Owning Up by George Pelecanos

Author:George Pelecanos [PELECANOS, GEORGE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

The first time Maria met Frank Brown, she was on the arm of Jack Donnelly. They were walking leisurely down 7th Street, window-shopping at the King’s Palace department store, when they came upon Frank. Maria wore a beaded, baby-blue crepe dress. She stood straight to let Frank get a look at her. She was a lovely young woman and feeling it. Her full buttocks and strong legs filled out her dress.

“Well, hello, Frankie,” said Jack, smiling brilliantly. “Maria Nichols, meet Frank Brown.”

“Jack speaks highly of you,” said Maria.

“And of you,” said Frank. He produced a package of Chesterfield cigarettes and a box of Union matches, and gave himself a light. Later, Leah would come to know that Frank smoked more heavily when he was nervous or disturbed.

“What brings you down here?” said Jack.

Frank swept his hand around the block. “Shopping.” He said it softly, as if he was afraid to be caught in a lie. It was the district for it, after all. Along with King’s, there was Harry Kaufman’s, Goldenberg’s, and Lansburgh’s, and all manner of tailors and haberdashers on 7th. Later, Frank would admit to Maria that he was wandering that day, as he had been feeling lonely. He’d gone down to 7th to kill some time.

“Gonna buy a suit, Frank?” said Jack.

Frank dragged on his cigarette and exhaled. “Oh, I don’t know.”

“There’s plenty of Jew tailors down here who can fix you up.”

“I guess I’m just looking around.”

“We’re going to lunch,” said Maria. “Would you care to join us?”

Frank looked at Jack. Jack’s genial expression had not changed, but his eyes said no.

“Thanks, but I’ve eaten,” said Frank, another lie.

“We’ll be on our way, then,” said Jack, and he clapped Frank on the arm. “Tomorrow, right? Usual time?”

“Tomorrow,” said Frank, turning to Maria and bowing his head slightly. “Very nice to meet you, Maria.”

“You also,” she said.

Frank stared into her hazel eyes.

Jack and Maria walked away arm in arm, as a streetcar passed and clacked along its tracks. Maria looked over her shoulder briefly at Frank, standing there, still looking her way. He was in a poplin shirt with a starched white collar, and wore gunmetal oxfords with a Yale toe. A sharp dresser, for sure. He was blond-haired, fair-skinned with blue eyes, and as tall as Jack, himself a big man. Frank was easy on the eyes, and clearly he was smitten with her. In another life she might have gone around with Frank. But she was with Jack. That is, she was at the time.

After lunch, Jack and Maria walked to Jack’s pride, a 1917, four-cylinder Dodge touring car with black fender skirts, an electric starter, and wood artillery wheels. Jack was a sworn Dodge Brothers man. With Maria beside him, he put the stick in gear and pulled off the curb.

They drove north. 7th Street became Georgia Avenue, which until 1909 had been called Brightwood Avenue. Despite protests from local residents, the name change was approved in an appropriations bill sponsored by a Southern senator.

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