Jimmy threw his hands up in the air and shook them from side to side in exasperated surrender. His face a canvas of conflicted emotions, he motioned for Eleanor to slide over and took a seat beside her on the porch swing. If he hoped to understand the situation, and he found he did, he would be here for a while, so he might as well make himself comfortable. Maybe it would make it easier to make sense of the crazy things the woman was saying if his feet didn’t hurt.
He didn’t hold out much hope, though. All he could see was another bizarre complication to an already unpredictable life. As the wicked witch said in a popular old children’s movie, as she melted into a puddle, “What a world. What a world.”
Chapter 42
A month later, a lot had changed. Sitting in his office with his feet up on the well loved, albeit abused desk, Jimmy heard a loud knock. He looked over at Izzy, where she sat at her desk reading. She smiled, hid the magazine in a drawer, and fingered her hair as she stood to open the door. Since she’d started as secretary (she preferred to be called office manager), business had been slow and they were both looking forward to a new client to liven things up.
Jimmy was disappointed when Alphonso and Ricardo Velasquez entered. He hadn’t seen them in weeks and had hoped their visits were over. The brothers were again dressed identically. But they somehow looked more professional. It was the same black pullovers and jeans, but the blazers were a more expensive cut. They actually looked good. At least they would to any woman that was attracted to that type. He looked quickly at Izzy and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t seem overly impressed. He watched her return to her desk, admiring the way she moved. He could stare at her for hours.
When she’d regained her seat he turned regretfully to the matter at hand. He asked the brothers, “What can I do for you boys?”
“First, I geeve you thees,” Alphonso said, handing over an official-looking packet.
Jimmy looked inside and saw it was his copy of the divorce papers. He jammed it inside his desk to go over later. Strangely, he thought he’d be happier. But he didn’t feel anything, except maybe a little let down. He remembered the same feeling from when he was a kid waiting for Christmas. When it came, it was never what he wanted. Life was like that; he should be used to it by now.
However, the brothers standing in front of him reminded him of something he wanted to ask. “What were you boys doing at Izzy’s house? I’m glad you were there, but I’ve wondered why. Were you tailing me again?”
“Sure, Jimmee. We knows all about you,” Alphonso said. “But ees for something else, not yous.” He looked at his brother, smiling. Ricardo smiled back.
“We have proposition for you.”
“What would that be?” Jimmy asked, knowing he’d promised them something in the heat of the moment, but not knowing what. His mood plummeted. It appeared, ready or not, he was going to find out just what that would be.
“We need yous to spread word to yous friends. Ricardo and me, we open restaurant. Good, home cooking. Best Cuban restaurant in all of Cinci.”
Jimmy sat there, his mouth hanging open. “You’ve got to be kidding!” he thought.
“Congratulations,” Izzy said with a wide smile, as she stood to hug both men. “If there’s one thing this town needs, it’s a good Cuban restaurant. I’ll call Daisy and she’ll tell everyone she knows; that will bring in some classy people, with lots of Benjamins.” She rubbed her thumb and first two fingers together to signify money. “When will you be opening?”
“We be so busy. We open next month,” Alphonso answered, pride evident in his dark, flashing eyes and the way he stood erect, his broad shoulders back. It appeared he and Ricardo had found their calling. Jimmy just had never expected this to be their life’s dream.
He finally found his voice and blurted out, “I didn’t know you could cook.” He stared at Alphonso in unabashed shock, wondering why he was so surprised; Ada certainly could. It was only reasonable that it ran in the family.
“That’s me, Jimmee,” Ricardo said. “I am cook. Alphonso, he handles thee beesiness.”
“Does that include head bashing?” Jimmy thought. He wasn’t able to stop the negative thought. He’d had the bruises to prove it.
“Right,” Alphonso agreed. “He’s great cook. Whole family coming at grand opening. You be there, too, Jimmee?”
Jimmy thought about his ex-wife and father-in-law. Probably all the cousins would be there, too. Should be one hell of a party. It would be a wonder if he didn’t get shot, or knifed.
He glanced over at Izzy, who smiled eagerly. It was plain that she was game; although he was sure she didn’t know what she was getting herself into. A Cuban family get-together could be pretty intense, but was always exciting; especially one that featured a pregnant ex-wife and a soon-to-be baby’s daddy, an ex-father-in-law who hated you, more of the ‘family’ than was safe to know, and, last but not least, the proprietors, known in different circles as the Thug Brothers.
But, what the hell. If Izzy was up to it, so was he.
“Why not?” he said, hoping he would actually live to regret the decision. “We’ll be there. Should be one hell of a party.”
A Cincinnati Cold Case Page 27
