Doug Allyn: The Best American Mystery Stories 1997

But the thing was, he wasn’t exactly a physical type, and I could see by the cut of his jacket that he wasn’t packing iron. So what was I missing?

“I told Liebman our offer yesterday,” Chen said, addressing me directly, sizing me up. His accent was odd, more British than Chinese. “He said he had a... silent partner? Must be pretty silent. The cosigner on the mortgage and incorporation papers is Maris Liebman, his mother. So you got no legal... standing in this thing. Is that not so?”

“My standing is really none of your business,” I said. “And it doesn’t matter anyway. Mr. Liebman isn’t interested in selling. And for a ten grand walkaway? That was a joke, right?”

“No, not a joke,” Chen said with a faint smile. “I promise you it is a... serious offer. Deadly serious. You understand? We’ll take over the bank debts and give you a good profit. Nine thousand.”

“Nine? You said ten,” Danny protested.

“Yesterday’s price,” Chen noted. “Tomorrow it will be eight. Maybe less. It’s a good offer. You should take it.” Chen’s eyes met mine and held. There was a flat challenge in them. “But the price isn’t the only number. There’s one more number you should know.”

“What number?” I asked. “What are you talking about?”

Chen made a production of it. He took out an engraved silver lighter and a matching case that held cigarette papers. Took out a single sheet, jotted a figure on it, and held it up: 23K. He flicked the lighter and touched the flame to the corner of the paper. It flared instantly and vanished into the air. Flash paper. Very theatrical. Very effective. It impressed the hell out of me, and not because I thought it was magic.

Twenty-three К was a Chinese triad, one of the gangs that had been carving up Windsor and Toronto like so many won tons. Gambling, drugs, extortion. Murder. Serious gangsters. International. And now they were moving into Detroit. Or at least one smug weasel was. And then it hit me. That was what was wrong with his attitude. He was way too cool. About me, about this whole situation. He didn’t care whether Danny look his offer or not. Because his gang was just beginning its move on Motown, and at this point a few dead bodies to serve as examples would be as valuable to them as Danny’s club.

And the woman with him? Translator my foot. She hadn’t said a word and didn’t even seem to be listening. She wasn’t there to talk, she was a mule. Chen wouldn’t risk packing his own gun, that was her job. It was probably in her purse, which was below the table now, beside Chen’s knee. And that’s why she was so edgy. She knew what was going down here. There wouldn’t be any more offers. If Danny said no, Chen meant to settle things today.

He was coolly scanning the room again, probably counting the witnesses. Danny was saying something about thinking things over, but Chen wasn’t listening anymore. His eyes had gone empty. In his mind Danny was probably already dead. He shifted his position slightly, with his left hand beneath the table. My God! He was getting ready to take us out, right here and now. And I was unarmed and didn’t have a prayer of getting to him before he could fire, unless...

His accent. I wondered how long he’d been off the boat. And how sharp he really was.

“You must be new to this country, Mr. Chen,” I said.

He hesitated. “I’m here long enough.”

“For Toronto or Windsor, maybe. This is Detroit. Things are different here. We’re only a small business, but we have a friend. Every business on this street has a friend. A big friend.”

I had his attention now. This was something he could understand. “So what?” he said. “I got friends. Probably more than you.”

“Then you can see our problem.” I said. “The truth is, Danny couldn’t sell to you if he wanted to. Nor could I. It wouldn’t mean anything. And our friend wouldn’t like it. We could get hurt. So could you. So you’re wasting your time talking to us. If you’re serious about doing business, you need to speak to our friend.”

Chen’s eyes zeroed in on mine. “Really? And what’s his name, this friend?”

“I can’t mention his name to strangers, you understand. But a man with your... resources should have no trouble getting it.”

“Maybe he isn’t nobody, this friend. Maybe he don’t exist.”

“He exists,” Cherry put in, the first time she’d spoken. “He’s a Cuban. He has one eye.”

Chen glanced at her. Through her, really. As a woman, she counted as less than nothing to him. “What’s the matter? He’s so bad, this friend, you’re afraid of his name? Say it. If it’s real.”

“Delagarza,” Cherry said. “Eladio Delagarza.”

Chen glanced back to me. “Is what she says true?”

“That’s right.” I said, swallowing. “Delagarza.”

Chen eyed me for what seemed like a very long time, then shrugged, mildly annoyed. He’d probably been looking forward to waxing us. “Name like that, he’ll be easy to find,” Chen said, rising abruptly. The woman rose with him. Her hands were trembling. With fear or relief? I couldn’t be sure.

“You better understand somethin’,” Chen said quietly. “Whether I find your friend or not, my offer won’t change. I’ll be back in a few days. Price then will be five thousand. You better take it. These are hard times. Will get harder. For you.” He turned and sauntered out of the room without a backward glance. The woman trailed him like a shadow, zipping her purse closed.

Danny shifted in his chair and stared at me. His face was slick with perspiration. “Have both of you gone absolutely psycho?” he said at last. “What the hell was that about?”

“Your pal here was trying to run a bluff,” Cherry snapped. “Only he couldn’t think of a name, so I tossed one in.”

“Some name,” I said.

“Who is this — Delagarza, anyway?” Danny asked.

“A crime boss,” Cherry said. “A big one. Or so I read in the papers.”

“That’s crazy,” Danny said. “I don’t know him.”

“No, but Chen doesn’t either,” I said. “And while he’s asking around, we’ll have time to figure what to do next.”

“There won’t be any next,” Cherry said flatly. “Delagarza’s in some kind of federal trouble. So if Chen asks. Delagarza will just blow him off. Chen’ll do some checking, find out Delagarza’s nobody to mess with, and back off. End of problem.”

“It won’t be that simple,” I said.

“Maybe you just hope it won’t so you can collect another fee,” Cherry said. “I thought you were supposed to scare this guy off. Axton, not run some kind of a scam on him.”

“Lady, you don’t have any idea what was going on. Danny, this guy didn’t come here to do a deal, he isn’t bright enough. I make him as a stone shooter who’d rather whack you out than buy your place. You’d better go to the police about this. Or seriously think about giving him what he wants.”

“Give him what he wants?” Cherry said, aghast. “Are you nuts? Some guy sits at a table with you, runs his mouth, and yon wanna pack it in? Jesus. Danny, where did you—”

“Okay, okay, cool it you two,” Danny interrupted. “All’s well that ends well, right?”

“That’s just it, Danny,” I said. “This isn’t over. He’ll be back.”

“In which case I’ll give a yell and you can muscle him off again,” Danny said. “Or maybe Cherry’s right and he’s history. Either way, the problem’s settled for now, and I could use a beer. Why don’t you both join me?”

“No, thanks,” Cherry said, rising. “I’ve got a rehearsal, and I’d better not be late if I want to live up to the promise Axton thinks I’ve got, though I doubt he knows any more about music than he does about muscle. I’ll see you tonight, Danny. And just for the record, whatever you’re paying your goon friend here, it’s way too much.” She turned and stalked off.