Eureka Man: A Novel Read Free Page B

it.”
    “You think so, Jimmy?”
    “I know so, Miss Plenty.”
    “All right. Would you like a couple of
cigarettes for helping us?”
    Jimmy Six blinked at the offer but didn't
comment. He merely thanked her when she extended the two Kools to
him.
    “That's it, boys. Thanks a lot.”
    Jimmy Six ambled silently behind Oliver all
the way to the basement locker room. “Man, that was really
something, Priddy.”
    “What's that?”
    “You know. Seeing how the other half lives
around here.”
    “Huh?”
    “You know what I'm talking about. You got it
made, don't you?”
    Oliver made his voice pleasant, but he knew
something was developing. “How do you figure?”
    “Come on, you're up there all day with that
crazy bitch and I know she gives you all kinds of fringe benefits.
The way I see it you're either hand washing her nasty drawers or
you've got your hands inside them. Which is it, Priddy? You tapping
that?”
    “Are you kidding me?”
    “Do I sound like I'm kidding?”
    “That's real funny. First, she's not my type.
Second, she's too old for me and third, she's crazy.”
    “Not your type or not your gender?”
    “What?”
    “Maybe you don't like women. You walk on the
wild side, Priddy?”
    “Very funny.”
    “Why aren't you laughing then?”
    “Cut the shit, Jimmy.”
    “OK, let's talk business.”
    Oliver opened his locker and took out his
soap dish, washcloth and towel. “What's on your mind?”
    “What's on my mind is I want a piece of the
action.”
    “What action?”
    Jimmy Six sighed as if his patience was being
tried. “You think I'm stupid, Priddy? I see you passing off
cigarettes to that nigger Philly Dog almost every day and I know he
trades them off for cupcakes and postage stamps and all kinds of
other shit for you. I know everything that goes on around here.
You're pretty fucking slick. I've got to give you that. But dig
this. I've got a real bad nicotine Jones, and four Buckhorns a day
ain't getting it. You're gonna cut me in on your little racket and
that's all there is to it.”
    Oliver smiled and so did Jimmy Six. “Wait a
minute, I get a few extra cigarettes and you think I'm supposed to
cut you in, is that it?”
    “Not exactly. See, it ain't what I think,
it's what I want, and what I want is four Kools every day starting
tomorrow.”
    Oliver slung the towel over his shoulder.
“I'm not giving you shit, Jimmy.”
    “Listen, Priddy, you're a real smooth dude,
and you're probably real tough, I don't know. But I want to show
you something. Come here for a minute.”
    “Look, I'm going to wash up, man.” He was
decisive, too, and he was proud of the arrogance in his voice.
    “No, no, you have to see this now. It won't
take a minute.” Oliver sighed and followed Jimmy Six to his locker.
Jimmy opened the door and pointed. “Look at that.”
    In what seemed to him like a nonchalant and
slow motion, Oliver looked inside Jimmy Six's locker and saw a
men's magazine sitting on top of a bag of Oreos. Black Amazons.
“OK, so what? You've got a smut magazine. Congratulations.”
    Jimmy Six smirked. “Look at the address
label, dumb ass.”
    After Oliver had time to read Joe Plenty's
name, Jimmy Six lowered his voice. “Now if you don't want that
magazine to wind up in your black mammy's hands you'll do what I
tell you. Starting with four cigarettes a day.” Jimmy Six slammed
his locker. “And I already know that you stole more than just this
one cause I saw your nigger buddy with two other ones last night
when he rented this one to me. You're slick, Priddy. Real goddamn
slick. I'm looking forward to being your partner.”
    Oliver smiled but he was not amused. “Are you
kidding? I'm not going to be your fucking partner. No goddamn way.
Go ahead and show her the magazine. That's the same as being a rat,
Jimmy. If you want to be labeled a rat, go ahead and give it to
her. I don't give a fuck.”
    “Who you calling a rat?”
    “You're standing here trying to blackmail me,
Jimmy. That's