Rally
McCready hears the squeal of tires around the corner. He turns to Dino.
"They have arrived," he says. "Now, if you'll just give me a moment."
His eyes scan the crowd and find the two victims he is looking for. He walks slightly forward, towards the first, a bearded homeless man in a military jacket. He can smell the man's stench from here. The homeless guy sees McCready and walks forward to meet him. The name on his jacket reads "Springsteen," and the markings are that of the Marines.
"Gotta change, mister? I needa bed, a place to sleep..."
Forbes reaches into his pocket and pulls out several hundred dollar bills. He extends them to Springsteen.
"This is enough for a week at the 54th Street Y. There's one condition."
Springsteen's eyes widen. His Gollum like fingers reach for the money, but McCready pulls them back.
"There's one condition."
The man nods.
"You have to go up to the stage, get Mr. Avery's attention, and ask him what his connection is to a Jimmy "Three Rings" Tivoli. He'll blow you off-don't let him. Keep asking and harassing him. Say you have proof. But don't let the cops catch you-OK?"
"I never liked those rich fucks anyway," Springsteen says.
Forbes smiles. "There's a good man." He hands them the money. "That's five hundred. I'll be watching you."
He spins around and disappears back into the crowd, towards Dino. As they walk to Othello's car, he passes a grandma on a cell phone, eagerly regaling her children with the details of the event and "oh how cute that Mr. Avery looks in his nice suit." It is this last comment that sets McCready off.
He reaches over and whips the phone out of her hand, flinging it to the ground.
"I. FUCKING. Hate. Cell. Phones." he says as he stomps it into tiny little pieces. The little blue-haired lady can only look on in shock.
Once he's finished with her cell phone, he lights up a cigarette, then turns to the elderly woman, sneering.
"Call the cops. I dare you."
She raises her hand to summon the police officers. He slaps it down with two hundred dollars.
As he bends down to pick up the parts of the cell, he says. "That's enough to get cell phones for you half a dozen kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Compliments of that cute Mr. Avery's rival. Now. I dare you."
He blows cigarette smoke into her face and she coughs. McCready turns to Dino.
"Let's get th' fuck outta here." he says as he slips the parts into his jacket pocket.
As he makes his way towards Othello's van, he hears the Marine starting to ask questions and he smiles.
