Page 80 of Cold Hard Cash

“Sings like a little canary, this one,” Jules said.

Jimmy blushed. “Hey, you know, it’s a job. I’m officially employed again. I’m doing okay!”

“Uh huh,” Maury said dryly, “and is that why I heard about you gettin’ roughed up by some Luchesi pricks?”

“You know... you know about that?”

“Come on, kid. Who the fuck you think you talkin’ to. I hear everythin’.” His eyes moved to Jules, sizing him up as he mused, “Like, hmmm, heard somebody been visiting Geemaw.”

“Who is that?” Jimmy quirked a brow. He remembered Cold and Jules talking about her last night.

“Geraldine Peters. Old gangster’s girl,” Maury said, shaking his head with a fond smile. “Used to be my girl from time to time as a matter of fact. That woman helped make a man outta me. Was a clerk for the SSPD. Did all of their filing until she was, ahem, forced to retire.”

“What happened?” Jimmy asked cautiously.

“Apparently she had a bad habit of copying police case files and other sensitive type documents,” Maury chuckled. “Meh, she’d only been doin’ it for fifty years before anybody got wise to it. Nowadays, if somebody goes to Geemaw, they’re lookin’ for information.”

Jules narrowed his eyes, scoffing, “You really do got a big ass mouth, Maury.”

“Guilty as charged,” Maury replied easily. “Just kinda funny to me that anybody would be buggin’ ol’ Geemaw for somethin’ at her age. Must be lookin’ for some real good dirt.”

Jimmy sensed a flicker of anger simmering in Jules. He wasn’t sure what Maury was trying to get at, but he could tell Jules was getting pissed.

“So, Jules tells me the Luchesis used to run the jewelry store?” Jimmy said, quickly trying to change the subject.

“A long time ago,” Maury said with a shrug. “Used to wash their cash over there. But it was legit when Eliza worked there if that’s what you’re wondering about. I mean, gangsters still went there to get their bling fixed up and shit. But it was a straight joint until it closed.”

Jules’ phone buzzed. He eyed Jimmy, saying, “I gotta take this. Be ready to go in five, Twig.” He looked at Maury, shaking his hand again as he grumbled, “Don’t be tellin’ our boy here any stories now.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Maury replied with a firm smile.

As soon as Jules stepped outside to answer his phone, Jimmy whirled around to stare at Maury. “Hey! What was that about?”

Smacking Jimmy upside the back of the head, Maury snapped, “What the fuck have you gotten yourself into! Fightin’ with Luchesis, sniffin’ around Geemaw!”

“What’s the big deal with this lady?” Jimmy protested, rubbing his head.

“She’s the one you go to when you’re trying to dig up dirt on fuckin’ cops,” Maury explained. “Whatever Cold is up to, it ain’t good, kid. I love you like my own, and you need to get the fuck out.”

Jimmy immediately recalled what Cold said about having proof about Augustus being a liar, and his stomach turned.

“Are you hearing me?” Maury snapped.

Jimmy took a deep breath, saying firmly, “I’m okay. I know what I’m doing.”

“No, you fucking don’t.”

“I swear, it’s okay! That’s why I have Jules with me! I’m—”

“Heart! Dick! Remember? Listen to yourself, kid. This was just supposed to be a deal—”

“It’s not,” Jimmy said, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s... it’s something else now. Okay? Cold cares about me, and I care about him. Look, he’s gonna help me get my dad out, all right?”

“And what did that cost you?” Maury demanded.

Jimmy didn’t want to answer, pouting defiantly. “He’s gonna help. That’s all that matters.”

“Be careful, kid,” Maury said, a frown curling his long lips. “Stayin’ alive matters a lot, too.”