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“We’ll see e can work out Thanks, Cal” He handed the fifty to the bartender and the two did a grip-and-slide handshake

“So,” I said, as alked out “What up, dawg?”

“Niggah please,” he said “Too white for words” His shoulders shook with soundless laughter as alked to his car

On the way to Choochie’s, he said, “This could be a problem You should probably wait in the car”

“Nuh-uh I’ in”

Little D opened his ot to talk to Narshto see him”

His mouth snapped shut for an instant “Fine Wear my jacket And there’s a ball cap in the back seat Put it on and pull it do over your face You have real short hair, anyway With any luck, you’ll look uy—or at least a little less white”

I reached back and found a burgundy-and-gold Redskins cap “Got any brown shoe polish?”

“Say what?”

“It worked for Gene Wilder in Silver Streak?” I grinned

He sirl, you know that?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Choochie’s turned out to be an upscale version of Calvin’s The booths were cushioned in red Naugahyde, the air was less than arolow The few custoed Rap blasted fro halfway todress-up As we approached the bartender, I pulled the cap down until the bill practically touched my nose

“Lookin’ for Narsh You seen him?” Little D asked

The bartender, rail-thin, with crepey skin, gazed at Little D with blank brown eyes “Ain’t seen no one,” he said