Page 82 of Nobody's Fool

“He probably served time.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Five dots tattoo on his eye,” Gun Guy says. “Like the five on dice. Four dots on the outside representing walls, the one in the middle supposed to be you serving time. He’s either a convict or wannabe. I didn’t get wannabe vibes off him.”

“You seem to know your stuff.”

“I didn’t get hired just because of my good looks.”

“But come on,” I say. “Those helped.”

He smiles at that. “Sorry about the punch and the whole threatening-your-life thing.”

“Are we having a moment?”

“God, I hope not.”

“Do you know what the Belmonds hired me to do?”

“I think I can figure it out.”

“Any insights you can offer?”

“Not a one.”

“What’s Victoria like?”

“I didn’t get hired just because of my good looks,” he repeats. “I’m also the soul of discretion.”

“You’re the total package, that’s for sure.”

“It’s amazing I’m still single,” he says. Then: “What are you going to do when you find this tattoo guy?”

“Ask him questions,” I say.

“You’re not a cop anymore.”

“He’s stalking my wife.”

Gun Guy nods. “Fair point. You want me to stick around in case?”

I still don’t trust him—or would it be more apt to say I see noreason to trust him? But I don’t see much harm in having backup. We settle on a plan where he drops me off and circles around in his car nearby in case I need him.

When we are two blocks from Katz’s, I get out of the back. The streets are packed, a mingling of locals and tourists seeking designer knockoffs and pastrami. I didn’t bring earphones, so I tell Molly where I am and that I’m on my way and lower the phone. When I get closer, I slow my roll. No sign of Scraggly Dude. I stand on the corner of Avenue A where Boulton & Watt used to be. Katz’s Deli is on the other side of Houston. I survey. Still no sign of Scraggly Dude. Molly had entered the deli forty-five minutes ago. He could have left. Or he could be hiding somewhere else.

I’m not sure how to play this.

I move off the corner and say to Molly, “I don’t see him.”

“Should we leave then?” she asks.

I wonder about that. I could have Molly walk out of Katz’s and see whether anyone follows her, but I’m not prepared to use my wife and son as bait.

“No,” I say.

I explain that I will come in and get them, but first, I want to circle the block a few more times. I switch the call over to Gun Guy. “You see him at all?”

“Negative,” he says.