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“Nothing like that, Carlo,” Herbie replied. “I’m here on bigger business.”
Carlo regarded him coolly. “A loan? Talk to Gino.”
“No, Carlo, I’m here to settle a large debt.”
“You don’t owe me, Herbie.”
“No, but a young man named Brennan does.”
“Fink?”
“Dink. There’s a difference.”
“So, what are you to do with it?”
“I’m the boy’s representative, and I’m here to settle his debt, as I’ve already mentioned.”
“Kid owes me two hundred and thirty K,” Carlo said, not bothering to consult a ledger. “You good for that?”
“I said ‘settle,’ Carlo, not get rolled.”
“With the vig, it’s two hundred and thirty K,” Carlo said.
“I propose that we settle the entire debt, including the vigorish, for two hundred even,” Herbie replied. He set the cheap plastic briefcase on the table. “It’s right here.”
“It’s two hundred and thirty K,” Carlo said, with conviction.
“Carlo, let me put this in the form of a proposition,” Herbie said. “I give you two hundred K right now, in clean Benjamins, and you agree never to take another bet from the Brennan kid and to forget his name.”
“From what I hear, his old man can afford two hundred and thirty K,” Carlo said.
“Carlo, his old man can buy and sell you before breakfast and not even dent his bank balance, but he’s a serious person, and he’s making you a serious offer. There is an alternative, though.”
“Yeah? What’s the alternative?”
“Use your imagination, Carlo. Imagine the NYPD, the FBI, and the IRS crawling over your life like an army of ants, while Dink’s old man files a civil suit against you that will take ten years and ten million in legal fees to settle. All these things can happen within twenty-four hours.”
Carlo took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m not an unreasonable man,” he said, placing a hand on the briefcase.
Herbie pulled the briefcase a little out of his reach, then produced a one-page document and pushed it across the table. “Sign this, and we’re done,” Herbie said.
“I don’t sign stuff,” Carlo said.
Herbie pulled the briefcase a little farther away.
“What’s it say?” Carlo asked, taking a pair of reading glasses from his shirt pocket. He began to read to himself while moving his lips.
“It says that you are accepting two hundred thousand dollars in payment of all gambling or any other debt owed you by Dink Brennan, and that you agree never to accept another bet from him or contact him ever again.”
“You expect me to admit to gambling in writing?”
“It’s the way people like Mr. Brennan do business, Carlo. Since the two of you are not acquainted, Mr. Brennan won’t take your word. Come on, what’s the harm? The paper will reside in his safe and will never see the light of day.” Herbie pushed the case back to where Carlo could reach it but did not let go of the handle.
Carlo sighed and signed the document, and Herbie released the briefcase, which vanished under the table.
“Never see the light of day, unless you violate the terms of the agreement,” Herbie said, standing. “Take care of yourself, Carlo.” Herbie turned and walked out, trailed by the Leahys, one of whom left La Boheme walking backward.
Herbie situated himself in the backseat of the Maybach. “Drop me at the Seagram Building, Willie,” he said, “and put the car back in the garage, if you will.”
