “I know you, kid. You get your dick and your heart mixed up mighty quick. This ain’t a love story. It’s you trying to survive and doin’ what you gotta do.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jimmy sighed, gazing at the floor. He remembered the faint warmth of a hand on his arm, quickly chalking it up to a dream again. He couldn’t help but feel oddly disappointed. “I know.”

“Don’t forget it,” Maury warned through another bite of food.

Jimmy gave a thumbs-up, snagging one of the strawberries.

“When you gonna see him again?” Maury asked.

“Tonight,” Jimmy said, unable to stop himself from grinning. “I’m gonna go get my rent settled up, try to look for a job—”

“Cold just gave you a job,” Maury protested, battling Jimmy for the last piece of pancake.

“Yeah, but—ow, hey!” Jimmy shooed Maury’s fork away and got a playful jab for his efforts, but he still managed to triumphantly steal the last bite. “That money is just, like, subtracted from what I owe him. He said that there might also be bonuses? Like if I do a really good job or something, but that gets taken from my debt too. I think.”

“Then what the fuck is that in your pocket?”

“He said it was a tip,” Jimmy replied. “But I can’t count on that. I don’t know if he’s gonna be feeling that generous all the time.”

“Well, just make sure you do whatever you did last night, boom.”

Jimmy’s smile turned shy. “Come on, Maury, I need a real job. I’m not always gonna be whoring myself out to Boss Cold.”

“Fine.” Maury groaned. “Look, there’s a couple of places that might be willing to hire your skinny ass. There’s a new restaurant, Ingrid’s. They’re lookin’ for a—”

The store door opened, the bell ringing loudly as someone walked in. Maury’s smile dropped, and his eyes narrowed as he glared over Jimmy’s shoulder. “What the fuck do you want?”

Jimmy’s stomach lurched to see such a hateful look on his friend’s face, and he whirled around to see who could have summoned such wrath. His breath got stuck in his throat, and he felt sick as soon as he saw him.

Detective Augustus Duplin.

This was the kind man who had adopted him after his father went to prison for his mother’s murder, the loving man who had tried to raise him as his son and take care of him.