Beneath the street lamp I waited with my foot propped up on an old, rusty hydrant. The crisp night air was laden with that same tainted fog that always seemed to settle upon the seedier part of town. Outwardly I retained my calm demeanor but inside my mind raced worrying over the impending meeting. I struggled with the urge to glance at the timepiece lying against my heart while nestled in the hidden pocket of my vest. Sheila stood silently in the darkened doorway of the club, her presence doing little to settle my nerves. Damnable wench! Keeping still I allowed my eyes to shift to the side and slide over her attractive form. Her habits were beginning to ruin my reputation not to mention my pocket book. Slowly shaking my head with disgust, I shifted my attention away from her. "Anything?" The question was spoken quietly from the shadows. Raising a dark brow and curling my lip I replied tersely, "Nothing yet." In vain I attempted to peer into the black streets trying to detect if anything living was approaching. "Look," Sheila spoke again, clearly ignoring the dark mood emanating from me. "I said, I wuz sorry alright?" She picked another flake of red nail polish from her chipped fingernail. "Ya don't hafta be so huffy about it." Her chewing gum snapped at that moment seeming to drive home her devil-may-care attitude. My fist curled and uncurled as I struggled to keep my temper at bay. Would do little good to be seen having words with a broad when the big boss pulled up. "You know what's good for you, you'll go back into the club and keep out of sight." I didn't have to see her to be able to visualize that petulant pout she'd be wearing right then. Guilt began trickling its way in and I dragged my hand over my face. "Go inside." I said more gently. Her shoulders sagged and she vanished into the shadows of the club. I released the breath I had unknowingly been holding. Headlights pierced the curtain of darkness hanging over the neighborhood and the soft purr of a well-tuned motor could barely be heard as a car approached. I dropped my foot from the hydrant and straightened my shirt and vest. Counting slowly I metered my breathing. Inhale in, count 5, exhale, and count 3. I cleared my throat, suddenly finding it dry. Oh great, I was fidgeting! Quickly I shook out my hands and allowed them to drop to my side, taking on a more confident front. The car crept forward and the moment seemed to drag on indefinitely. The streetlights reflected off of the glossy finish on the side of the long black Cadillac emphasizing each fine line. Tinted as dark as midnight, the windows remained rolled up as the car rolled to a stop My eyes never strayed from the rear door even as someone exited from the front to open it. The point of a black leather shoe, polished to a perfect shine was followed by a second and the Boss-man stood before me. He was wide in the middle and that was putting it nicely. His three-piece suit seemed to strain at the buttons. He turned to me and his dark glance commanded my attention. Beady little black eyes under heavy brown brows studied me slowly. “Malcolm?” queried the gravely voice. I nodded slowly, moistening my bottom lip with the tip of my tongue. “That I am, sir. Mr. Rizzo, I presume?” I stepped forward to offer my assistance as he came to the curb and wasn’t overly surprised when he brushed me away. He was elderly, but clearly not feeble in body or mind. “Fine little establishment you got yourself here.” He said, as he surveyed the front of the building. “Why don’t we step inside for a moment and discuss our little problem.” The old man sucked on his teeth as he rocked from heel to toe with his hands in his pockets as if he were considering some grave issue. Going inside was precisely what I didn’t want to do, but then if he were going to shoot me he could do it out on the street for all it mattered. Witnesses…the police would never find someone willing to talk about the Boss. “Cer-tainly…” I stammered quietly and strode over to open the door for him. Inside my head I silently prayed Sheila was in her rooms and occupied. “After you.” The interior of the bar was smoky and it hung over the room in a thick cloud. Several patrons looked up curiously, but quickly averted their eyes once they realized who had just walked in. I led the way to the back of the bar and held back a curtain that acted as a makeshift door. Mr. Rizzo passed by me and I could smell the pungent cigar smell that clung to his clothes like cologne. “Would you care for something to drink?” I offered graciously making a sweeping gesture towards the decanter and glasses set upon the side bar. “Finest in the house.” The old man shook his head gruffly and settled his girth down upon one of the plush leather chairs in front of the desk. “We know I didn’t come here for pleasure. On to business. Your girl, she owes me big now and isn’t making the payments. Mighty nice of you to step in and take care of this bit of nasty business.” My concentration was on steadying my nerves as I poured myself a snifter of brandy. The amber liquid sloshed against the wall of the glass, nearly spilling over the rim. “Yes sir, it was in her best interest that I, err, assume her debt. This is acceptable to you?” I took my own seat behind the desk and placed the glass down in front of me. Cupping it with both hands, I ran my thumb down the curve of its smooth exterior. “Acceptable, yeah it’s ok. As long as I’m paid, I’m a happy man. I like to be happy, if you know what I mean. Now…unhappy, well that’s a different story.” He said with a crooked grin upon his weathered face. “Understood, Mr. Rizzo. Let’s not discuss ‘unhappy’ as I don’t plan on making you so.” I lifted my glass and tipped my head back letting the liquid burn down my throat as it made its way down to my belly. Setting the empty glass down, my hand rubbed against the stubble just beginning to form upon my jaw. “Relax boy.” The other man said with a chuckle. “I’ve not called in my marker yet, you’ve got some room to negotiate. Where is that pretty little vixen anyhow?” Involuntarily my eyes strayed to the scarred wooden door along one side of the room. I corrected myself, but not fast enough and his glance followed my own. “Upstairs in her rooms, I assume.” I conceded. “She’ll not be a part of the dealings. Women, they sure know how to spend the money. “ Raising my chin a notch I sat up straighter in my chair and summoned all the courage that snifter of brandy had lent me. “It’s your call, Mr. Rizzo. I’ll take care of this however you want it taken care of.” His pudgy chin jutted out as the corners of his thin lips were pushed downwards. He nodded, shaking the jowls along his chin. “Fine boy you are, willing to do it my way without any complaints. I like boys like you, seems a great lack of them around these days.” He said looking impressed. Gripping the arms of the chair, the old man raised himself upwards and stood before me. “We’ll discuss it. Not right now, mind you. You see I like to see what kind of man I’m working with before I make a decision. Thought you were a little soft, seeing how nervous you were..”, he raised his hand stopping any denial I might of uttered. “I see it all the time kid, those nerves. But you got something to back it up. A man like me appreciates someone that has enough respect to be nervous but keeps his spine attached in the end.” I stood, following him to the door. My face was a picture of pure confusion as I tried to work out what had just happened here. He didn’t want the money? He wasn’t going to toss me around my office and beat it out of me? Traitorously my fingers scratched my skull as I thought about it. “Sir?” I asked as he reached for the curtain to leave. “Are we good?” He turned then with a friendly smile lighting up his face. “We’re good kid. You got a week to call me and we’ll discuss a payment plan of sorts.” He clapped me heartily across the back. “See here boy, I like clean business. Just like you, you like dealing with easy customers. You treat them right and they come back, heh? That’s what I like, repeat customers.” He winked and vanished through the doorway leaving me to muddle through my confusion. My shoulders sagged with relief and I poured myself another shot of brandy. Dragging my feet I made my way back over to the desk and sat on the corner of it. An odd man, I thought, swirling the brandy around in the glass. The whole thing definitely wasn’t what I expected. Dumping the liquid down my throat I noisily set down the glass and finally breathed.