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“Leo, you look thirsty. I come bearing gifts.” He deftly trades my empty glass for a full one.
“Thanks.” I squeeze the glass tight in my grip.
“This is my daughter, Hope.”
I belatedly notice a small girl standing behind Sterling’s left elbow. She’s wearing black and sort of blends in with the dark background. These parties have one thing in common with my fighting gigs—they all have shit lighting. The restaurant we were at the other night was lit by candles on the table. I could barely see what meat was on my plate. Or maybe that was because of the small portion size.
“Nice to meet you.” I switch the glass from my right hand to my left. She silently holds out her fingers. I don’t know if I’m supposed to shake her hand or kiss it, but I do the former because, well, I’m not into kissing hands unlike they’re Tinsley’s.
“Tinsley says you have been a big help to her in considering this project.”
“I’ve only given a few suggestions.”
“What kind?”
Howard Sterling seems genuine, and from everything I’ve read in his proposals, sincere in his desire to help people. His background is murky. I told Tinsley I feel like we should be able to trace Howard Sterling’s career back to his preschool days given the amount of money he was asking for, and she replied, “okay,” and gave that assignment to Edwards, who outsourced it to some security company.
That felt wild to me. Tinsley didn’t think my suggestion was dumb or funny. She took it seriously and made it happen. I don’t know that anyone has ever listened to me before without my fist in their face.
“Housing and food scarcity are the two biggest obstacles underprivileged people have. You can’t show up for a job interview if you don’t have an opportunity to shower and shave. If you don’t have food, you can’t think about anything but where your next meal is coming from, so all the job training in the world doesn’t do any good unless you have food on your table.”
Sterling nods. “Exactly. You get it. A lot of people want to focus on painting the walls and adding the knickknacks, but you have to build a strong foundation first.”
“I guess my only question is why it’s costing so much money. You’d think these proposals could be done with half the money.”
I feel a small hand slip into mine, and I look down to see that Tinsley has snuck back without me noticing. Sterling had been occupying my attention.
“Unfortunately, all of these things are costly. Twenty million barely scratches the surface here, especially with the state of real estate these days. I would never ask for more than we need at New Arch.”
He sounds like a televangelist. Has the white teeth of those guys, too.
“It’s nice to see you, Howard and Hope, but I’m going to steal Leo here. Dame Reginald wants to meet him.” Tinsley nods her head toward the two Sterlings and then tugs me in the opposite direction.
“Who’s Dame Reginald?” I ask quietly, wanting to be prepared.
“No one. I just wanted you to myself.” Tinsley grins.
I pull her into my arms. “That’s a dangerous thing to say. I’m ready to blow this joint whenever you are.”
“I need to say hello to one more person, and then we can go.”
I try not to look too disappointed, but I must fail because Tinsley laughs lightly. “Someone you’ll be interested in,” she assures me. “It’s someone who knew Howard when he was in high school.”
That does interest me. “Lead the way.”
Tinsley is about to move when a wave of perfume and two girls in slinky dresses appear in front of us. “Tinsley, I heard you got married to a dock worker,” says the first one.
“Who fights,” adds the second.
“Are you going to share him with us or is there a fee?” The first girl pops open a small, jeweled case that is her purse, I guess, although the thing is so small she can’t fit much in it but what looks to be two bottles of pills. She takes one out and holds it out to Tinsley. “A trade?” She suggests. “It’s heroin in tablet form, and it makes you feel so good.”
“I’m not into that but thanks.” Tinsley’s smile has dried up. Her hand feels stiff and cold in mine.
The second girl muscles the first one out of the way. “I told you Tinsley is too straight for that. Look, honey, it appears you want to pour some money into dear Howard’s little pet project for the poor. I had no idea you were so into philanthropy, but looking at this piece of meat, I can see why that interests you. This one looks like he’ll do about anything you ask him, and I’ve got a few special requests. I’ll donate to Howard’s fund, too, for one night with your stud. What do you say?”
