Free Loose Ends by D. D. Vandyke Page B

frustration, but I couldn’t blame him. Fingering a powerful drug lord could get him killed. “Thanks anyway. Listen, you know this guy?” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder at Red.
    “Da. He’s not right for you.”
    “I’m not looking to sleep with him, just get some information. How careful should I be?”
    Sergei shrugged. “No more than usual. He’s not violent and I know where he lives.”
    “Good enough.”
    “You want muscle?”
    “No, thanks. Your guys are too big and conspicuous. But do me a favor. Ask your people about anyone holding a child.”
    “No problem, solntse .”
    “Guns,” I said, holding out my hands. He reached under the bar without looking, bringing them up and carefully placing them on the polished surface.
    I secured them in their holsters. “See you, Sergei.”
    “ Das vedanya, Cal.”

Chapter 6
    Obviously Red was still hoping to get into my pants or he wouldn’t be doing me the favor of introducing me to his connection. Yet, this was how things worked in the shadowy world of drug dealing. Everything was personal, based on gut instinct, shaky trust and often on hope. People chasing their next high took big risks for small payoffs, which was why the real businessmen didn’t use their own product.
    We walked a couple blocks through streets littered with the husks of the people of the night. I kept my hand on my weapon, but Red’s presence and the lateness of the hour seemed to ward off any trouble. Mutters and profanity followed us from time to time, payback for disturbing the denizens’ fitful sleep. Once, a poorly aimed wine bottle broke at our heels. Red roared like a bull ape and a dark figure slunk back behind his chosen dumpster.
    I was relieved to follow my guide through a creaky fence gate into a tiny backyard full of junk and up a set of rickety fire escape steps. Red rapped lightly on a dimly lit window.
    The curtain, a dirty hanging sheet, jerked aside and a suspicious face stared at us for a moment before unlocking the frame and lifting it. “Hey, Red,” the teenager attached to the face said. He reeked of the needle and the damage done, with emaciated arms and sunken cheeks more fitting fifty than fifteen.
    “Sup, Roach,” Red replied. “The man in?”
    “Think so.”
    “Let us through.”
    “Kay.” Roach stepped out of the way as we climbed in the window.
    Red led me quickly to the front door of this apartment past a smelly rat’s nest of indescribable detritus, broken furniture and paraphernalia. When we stepped into the hallway it closed behind us with the audible clunks of multiple deadbolts.
    “It’s easier and safer to come through there than the front door,” Red said in my ear by way of explanation as we walked slowly through the surprisingly clean hallway. “All twenty-four units are controlled by the guy I’m taking you to. Everyone works for him one way or another – dealing, transport, muscle, recruiting, Now that we’re inside, they’ll assume we belong. Most of them know me anyway.”
    “Do you work for him?”
    “No, but we’re cool.”
    That could mean anything from not hating each other to bosom buddies so I merely nodded, playing along. If Red and I kept our heads on straight this could work out, though I had to admit I was flying by the seat of my pants here. With no leverage and the thinnest of leads, I was hoping to pick something up that would point me in the right direction.
    “This guy have a name?” I wasn’t expecting Houdini, but you never knew.
    “His street handle is Luger. I never asked for anything else and neither should you. Oh, and he’s Brotherhood.”
    “Aryan Brotherhood? Great.” I gestured at my face. “I’m not exactly lily white. Maybe this was a bad idea.”
    “Naw, don’t worry. He don’t like blacks and Jews but he’s pretty cool with Asians.”
    “Oh, a liberal. What about beaners? I’m a quarter Mexican.”
    “It doesn’t show, so don’t tell him. Relax, be cool and it’ll work out.