Page 36

“You fucking afraid?”

“Man, don’t do that to me.”

“Do what?”

“Try to manipulate me. It doesn’t work.”

He laughed. “Not anymore, huh? Anyway, what do you say? At least hear me out.”

“Fine. When do you want to do it?”

“You got time now? I have a hot date tonight.”

“Sure, now is fine. Where you at?”

“Let’s meet at Lucy’s Diner on Fifty-Third Street.”

“I’ll see you there in half-an-hour,” I said then ended the call.

Whatever he had in mind, I wasn’t interested. But I knew he wouldn’t stop bugging me until I told him in person and made it abundantly clear we weren’t going to go into business together ever again.

* * *

On the walk to Lucy’s Diner, I wondered what Melvin might want.

I also marveled at how ironic it was that two people with connections to Afghanistan had re-entered my life at roughly the same time. I had sought out Rose, but Melvin had shown up on his own.

Was it really just a coincidence?

None of the world made much sense, and ever since I returned, my view of the world had changed.

All I thought about was coming up with a way to get over the guilt attached to the money I had made illegally while serving my country. It didn’t matter how many times I told myself we hadn’t hurt anyone; the guilt remained.

When it came down to it, I’d participated in a scheme that had made many people wealthy. The money I had received was enough for me to not have to do anything for a while, but I had to come up with my next step.

Rose didn’t seem to be the type of person who would date someone without a job or any prospects for the future, and I wasn’t going to let her go so easily next time around.

When I made it to the diner, I spotted Melvin sitting in a booth next to the front window. He nodded and smiled as I walked through the door.

“What’s up, bro?” he said as I took a seat at his booth. He sounded far more jovial than I remembered him.

“Same old, same old,” I said. “And you?”

A waitress walked over with a pad of paper at the ready to take our order. Melvin ordered coffee with no sugar or milk, as did I.

When she left, he looked across the table at me. “I’m looking for a partner,” he said.

“I don’t want to be part of any of your schemes,” I said firmly.

He laughed. “Damn. Jump to conclusions often? This is totally legit.”

“Yeah? And what is it?”

“I’m starting a security company. I’ve already got three big name clients lined up, and I need to find people like you who I can trust.”

“You want to hire me?” I shook my head. “Not interested.”

“No, I need a financial partner.”