Read Online Underbelly by Gary Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

you need to take your blood pressure pills?” He couldn’t help it. Ever since he was a teenager, when a guy tried to make time with a girl of his, he’d have to show he wasn’t a punk. Bad old habits died awfully hard.
    Baine twinkled a smile at him. “Stop.”
    Jeremy whatever the hell his last name was said, “Baby, let’s let the past stay where it belongs. You know I’ll do right by you. Fact, I’ve got a movie in mind that I want you for as the lead.”
    â€œGet real, Jer, those days are long gone,” Baine advised.
    He smiled with freshly scrubbed dentures. “I’m serious, Angie. Some youngsters over at ’SC film school had me over there for a double bill at the Norris Theater on campus, and we got to talking after the Q & A.” He shuffled his body closer so as to insert himself between Baine and Magrady.
    â€œYou know those rich little shits over there. A couple of these kids got parents in the Industry. One of them has called me since and wants to talk about me doing some direct-to-video pictures.”
    It was Baine’s turn to arch a brow. “With an old broad as the star?” She laughed heartily. “I don’t do granny porn, Jeremy.” She winked at Magrady. “At least not for the public.”
    The crusty director made a sound in his throat. “I’m not that hard up to get back behind the camera. This is legit. Hell, I’ll give Magic Mandingo here a role if that’s what it’ll take.”
    â€œI got your sister’s Magic Mandingo right here, Jer.”
    The object of his derision turned slightly, wearing a lopsided smile. “Yes, I’m sure you do.”
    â€œBoys,” Baine said to forestall another go-round. She put her hand in the crook of Magrady’s arm. “It was good seeing you again, Jeremy.”
    The ancient filmmaker repositioned himself on his walker as the couple started to leave. “Let me repeat that I’m not kidding about this, Ange. I’m not so deluded to believe this is some sort of comeback, but wouldn’t it be nice to go out on a high note?”
    She squeezed Magrady’s upper arm. “The moonlight stopped shining on us a long time ago, Jeremy.”
    He pointed a gnarled finger upward. “There might be just one more in the firmament for us.”
    Baine offered Magrady a resigned look and wrote down a contact number on the back of a discarded parking lot ticket and handed it to Jeremy. His teeth clacked as he smiled broadly. The two left, the night cooler than expected. She snuggled closer.
    â€œYou gonna spend the night?”
    â€œIf you like,” he said warmly.
    She kissed him. “I do.” They walked deeper into the Nickel like kids out on Lover’s Lane. They passed a skeleton-thin man in a derby defecating in an alleyway and a woman with very fewteeth padded in clothes of mismatched styles pushing a shopping cart. Leaning in the cart was a three-foot-tall plaster statue of a brightly painted Ann-Margaret in go-go boots and miniskirt circa the 1970s.
    Magrady put an arm around Baine’s shoulders just as an LAPD cruiser drifted near. It was one of the newer Chevy Commodore models. The uniforms put the alley light on them to make sure the burly black man wasn’t manhandling the nice white lady. Or was Stover keeping that close of a watch on him? Magrady worried. Was that being paranoid or precautious?
    â€œYou okay, ma’am?” one of the cops asked, putting the wolf’s gleam on Magrady.
    â€œI’m fine,” Baine smiled, waving them off. They kept the light on the couple for several more beats, then drove off. Further up the patrol car illuminated two Grape Street Crips and the cops stopped and detained the gangbangers.
    As they walked along, Bain said, “Say, I also called you because Floyd got in touch.”
    â€œHe wants that pass card back, doesn’t he?”
    â€œYou’re a