Bullseye (Michael Bennett 9)

Brian turned up to the dark figure standing at the top of the monument stairs. Then he swallowed as Big Flicka, Marvin’s crazy drug-dealing tormentor, started slowly walking down.

A week ago, Brian had secretly gotten the dealer’s number from Marvin’s phone to give to his dad in case Marvin didn’t make it home. An hour before, he had called Big Flicka and told him that he had found Marvin’s gun in the room just before his parents were about to rearrange the furniture. He said that he was panicked and didn’t know what to do with it, said that he had called Marvin and couldn’t get in contact with him, and could Flicka come get it?

And here he was, Brian thought as the huge drug dealer halted in front of him, practically as big as the monument above.

Be careful what you wish for.

Chapter 63

“So you got it?” Flicka said, scanning the park.

“Yep. Here it is,” Brian said quickly, reaching into his bag.

“Easy now. You watch that shit,” Flicka said, tilting his head as he reached into his own pocket.

“It’s okay. I unloaded it,” he said as he handed over the racked semiauto and its magazine.

“Tell me why you giving this to me again,” Flicka said, immediately tucking the items into the pockets of his enormous goose down jacket.

“My nanny was about to clean the room. I didn’t know what to do, so I thought I could give it to you since you and Marvin work together or whatever.”

Flicka eyed him, his glance icier than the wind off the Hudson.

“Marvin tell you that?” he said. “We workin’ together?”

“No, I just figured.”

“How you got my number, then?”

Oh, shit, Brian thought. He hadn’t anticipated that question. What should he say?

“I found it in one of Marvin’s notebooks,” he finally pulled out of thin air.

“You a real nanny boy, huh? Couldn’t just leave it in your book bag? You think it

gonna bite you? Gonna explode? Guns don’t kill people, boy. How stupid can you be?”

“I didn’t know what to do, man. I thought this would help you out. I’m sorry to bother you. I was just trying to help. Honestly.”

“Yeah, you better be sorry. And Marvin’s gonna be real sorry, I guarantee you, after I get through teaching him about how to properly stash my precious belongings.”

Big Flicka suddenly leaned in close to where Brian sat on the wall. Brian held his breath. He was one big, big dude.

“Now, you listen up because I’m only gonna tell you once, you nosy little nanny boy,” Flicka said in his ear. “Don’t you be concernin’ yourself anymore about me and Marvin. Do I need to illustrate how bad that would turn out for you, for your family?”

“No. I got it. Honestly,” Brian said. “Please. I’m sorry.”

Flicka tsked as he slowly backed off. Then he laughed and smiled. Like intimidating people was the funniest joke in the world. He actually had a really nice smile. He could sell things on TV.

“I believe you are,” he finally said, and Brian let out his breath as Flicka headed for the stairs.

Brian watched as Flicka made it to the top of the stairs, and he immediately got up off the wall and started booking north along one of the park paths.

Just as he saw the kiosk around the bend in the path up ahead, he looked at his phone to see that Marvin was calling him.

“What the hell are you doing, Brian?” Marvin said. “Is it true you met with Flicka? What the hell?”

“I’m ending this, dude,” Brian said as he ran.