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Back Pecking Order Save as PDF
Chapters (37)
  1. Cover
  2. Colophon
  3. ALSO BY OMAR TYREE
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Contents
  7. Introduction
  8. Part I
  9. One
  10. Two
  11. Three
  12. Part II
  13. Four
  14. Five
  15. Six
  16. Part III
  17. Seven
  18. Eight
  19. Nine
  20. Part IV
  21. Ten
  22. Eleven
  23. Twelve
  24. Part V
  25. Thirteen
  26. Fourteen
  27. Fifteen
  28. Part VI
  29. Sixteen
  30. Seventeen
  31. Eighteen
  32. Part VII
  33. Nineteen
  34. Twenty
  35. Twenty-one
  36. Closing Interview:
  37. About the Author

The more she said his name, the more normal it sounded.

Ivan heard her out and nodded, while holding her business card in hand.

“Okay,” he mumbled. And he still had no response to her question.

Five

Family Ties

AFTER LUCINA’S SWIFT EXIT, Ivan continued to think to himself in silence.

Black money or money money? he pondered. But money is all green, he argued to himself. He continued to sit there at the table with her business card in hand.

“What was that all about?” someone asked him from behind. Ivan had begun to flip Lucina Gallo’s business card over and over in his right hand. But when he recognized Ida standing there beside him in her tasteful black dress, he slid the card into his jacket pocket.

“Oh, she was just asking what my plans were in party promotions.”

“She wants to partner up with you?” Ida assumed.

Ivan nodded. “I guess so.”

Ida studied his thoughtful posture. “So…what are you planning to do?”

Ivan was thinking more about Lucina’s questions than an immediate partnership with her.

He shrugged. “Well…I guess I’ll investigate it first.”

Ida nodded to him and grinned. “She’s been a part of some big parties in San Diego. I’ve seen her around before. You’re gonna have to step your game up to deal with her,” she challenged him.

Ivan laughed it off nervously. “Yeah, I think I know that already.”

Ida said, “Well, make sure we talk before you leave tonight, okay?”

He nodded to her and stood back up from the table to rejoin the crowd, only for Thomas Jones to pull him aside again.

“Now, this right here is more your style, Ivan. Get used to this kind of party and do it more often,” he commented.

Ivan grinned, but his mind was already traveling elsewhere. The fact was, he still couldn’t turn much of a profit while throwing polite business functions. Like Lucina had told him, virtuous affairs often didn’t make money. But Ivan wasn’t ready to express his thoughts on any of it yet. He continued to think it all over.

AT THE END OF THE EVENING, Ivan stopped to chat with Ida, like he had promised her he would.

“All right, I’m ready to head on home now,” he told her.

“Wait a minute,” Ida responded to him with a raised index finger. She waited for more privacy before she continued. People were still saying their good-byes near the doorway. When the opportunity presented itself, she asked Ivan, “You feel like having any company tonight, or are you on empty?”

Ivan was shocked. He stopped and stared at her before he commented. “Are you sure you don’t have to make any runs before or after?” he asked. He had become leery of Ida’s disappearing acts. He had little faith in any of her intentions. It was already approaching eleven o’clock.