The Referral Game

still have that god awful toupee?” she said and giggled.
    “He does,” I said. It was good to hear her laugh.
    “I guess some things never change. I never had the heart to tell him how it looked. He was sensitive about his bald spot and he was convinced that he looked great with his add-on. He would have killed to have your hair.”
    I tousled my hair self-consciously and shifted from one foot to the other. She was staring at me studying me intently. I was growing uncomfortable.
    “Mr. Randall, you have a welt on your neck. Are you alright?”
    My hand stole to the token Frankie had left me.
    “I’m fine.”
    “What happened?”
    “Just some Boy Scouts tried to help me across the street and I didn’t want to go. It got a little rough, but it’s no big deal.”
    “Can I get you some ice?”
    “No, really I’m fine,” I said. “Look, we’ve got a little time before we have to leave I’ll wait out front while you get yourself ready.”
    “Okay, I do have some things to straighten out before we leave.”
    “Fine, I’ll be waiting at the bar.”
    “You could stay here if you like,” she said.
    Was there anything behind that offer? I couldn’t tell, so I swallowed once and said: “No, I better not. I’ll have another drink and wait for you there.”
    “Alright,” she said. “I understand.”
    Maybe she did.

Chapter 6

The Ride

I found my way to the bar and ordered a double. The case was nearly over and I needed a bracer. My waitress looked disappointed when I went to the bar instead of my old table. She decided to give me the cold shoulder and didn’t look in my direction again. I felt like downing my drink and getting another, but my head was getting a little foggy again so I nursed the one I had, chewed some ice and waited for Paula.
    About half an hour later I still had the same drink, the bartender was asking if I wanted anything else every couple of minutes and looking disgusted every time I said no, when Paula came out.
    “Ready?” I asked as she sat next to me. Her perfume was an exotic fragrance. Even here, ten feet below street level in the winter, it made me think of white sand beaches, palm trees and those drinks with the little umbrellas.
    “Ready when you are Mr. Randall,” she cooed. I’d sell out my brother if she would only call me Frank. I’d have to get a brother first, but that was just a detail.
    “Stay here and I’ll get us a cab.”
    “I’ll come with you.”
    “No, it’s getting cold. I’ll be back when I’ve got a hack waiting.” I needed to clear my head anyway.
    I left her and walked outside and up the steps to the street. The wind had come up and I pulled my collar close to my ears. The rain from earlier was now a frozen glaze on the pavement. The streetlights danced off the ice. It twinkled like diamonds. It was pretty to look at, but it was dangerous to walk on. I’d have to watch my step.
    A cab was crawling down the avenue and I raised my hand to hail it. He pulled over and slid to a stop. Through the one inch opening that the cabbie rolled his window down I said to wait and I’d be back with a lady.
    “Okay buddy, but the meter starts now and I need a deposit to wait.”
    Everybody was getting into my pockets tonight. I dug out a twenty and stuffed it through the gap in the window and turned to go back in and get Paula.
    To my left in a small parking lot a young couple were arguing. He called her a liar and smacked her in the chops. Before I knew what I was doing I sang out: “Hey take it easy over there.”
    The man turned towards me with an ugly expression, but before he could say anything the girl jumped in. “Mind your own business, why don’t cha.”
    “I just thought you needed some help,” I said.
    Then she used that same two-word phrase the cabbie had used earlier. I was getting sick of it.
    “You heard her,” the man said with a laugh.
    I had a reply, but I bit it off and went back in the club. I decided to throw away all my Good Samaritan medals when I got home.
    Paula wasn’t at the bar when I got back. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I didn’t want to lose her after everything else I had done tonight. I never should have let her out of my sight. I was in a near panic when the bartender walked over and said Paula was in the ladies room. She had told him she would be right back and I was to wait. I was so relieved that I celebrated with another drink. I sat with my back to the bar and kept my eyes glued on the