Read Online Dog Beach by John Fusco - Free Book Online Page A

“persuader” made a visit to Troy, gave him a real-world warning. He’d see now if that had put a fire under his ass. Then Avi could put together a distribution deal, the fun stuff.
    â€œAvi,” a voice said. The guy who pulled up two chairs wasn’t just fat, he was the kind of guy who got kicked off of planes for taking up a row of seats. He wore bling over a bright blue-and-black-striped tracksuit and a baseball hat turned backward, and he talked like a brother even though he looked Polish American. “Where’s the movie, yo?”
    Maybe Lantana was better, Avi mused. At least there was a security gate that could keep investors like Bobby Gronkowski out.
    â€œFour weeks, my friend, I’ll show you a cut,” Avi said.
    â€œCool, bruh,” said Gronkowski—who went by the faux ’hood name L’il G—working his stubby fingers in the wrapper of some kind of coffee cake. He claimed to carry a small heater in his waistband; Avi wondered if he was packing it now.
    â€œâ€™Cause that’s music money, homes,” L’il G said. “And I got to turn it right back into my payroll. You still gonna use my soundtrack, bruh?”
    â€œAt the end when the credits roll.”
    â€œAnd my name?”
    â€œIn the credits.”
    â€œAt the beginning or at the end?”
    â€œAt the end. That’s what people remember, walking out of the cinema, hearing your soundtrack and seeing your name.”
    â€œYou’re not blowing smoke up my ass, are you?”
    Avi turned his eyes on L’il G, said nothing. He reached inside his jacket and removed a checkbook case made of Tumi leather. L’il G fidgeted with his coffee cake as he watched Avi write a check. “What are you doing?”
    â€œGiving you your money back.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThere are other recording artists looking to place a song in a hit movie. Trust me.”
    L’il G reached across the table and gestured for the producer to not be so rash. “Hey, man, I was just sayin’.”
    â€œIn four weeks, I will show you a cut,” Avi repeated.
    L’il G tugged gently at the soul patch under his lip, thinking this through. Finally, he nodded and resumed his work on the coffee cake. Then he noted that someone else was standing there now, waiting for a moment with Avi. Alexis Cain gave the large man a repulsive look as he closed the meeting and navigated his bulk past her. Avi liked the way men were now darting their eyes between him and the girl’s tramp stamp as she stooped to kiss him on the cheek.
    â€œHow are you, darling?” Avi said.
    â€œAll right, I guess,” she said. “Whatever.”
    She sat and reached into her messenger bag, removed something small. Avi admired her blue fingernails as she slid the object across to him.
    â€œThat’s his rough cut.”
    Avi gazed down at the flash drive then lifted his handsome eyes to the girl. “You are fantastic,” he said.
    Alexis looked down at the remains of the coffee cake the fat man left behind. “Ew,” she said, folding her freckled arms. “You getting me a meeting with Gersh?”
    Avi smiled at her mercenary approach. He leaned back, poked at his iPhone, and sent a text. Then he set the phone down firmly as if to say “done.”
    A barista boy, cleaning the next table over, felt Avi gently take his elbow. “Would you please clean that fucking coffee cake off the table?”
    Alexis smiled at Avi. She liked older, distinguished men in Fred Segal blazers. She liked watching him hold the little flash drive like it contained the trading secrets of Wall Street. She felt like a Bond girl. With a meeting at the Gersh Agency she believed she just might become one.

10
    TORRANCE, WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
    Troy and his small guerrilla crew hit the ground running. The first scene they would shoot was a waist-high single on Louie Mo, in the role of Cho the ex-con,