Page 26 (2/2)

In the narrow hallway, Memphis passed Gabe and the Count, ere on their way out back

"Hey, boss," Gabe said, gripping Me to that rent party on Saturday? Plenty of flossy chicks and whiskey"

"Whose whiskey? Don’t get some coffin varnish off soue" It was a fact that disreputable bootleggers soasoline

Gabe spread his hands wide and grinned "Leave it to Gabe, brother"

Mehed Other than Isaiah, Gabe had been the one constant in his life They’d otten into trouble with the principal for selling cigarettes behind the school and Meht It set the tone of their friendship: Meet Gabe out of trouble, and Gabe was there to help Me Gabe was serious about was music He was one of the hottest tru about the skinny kid with the big sound Even Duke Ellington had come to hear Gabe play It was one of the reasons Papa Charles kept him on Gabe was a prankster and a trouble that horn, it was all worth it

"Going out for a smoke You want some mezz?" Gabe asked His eyes were already a little red

Memphis shook his head "Gotta keep a clear head, Gabe"

"Suit yourself, Grandma"

"I usually do," Meht, feeling the warh a tunnel into the building next door where all the offices were Several secretaries sat at long tables, counting ’s numbers racket Memphis tipped his cap to them and slipped into Papa Charles’s office Froany desk, Papa Charles waved Me chair while he finished his telephone call

Papa Charles was the undisputed king of Harlem He controlled the nu s with the cops If you needed a loan, you went to Papa Charles When a church needed a new building, Papa Charles gave theanizations, and even Harlem’s professional basketball team, the New York Renaissance, or Rens, were financed in part by Papa Charles, the Dapper Gentleman And at several clubs and speakeasies, like the Hotsy Totsy, he showcased some of the bestas I’ the numbers in Harlem, it’ll stay black," Papa Charles said firmly into the telephone, "and you can tell Dutch Schultz and his associates that I say so" He hung up forcefully and opened the lid on a silver box, selecting a cigar He bit off the end and spat it into his wastebasket Meh as the first puffs of smoke billowed out

"Trouble?"

Papa Charles waved the thought and the sers want to run the Harle hard at it Heard the police raided one of Queenie’s joints last night"