"I wanted to talk to you about this in person," Frank was saying through the telephone he had pressed to his ear just seconds before, "but I've got to stick close to home tonight. I promised Sandy a romantic dinner."
"So, what are you saying?"
Frank described in detail his discussion with Vincent and the planned meeting with Fratenzza. Gus listened intently and tried to remain calm.
"It's no big deal. I'll take care of your end as an expense," Frank told him. "You'll be our sales manager and – "
"You're working me."
"No, listen – "
Gus cradled the phone against his shoulder with the side of his face while he lit a cigarette. "I've been in sales my whole life, Frank, I know when I'm being worked. Just tell me what's going on. A few days ago I was a partner, now I'm an expense."
"Try to understand. I know it's hard, but try. If I didn't agree to Vincent's terms then the deal was off. You know what that means? Gus and Frank sell stoves for the rest of their lives."
"You didn't have to – "
"I needed to cut the deal, Gus."
"Why'd you have to sacrifice me in the process?"
"You know I'd never fuck you over. It was the only chance we had to get this done. I thought you'd understand."
Gus removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. A killer headache had settled behind his eyes. "I still don't see why it can't be a three-way split."
"Because Vincent and these other guys don't know you, and they don't make moves with people they don't know, cabeesh? I could've easily cut you out completely, but I didn't."
"Oh gee, thanks, man. Should I blow you now or you want to do it later?"
"Look, once we're up and running and Vincent gets to know you better we'll all sit down and talk about making you a full partner, all right?"
The line was quiet until Gus said, "I thought this was about you and me."
"It is," Frank insisted. "But we need Vincent. You have my word that I'll make this up to you, but for now I need to make sure you're with me on this. In or out, Gus, what's it gonna be?"
Gus blew a smoke ring toward the window. "I'm in."
"Good," Frank said. "I know you're disappointed, but hang tight. This is going to be beautiful, man. Wait and see."
"Okay, Frank."
"You with me?"
"I'm with you."
He returned the phone to the base, took a deep hit of nicotine, and stared at the floor for what seemed a long time.
"That sounded like bad news."
Gus looked over his shoulder at the hooker sprawled out on his bed. He'd nearly forgotten she was still there. He let his eyes wander across her shoulder-length kinky brown hair, her dull eyes, bony shoulders; breasts too large for her small frame and sagging too low for a woman so young; a flat but flabby belly, and pale skinny legs spread wide and bent at the knee. "Or is it none of my business?"
"Yes," Gus said mildly.
"Yes, it was bad news, or yes, it's none of my business?"
"Both."
The woman adjusted herself so he could get a better look between her legs. "We gonna party, or what?"
"You never told me your name."
"You never asked."
"I'm asking now."
"April."
"Is that your real name?"
"It is tonight."
He studied the glowing tip of his cigarette for a moment then pulled the shade closed over the window and switched on a small lamp. The thought of having sex with this woman both excited and repulsed him all at once. Things were always the same. "Been doing this long?"
April cupped one of her breasts, pulled it to her mouth and licked the tip of her nipple. It stiffened, and she twisted it, working it between her thumb and forefinger. "Long enough."
Gus let his pants drop to the floor. He stepped out of them, leaving his T-shirt on. As he sat on the edge of the bed he stroked her hair and leaned his face close to hers.
"I don't kiss," she said, helping him out of his boxer shorts. "I told you before."
"I'll pay extra."
"It don't matter. I don't kiss."
Gus put his head on her shoulder and fondled her breasts while she masturbated him. When he was ready, he sat up and straddled her, stabbing his erection between her legs. Within seconds, he pulled out, ejaculated across her stomach, and collapsed as if he'd been shot. "Get off," she gasped. "I can't breathe."
He rolled off, pulled his underwear on and lit a cigarette. "Jesus, that was sweet."
"Can I get up?" she asked. Gus nodded, tossed her a small towel. She wiped herself off and dressed quietly. "Be a doll and give me one of them cigarettes, will you? I'm all out."
Gus shook one free from his pack and lit if before handing it to her. From a small desk on the far wall he produced a wad of bills, peeled off four tens, and held them out to her. April stuffed the money in her jeans, snatching it the way a cat pounces on a field mouse. "If you want to hook up again some time I can give you a phone number to call. Saves times and it's safer than cruising the streets."
"Are you busy now?" Gus brushed sweat from his brow. "I mean… do you have plans for the rest of the evening?"
She looked at him with disbelief. "You want to go again?"
A siren blared in the distance, slowly faded. Gus returned to the window, raised the shade and watched the street. The kids on the corner remained, and in the public park across the street some sort of disturbance between a man and a woman spilled over to the next block as they argued while walking.
He opened his bedroom door, listened to the sounds of a television game show blasting from the set in the living room.
"Is that old man your father?"
"Yeah." Gus shut the door. "We've lived together since my mother died."
"Both my parents are still alive, I think."
Gus forced a montage of memories from his mind. "Are you hungry?"
She nodded.
"Good. My treat. There's a diner over by the airport I like. You can get breakfast day or night."
"I know the one, only I can't be off the street too long."
Gus looked at her. "You got a pimp?"
She shook her head. "I'm outlaw."
"Then what's the rush?"
"I got bills to pay, and a daughter at home."
"How old?"
A coy smile slowly surfaced across her otherwise callous face. "Three and a half. Her name's Tiffany."
"Nice."
"What do you do? For a living, I mean."
"I'm a businessman."
"You do pretty good?"
Gus shrugged. "All right."
"As for me, I only work three nights a week. I need to score a certain amount whenever I go out, you know?"
"I'll flip you another forty for the rest of the night," he said abruptly. "We come back here and go to sleep. In the morning I'll give you a ride home. Be nice to me on the way."
"I can be real nice for an even fifty."
"Fine."
April studied Gus the way a scientist observes lab rats. "Why are you being so cool to me?"
"I didn't know I was."
"Maybe you're just lonely?"
Gus retrieved his pants from the floor and stepped into them with a sudden scowl. "We can go get some dinner or I can drop your ass back on the street, honey. Up to you."
"Kathleen," the woman said softly. "My name's Kathleen."
"Augustus Lemieux. My friends call me Gus."
"Believe me, I've heard some wild names – guys make up all kinds of crazy shit – but I'd bet that's gotta be your real name." They shook hands awkwardly. "Hiya, Gus."
"You didn't laugh," he thought aloud. "Everybody laughs the first time they hear my name."
She smiled. "Try going by the name April Showers."
Gus wrapped his arm around Kathleen and escorted her to the door. He had no way of knowing for sure if her sudden warmth was genuine, or merely the actions of a whore going through the motions after having been paid for the effort. For some reason, it didn't matter.