Page 13

"Just what excites you, Miss Rollins?"
"One day, when you have some free time, I’ll have to show you just what excites me." She smiled at me and stood up. The sash on her robe came free. "I’m going to get a drink. Can I get you something?" she inquired, as she took her time retying it.
"Johnnie Walker Black, straight up, if you have it." I was wrong. She had on a blue bra and panties under the robe, but they were see-through. She turned and walked over to the bar. "You know Jake’s girlfriend, Lisa Ellison?"
"Yeah, I know her."
"You talk to her much?"
"We speak when I see her. Which isn’t very often."
"Are they close?"
"If you’re asking me if she was the only one he was seeing, I couldn’t say. Jake keeps his business to himself." She sat down and handed me my drink.
"You know who this is?" I handed her the picture.
"Ooooh, Jake." She looked up at me and smiled. She handed the picture back to me. "No, Nick, I don’t know who she is. You show that to Gee yet?"
"No. But I will next time I see her."
"Rocky might know who she is."
"Rocky, that’s Jake’s friend from Philly. You know him?"
"Sure, I know Rocky. He used to live down the block from us. Him and Jake ran track together. He works for Chilly now."
"What does he do for Chilly, Miss Rollins?"
"Chésará, please, Chésará. Say it with me, Che - sa - rá." I smiled and laughed a little at her. "He sells dope for him. I hear he’s a good earner."
"This is a very nice place you have here."
"Thank you. I decorated it myself."
"You have excellent taste."
"In more ways than you can possibly imagine." Chésará said, and repositioned herself on the couch.
I chose to over look the tone of her remark. "What do you do, Chésará? You a part of the family business?"
"No. I’m not part of the family business. Gee pays for all this. Didn’t she tell you?"
"No, she didn’t."
"Well, Nick. You mind if I call you, Nick?"
"Not at all."
"Good." She declared, and moved closer to me. "I hate to be so formal. But like I was sayin’, I have no desire to be involved in their business."
"Just spend the money," I said with a smile.
"You know what they say, Nick, OPM."
"OPM?"
"Always use other peoples money."