Milton chuckled and gently pinched my arm. “Girl, what’s wrong with you? Why would you want to spend money on something like a French fragrance when you can swipe it from MacPherson’s like we do so many other things?”

“Uh-uh. They keep the smell-goods in a locked case, because for a long time that was the thing the other shoplifters swiped the most.”

“All right then. Anything we can get over what we owe Lamar, we should pamper ourselves big-time. You can buy whatever you want with your cut. I’ll use mine to get in a few crap and poker games.”

I took in a sharp breath and shook my head. I didn’t want us to get too carried away and sink into another black hole after we got out of the one we was in now. “Milton, you know I don’t like you gambling too much.” The puppy-dog look on his face made me feel like I was picking on him, so I backed off. “Well, one good thing about you gambling is that it helps keep your temperament under control.”

“Thanks, baby. So, you wouldn’t mind if I start gambling again every now and then with the extra money we get?”

I had a feeling he gambled—and lost—way more than he admitted. I’d been hearing rumors from some of the people who drunk with us that he was always looking for a game to get in. But since I didn’t have no proof that his gambling was out of control, I let it slide. If I did get proof, I’d confront him then. “I do mind. But after what we been through, you can play poker or roll dice every day from now on if you want to—after you help me pay a few bills. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Everybody we plan on asking for money might turn us down.”

Milton waved his hand. “Baby, don’t worry your pretty little head about nothing. I got a feeling we’ll get all we need . . .” He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and a pat on my shoulder. “We’ll start with Odell and Joyce. But we should wait a few more days.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll be surprised enough when they hear how much we need to borrow.” Milton paused and widened his eyes. Then he snapped his fingers. “I just thought of something. Maybe we shouldn’t bring Joyce into the mix too soon, if we do at all. She is such a pig in a poke. If she decides to be stingy, she might put a bug in Odell’s ear and stop him from helping us out. When I decide the time is right, let’s just deal with Odell. You cool with holding off on him for a little while?”