Barely Legal

34

Yvette came out the front door of Herbie’s apartment building. She smiled at the doorman and declined his offer to get her a cab. Instead, she strolled in the sunshine down Park Avenue. As she was passing the side street, hands grabbed her and pulled her aside.

“Donnie!” Yvette hissed. “What are you doing? You can’t be here. Why are you here?”

“Why do you think?”

“I can’t keep giving you money.”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t want you to.”

“Really?”

“That would be stupid.”

Yvette looked at him suspiciously. “Really?”

“Of course not. Blow our chances just for a few bucks? What a bad move.” Donnie stretched and cocked his head. “Though I could use some cash.”

“Donnie.”

“Relax, I’m not taking your money. Of course, I wouldn’t mind taking his.”

“Damn it, Donnie.”

“Take it easy. Did I say I was doing it? No. I said I wouldn’t mind. There’s the problem. You’ve got this wonderful setup, but it’s taking a little long, and what am I gonna do for money?”

“You ever think of working?”

“You are funny. So, I was thinking, ’cause that’s what I do, ’cause one of us has to, so I was thinking, how can I take some of this guy’s money without taking his money.”

“Oh, you were thinking that? There’s a brilliant idea.”

“Actually, it is. See, this guy’s rich. He’s got all this expensive shit.”

“I am not stealing from him.”

“Of course not. I am. All you have to do is what you’ve been doing. And you do it so well, don’t you, honey?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it all worked out.” Donnie handed her a little glass vial. He put it in her palm, wrapped her fingers around it. “You take this, you put it in his drink. You mix him drinks, don’t you, honey? So you mix this one. And he goes to sleep, just for a little while — you’re not poisoning him, just a nice, deep sleep. And while he’s out, I steal his stuff.”

“And how am I going to explain how his stuff vanished from under my nose?” Yvette asked sarcastically.

“What’s to explain? You’re going to show me the stuff he never uses. The stuff he never even looks at. He won’t even know he’s been robbed.”

“Oh, yeah? How are you going to rob him? You can’t get in.”

He laughed. “Oh, how little you know.”