The Executioner

Seventy-Nine

Darnell Douglas observed the man checking out the raven-black Cadillac Escalade in the lot with eager eyes. He’d been a cars salesman for fifteen years, and if there was one thing he was proud of, it was his ability to split the real buyers from the bull-shitters just by looking at them. And the tall gentleman wearing the dark, expensive-looking overcoat was as real as they got.

Darnell quickly checked his reflection against the shop window. He was a good-looking black man with a shaved head and a perfectly trimmed goatee over a squared jaw. He centered his blue and white checked tie and made his way towards the customer.

This one is all mine. ‘It’s a beauty, isn’t it?’ he said, giving the customer a welcoming but not overenthusiastic smile.

The man nodded and walked around to the front of the car.

‘It’s only got four thousand miles on the clock. The owner had to get rid of it. Financial problems.’

The customer walked over to the driver’s door and pulled it open. Both the exterior and interior were in pristine condition.

‘It still has that new car smell, doesn’t it?’ Darnell said, but kept his distance. He knew good buyers didn’t like to be crowded. He waited a few more seconds before offering a new piece of information. ‘The great thing is that this is a new car with a used-car price tag.’

‘OK to sit inside?’ the man finally asked in a Texan twang.

‘Of course.’ Darnell nodded. ‘You won’t find a more comfortable car. Cadillacs are the American Rolls-Royces.’

The man took a seat and held the steering wheel with both hands just like a kid in a playground. A pleased smile graced his lips for a split of a second and Darnell knew he had him.

‘What kind of mileage do I get with this?’ the man asked, his hands still on the wheel.

‘Twelve miles per gallon in the city, nineteen on the highway.’

‘Really?’

‘I’m telling you, this bad boy rocks.’

The smile returned to the man’s lips.

‘I’ll tell you what,’ Darnell said, coming up to the open driver’s door. ‘I’ll go get the keys and we can take this baby for a spin. What do you say?’

The man paused for a moment, considering it. ‘OK.’ He nodded.

‘Great, I’ll be right back, Mr…?’

‘Turner.’ The man extended his hand. ‘Ryan Turner.’