JEFFREY RUSSELL LOOKED at his watch. Inside his car, he kept looking around, uneasy. Five thirty. It was time. He got out of the car and arranged his suit. He looked always impeccable. He had made it in life: he had money, businesses, a beautiful wife, and a collection of cars. Plus, he had the respect of the entire town. There wasn’t a nightclub or any other social place to which he’d arrive and not get cheered by one of his many friends and acquaintances. He was wearing a nice blue suit. This part of town, the west, he didn''t frequented much these days. He lived here in his younger days when he was broke. However, after achieving success, he became too occupied with living the good life to return. It smelled of urine and cheap bread, with a bakery just around the corner. People walked by with large bags of bread in their hands. Jeffrey always believed he was destined for wealth. He simply refused to accept a different reality for himself. Even when he had nothing, he possessed an unwavering confidence and certainty that he would be a millionaire, a conviction that often led those around him to question his sanity but also brought laughter, so it was all good.
Five thirty-three. He saw him. Michael had just turned in the bakery corner, wearing a black leather jacket and a black baseball hat. He gestured him. Michael saw him and hurried up.
“So what’s the deal, Jeffrey?”
“They wanna kill me.”
“Who? Are you out of your mind?”
“No, listen. They wanna kill me.”
“What the hell are you talking about, man?”
“Listen,” Jeffrey’s eyes were cold as if he knew that somehow, he was living his last moments. “I know about you and Linda. I’m not mad at you. And don’t bother to deny it to me. You know, I’m a shark. An old shark. I made my money reading people, you know. In sales, you get to learn who’s gonna buy and who’s gonna waste your time. It transfers to other things in life. I knew it, Michael, from the beginning. I even allowed it."
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“Why did you tell me to come here?” Michael asked, ashamed, shrugging.
“I need to ask you something. I need you to tell Linda something. But there can be no records of what I’ll tell you, do you understand?”
“Yes. I’ll tell her whatever you want me to.”
“Michael. This is a serious matter. You messed with my wife; don’t mess with my legacy, too.”
Michael shook his head. The fact that Jeffrey was so cool about him sleeping with his wife just made him upset, and it confused him. He reached into his pocket and lit a cigarette.
Michael took a long, massive drag of his cigarette. Then he frowned.
“But what legacy, man? What are you talking about?”
“Listen, Michael. I know I fired you when I noticed you were banging Linda. But it wasn’t personal. I just couldn’t allow to have the man who fucks my wife to work for me. But I think we’re both done with that. I need you to go, now, and tell Linda burn, hear me right, burn a laptop that’s in my desk room. I’m not going back home.”
“But what’s in there, anyways?”
“None of your business, boy. Just do what I told you. Please, from man to man, do me that favor. I’m leaving, Michael. They’re gonna kill me.”
“Who? Who’s gonna kill you?”
Jeffrey didn’t flinch.
“That’s the thing. I’ve hurt too many people. It can be anyone.”
Michael looked stressed. He didn’t know what to do. He dropped his cigarette on the sidewalk and left. After giving a few steps in the direction from which he had come, he turned around and faced Jeffrey once again.
“You’re a good man, Jeffrey. I know you are. Maybe a little crazy and paranoid, but a gentleman for sure. I’ll do what you’ve told me.”
Jeffrey smiled and nodded. He was about to reenter his car when he heard heavy steps on the asphalt, behind him. It was them. They’ve caught him, after all.