“Takes one to know one, kid.”
It was loud outside. The highway nearby provided a chorus of cars speeding and honking—the occasional baying of an eighteen-wheeler. Fantine walked Jae around the King’s Harbor building a few times before sitting on a bench.
“It’s cloudy,” Jae complained.
“The air will be good for you.” Fantine stretched her arms out across the bench.
Jae snorted. “At least I have my jacket.”
“I brought lunch.” Fantine rooted through her backpack and fished out two baggies with hero sandwiches inside. “Your favorite from that place on Buhre Avenue. I made a quick stop before I got here. Hopefully it’s good. They changed owners.”
Jae nodded his mood visibly brighter. “Ham, Swiss, and mustard on semolina?”
Fantine slipped a half of sandwich out of the bag and handed it over. Then she fished out a soda. “I figured an early visit deserved a treat.”
“Thanks,” Jae said between bites. “You know there’s no will or money, right?”
Fantine laughed. “You know me, always trying to get my hands on that Park fortune.” She pulled a half a sandwich out of her own bag. Unscrewed the cap of a water bottle and took a long pull.
“Is that water?” Jae arched an eyebrow.
“I’ve behaved for six weeks.” Fantine took a bite of her sandwich.
Her father put his hand out. “Give me a sip.”
She handed him the water bottle.
Jae unscrewed the cap, lifted the bottle to his nose, and then took a sip. “Good.”
“You should try trusting me sometime.”
“I trust you, Fan; the problem is I know you too well.”
A black Escalade parked in front of the building. Two immense men in sweat suits stepped out and wandered over to the front entrance. They both wore sunglasses and had their hair slicked back. Had the appearance of gym rat twins. They stopped in their tracks when one spotted Fantine and slapped the beefy arm of the other. He jabbed a fat finger at her.
“Miss Park?” His accent was strong—voice heavy with bass.
Fantine sighed. “I didn’t do it.”
They both laughed. “No. Someone would like to speak with you.”
She stayed seated. Looked to her father. “I’m a little busy right now.”
One of the twins turned to Jae. “Do you mind?”
Jae frowned. He craned his neck to take a long look at the car. “Old business?”
They nodded.
Fantine watched the exchange. What did her father know about this?
“Fan, go with them.” Jae rolled backwards and edged to the entrance of the home. “I can get upstairs on my own. Don’t make any trouble—you should know these people live to make trouble over nothing.” Someone held the door open for him and he waved a goodbye.
Fantine watched her father roll inside. Took another bite of her sandwich and stared at one of the twins. “You mind giving me a how or why before I blindly follow your asses into a car I don’t know?”
The twins turned to each other then back to her. They both shook their heads in unison.
Fantine finished her sandwich, collected the garbage, and tossed it in the trash. Took her time getting to her feet. She wiped her hands on her pants. “Alright, let’s go.”
One of the twins tried to take Fantine by the arm. She shrugged away with a frown and gestured to them to go ahead of her. They walked in silence to the SUV. The rear driver side door swung open slowly. Fantine slid in—almost went too far on the rich leather upholstery. She clung to the seat with one hand while pulling the door closed.
There was a man to her left. Aleksei Uryevich. Fantine knew him from childhood, but the last time they’d spoke was in front of her mother’s casket as he shoved a wrinkled envelope with twenties into her hand. That wasn’t as long ago as she pretended, but she found herself surprised at the differences seven years marked on him. He was older—wider. Still looked as if he was artlessly sculpted of rock—stereotypically Russian—a craggy face and a sour frown. This was a man who strangled his joy away lifetimes ago. He turned to look at Fantine, stared at her for a long hard time.
“Congratulations on the first day of true freedom,” Aleksei said. The car began to move. He stared at her with a smile playing at the edge of his lips. “You always look exactly like her when you are angry.”
Fantine scowled. Her was mom—a subject that she didn’t need to jump head-first into today. “Is this some kind of weird catch up visit?” She stared out the window and ran a nail over the leather interior. “I wouldn’t mind talking about any money you may have owed her.”
Aleksei chuckled. “No, not visit.” He leaned over, his face darkening. “Now that you are nice and clean, I have a job for you. One I think only you can do. One that you owe me.”
2
Fantine stared at her host from across the table. “Can’t even wait for me to have a week or two as a totally free woman, huh?” She looked around the diner. It was a rundown relic in Coney Island—surrounded by ancient carnival attractions that packed in more rats and roaches than people these days. There was a sickly sweet smell hanging in the air—the stench of cheap European cigarettes mingling with it. Fantine was surprised the place still existed. Coney Island, much like New York’s other forgotten islands, Staten and Roosevelt, were blank spots in her mental map of the city and its surrounding boroughs.
“Nobody is ever entirely out of the business are they? You are clean—free to return to what you do best. I cannot ignore that.” Aleksei smiled. His lips were so thin it seemed more like an old wound opened up on his face.
Fantine leaned back. The upholstery of her seat was cracked all over and exhaled as it gave in to her weight. She swore she smelled brine. “I guess not. Though, I think I’ve been pretty clear to anyone who’s asked before; I’m done, you know, retired. I get that maybe I owe you, but you could at least approach this with a softer hand. Hell, I’ve got to wonder how you even found out about this at all.” That last bit was a lie. She knew damn well who told Aleksei to approach her. They were on track to have a good talking to after this sit down. Fantine didn’t rule out violence either.
Aleksei smiled. “Your disdain for my decision matters not. What matters is I assisted you with your father’s care and now, you are available to work towards repayment.” He lit a cigarette and puffed for a moment. “So, this job.”
“I’ll say it again; I’m really not interested in any work. You give me time and I will pay you cash back with interest.” Fantine raised her hands. “No offense, but I’ve gone straight. Have myself a steady gig and everything. I only came along because, well,”—she looked to the twins—“I felt a little more than compelled against my will.”
Aleksei ashed his cigarette on the old wood floor. “Again, when I say I have a job for you, it is not so much of a request, ponyat?” He leaned in and arched a bushy brow. “I am not a fan of wasting time, especially my own.”
She nodded. “See, that’s the kind of attitude that’s making this situation less of an offer and more of a kidnapping and strong-arm kind of thing.”
“You are absolutely right.” Aleksei blew smoke over their heads. “I have no concern for your needs. Only that you are equipped to assist me obtain something that I want.” He pointed the lit end of his cigarette at her. “Don’t play coy, I know you are good.” Aleksei turned to the twins seated to their right. “You gentlemen know this is the girl who hit Empire City alone, right?” He narrowed his eyes. “What was the take on that? What a shame to lose it all so quickly. They arrested you how soon, five hours after?”
Fantine eyed the twins. They both raised their brows—as much of an emotional response as she’d expect. “I don’t talk about that anymore.” Empire City was a good take, but she wasn’t going to admit that to Aleksei. She certainly wasn’t going to admit that she played the system well enough to squirrel away enough of that take and cover her tracks to leave a nice, fat retirement fund for her when the time was right. Getting caught wasn’t entirely part of the plan, but Fan was cautious and planned as if it was the most likely outcome. Betting against herself to maintain the money wasn’t so hard.