The Cut by George Pelecanos

Author:George Pelecanos
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: FIC022000
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Published: 2011-08-28T22:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

PETE GIBSON had said that he had “someone inside” who could get Lucas the information he was looking for, and the next day Gibson made good on his claim. Lucas now had in hand the addresses of record for Ricardo Holley and his son Larry.

“I owe you,” said Lucas.

Gibson said, “Stay in touch.”

Lucas phoned Marquis Rollins and told him he had a little work for him, if he was interested. Marquis said that he was.

The following morning, Lucas and Marquis were having an early breakfast at the Tastee Diner on Cameron Street in downtown Silver Spring. Marquis was dressed conservatively: Adidas track pants and a matching shirt, with his usual New Balance sneakers. Lucas was in Dickies. Marquis was having eggs over easy with hash browns and a small steak; Lucas was enjoying his favorite Tastee dish, the chipped beef on toast.

Their roving waitress arrived, coffee pot in hand, and refilled their cups.

“Habesha, baby,” said Marquis.

“You speak my language?” she said with a brilliant smile.

“Enough to let you know I care.”

The waitress, still smiling, drifted. She held the smile as she filled the cups of a couple of Montgomery County police officers in a nearby booth.

“It’s damn near all Ethiopians working here,” said Marquis. “I mean they’re all over this neighborhood.”

“Eritreans, too,” said Lucas. “They do work hard.”

“I like the way the women look. They got that beautiful reddish skin, you know? Real nice complexions. But they won’t give me the time of day.”

“She smiled at you.”

“She smiling at everyone.”

“True.”

“I can’t get to first base with these Ethiopian gals.”

“They can’t all like you, man.”

“I don’t understand what it is. African women just don’t want to get with African American men.”

“Maybe you ought to call Al Sharpton. He could organize a protest or somethin.”

“You got his number?”

“Yeah, we’re tight.”

Lucas and Marquis went to the register to settle up. It was time to get to work.

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