Manhattan Noir - Lawrence Block [81]
Danny knew he needed something to change in his life. He was tired of being alone. He was ready. For anything. So he asked.
“Hey, Rosa, so why not?’
“Why not what?”
“Why don’t me and you go out. Tonight. Benny’s Steak House on 194th is good. You want to come with me?”
“You asking me out?”
“I think so.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
“I work slow.”
“I’ll say.”
“So we’ll go. I’ll meet you, like, 7.”
“Yes, Danny, I would like that. I would like that very much. Seven. Now here …” She put his omelet down in front of him. “You better eat this. You might need your strength. You ever been with a Latin woman?”
“Not one as pretty as you.”
Nice line, Danny thought. Rosa smiled and went over to a couple at a booth to take their order. Danny sipped on his coffee and picked at the eggs as he read the lead story:
“Inwood Jogger Missing.”
A twenty-year-old college student had been last seen running through Inwood Park and she never got home. A runaway, Danny thought, as he turned the page and read about a elderly jeweler stabbed on Sixth Avenue. Crime is down in New York, but there’s still enough mayhem to go around.
Danny finished his eggs and gave Rosa a wave as he threw ten dollars down on the table.
“Seven, Champ, I’ll be here,” she called after him.
Danny walked down to Obert’s Gym and said hello to the regulars. He walked past Victor Garcia without saying a word. He put on some light gloves and worked the speed bag.
He loved it when he got the rat-a-tat-tat sound as the bag hit the wood and then his glove with blinding speed.
He walked over to a heavy bag and motioned Khalif Little to hold it. He slammed the bag for three minutes, then held it while Little pounded it. Kid is strong, Danny thought.
The day dragged on. Danny trained a couple of local kids in the ring. He did foot work and shadowboxing with them.
Good kids, but no real boxing talent. They were in the gym because they couldn’t play baseball or basketball. Boxing was their last shot out of Inwood, and it was a cancelled check they were holding.
As Danny moved around the ring his mind kept going back to Rosa. That warm smile. Those big hips. He needed a woman and he needed a fresh start. Maybe she could be the one. That is, if he didn’t knock her out of bed.
Danny decided to skip some rope. Victor Garcia leaned on the ropes and watched him.
“You know, Danny, I was thinking about what you said. Maybe you’re right. You can still fight. I’ll look into it. We could both use a payday, and who knows.”
“You know me, Victor. I never back down from a fight. You get it and I’ll give it my all.”
“You always did, kid. You always did.”
Danny jumped out of the ring and said his goodbyes. He left the gym feeling pretty good. He walked home singing a song from the 1970s. Johnny Nash. “I can see clearly now the rain is gone.”
In his apartment he watched the evening news. A local TV reporter did a story on the missing jogger of Inwood Park. He heard her name. Sara Miller. Twenty. Blond. Pretty. Full of life. Honor student. All the things Danny never was.
The news went on with the weather report and he got ready for his date with Rosa. He took a hot shower, and as he dried off he threw talcum powder on his body. He went to the closet and put on a crisp, white button-down shirt and new black jeans. He thought about a tie and knew that wasn’t him. He looked in the mirror. Not bad, he thought. Slim. Face not too banged up. Maybe Rosa saw something in him.
He threw on a black leather jacket and walked out the door. He stopped at the corner florist and bought a rose. A Rose for Rosa, he said to himself and smiled. He walked with an easy stride and felt good in his body. Then he turned the corner on 207th Street and felt his gut tighten as he saw the Loco Diner.
No time for doubt, he thought, and walked inside with a goofy smile. Rosa was standing there in a flower print dress with her black hair up.
“God. You’re beautiful,” Danny said, handing her the rose.
“A rose. How sweet. Shall