Read Online Killer by Dave Zeltserman - Free Book Online Page B

days I made money that way, but it was because I was connected and the tips I was given were usually good. Anyway, a month would probably be enough time for me.
    While I waited I took out my cell phone and tried to work up the courage to call Michael and Allison. It had been over two years since the last time I tried, and maybe they’d had a change of heart. In the end I couldn’t do it. I had Michael’s number keyed in on the phone, but all I could do was stare at it until a hard knocking on the door brought me out of my trance. I flipped the phone off and opened the door enough to see that the delivery men were there with my bed.
    They set the new bed up quickly. The lead delivery man presented me with a bill, and while I counted out the cash he looked at me with a puzzled expression and then at his work order form which had the name I’d made up earlier.
    “I could swear I know you,” he said.
    “Just one of those faces,” I said.
    His forehead wrinkled as he tried to dredge out where he knew me from. As he and his partner turned to leave, I reminded them about how they were supposed to remove the old bed. I couldn’t blame them for the lack of enthusiasm they showed at the prospect of that – I wouldn’t want to have to pick up and carry that damn mattress out either, at least not without several layers of protective clothing on. As they removed the mattress, the lead guy called out to me to let me know that he was sure he’d seen me before and he’d remember later. I closed the door on him without saying a word, deciding that I didn’t want to ruin his surprise.
    It was six o’clock. I felt bone-tired again, just like I had the other day. I wasn’t used to this type of activity and schedule yet, but maybe more than that, it wore me down worrying about people recognizing me and waiting for that look they’d give me afterwards once they did. It was harder than I thought it would be. All those years that I worked for Lombard as a hit man I operated in the shadows. As far as my wife and kids were concerned, I worked in a liquor store. As far as my neighbors went, I was just someone who blended into the background.
    I almost lay down on the new bed. I wanted to badly, but I knew if I did I’d tumble into a deep sleep and miss work. It didn’t make sense for me to care that much about it since my expenses were basically covered for the next month, which was about as far ahead as I needed to worry about, but for some reason the job did seem to matter. Maybe it was the structure of it; giving me someplace to be, and in some small way allowing me to contribute to society. Or maybe it was simply finally doing something that my pop would be proud of. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to lose it.
    I loaded batteries into the portable radio I’d bought earlier, and brought it with me as I left the apartment. Once outside, I navigated again to Moody Street and found a cheap restaurant where I could get something to eat and drink enough coffee to keep me awake.

chapter 9
     
    1973
    A week before I’m supposed to be marrying Jenny, Vincent DiGrassi meets me about a contract he needs taken care of. He knows I’m getting married, and I ask him how urgent this is.
    “Very,” he tells me.
    Oh, Christ. This is just what the fuck I need. With Jenny going nuts over all the wedding details, all the last-minute changes, her family coming in for the wedding, and all the other bullshit in my life right then.
    “I am getting married...” I start to tell him.
    “Maybe,” he says, interrupting me, his eyes little more than what you’d see in a dead fish, his lips wire-tight. “In a week you could be going to a wedding, could be a funeral, all depends on you doing a clean, quick job on this one, or maybe instead you being stupid and thinking you can give me some grief.”
    He tries staring me down, but I can see the worry in his face no matter how hard he’s trying to hide it. I don’t know who this guy is that DiGrassi