Majoring in Murder

Chapter 11

Monday I was back at school, eager to try settling into my normal routine, which consisted of catching up on the studying I'd neglected and worrying over my declining grades. I reveled in that sense of normalcy until I saw a guy sitting in a black Mercedes as I was leaving my Philosophy class. He beckoned me over and I recognized the colossal man behind the wheel as the knuckly Giovanni.

"Did you ditch the cell phone?" Giovanni asked.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Carlo wants to see you on Wednesday at eight o'clock."

"In the morning?"

Giovanni looked at me as if worms were crawling out of my ears. "No. Not in the morning."

I nodded and felt my neck and face flush with embarrassment. I don't know why I felt any sense of humiliation. It was a legitimate question. "Where at?"

"Same place as before," Giovanni said. "He'll be in his usual place upstairs."

I told Giovanni I'd be there and he drove away in the black Mercedes without so much as a "See ya later".

Anticipating the meeting with Carlo made my stomach upset during the next day and a half. I tried not to dwell on it, but I was intimidated by the man and didn't want to face him.

That Wednesday, I left school at six thirty and arrived at the restaurant with ten minutes to spare. I went inside, crossed the dining room, ascended the stairs to the bar, and approached the alcove.

Carlo wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin and stood up when he saw me. "Ah. There he is." He appeared jovial as he extended his hand. I hesitated briefly before shaking. When his grip relaxed and I had my hand back, I felt the urge to wipe it on my pants leg, but resisted the temptation. He gestured for me to sit. I did and Carlo sat back down. "You did a fine job. Well done."

I attempted a smile. After all, I didn't want him to see how much I loathed him. "I brought the rifle back. It's out in my trunk." A confused expression came to Carlo's face. "You want the rifle back, don't you? I did what you wanted. I finished the job."

Carlo drank from his wine glass and replaced it on the table. "I don't think you understand, Jason," he said. "Our business relationship has only just begun."

"I thought you just wanted me to do the one thing. It's done. You never said there'd be more. That's the end of our arrangement."

"No, no, no." Carlo shook his head. "You don't think I can just let you walk away after what you've done, do you? Besides, you did a great job. You're a natural, kid."

"I guess I misunderstood our agreement then," I said. "I thought you just wanted me to do the one thing and that'd be it."

Carlo interlaced his fingers, palms flat on the table and leaned slightly forward. "You've got a natural talent, Jason. I want to put that talent to work for me."

Carlo looked at me as though waiting for a response. To be fair, I didn't realize it was a question. How was I supposed to react to his proposition? I sure as hell wasn't excited about it.

He went on: "Now, I'm not talking about making you a regular member of my crew or nothing. That's outta the question, but I can offer to take care of you. You know, you do this for me and, in turn, I'll watch out for you."

"I just want to go back to a normal life," I said.

"Look, Jason, I know you're a smart kid. Hear me out. There is no normal life for you now. You've done some things that society thinks are unspeakable. Things that've changed you even if you don't know it yet."