Apaches - Lorenzo Carcaterra [110]
“All right,” Boomer said, handing the baby back to Mrs. Columbo. “Just one more question. You answer that one and we’ve got ourselves a deal.”
“All right, then,” Edward said, pleased that they were nearing the end. “One more question.”
Boomer leaned across the desk, bracing his knees against its wood exterior, his arms and chest resting close enough to smell traces of Edward’s expensive French cologne. “Do I have your word on what you just told me?” Boomer asked.
“Honey, please,” Mrs. Columbo said. “You’re insulting the man.”
“I don’t mean it the wrong way,” Boomer said to Edward. “I just want to be sure. You can understand the way I feel.”
“Yes, of course I understand,” Edward said, eager to get them both out of his office. “And you do have my word. Everything I’ve told you is true.”
“Then I guess you got yourself a baby,” Boomer said, pushing his chair back and standing.
“What’s our next step?” Mrs. Columbo asked.
“It’s very simple, really,” Edward said, his voice calm and in control. “You hand me the baby and I hand you some money and we all walk away.”
“How much?” Mrs. Columbo asked.
“I usually pay six hundred,” Edward said. “But you’ve caught me on a soft day. I’ll make it a thousand.”
“A thousand dollars?” Mrs. Columbo said, wide smile on her face. “Richie, did you hear? He’s giving us a thousand.”
“That’s great, honey,” Boomer said, looking out the window over Edward’s shoulder, seeing the Lincoln being towed away.
“That’s more than we made all of last month,” Mrs. Columbo said. “I can’t thank you enough, Eddie.”
Edward opened the central drawer of his desk, pulled out an envelope, and counted out ten one-hundred-dollar bills. He handed them to Boomer, who folded them and shoved them into the front pocket of his jeans.
“I left the diapers and clothes in the trunk of my car,” Boomer said. “Want me to go and get them?”
“That won’t be at all necessary,” Edward said. “We’re fully stocked.”
“Then there’s nothing left to do but leave,” Boomer said. He leaned down and kissed the baby curled in Mrs. Columbo’s arms. “I’ll wait outside,” he said to her, keeping his head down and walking toward the door. “Don’t take too long.”
“Won’t be more than a minute,” Mrs. Columbo said.
She waited for the door to close before she stood and handed the baby over to Edward. He reached for him and held him face forward on his lap.
“You’re not going to forget me, now, are you?” she asked Edward.
Edward shook his head no. “I’ll call as soon as there’s a slot for you.”
“Can you make it quick?” Mrs. Columbo asked. “I’m real eager to get started. We really need the money.”
“I just gave your husband a thousand dollars,” Edward said.
“You kidding me?” Mrs. Columbo said. “With the bills we got, I’m lucky that’ll last us through the weekend.”
Edward stared at her, smiled, and nodded. “Do you mind working nights?” he asked.
“You’re holding the only thing that kept me home,” Mrs. Columbo said, pointing to the baby in Edward’s arms.
“Take the baby for a moment,” Edward said, holding out the child. “I need to look up something on the computer.”
Mrs. Columbo took the baby and stood over Edward’s shoulder. He clicked on the IBM at the side of his desk and watched it chart down a list of names and destinations. He hit a few buttons, leaned back in his chair, and smiled. “Have you ever been to Maine?” he asked.
“No,” Mrs. Columbo said. “But I always wanted to go there.”
“You’ll be going tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve just logged you in. Someone will call you and tell you what time to be at the airport. You’ll be met there by a woman. She’ll tell you what to do.”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you,” Mrs. Columbo said in a seductive manner, handing Edward back the baby.
Edward picked up on it, gazing at her legs and holding the smile. “I’m sure between the two of us, we’ll come up with something interesting,” he said.
“I know we will,” Mrs. Columbo said. She leaned down and kissed the baby good-bye, resting one hand on Edward’s shoulder.
“We’ll speak again soon,” Edward said.
“I’ll be by my