Stumbling Through

by Steve Shadow

  While we all stood at the window screaming and yelling, Michael sat calmly reading the form and not even looking out the window. Well, son of a bitch, if Locoweed didn’t win going away. I was thrilled. I had never won so much. We went to the window and collected our money. We got a couple of more beers and Michael answered some questions I had.

  “First off you got to always bet so that you don’t win over two grand at a time. If you do the IRS boys are right there to take their cut. That means you got to give them ID. So I stay under that amount. By following the horses around the country I know them real well. I also know who got the in at what track. I talk to the jockeys and they know who is going to win. Not all the time but certain races. Certain horses get doped and certain owners got ways, if you know what I mean. All you got to do is pay attention and hang out with the right people. Also I got to time my bets. I can’t be always winning at the same place because these places got eyes. The FBI, the IRS, the local cops all got eyes in these joints. So I bet for awhile and then I do something else for a while and then we move to another part of the country.”

  I was fascinated. This kid looked like some bag boy from a supermarket and here he was filling me in on a glamorous life of danger, the kind that I thought I was living. Hell, I was just a small time pill and pot pusher who barely scraped by. I didn’t volunteer this info and he never asked. But I am curious by nature. “So when you ain’t playing the horses what do you do? Or can you live off Judy’s dancing?”

  He smiled and said, “When I know you better, maybe I’ll let you in on what I do. Let’s get a burger and wait for the seventh race. After that we can get out of here and pick up Judy. You got a girlfriend or somebody? We can get some drinks later.”

  I told him I was in between girls at the time. He said Judy would get one of her dancer friends to come with us. He went and made a phone call while I counted my winnings. Shit, this was sweet.”

  As he had predicted, Joyboy won and we collected our winnings and headed back to the city. Shit, I thought, this is great. I looked at Michael with admiration as he drove, at the speed limit, back to the city. We picked up Judy from her friend’s house. She brought along a girl named Karen who was big busted and had red hair. Karen and I sat in the back of the station wagon and got to know each other rather quickly. She had a great rack which I was fondling in short order and I didn’t even have to stick dollar bills in her g-string. I took them to a gay bar in my neighborhood that had really funny drag shows and cheap drinks. We had a lot of laughs and a lot of beer. I introduced them to the drag queens. They got the girls on stage to dance with them while they lip-synched Aretha Franklin and Judy Garland tunes. We drank, danced and laughed until the 3 AM closing time.

  We ended up staggering back to Michaels place and screwing like bunnies on the mattresses. Michael and Judy made it clear that they weren’t monogamous so we ended up trading partners until we were exhausted. I think we all finally nodded out as the sun began to rise. I woke up feeling hung over, parched, and with my eyes so crusty I could barely open them. When I did finally pry them apart I found Karen’s tit squashed against my face. She really had beautiful breasts. I took her nipple in my mouth and gently sucked it while she snored away. It had been awhile since I was with a woman and I was enjoying this little breakfast treat when Michael walked in naked.

  “Hey, dudes, time to rise and shine. I got shit to do today. Sticky can you see that Karen gets to where she wants to go? Will you be home tonight, like late?”

  I pushed up on my elbows as Karen rubbed at her eyes. “Sure man, come by anytime after 10.”

  He nodded and padded back to the bedroom. Karen and I fooled around a little bit and then got dressed and went to my place. Seeing her in the morning light without make up made me realize how really pretty she was. I could not believe my luck. She asked to use my shower. While she washed up I made some coffee and toast. We sat down and ate. She told me she lived a few blocks away off of Peterson. While the coffee cooled she told me about herself. She said she had been divorced for a couple of years and fell into the dancing through knowing Millie from the beauty shop they both went to. I was vague about my career but she did not seem to care. I took her home and got her phone number. I told her I would call and she invited me to come and see her dance at the titty bars.

  I drove home with a big smile on my face. Hooking up with Michael was the best thing that had happened to me in a long time. Like I said, sometimes things just happen. I spent the next hour tracking down my pill connection. I finally got hold of the tricky little asshole.

  “Yo Corky, what the fuck? You were supposed to be here yesterday.”

  I heard some music and shuffling of paper in the background. “Uh, yeah, OK, Sticky. You know how it is, got hung up and well, you know.”

  “All I know is that it is Friday and I got nothing to sell at the clubs tonight. You got anything for me or not?”

  “Uh, well, you know Sticky it is kind of, you know, slow and I, well, I ain’t got shit this week. You know, man, it’s always an iffy thing and all; maybe next week.”

  “Fuck you, Corky. You’re full of shit. Two days ago you said you had the stuff. What, am I getting senile? You shining me on or what? You found a better buyer? If so, then just tell me, you weasly little piece of shit. Yes or no, you gonna’ bring me the stuff or what?”

  “No,no,no, Sticky. Take it easy, man, it’s just, well things happen and I got no control. Somethin’ came up and I was in no position to argue. I’m jammed up right now with some bad people. Be glad I kept you out of it. You caught me on the way out of town. I got to lay low for awhile. I’m going away. Sorry, man, but, shit, I got to go.”

  He hung up the phone. Fuck, I wonder what Corky got mixed up in now? He was not the most reliable connection. I was glad I hit the horses with Michael last night or I would be awful light in the wallet. I decided to do laundry and crash until Michael showed up later.

  I was watching the 10 PM news when I heard the door bell. I got up and looked out the peep hole. It was Michael. I opened the door.

  “Hey, man, what’s happening?”

  He came in carrying a gym bag, took off his cap and sat down. “Got a beer, dude?”

  “Yeah, sure, hang on.” I went to the kitchen and returned with a couple of Heinekens. We both took long swallows and belched. After we stopped laughing he leaned over and looked me in the eye.

  “Sticky, tell me, what’s your deal? How you getting by?”

  “Aw, you know, sell a little speed and reefer. Broker some deals, all small time, just enough to pay the bills. Stay small and under the radar, can you dig it?”

  “Of course I can dig it. But let’s talk a little turkey here.”

  He reached for the gym bag and brought it onto his lap. He zipped it open. “I got an eye for people and I can tell you’re a righteous dude. I got that vibe from you and Judy thinks you’re pretty cool. Anyway, I got a business deal for you.”

  He reached in the bag and brought out a shitload of pills. He had black beauty’s, brown and whites, hearts, greenies, and some stuff even I didn’t recognize. Then he lifted out five 4 ounce bottles of pharmaceutical coke. He handed one to me. It was sealed and had a Merck label. First time I had held the real deal in my hands.

  “Wow, man, where did you get this shit? This stuff is worth a bundle.”

  “Well, I was hoping that you and I could go into biz. You seem to know the clubs and the folks who would be interested in this shit, so let’s be partners.”

  I kept staring at the stash he had. I smelled big money coming my way. “I can unload this stuff real easy but you ain’t told me where you got it from. I am not interested in getting involved with no big time drug dealers or mafia hitmen.”

  “No, man, I boost drug stores. Most places have shitty alarm systems and I know how to break in and get out quick. I only get stuff from the stores and this town got a million drug stores.”

  I could only stare at him. “I hope you ain’t e
xpecting me to join you on these break-ins. I ain’t up for that shit. Man, you sure ain’t what I thought you were when I first saw you. OK, we can bag these pills and cut and bag the coke. Can I try a line just to see what it’s like?”

  He grinned and nodded. “I knew you would go for it. But I don’t cut no coke. Sell it full strength and the people will keep coming back. Let’s go back to my place, Judy got a couple of other dancers there and we can party big time.”

  He put everything back in his bag and we took off downstairs. Judy had two ladies there who were both jonesin’ for that powder. The five of us had a great time and fucked ourselves silly. That pharmaceutical coke was some powerful shit.

  

  Michael and I spent the next day bagging pills and weighing out the coke. I figured we had enough to clear about 1,500 bucks if I could move it all. While we were working Michael told me some other stuff. He had been drafted last year but never reported. He and Judy both had fake ID’s. His real name was Karl but he felt safe enough with his new identity. Now I knew why he didn’t want to be stopped by the cops.

  We began doing real well. I had no trouble selling everything he could provide. Over the next two months we hit the races a couple more times and made even more money. Karen and I started spending a lot of time together and the four of us hung out all the time. I drove Karen to some of her gigs and really got off watching the creeps drool over her beautiful body.

  The operation was running smooth as silk and then, as it usually does, the shit hit the fan. I was asleep when my phone started ringing. I jumped up and glanced at the clock. It was 2 AM.

  “Hello, what’s up?”

  “Uh, Mr. Derek? This is Detective Fallon. Can you come down to the Rogers Park Police Station? We have a certain Michael Mulheisen in custody and he gave me this number to call.”

  My heart jumped into my mouth. We had discussed this eventuality so I was prepared but I was still scared. “OK, be there soon.”

  I hung up and got dressed. Luckily all the product was gone and I never kept any drugs in my place anyway. I had a secret stash in the building but I had nothing in there now. I went down to their apartment and banged on the door. A sleepy Judy opened the door and peered out at me.

  “What the fuck, Sticky, what is it?”

  “Open up, I just got a call from the cops. They got Michael at the station. He gave them my number. I’m going down to see what I can do.”

  Her eyes widened and she let me in. She ran to the bedroom and started getting dressed. “Hey, Judy, what’s going on?”

  From over her shoulder she told me she had to run. She said Michael told her that if this happened she had to get away. She was throwing stuff from the bathroom into a bag and stuffing clothing into a suitcase. She pulled on her shoes and kissed me. “Sorry, Sticky, but I can’t be here no more. Michael knows what’s happening. I like him and all but I ain’t going down on no federal charge. If the Feds got him on draft dodging then I will be charged with aiding a federal fugitive. You see him you tell him I will be in touch. I’m taking the car. Please, you don’t know me. I ain’t ruining my life over this shit.”

  Fuck, I thought. Should I run too? I never thought of the federal angle. Christ, did I want the FBI after me? I had to take a few deep breaths to settle down. “What do I tell Michael? Where are you going?”

  She was a blur out the door while I stood there, uncertain what to do. Finally I just closed the door and went back to my place. I got my car keys and drove over to the police station. Shit, I’ll just say I don’t know him except as a neighbor.

  

  When I got to the station I told the desk Sergeant who I was there to see. He picked up a phone and mumbled something. A few minutes later a detective came downstairs to get me and told me to follow him. It was Detective Fallon, the guy who called me. He was very fat and wore a brown suit that was way to tight on him. What hair he had left was greasy and dingy looking. He had mean little eyes and looked at me like I was a pork chop waiting to be eaten. He told me to follow him. His ass shook as I climbed up the stairs behind him. We sat at a desk in the empty dirty squad room.

  He wrote down my name and address. He wanted to know how I was related to Michael. I had no record and had never been arrested or even inside a police station before so I wasn’t too worried. I told him I was Michael’s neighbor and I barely knew him and only came as a favor. He seemed skeptical but only nodded.

  “What is this all about? What did he do?”

  “Your neighbor,” he mouthed this with a sneer, “was picked up lurking outside a drugstore by California and Western. We have had a series of break-ins around the north side. Upon doing a search of his person we found burglary tools and brought him in for further questioning.. He claims that the tools he had on him were to fix a lock at his house. I seriously doubt this. Do you have any knowledge that would lead me to believe his story?”

  I shook my head. “Listen, detective, like I say, I only know the guy a short time. We live in the same building. I’ve had a couple of beers with him and played some cards. All I know is he said he is some kind of carpenter, other than that I can’t help you.”

  “Uh huh,” he said. “And just what is it you do for a living Mr. Derek?”

  “Well to tell you the truth,” I said, as earnestly as I could. “I am at present unemployed. I am a bartender by trade but am looking for a good situation with maximum potential for advancement. So far I ain’t having any luck. I have two job interviews in the morning.”

  He tapped a pencil on his desk and looked at me as if he was trying to see inside my head. I looked right back into his fat face and its piggy little eyes. He broke eye contact, turned and looked around the empty squad room.

  “Look Mr. Derek, pardon me for saying this, but you’re full of shit. Here’s the deal. I got your pal sitting in an interrogation room. He ain’t been charged and he ain’t been fingerprinted. If I do those things then who knows what will pop up? Is it something I’m going to like? And what about you; what you think we gonna’ find on you?”

  He looked around the empty room once again and returned his gaze to me with a questioning gleam in his eye. I shrugged my shoulders, not knowing what to say.

  “How about we step around the corner and get a cup of joe? I need something to wake me up and your pal ain’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

  I was getting the drift of where this was heading. I had a lot of experience with the Chicago Police force and was glad I had stuffed my pockets with cash.

  We walked around the side of the station to an all night diner. We got a booth in the back and after Fallon had scoped the place out he turned to me and laid it out.

  “Here’s the deal. I don’t believe one fucking word either of you has said. He got perp written all over him and you are the worst liar in town. This local shit I can cover. He leaves my town and, well, no harm, no foul. But the toll has to be paid. And it has to be done quickly while the place is empty. He ain’t booked. I got him on ice but it’s melting real fast. You up for this or you want to stick to your bullshit story?”

  “OK, Fallon; how much is this going to cost me?”

  He smiled. “I figured you for someone who knew the score. I think two grand ought to cover it. You got the cash on you?”

  “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. You go back and get him and bring him here. When I see him and we walk out of here I’ll leave the dough in this booth and we can hope we never see each other again.”

  “No, I don’t think so. I can’t have us all being seen together. Here is the way it is going to go. I’ll go back and release him and send him on his way. I’ll have him call here and you can talk to him and see that he is free and then you can leave. That is once you put the cash beside you.”

  I agreed to this because I could not think of anything else to do. I just wanted this to be over. It was obvious that he had not checked the federal warrants yet. If he had he would have either turned Michael over to the Fed’s or asked
for a lot more money.

  I sat in that steamy diner smelling grease and sipping foul tasting coffee for half an hour. I saw Fallon coming down the street as the phone rang behind the counter. The cook called out to me from behind the counter.

  “Hey, are you Sticky?” I nodded and he held the phone out to me. I walked over to him and took it from his greasy hand.

  “Yeah dude, are you out?”

  “I’m OK. Meet me back at your place.” Michael hung up just as Fallon walked in. He motioned me to join him back at the booth. He slid his fat ass along the torn vinyl with a shit-eating grin on his face. I sat across from him staring into his shining eyes embedded in fat.

  “You happy now, asshole? Just pass me the package.”

  I had counted out the money and had wrapped it in a few napkins. I slid it over to him. He opened it and counted out the money under the table. He nodded at me.

  “Now get outta’ here. I got your address and phone number. I got my eye on you now. Next time might not be so easy. Take care, Mr. Derek.”

  I walked out and went to my car without looking back. I was shaking like a leaf as I put the car in gear and slowly pulled away from the curb. When I got home I parked under the building in my spot. Michael came out of the shadows. We went up to my place without saying a word. Once we got inside we both fell into chairs and looked at each other.