Nothing by Barry Crowther Read Free Book Online Page A

turns back to me. Dallas has a smirk. I don't.
    Get some fucking clothes on and grow a pair.
    Largo picks up the beach ball. I say.
    I'll take that.
    I take the ball. Largo walks between me and Dallas. He pads wet feet marks out on to the Travetine tile. I shove the ball under my armpit and tell Dallas.
    This torture routine you have out here. It's a little different where I come from.
    I flip off the right canvas shoe again. I had bought them from a surf shop near the morgue. I present my missing toe.
    Dallas nods in appreciation.
    Nice work.
    I put the shoe back on.
    Can we cut the shit now. Where's Yama?
    I'll take you right to him.
    I follow Dallas again. I keep the ball lodged in place under my arm. It is red, yellow, green, white and blue. It has a new fresh plastic smell that assaults my nostrils.
    As we pass back again through the Jappo businessmen, they are still in heated conversation. I fist the ball into the face of the one talking the most. It bounces away frantically in diabolical directions. He yells some shit in Japanese and waves his arms around. I allow myself a smile, Dallas laughs.
    We walk a long way. The official tour. By the time I arrive to meet Yama, Largo is dressed as he was last night when he got picked up. His shirt had been cleaned and pressed.
    I wink at him and say.
    That's more like it.
    Yama is in the sunken pit again. Cushions, pillows and pampering surround him. 2 women dressed as Geisha are manicuring each hand. He spits something in Japanese, they get up and leave his hands. It's amusing to watch the women as they try to shuffle backwards though pillows with wooden shoes on. One finally gives up and under her breath says fuck this shit and pulls the wooden shoes off stalking through the pillows until she reached the steps ascending to our level. Largo reaches forward and assists her to safety.
    Yama still has that fucking stupid grin slapped across his face.
    I tell him.
    Okay, so you have my full attention. But only since you subjected my associate to the hell of water sports ... with babes. So what gives, you fat fuck?
    The smile drops.
    I look around and admire the space. That's what affluent people have: Space. All around they create space. It's not enough to have a large home, one that makes a statement. It needs to be so big that even when installed with furniture there are great vast canyons between people and objects. Huge expanses in just one area allow these degenerate overpaid pricks room to maneuver. Yama's sunken lounge was a sea of colored comfort but still too large. Too large for one man.
    He points with a stabbing finger at the couch I had sat on yesterday. I waded into the waves of fabric and slouched onto the couch. Largo followed me. Dallas followed him.
    Yama speaks.
    Santana is dead yet you still remain in California.
    Not for long.
    You are familiar with Leonardo Da Vinci?
    Of course.
    He said that if a bird flaps it's wings and lands in a tree the world has changed.
    He's probably right.
    He is. He is. You have flapped your wings. Here and now the world is different. This is not a favorable position for me.
    How's that?
    Santana was a good person for this family. He made plenty of money. Good earner.
    He was a murderous pedophile fuck and I don't give a shit how much money that equates to.
    But the world has changed. Michael Cappaletti has given instructions to make the world right again. He mentioned a tale of New Jersey.
    New Jersey has fuck nothing to do with Mike or You.
    It does. It does and may work out to my advantage and yours and Michael's if you help with the little favor I requested.
    Fuck you.
    That is well and good, will you say the same to Mikey when you return?
    I don't say another word. I let him sit there and look at me with his weird face. Non-committal. No risk. Yama repeats.
    Do as I ask, my small favor.
    And if I don't?
    Then Michael does not want you back in Chicago.
    Mikey said that?
    You can call him if you wish. Please use my phone.
    I've