“I know what you’re up to,” Mike said, taking a seat. “To be honest, I admire it.”
“I’m not up to anything,” Lenny replied. “What about you? Why are you dressed like that?”
Oh yeah. “Gary” had a unique sense of style that Mike didn’t share.
“Same as you,” Mike said. “I’m working with the FBI. They got me a new look.”
Lenny narrowed his eyes. “No way. They would’ve told me.”
“Are you going to offer me a drink or what?” Mike asked.
Lenny sighed, got up, and returned with two beers. “That’s all I have.”
“Thanks.” Mike popped the beer open and took a sip before answering. “They’re not going to tell you everything. They wanted you to believe that I was dead, remember?”
“Was that you? Did they make you lay in the coffin the whole time?”
Mike shook his head. “No, that was a dummy. You see what they can do? It’s incredible.”
Lenny nodded, taking a sip of his drink.
Mike had to keep hitting him with information before any doubts could form. “It’s a tactic, I think. If you think I’m dead, then they can test you.”
“Test me? Why?”
“You know, they’ll ask us both the same questions. See who lies.”
Lenny nodded but said nothing.
Mike continued. “They don’t know what’s going on, though. I haven’t told them much. Because I want in.”
“In on what?”
“With Benzini.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lenny said, putting his hands up.
“Don’t play stupid with me,” Mike said forcefully. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I’ve been trying to figure out your game for months.”
Lenny leaned forward. “You want in, but you don’t even know what it is?”
“I know that you’re moving a lot of money. And the stipend that the FBI’s giving me isn’t enough to live off of. You know what it’s like.”
Lenny nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
Whatever hamsters were running around in Lenny’s brain seemed to slow down. Mike could see him relaxing. “How about this? I forgive you for almost killing me, and you bring me in.”
Lenny shook his head. “No way.”
“Okay, okay.” Mike took another sip of the beer. What was this? It was disgusting. No wonder there were so many half-finished bottles strewn about. “Then I guess you don’t need my help hiding your side business.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Mike shrugged. “No, of course not. I’m just saying I know how tough it can be on your own.”
“I’m not on my own. Benzini has guys.”
“And who do you have?”
