Fatty and the others followed me out, and even Heidi trailed behind. That little troublemaker loved excitement—there was no way she’d stay put in the car during a scene like this.


    "Officer, this man is my friend. May I ask what he’s done?" I grabbed one of the policemen and pointed at Jack.


    The officer glanced at me, his expression impatient. "You sure know how to pick ‘friends,’ sir. This guy? He’s their ringleader. Pretty well-known around Harvey Street. Goes by the name ‘Ripper.’ Fights, extortion, fraud—he’s done it all. Smashing windows, stealing kids’ dolls—he doesn’t discriminate. So tell me, sir, how does a guy like you end up friends with a guy like him?"


    The young cop shook his head in disbelief.


    "Boss, it’s you! Please, save me! If you don’t, I’m going to rot in jail!" Jack, spotting me, clung to me like a drowning man to driftwood.


    Seeing his tear-streaked face, I sighed. "Quit bawling! You’re a grown man crying like a damsel in distress. Have some dignity!"


    "Boss! I don’t care what happens to me, but my little brother—he’s only ten. Our parents died years ago, and we only have each other. If I go to jail, who’s going to take care of him? Please, boss, I’m begging you!"


    Jack gripped my clothes, his voice hoarse from desperation.


    "Officer, can I bail him out?" I asked.


    "Sure, if you’ve got two thousand bucks." The cop said it as if it were pocket change, but to me, it was like a thunderclap.


    Two thousand dollars?! That was daylight robbery! What kind of money was that?


    For one, I didn’t have the authority to move that kind of cash—it required board approval. And even if they signed off on it, I didn’t have that kind of money on me. Who in their right mind strolls through Hollywood at night carrying a fortune?


    Yet looking at Jack’s tearful face, I couldn’t just abandon him. I was stuck.


    "Can I talk to your superior?"


    "Alright, I’ll get him for you." The officer gave me a look and went to find his boss.


    Behind me, Heidi kicked my leg. "Why are you saving him? Is he really your friend?"


    "Miss, do you think I go around looking for trouble? The guy has a ten-year-old brother. If he ends up in jail, what’s the kid supposed to do? By the way, I need two thousand bucks to bail him out. I don’t have that kind of cash—how about you lend me some? I’ll pay you back when I can." I flashed her my most ingratiating smile.


    "Oh, now you remember me? You didn’t seem to care much earlier! Fine, I’ll lend you the money, but on two conditions."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Great. For Jack’s unseen little brother, I had no choice but to bite the bullet.


    "Name them."


    Jack, moved to tears, sniffled beside me.


    "First, you write me an IOU. Until you pay me back, you have to come when I call."


    "Hey, don’t push it! I have real work to do, you know. Not everyone lounges around like you!"


    "Then I’m leaving." Heidi bent down to climb back into the car, and I quickly grabbed her arm.


    "Fine! I agree!"


    The little minx smirked. "Second, I haven’t thought of it yet. I’ll let you know when I do."


    I nearly passed out. Me, Andrei Corleone—outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and utterly humiliated!


    "Fine, I agree to that too. Now hand over the money."


    Heidi glanced at me, then suddenly grinned and ran ahead, her whole body shaking with excitement. "Uncle Cook!"


    A rotund police officer across the way burst into laughter and scooped her up in a bear hug.


    "Heidi! What are you doing here at this hour? Harvey Street isn’t safe for you. I swear, I’m telling your father tomorrow—let’s see how he deals with you!"


    Heidi wrapped her arms around the big cop’s neck and pouted. "Uncle Cook would never let Dad scold me."


    The officer let out a booming laugh.


    "Uncle Cook, let me introduce you to someone." Heidi pulled him over to me. "This is Andrei Corleone, my good friend and a close associate of Malskrov. Andrei, this is my dearest uncle, Chief Cook, head of the Harvey Street and North Hollywood police force."


    Cook and I exchanged pleasantries, and Heidi got straight to the point—she wanted Jack released.


    Cook playfully tapped her forehead. "That’s all? You had me worried for a second. Alright, you two—let him go and tell him to behave."


    The officers uncuffed Jack and shoved him toward us.


    After chatting with Heidi a bit longer, Cook and his squad packed up and left.


    "Write the IOU," Heidi said, dead serious.


    "You little cheat! You didn’t even use your own money!"


    "And you’re shameless! A man should keep his word! Besides, I got your friend out. If you don’t write it, I’ll have Uncle Cook throw him back in."


    "Fine, fine! I’ll write it!" I patted my pockets, only to realize I’d given my pen to Lainie.


    "Here! Knew you’d be unprepared! Ugh, Lainie got lucky with that fancy pen, and I’m stuck here suffering in the cold with you." Heidi pulled out an exquisite gold pen, engraved with the Lemur family crest—a budding lily beneath her initials.


    I took the pen as Gans handed me a sheet of paper. Bowing my head like an indentured servant, I wrote out the IOU.


    Satisfied, Heidi folded it neatly, stuffed it into her purse, and hopped into her car.


    "Now that I’ve dropped you all off, I’m heading home. Goodbye, Count Corleone." She signaled her driver, and the car glided away from Harvey Street.


    "Hey! Your pen!" I shouted after her.


    "Keep it! You’re too broke to even own a pen! Just don’t go giving this one away, or you’ll regret it!" Heidi stuck her head out the window and wagged a threatening finger at me.


    Laughter erupted around me.


    "Boss, thank you for saving me," Jack mumbled, wiping his nose, his gratitude unmistakable.


    "Jack, this kind of life isn’t sustainable. If not for yourself, think about your little brother."


    "Boss, I don’t have a choice. Who’s going to hire a street thug like me?" Jack’s face was full of bitterness.


    "How many men do you have under you?"


    "Over fifty." Jack puffed out his chest, clearly proud.


    Not bad. The kid had a decent-sized crew.


    "And what do you guys do all day?"


    "Whatever pays. Most of the time, though, we just go hungry." Jack chuckled dryly and licked his chapped lips.


    "What about the two hundred dollars I gave you? Spent already?"


    "Paid off my brother’s medical bills."


    "What’s wrong with him?"


    "Congenital heart disease."


    I stared at Jack, speechless.


    "Jack, since you call me ‘boss,’ I can’t ignore you. Come to my office tomorrow—I have something to discuss with you." I patted his shoulder and led my crew toward the company building.


    "Thank you, Boss!" Jack’s voice trembled behind me, thick with emotion.