docilely, just waiting. If Lenny said kill... theyâd kill. Right now he said to stand. So they stood.
One was a TV western type, tiny-hipped and over-broad at the shoulders where his jacket was cut to carry a rod. The other was as average as a person can get. I nodded to them both and in order said, âHarold ... Al. Good to see you.â
Only Al, the average one, flicked. I said. âYour buddyâs a Q and Dannemora grad, Al. Lousy partner.â
Lenny Sobelâs hand touched my shoulder. âYou know my associates?â
âSure. Great guys. Alâs the smart one, though, and you got to watch him. Not a rap to his name and looking to go places.â
The hood looked at me steadily, nothing showing in his face this time.
Sobel asked, âThat right, Al?â
âI work for you, Mr. Sobel. You know what I can do.â
Lennyâs smile broadened. âYou ever meet this man, Al?â
âNot yet, Mr. Sobel. I think Iâm going to like it if you want me to introduce myself.â
The fat wreathed itself into a laugh around Lennyâs mouth. âDeep?â
âGo ahead,â I said. âFor fun why not pull the cork and let me shoot all three of you. First you, Lenny, then these two schmarts in order. It should be fun. Go ahead, pull the cork.â
Helenâs voice was a hoarse, âNo ... Deep!â
The two hoods came in a step.
I said, âTell them for me, Lenny.â
They looked at him and watched his fat smile fall apart. Lenny said, âLet it drop.â
Al started, âIf you want, Mr. Sobel ...â
âLet it drop, Al,â he repeated softly. âYou and Harold wait for me outside. Iâll be along.â
He waved again and they left, then pulled a chair out slowly and sat down. âYou shouldnât be too care-free with those boys, Deep.â
âThey different?â
âTheyâre different.â
âIâll find out soon for sure and tell you, Lenny.â
âYou seem to know them pretty well already.â
âI get around good. Anybody to know, I know. You know?â
His smile was getting tired now and he glanced over at Helen. âI see weâve recaptured old times.â
Her eyes picked up a strained look. âLenny ...â
âPerfectly all right, my dear. When a man is impetuous as is our old friend Deep, one can easily get caught up in his backwash.â
It sounded funny coming from him. I said, âPicking up class, Lenny?â I grinned when he stared at me. âItâs betterân the old days now. Then you were just a hood playing angles. Now you got class. Polish.â
âYouâre looking for trouble, Deep.â
âIâm expecting to get it, Lenny.â
âYou will. You came back for trouble, didnât you?â
I leaned back easily in the chair and from any place in the room you would think it was just a nice friendly conversation. I said, âI didnât have to come back for trouble, buddy. I had plenty of it where I was and I sat on top of it and squashed it without any sweat at all. Not any.â I tasted my drink again, swirled it in the glass and put it down. âYou know why I came back, Lenny.â
âTell me.â
âIâm taking over.â
âYou think?â His smile had angry tics at the comers.
âI already have,â I told him.
He started to come out of the chair, his pudgy fingers tight around the arms, squeezing into the wood. The cords of his neck rippled under the fat and only the thin edge of his teeth showed between his lips when he spoke. â You little punk. You street-corner bum. You lousy little cellar rat ...â
Real softly I said, âRemember when I shot you in the behind, Lenny?â Something in his eyes said that he did. Very well. âThere were people looking then and I didnât give a hoot.â I stopped and grinned again. âThereâre people here and I
Learning to Kill: Stories