Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [61]
“You know, this shit pisses me off. All I want to do is haul my ass up to his apartment and cram this document down his throat,” I said.
“Basil, I know you’re upset, but you need to chill. Listen to me. If you want me to help you with this, then just take the document and send it to me. I’ll take care of this, but I’m not going to handle any criminal assault cases because you lost your temper. Don’t think that every time your sex gets you in trouble, your fists can get you out.”
I thought about what Raymond was saying, and after a few moments, I said, “I feel you. Give me your fax number, and you’ll have the papers in an hour.”
• • •
Three days had passed and I still hadn’t heard from Raymond, and I was getting nervous, so I asked Kendra to get him on the phone. A few minutes later, she knocked on the door and said, “I have Mr. Tyler on the phone.” I wondered for a few seconds why Kendra had knocked on my door instead of using the intercom, but I couldn’t spend a lot of time thinking about that with Raymond on the line. “Raymond. Why haven’t I heard from you?” “Sorry, but I’ve been real busy working on this case. I had to look up the New York employment law, because Bart’s basically saying he didn’t get the job because he wouldn’t continue to sleep with you,” Raymond said.
“Please tell me you’re kidding. That lying sonofabitch! I can’t believe this shit,” I said.
“Look, Basil, I really think you can beat this. It might not even make it to a judge, but that’s a chance you might have to take. I talked to his lawyer, and she sounds like she’s ready to deal. It might make sense just to make an offer and move on,” Raymond said.
“How much?”
“Did you check with your insurance company?”
“No, I don’t want anybody in my business. I could move some money around and pay him from my own funds. What do you think we should offer?”
“I might start with twenty-five thousand and be willing to go to low, and I do mean low, six figures,” Raymond said.
“Are you kidding? This is bullshit. All of this for a piece of ass,” I said.
“In this case, a very expensive piece of ass,” Raymond said.
“You ain’t never lied, but I need to get this situation taken care of. I’m worried about this stuff getting in the press or my partners finding out. So do your thang,” I said.
“I’ll call his lawyer this afternoon and make an offer. It might take a couple of days, because I’m sure she will make a counteroffer and we’ll go back and forth for a day or two.”
“Just keep me posted,” I said.
“Basil, can I ask you something?” Raymond said. His voice had switched from very businesslike to a sensitive and caring tone.
“Sure.”
“Is it worth this much just to avoid saying what’s true about your life?”
“It’s worth millions for me to protect my reputation and my family,” I said firmly.
“Then you better go sign some more number-one picks, because if you keep doing this stuff, your money is going to disappear quicker than dot.com stock,” Raymond said.
“Listen to me, Raymond. Do whatever it takes. Make this go away.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Bart’s Big Break
I had just gotten home from working a lunch shift when the phone rang. I was going to let the answering machine pick up the call and go ahead with my shower, when I saw “Plaza Hotel” flash on the caller I.D. I didn’t know anyone at the Plaza, so I was curious and picked up the phone before the answering machine took over.
“Hello.”
“May I speak with Bart Dunbar?” a sophisticated female voice asked.
“Who’s calling?” I asked.
“Is this Bart?”
“Like I said, who’s calling?” I repeated in an annoyed tone.
“Bart. You don’t know me, but we know someone in common,” she said.
“Look, I am too old to be playing high school games on the phone. State your business, or else I’m hanging up this phone.”
“I understand you’ve had a little run-in with one John Basil Henderson. I have some information that might help your case,” she said. Now I was really curious—why would someone be calling me about Basil?
“And do you have a name?”
“I do. Are you interested in my information?