Free A Cold Piece of Work by Curtis Bunn Page B

it’s going to happen. You can’t make it happen. And out of respect for her, you should let her settle down and not pressure her.”
    Ray was so level-headed and persuasive that Solomon fought himself and did not reach out. Maybe she’d be disappointed that he didn’t, he reasoned. Maybe she’d even call or text him.
    A day went by, then two, and Solomon found himself falling into the mode of a political candidate who had to concede defeat on election night. He called Ray.
    â€œAt this point, I feel like it’s not going to happen,” he said. “I don’t really know how to pursue a woman, anyway. I mean, I do, but I haven’t done a lot of that. Haven’t had to.”
    â€œWell, maybe that’s the problem,” Ray said. “You’ve gotten away with so much, including not pursuing women, that now when you want to—when you need to—you actually don’t knowhow. What’s wrong with that picture? Real talk: I changed my mind. If you want her, you’re going to have to go get her. Clearly, she’s not going to break unless you break her.”
    Ray’s words again influenced Solomon.
    â€œYou know what?” he said to Ray. “This is the hard, cold reality—I want her.”
    â€œThen you have no dilemma. You understand what has to be done,” Ray said. “And I know how to do it.”
    â€œYeah, okay,” Solomon said.
    â€œI’m serious,” Ray said.
    â€œHow?”
    â€œGerald,” Ray answered. “That’s your in.”
    Something sounded underhanded about that—but that’s what also made it so intriguing.
    â€œYo, I didn’t know you were that conniving,” Solomon said to his friend. “Is that the right way to go about it, really?”
    â€œYou know why it’s the right way to go about it? Because you already like the kid. You already wanted to help him. You told me that you called him ‘Money’ because he reminded you of you. You connected to the boy. So being a mentor to him is simply doing what you’ve already wanted to do—even before you realized who his mom was.
    â€œAnd you also said Michele was happy that a man was influencing her son. She’ll put her feelings aside to help her son. Watch.”
    Solomon nodded his head in agreement. He needed a pep talk to renew his pursuit. Ray delivered.
    â€œHello?” Michele answered into her cell phone.
    â€œHey. This is Solomon. Solomon Singletary. Remember me?”
    â€œCan’t say that I do,” she answered. “Refresh my memory.”
    â€œI’m the guy you should let take your son to the Hawks’ game on Thursday.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know about that.” That was her first instinct. Even if Solomon did not have the history he created, Michele would have been guarded about letting Gerald go somewhere without her. With Solomon, she was doubly leery.
    â€œI wouldn’t let anything happen to him; except making sure he has a great time,” Solomon said. “You have my cell number; you can call me at any time to check on him. I’ll put him on the phone.
    â€œIt’ll be a great experience for him. And I think I can arrange for him to meet Kobe Bryant.”
    Again, Solomon pushed a button with Michele. Kobe Bryant was her son’s favorite player. Shoot, he was Michele’s favorite player. She thought: How could I deny my child a chance like that?
    â€œSolomon, I don’t want to have to kill you. You know that’s my baby. He—”
    â€œI understand, I understand,” he said, cutting her off. “I’m not ready to die, so I’ll make sure he’s good. I promise. It’ll be fine.”
    â€œHe’s going to be so excited.”
    He gave her the details and she gave him directions to her house to pick up Gerald. In the three days before the game, Solomon did not contact Michele. He did not contact