Page 9 of Safe Enough

“There are ways.”

“Like what?”

“Just convince yourself first. You were the victim here. If you really believe it, in your mind, this guy Octavian will believe it too. Like acting a part.”

“It won’t go easy.”

“A million bucks is worth the trouble. Two million, assuming you’re going to sell the ten keys.”

“I don’t know.”

“Just stick to a script. You know nothing. It was the Boston guys. Whoever he is, Octavian’s job is to get results, not to waste his time down a blind alley. You stand firm, and he’ll tell the Martinez boys you’re clean and they’ll move on.”

“Maybe.”

“Just learn a story and stick to it. Be it. Method acting, like that fat guy who just died.”

“Marlon Brando?”

“That’s the one. Do like him. You’ll be OK.”

“Maybe.”

“But Octavian will search your crib.”

“That’s for damn sure,” the guy said. “He’ll tear it apart.”

“So the stuff can’t be there.”

“It isn’t there.”

“That’s good,” I said, and then I lapsed into silence.

“What?” he asked.

“Where is it?” I asked.

“I’m not going to tell you,” he said.

“That’s OK,” I said. “I don’t want to know. Why the hell would I? But the thing is, you can’t afford to know, either.”

“How can I not know?”

“That’s the exact problem,” I said. “This guy Octavian’s going to see it in your eyes. He’s going to see you knowing. He’s going to be beating up on you or whatever and he needs to see a blankness in your eyes. Like you don’t have a clue. That’s what he needs to see. But he isn’t going to see that.”

“What’s he going to see?”

“He’s going to see you holding out and thinking, Hey, tomorrow this will be over and I’ll be back at my cabin or my storage locker or wherever and then I’ll be OK. He’s going to know.”

“So what should I do?”

I finished the last of my beer. Warm, and flat. I considered ordering two more but I didn’t. I figured we were near the end. I figured I didn’t need any more of an investment.

“Maybe you should go to LA,” I said.

“No,” he said.

“So you should let me hold the stuff for you. Then you genuinely won’t know where it is. You’re going to need that edge.”

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