The Inside Man

by M. A. Rothman

  “I didn’t forget, exactly, I just—”

  “Pfft, enough with the excuses.” She waved dismissively at him. “What’s the budget?”

  Levi shrugged. “I have no idea. I need something nice, and … do you have any ideas?”

  “I just got in two more Segway Drifts I haven’t put out on the shelves yet. If you want them, I think they’ll be a hit with the kids. And they come with helmets.”

  “I have no idea what those even are.”

  “You’ve heard of a Segway?”

  “Aren’t those the scooters that automatically balance when the rider steps on them?”

  Esther held an amused expression on her round and slightly wrinkled face. “Imagine roller skates with the same technology.”

  “Really? That sounds kind of cool. And you have two?”

  “I do.” Esther wagged a stubby finger at him. “But don’t think you’ll sweet talk me into giving you any deals on those. They’re flying off the shelf as it is.”

  “Fine, I’ll take them both.”

  As Esther turned toward the back of the store, Ira, Moishe’s brother, walked in. “Ira, go back in the storeroom and take out the trash, and while you’re there, grab the Drifts for Mister Yoder and gift-wrap them. They’re still in the new inventory rack.” She motioned for Levi to follow. “I’ve got some of your stuff ready for pickup.”

  “My stuff?” Levi wracked his brain trying to remember what he might have had on order. Normally, Esther was good for both semi-auto and automatic weapons, body armor, and even explosives that had somehow gotten “lost” from a military depot. All the standard equipment for the trade.

  They walked to the rear of the store, past the grandson who had his arms full with two Segway boxes.

  She led Levi to a table in the far corner of the supply room in the back. She plopped down in front of it, and pointed at the chair next to her.

  Levi took his seat. “Esther, can you remind me what I had on order? I don’t remember—”

  “Oy gevalt, you think I just make these things up? Remember when you said I need to talk to Mister Wu, that tailor of yours? Well he and I worked out a deal, and since he had your measurements, I figured you might be my test subject for this.” She leaned over, picked up a long flat box, and laid it on the table. With a flourish, she opened it to reveal what looked like an exact copy of the suit he was wearing.

  Confused, Levi pulled the box closer and felt the material. The cloth was a bit thicker, stiffer, heavier. It wouldn’t drape the same way his regular suit did.

  “Nu, try it on.”

  Levi removed his suit jacket and tried on the new one. “Why is this thing so heavy?”

  Esther waved away his question. She stood, ran her hands over the lapels, and took a step back with her face tilting to one side and then the other. “It looks good. How does it feel?”

  “Honest?”

  “What kind of meshuggener question is that? Of course, honest!”

  “My other suit is more comfortable. This feels heavier than it needs to be, and it’s kind of stiff.”

  “What, you expecting paper-thin linen to stop a bullet or a knife?”

  “Oh.” Levi’s mouth dropped open.

  “That’s all I get is an ‘oh’ from you? That’s not as good as the vest I made you, but then again, there’s nothing better. But you got me thinking about it, and with some of my sources, I put a few things together. That’s three layers you have. Outside is the wool suit you’re used to, but woven underneath is something new, a nanofiber that’s lighter and stronger than Kevlar. It should stop a .45 at point-blank range. But so you don’t get hurt as much, underneath I had Mister Wu put in an STF liner—”

  “STF?”

  “Shear-thickening fluid. It’s not that new, we’ve known about non-Newtonian fluids forever, but this stuff is good. The faster something hits it, the more resistance it gives. That’s why your suit, my dear boychik, is a bit heavier. I’m thinking I could market this even to the normal people out there.”

  Levi smiled at Esther. She looked exactly like you’d think an old Jewish grandmother with a sweet tooth should, but she was one of the most knowledgeable people he knew when it came to weapons and armor. He shrugged his shoulders and worked his arms back and forth. “You know, now that I realize why this feels like it does, I think I could get used to it.”

  Esther beamed at him and pointed at the box. “Perfect, I got you two suits, and also an all-black set of fatigues, for when you don’t need to look presentable. All I’m asking is for you to use it, and let me know how it works for you.”

  “You mean be your guinea pig—”

  “Oy, let’s leave the pigs out of it. You’re just one of my favorites who I want to see safe, that’s all. Oh, and if you get shot, I definitely want to take a look at the suit and whatever else you were wearing. Research, you know.”

  Levi chuckled as he folded the suit jacket, placing it back in the box. He glanced at his watch and winced. “I have to get going.”

  Esther came closer and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. “You know it’s not my business to get involved in your kind of politics…”

  What she meant was that she didn’t want any mob-related drama since she had customers on all sides.

  “Well, I care what happens to you, my boychik, and because I care, I’m letting you know something. I’m seeing things that make me nervous. The Japanese, the Yakuza are getting very agitated with the Hong Kong members of the Triad that are here. And the Triad members, who are also my customers, they’ve been asking about those who you’re close to.”

  In other words, the Italians.

  “I don’t see your side reacting yet,” Esther continued, “but the Chinese, they’re loading up. I figured you should know. Be careful.”

  ###

  “Oh my God, the kids are going to kill themselves.” Phyllis, declared in her nasal voice.

  Vanessa and Michael had their helmets on and were standing on their new Segways with huge smiles on their faces as they drifted around Don Bianchi’s parlor. Both Vinnie and his wife, Phyllis, looked on with pained expressions as their kids laughed, wobbled, and seemed to be getting the hang of Levi’s gifts.

  Frankie had his arms crossed and was cringing each time the kids wheeled their arms trying to get used to their new gifts.

  “So, kids, do you like them?” Levi asked.

  The nine-year-olds leaned forward on their new skates and zoomed directly at Levi. They smashed right into him, and all three of them fell to the ground, laughing.

  “Okay, that’s enough of that,” Vinnie exclaimed. “Get those things off and thank your Uncle Levi so we can get to dinner. I’m starving.”

  Levi hopped up onto his feet and held out his arms for a hug. “It’s okay. I don’t bite. But I might bark sometimes.” He let out a small Chihuahua-like yip.

  The kids rolled their eyes and gave him hugs, thanking him repeatedly for the presents.

  “Come on, let’s go.” Vinnie declared as the maid appeared in the doorway to the parlor, indicating the food was ready.

  Vinnie’s apartment occupied the entire top floor of the Park Avenue building, and it still amazed Levi when he thought of how far his friends had come. It wasn’t that long ago that they were all tough young kids on the street. Well, at least Vinnie had always been a tough guy. Levi had more often just found himself in situations where he had to decide whether or not to defend his friends.

  He’d always defended his friends.

  Phyllis nudged Levi as they walked toward the dining area. “So, where’s this girlfriend I heard about?”

  Levi cocked an eyebrow. Vinnie’s wife had made it her personal mission in life to find him someone, and he’d always brushed off her attempts. It wasn’t exactly something he wanted someone else to do for him.

  “She lives in DC.”

  “Oh, come on. You know what I mean. I want to meet her—”
<
br />   “Phyllis,” Vinnie said, “leave the poor guy alone. You think you’re some kind of matchmaker?”

  “I’m just looking out for him,” she insisted.

  Vinnie looped his arm over Levi’s shoulder and pulled him toward the dining room.

  The travertine dining room table easily sat fifteen, and Levi silently wondered how in the world Vinnie had even managed to get that monstrosity into the building. It sure wouldn’t fit in the stairwell or the elevator. A crane?

  Frankie took his seat near the end of the table. Vinnie motioned Levi into the empty seat to his left and said, “Whose turn is it for grace?”

  The kids both pointed at each other, and Phyllis shook her head. “Vanessa, it’s your turn.”

  The cute blonde girl stuck out her lower lip, but bowed her head. Everyone else bowed their head as well.

  Vanessa spoke in a very clear voice. “Benedici Signore noi e il cibo che stiamo per mangiare. Benedici la nostra madre e il nostro padre, e tutta la nostra famiglia.”

  Vinnie nodded approvingly and shifted his gaze to his son. “And Michael....”

  Michael clasped his hands together, bowed his head and cleared his throat. “Bless us Lord and the food we are going to eat, bless our mother and father and our whole family.”

  Vanessa raised her head, but Michael continued with his own extended version of the pre-meal prayer.

  “If it’s not too much trouble, can you bless Cassie from school, my teacher Mrs. Rodriguez, my cat Whiskers, oh and please bless Maria, Jennifer, Lou from my art class...”

  As the precocious child continued rattling off the names of people and things in his life, Levi looked at Vinnie and Phyllis. He sensed the pride they had in their kids. It gave him a warm feeling, but deep inside, he felt a sense of regret. He’d always planned on having a family. Had things been different, and his wife hadn’t died, his kids might now be just a bit older than Vinnie’s.

  But then he thought of the farm and the smiling faces he’d left behind, and that put a smile on his face.

  “Okay, Michael,” Vinnie interrupted. “That was very nice.”

  Levi turned to Vanessa and Michael. “Both of you, that was beautifully done.”

  Michael smiled and said proudly, “I can do it in Italian, too. Want to hear?”

  Vinnie wagged his finger good-naturedly. “You can show Uncle Levi some other time.” He turned to Phyllis and complained, “I’m going to starve if we don’t eat soon.”

  Phyllis stood and took the silver lid off the large silver serving tray. Steam rolled up to the ceiling and the aroma of tomatoes, basil, and something fried filled the room.

  Vinnie leaned forward, dramatically sniffing the air and moaned. “Eggplant parmesan, my favorite.”

  Levi suppressed a smile when he saw young Michael’s face. Clearly, the boy wasn’t a fan.

  “Guests first,” Phyllis said. She held out her hand, and Levi passed her his plate. Using a spatula, she laid several large pieces of beautifully fried eggplant on the dish. She glanced at him. “Marinara on top?”

  “Sure, thank you.”

  She ladled on some thick marinara sauce, then placed a nest of buttered linguini on the side of the fried items and handed his plate back to him.

  Levi breathed in the wonderful smells. “Phyllis, this looks amazing.”

  Vinnie leaned closer to Levi and whispered loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. “You didn’t think I just married her for her good looks, did you?”

  “Vinnie!” Phyllis gave her husband an embarrassed smile and demanded his plate. As she loaded it up, she said to the kids, “Don’t you think Uncle Levi would make a great dad?”

  Levi stared wide-eyed at Phyllis as the kids nodded their approval. Where the hell had that come from?

  As she continued filling the plates, Phyllis held a smile on her face every time she glanced at him.

  The don leaned over to Levi and whispered, “You and I need to talk about kids after dessert.”

  “Kids?”

  Vinnie winked and put a finger to his lips.

  Levi looked over at Frankie. The security chief was suddenly preoccupied with smoothing out a wrinkle on his button-down shirt.

  What was going on?

  Once everyone was served, Vanessa, who was seated next to him, held her knife and fork in her hands, raised her eyebrows, and gave Levi a look.

  “What?” Levi was starting to feel paranoid.

  She leaned closer. “We’re being polite and waiting for you to take the first bite.” She lowered her voice and hissed, “You’re the guest.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Levi smiled and took a bite of fried eggplant. It was delicious. “My compliments to the chef,” he nodded to Phyllis, who looked pleased and began cutting up the eggplant for Michael.

  Everyone began digging into their meal, and Frankie, with his mouth half-full with pasta, prompted the kids to talk about their day at school.

  Levi’s mind wandered as the kids competed with each other over who could talk louder and faster.

  What in the world were Vinnie and Phyllis hinting at? And was Frankie involved? He ate quicker as Frankie’s words repeated in his mind.

  “Vinnie wants to talk to you about this Costanza thing and where you’ve been.”

  ###

  Levi sat opposite of Frankie on a leather-upholstered wingback chair in front of the fireplace in the don’s parlor. In his mind, there was a countdown clock ticking away. A five-year-old girl’s life was at stake, and even though everyone else’s life moved on, for him, he couldn’t shake the anxiety-inducing tick, tick, tick of that countdown.

  Ten days left.

  “How’s the Japanese mob thing going?” Frankie asked. “You making progress for them?”

  The question reminded him that Vinnie and the Yakuza had made some kind of business arrangement, likely contingent on his success. “Progress is slow, but that’s part of what I’m going to ask Vinnie about when he gets out of the bathroom.”

  Vinnie walked into the parlor and sat down on the third chair arrayed in front of the fireplace. “Levi, I’m sorry about Phyllis. She got all weird on me when I told her about you rescuing kids off the street and leaving them with your mom.”

  A tingle raced through Levi as he stared open-mouthed at his friend.

  “What? You didn’t know I knew?” Vinnie waved dismissively. “Levi, you should know better. I know everything that’s going on around me.”

  “It’s my business to make sure he knows,” Frankie said with a wry smile.

  Vinnie shook his head at Frankie. “What, you need credit for every little thing?”

  The two lifelong friends rolled their eyes at each other.

  The don continued. “Anyway … I figured it was your business to do what you want, until it interferes with mine. When it does, we need to talk, and that’s what we’re doing.”

  “The Costanza thing,” Levi said. He felt a wave of guilt over the thought of another man paying the price for something he’d asked to be done. “I’m sorry that happened. I wouldn’t have thought—”

  “Enough,” Vinnie interrupted. “I’m not looking for an apology. It happened.”

  “Well, it won’t happen again,” Levi promised.

  “I just need to understand what’s the deal. What are you doing with these kids? I did a little looking into it. You’ve spent a fortune on getting these kids official papers. Making them part of the system. Your mom adopting them. Why?”

  Levi sighed as he thought of the kids, not as they were now, but as they had been. On the streets. In danger. Innocent, or at least … they deserved to be.

  “I don’t know, Vinnie. When I was grieving, after Mary’s death, traveling in all those Godforsaken places, I saw these kinds of kids everywhere. Kids no older than Vanessa working the streets for some pimp, parents selling one or more of their kids into slavery because they couldn’t afford to feed them. These kids were pu
t into situations that no child should ever face. And I didn’t do anything about it. I couldn’t. There were just … so many.”

  He felt his stomach tightening as he thought of the hell on Earth that had been life for those kids.

  “So when I saw it in my own city, I just … I just had to do something. All of the kids I’m taking responsibility for, they either didn’t have parents or their parents sold them to the scumbags who supposedly managed them.” Levi’s throat tightened at the thought.

  Vinnie leaned over and clapped his hand on the back of Levi’s neck, and they pressed foreheads together. “My friend, you’re an angel in wolf’s clothing. If only the world had more people like you. Is there anything I can do for these kids you have over at your mom’s place? Do you need some help, you know, financially?”

  Levi cleared his throat, smiled, and patted his friend on the shoulder. “No, I’ve got it. And I know you think I’m crazy for doing it, it’s just…”

  “Hey, I understand why you’re doing it. But you have to realize, even here, there’s just too many.”

  “You can’t save them all,” Frankie added.

  “I can try,” Levi replied with a smile.

  Chapter Ten

  Nine days left.

  “Levi,” Madison’s voice crackled as the train passed through a tunnel. “When do you think you’ll be back in DC?”

  Levi chuckled as he glanced out the window of the train. “As a matter of fact, I’ll be pulling into Union Station in a few minutes. What’s up?”

  “Well, I think we need to talk. You have time for a quick bite tonight?”

  “I could do dinner, but it’s just about eleven, how about lunch instead?”

  “No, I’ve got work to finish. How about you meet me at my place at six, and we’ll plan from there. Sound good?”

  “Sounds great, see you then.”

  As soon as the line cleared, Levi’s phone buzzed and he put it back to his ear. “You forget something?”

  “Not particularly.” It was O’Connor’s gravelly voice on the line. Great. “You’re supposed to check in with me, daily. Where are you?”