“How about a cigarette?” I asked, lying back in the water. “I could do with one.”
“Sure, baby. So long as you behave yourself, I’ll treat you like my brother.” He produced a package of Lucky Strike, gave me one and lit it for me. “When you first come here all you guys try to be smart and start trouble. Take my tip and don’t. We’ve got an answer for most things. Just remember that.”
I dragged down smoke. It didn’t taste quite as good as I was expecting.
“How long do you think you’re going to keep me here?”
He took an old envelope out of his pocket and tapped ash into it, put it on the side of the bath for my use.
“From the look of your record, baby, you’re in here for good.”
I decided I would try it.
“How would you like to earn a hundred dollars?”
“Doing what?” The small eyes alerted.
“Simple enough. Telephone a friend of mine.”