Eddie pulled up outside Jefe’s place and Sam got out. “To be honest, I’m not so sure what this is about. I’m hoping it won’t take long.” It had been three weeks since Sam’s visit. Two since he had made his plans.
Sam had discovered he wasn’t implanted, but he didn’t know if his place was bugged, or his car – so a lot of meetings were taking place in various clubs around The Tow. He’d soon know if his planning was for nothing, though.
This was the final week.
Sam walked into Jefe’s room, sat in the chair he sat in 18 months ago when he sold Jefe his idea of an investment. They still used the same tailor. Sam paid now.
Jefe came into the room.
“Sam. Always nice to see you. How are things going?”
“Eh, you know, Jefe. We own pretty much everything. So, it’s going well.”
“And the schools?”
“Protected.”
“Drug use?”
“Down.”
There was a moments silence.
“For how long?” Jefe asked.
“In the major spots, it’s up and down. At the edges, it’s been down for 6 straight months.”
Jefe smiled.
“Who would have thought, Sam. You’ve made a crime lord an honest man. And yet…”
“He knows.” Sam thought.
“How are things with you, Sam?” The tone was ingratiating. “Anything changing in your life? Thinking of.” A pause. Short. But there. “Going anywhere?”
“Me, Jefe? Noo.” Sam shifted in his seat. “Wh-” Shit. He’d said to much. “Why’d you say that?”
“I’ve heard rumours, Sam. People visiting. Trips to clubs. Quiet planning. I recognise the signs.”
“Signs?”
Jefe fixed Sam with a look, sizing him up, taking his measure.
“Sam,” he said, finally. “Walk with me.”
Jefe got up and walked into the back of the building. Sam had never been anywhere except that room.
He was terrified.
***
They walked up.
“Sam. You know how I think of you.? I look at the difference we have made. And. Well. I like to think we have trust, Sam. You know? That you don’t think of me as a schmuck.”
“Jefe! You know I don’t. That’s why I came straight to you with-”
“That was over a year ago, Sam. I’m wondering about now.”
The roof.
Jefe walked to the edge.
“Sam. Come and look out here with me.”
And that’s when Sam’s spime rang.
Sam looked at the number. There wasn’t one.
“You want to take that, Sam?” Not really a question.
Sam answered. “Yup?”
“Samuel. That’s not very polite is it.”
“It’s all your getting. What do you want?”
“It is time, Samuel. In three hours, The Elevator will be coming. Do you remember what I told you, Samuel?”
Sam stared into Jefe’s eyes. “Sure.”
“Tell me, Samuel. Tell me so I-”
Sam hung up.
“Problems, Sam?”
“Nothing that can’t be handled. So, what were you going to show me?” He joined Jefe at the edge of the roof.
“Look at this place, Sam. Look at what we are. We live like animals. Sure, you do what you can to help, and I let you. But this is what we are. Animals.” Jefe looked up to the smog cloud. “If that’s how they let us live; how they choose to whittle us down; what place do we have up there?”
Sam nodded. Thought long and hard before he replied. “Yep. But what are the chances of me getting up there? Shit, Jefe. You’d be up there before I would.”
Jefe’s shoulders slumped. “And there’s nothing you want to tell me, Sam. Nothing at all?”
“Fuck! It’s not your birthday, is it, Jefe?”
Jefe’s head snapped up and he glared at Sam. “This meeting is over, Sam.”
Sam walked from the roof, then took the stairs two at a time and ran to the car.
“He knows. And the Elevator’s coming. About 3 hours. Sam took a deep, ragged, breath. “Let’s go. It’s going to be all over soon enough.”
***
Jefe watched the car pull away, his jaw tightening as he ground his teeth. He knew something was going on.
He’d seen the signs, put the dots together. It’s just like it was when he was asked to go up. Jefe stormed through the building yelling for his driver.
“We’re going to The Elevator.”
***
High above The Tow, gleaming in the sunlight, a metal and glass elevator started its slow descent.
