Voyage, Meet village village. I heard one of the killer screams of Tony's
knife embedded in his shoulder. The knife killer was still with it enough to
raise his gun and pointed at Tony. I had a mind, no water
pistol in my hand. Three quick shots. The whistling projectiles ripped into the
hitman's skull. Dead man's trigger. He got off one final shot before he
tilted to his left and, in slow motion, toppled to the floor and
lay motionless. That shot missed Tony but hit me. I staggered. Tony
collapsed on his face and breathed. After a long moment, Tony rose and
hit the light switch. He could see I had been shot, and his
face was torn between his hatred for me and his worried for me. It
hurts to breathe. He approached and examined me. We've got to get you
to a hospital now. Sorry, we'll talk about that. After he walked
away from me, I'm calling this in. He stepped into my living room
and dialed nine one one. He came back and sat with me while we
waited for the ambulance to come. Say something. This isn't the time.
It might be the only time we get you really want to do this now?
Yes, you're crazy. You didn't just play me for a chump.
You put my life at risk. You were only one you'd find her.
I loved you like they never loved anybody in my life, and you knew
it. And you traded done that. You called me, and you damn
near got me killed. You planned the heist. You don't need the money.
Why I didn't know the answer. I was just wired that way.
Regular life, the same coffee shop every morning, the same drive home every
night. That was torture to me. I needed the action. Since I
was a teenager. Some people jump off planes. I did crazy shit like
this. I had no defense. I had no defense when I ran with
Stevie back in the day, I had no defense. Now it was indefensible.
It didn't even make sense to me. How could it make sense to
Tony? Make it up every day and rested my life. Go to the
fence if you want, I think I can ever trust you again. Lisa
was an emergency surgery for six hours at the hospital. The gunman's bullet had
punctured a lung, but mister Hard she bled internally and received massive blood transfusions,
her lungs choked with blood. In the waiting room, I spoke for
hours to the homicide boys. The cops seemed to buy that the shooting had
been self defense, and to be fair, they were the money was still
hidden in Lisa's safe. I swore to whichever demons ruled this world, that
if they'd just let Lisa live, might do anything. It was just over
six hours when the oar doors opened and a petite brunette dressed in blue scrubs
stepped out. There were blood stains all over her chest and gloves, and
she looked exhausted. Her name tag read Elizabeth Gelman, m D. I
stopped, I stood, I awaited sentencing. She told me Lisa was still
alive, but in a coma, and that when people talk to people in
a coma it helped. So I went to Lisa's hospital room. She was
unconscious, receiving oxygen through her nose. I talked to her. I told
her what our life together would be like, whether we married or not,
whether we lived together or separate, whether she turned herself in or she didn't.
I told her. I told her of the clothes I would buy for
her, of the meals, I would prepare for her of the types of
flowers I would bring her, and of the books I would dedicate to her.
I described every single dance club in New York City, straight from their
websites, and promised her we would patronize each whenever she desired. I spoke
to her through tears and through dry eyes, with a catch in my voice,
and with none, when I was fresh, and when I was tired,
whether I was thirsty or I wasn't, I spoke to her, and
she leapt. Lisa recovered consciousness on the third day. She looked at me.
We was silent for a long time. Then I felt her hand lightly
apply pressure to mine. Hi, Lisa. I couldn't choke out anything else.
It was enough. She rested peacefully on the pillows. I still held
her hand. The hospital seemed unusually quiet. We're not through anymore. Her
voice was throaty, coming from somewhere deep inside. Did you hear me?
I've been talking to you for the past forty eight hours. I believe I
did. Lisa. You saved my life. Honey, I'm the one who
put you in danger in the first place. You don't look so good,
tony. Yeah, well you don't look so hard either, she laughed.
I know, she turned serious. I'll turn myself in. It's the worst
thing I ever did to you and to the users, all that blow on
the street. I can't live with it. To your minimum for trafficking in
that bulk, she nodded, convicted felon. They'll strip you your license.
You know, they'll never practice psychotherapy again. My lies almost got you killed.
We enjoyed each other's company until Lisa needed to sleep. It was the
middle of the day. Maybe because I'm sick in the head, I still
thought about where destiny was. I needed to talk to her to get this
all squared in my mind. Where do you go when you got nowhere to
go? Family? Destiny was obviously not with Lisa or adoptive family. Maybe
she had biological family in the city. Now that I knew exactly who she
was, I had a way to look. Turned out she had a brother,
Robert Chisholm Reggie, and I went to his address. If she sat
there, she probably never goes out, pulled up in the basement like a
rat, never a chirp out of her. Riverdale was a peaceful, upper
middle class neighborhood here the private homes were set back from the street. The
lawns were bright green and freshly mowed. Kid shot baskets on driveway hoops and
road bikes in the street quiet, friendly, prosperous, little or no street
crime. I wondered if Robert Chisholm was a swindler too. He had a
brick house, expansive and solid, built to last. It had a covered
front porch shrouded by a tangle of plants and flowers and heavy ceramic pots,
and a series of arching trees adorning a wide expanse of manicured lawn. A
red luxury car was parked in the driveway. Mister Robert Chisholm must be paying
a fortunate maintenance and gardener fees. I walked up the stairs on to the
front porch. I rang the front bell. It took a few seconds,
then someone opened the door. He was a tall, slim black man with
high cheekbones and sharp, intelligent eyes. He was strikingly good looking, not
unlike his sister in that regard. I guessed he was friendly. I told
him the truth. He stopped being friendly and threatened to call the cops.
I encouraged him to do so, since he was harboring a fugitive. When
I told him we wouldn't involve the cops, he reluctantly let me in.
We sat on a polstered chairs at an expansive wooden table. I heard the
front door close with a soft click. I leaped at my feet. The
conniving be it outsmarted me. I raced out of the kitchen and reached for
the door. She had guessed I'd have the rear exitcot it that's where Reggie
was, and she slithered up the front. I jerked the door open and
leaped under the porch. She stopped. She wir facing me, pointing something
in her right hand. Did she have a gun? Now? It was
peppers rolling. I dived to my right, craning my neck, extending my
face away from her right hand. I crawled forward. She fired. The
inflammatory fumes flared the air to my left. I dived across the body,
knocking the canister from my hand in my chest. I flipped away with my
left hand. I pinned her shoulders round with each hand. Her eyes exuded
fear, like she was pinned by a terrant actor. Hey, look at
me, Look at me. I'm a friend of Lisa flowers. I'm not
the cartel and I'm not the cops. You're a friend of Lisa. I
pulled my private opie license and showed it to her. Can we go back
inside? Please? Eventually we didn't Reggie two. We sat down me,
Glara and at Destiny's brother. Do you want to see Lisa? I love
Lisa? But but what Lisa's crazy? She pleaded with me to hijack the
cartel Manjerie agreed, but me with a gun going against those killers? You
didn't want to do it? Not want to do it? I was terrified.
No, I didn't want to do it? Are you crazy? Two
point four million worth a blow? Split? Three ways? Would being inducement?
Lisa promised a clean heist. It was it, Yeah, would have
been, except the shipment was late. Cartel guys showed up tracking their package.
Monjury Panic shot one of them. But you should have seen Lisa.
She swaggered at the driver. She held a big gun, too big for
her gloved hands, steadily aimed at the driver's chest. Monjury was behind her.
I stood shaking in the background. Lisa shoved the snout into the driver's
ear. She never said a word, but held a note in both English
and Spanish, in front of his eyes, said give us the payload,
or we'll splatter your brains across the windshield. Do you think she'd have done
it? No, I know she wouldn't. But he didn't know it.
He was just a driver. You should have seen how fast he opened the
car's trunk and pulled out the gym bags loaded with blow. Then then what
I drove? My hands shook. The car was all over the road,
but Lisa shot out the front tires of their car. I wouldn't have believed
that kind of shooting was possible. She came more alive than anybody I've ever
seen. She was joyful. She loved it. You wore masks correct and
padded coats and elevated shoes and men's guns too big for my hand. Look,
you stay in New York. No matter how long you hide in your
brother's house. The cartel is gonna find you and kill you. If I
found you, they will too, even if they don't know your real name.
Lisa has the money whatever jury didn't have. Yeah, which is going
back to the cartel or we're all getting killed. Reggie's gonna spot you some
walking away cast. I am there. You can afford you my accounting.
Now, I'll get you back when fifty grand. You're a terrible friend.
That hurts me. You're a great friend. I wish I wasn't fifty grand.
You go somewhere you've never been, and you start over places that start
with an eye, Iowa Idoa, places people don't look got that, okay.
I just don't want to be scared any to stay in touch with your
sister too. Set up a dummy email account, use disposable cell phones,
call from pay phones if you can find them, but stay in touch.
We went back to Lisa's. There was nine hundred thousand and us safe Monsourie's
death. That goes the rest of vanish We left it in several black bags
that Cortez's garage, along with a note with a burner cell number. He
can reach me at calm. Where's the rest of it? In police evidence?
One of your thieves is dead. Not my problem. You had zero
when you woke up this morning. Nine hundred grand's not nothing, destiny.
I don't know. I made it that way on purpose. You need another
million to leave her alone. She doesn't have it. There were three of
them, once dead, once gone, who's the third and where are they?
Maybe they have the rest. My part of this was destiny. How
poetic we're gonna have a problem depends on the mood of the evening. We
all got a boss. If there's a problem next time, you won't get
the jump. Want me so easy? Well, but maybe I hope not
to see you again. You too, It wasn't a pleasure doing business with
you. What can I say? I'm all charmed. Yeah, don't feel
so bad about the fifty grand the essay contest for fifty grand do me a
favor of humor and me as I read this to you. Reggie's essay was
profoundly original to critique a book from the perspective of a character within the book
is created in and of itself, but then to go on and point out
deficiencies in the author's portrayal of my character, and of Wolf's character, and
of Leech's character, the things he got wrong about us, and to make
a well supported case in each instance showing that London got some of our interactions
wrong, and that the logic of our characters necessitated differing interactions, and that
a key part of the author's errors was in misreading of Nietzsche. Well,
this is show genius. Whenever Reggie lays down his boxing gloves, he could
easily have a bright future in academia. You are about done and missed a
birthday during that. As it turned out, Reggie was bigger, stronger,
tougher, and smarter than me. And if I was honest, he was
more handsome as well. Now what was I going to do? Punch him?
Weeks later, my life had changed as expected. I'd been denied tenure
at Brooklyn University. I didn't complain. I just cleaned out my office one
night and left everything in my apartment. Lisa came by after she was released
from the hospital. Tony I heard from Destiny. Yeah, she sounds good,
living in some godforsake in rural area, working in a supermarket, getting
ready to enroll in a local college. Good. I'm doing it. Monsurie's
gone, Destiny, he's not talking. The DA might never know who sold
that blot to mold, but I know we'll have this hanging over our heads
for years. What if they flip one of Muldoon's guys, The FEDS will
put you away for years. Will you wait for me as long as it
takes she came into my arms. My arms went around her. I pressed
her closer. Maybe I was as crazy as she was, but I couldn't
help it. Sell my house, Tony, I'll give your power of attorney.
It's a beautiful home in a good neighborhood. It's paid for. I
own it free and clear. It'll go for a lot bank it. All
I could think of was Lisa in the joint for God knew how many years.
Whatever you want, honey. We sat together quiet for a long time.
The next morning, we drove a crosstown and then north. We put
the car in a lot and walked to a jewelry store, Tony looking.
We got in the elevator and rode to the second floor. I'd never been
here before. I just stared. The room was spacious, light airy,
the wall to wall carpet and was a soft reddish brown. Comfortable. Display
cases were distributed around the room, creating an uncluttered, unhurried, relaxed ambiance.
It was a study in classic understated elegance. Lisa and I walked slowly
among the displays, looking. I caught the eye of a dark haired young
woman employee. She wore black bifocals that matched her hair. She came over
to us. I told her I wanted latinum minimum, one carrot diamond.
The saleswoman led us to a display. Lisa looked at the thirteen thousand dollar
price tag on the ring. I covered it. She knew roughly how much
money I made. I can't wear this inside. I'll visit you whenever they
led me. If they led us together, I'll put the ring on your
fingers and as I arrived, and I'll take it off when I go home.
Go ahead, choose one. She pointed at one ring in the display.
The diamond glittered. The saleswoman gave it to us. I held the
ring. I got on my knees. There were people in the store.
They must have been staring at us. I didn't care. Lisa and I
were alone in a world that I had dreamed of for years. The cartel,
the d EA, the criminal justice system, a looming prison sentence.
None of that mattered right now. This was a moment I would have.
I would not be denied, and the only pitfall that could stop me would
be the lady's refusal. Lisa, there's only one woman in this world that
I have ever felt this way. Abound and if you would have dumped me
to day, I would never date again. I would just stay married to
my memories of you. If I lived to be nine hundred years old,
I will yes, Tony Yes. Tears filled her eyes and streaked her cheeks.
There was an obstruction in my throat that made it difficult to speak.
Well. I didn't ask you yet. I took her left hand in my
left I held the ring in my right. I slipped the platinum diamond ring
on the ring finger of her left hand. Right after that, Lisa and
I went to the d EA building on Tenth Avenue with a fancy attorney.
Lisa knew threw her parents. She insisted on going inside without me. After
a lot of back and forth, she received a two and a half year
sentence owing to her cooperation with the d e A. I went to Betsy
Head Park with Reggie and we saw a chill again. Spring had arrived late,
and I felt its cool breath on my face. It was early June,
but some people still ran to the heat. At night, green buds
was sprouting. The fragrance of fresh earth opening filled my nostrils, and during
the day, chirping birds flitted through the trees fulsome growth, but there was
no spring in my world. It was two days later and Lisa had been
remanded into federal custody. We walked slowly into the depths of the park.
In the distance, I heard voices closed for business. There are different kinds
of business. He advanced to meet us, walking alone, coming straight to
me, his right hand out stretched, smiling broadly. I gripped his hand.
He wore a black button down dress shirt, a black cashmere blazer,
faded blue jeans, and loafers without socks. Now looking very gangster it at
night. I'm setting a trend. Chill reached his hand to Reggie, who
took it. We have all magnanimously agreed to remain silent about the body you
dropped in front of us. Now you are going to do some things for
us. Chill still gripped Reggie's hand. His left hand grabbed Reggie's right arm
and was almost swallowed by the massive biceps. Chill had previously told Reggie he
planned to finish school and go into politics. He wanted to be the mayor
of New York City one day. Crazy thing was, we thought he could
actually pull it off. If you wanted to to get out a way of
making you like him. That was tough to explain anything for Tony. You're
out o here for good. You come with me to college, to grad
school or law school, into politics, and if you relapse, you're goin
down do hard time for the murderer, Ratitat and all those big plans shot
the ship. You ghost, I'll hunt you down. I'll scour the streets
until I find you, like a good destiny. This is not a choice.
I'm your foster dad now, and you're coming with me. He stared
at me, a soft smile turning up the corners of his lips, and
not a hint of railery from him. Won't be needing to hunt for me.
There was nothing more to say. We left the pot, drove the
Reggie's Apotnam parked in a spot around the corner, and sat in silence for
several minutes. Chill thought it was over for a moment. You a wise
man, Tony. If not, I'll do until a wise man gets here.
Redmeat Village it's a production of Voyage Media. The series is produced by
Nat Mandel, Robert Micas and Dan Bettimore. Directed, produced and adopted by
Dan Bennimore. Based on Andrew Bernstein's upcoming novel of the same name. When
a link to the novels available, it will be listed in the show notes.
Starring Katherine Bell as Lisa, Malik Yoba as Reggie, and Ryan Heppy
as Tony. Additional cast credits are available in show notes. Edited sound design
mixed by Nick Missippi. Original music by Drylis Gonzalez. If you're enjoying the
show, please give us a five star review and Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're
listening, and subscribe now for future up listeners. YEA