He gives me a look as if he’s about to drop some knowledge, and I’m all about it.
“My buddy Mike says it’s seven years or seventy hot dogs, whichever comes first. I’ve heard people say, if you live there for ten years and never visit the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building once.Personally, I think it’s when you start going to great lengths to avoid Times Square.”
I’m grinning, considering his words. “I don’t even have a place to stay yet…”
“That’s bonus points, right there!” He says animatedly, and I laugh.
The guy pats me on the shoulder, pulling his sleep mask back into place. “You’ll do alright, kid. So long as you remember the golden rule.”
“What’s that?”
“Get the fuck out of the way.” He smirks.
This odd conversation just wiped away my stress. I’m grateful. So I ask, “I didn’t get your name… I’m Angel.”
“Nice to meet you, Angel. My name is Gary Cupman.”
Well, my reporter friend, Gary, wasn’t exaggerating. New York City is certainly its very own entity.
The city has its own personality, as loud and vibrant and brash as its people.
One can only hope for compatibility, otherwise you might find yourself shouldered right into the bike path and struck by one of those motorized scooter people whomustbe colorblind the way they do not see green and red like the rest of us.
I’ve been here for a week so far, and while I’m enjoying the chaotic bustling nature of Manhattan, I didn’t come here to have fun. Which is a good thing becausefunin New York is well beyond my budget.
It’s expensive to breathe in Manhattan—I don’t think I’ve come across a single restaurant, bodega, hell, even street cart that’s less than two dollar signs. Three and four are the majority, and that’s a problem because I’m trying to stretch my savings until I absolutely need to find work.
I’d prefer not to have to get a job, since that’ll most definitely cut into my hunting time. But even the crappiest of hotels around here are hundreds of dollars a night, and I only have about twenty-thousand dollars to my name. Which may seem like a lot—it certainly did back home. But I assure you, here it’s not. Especially without any money coming in.
Worst case, I could call my aunt and ask to borrow some, but I was really hoping to avoid that considering how I left things with her…
I told her I was moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.Yes, I lied, andno,I didn’t feel good about it, but the less she knew about what I’m really doing, the better.
My aunt and I were never close. She raised me because she had to, but it was clear that neither of us were each other’s first choice. Not to mention I was a constant reminder that her criminal brother-in-law had gotten her sister killed, and was so much of a criminal that most of his finances and assets were tied up in illegal shit none of us could access after his death.
My mother had a small life insurance policy that paid for some basics—that’s where I got my twenty grand—but that was it. For as rich as we were when my father was alive, with him dead we’re cash-poor.
I never cared, but I’m sure my aunt would’ve liked me more if I’d come with at least a half-million.
Even if I wanted to tell her where I was really going, I wouldn’t. The purpose of this plan is to be smart. And when you think you’re being as smart as you can be, be even smarter.
That’s what it’ll take to defeat el diablo.
I’m not surprised in the slightest that I haven’t found any leads on Manuel Blanco yet. I knew it would take time. Whatisbothering me is that I haven’t been able to locate any sign of my sister…
Rescuing Avianna is a major part of my plan, second only to killing The Ivory. I would say my sister is the most important thing, but the fact is that simply rescuing her and leaving him alive doesn’t fix the issue. Killing him will get me my sister back. And then he’ll be dead.
And Arturo and Acacia can rest easy knowing their little bird of a son handled business.
Pajarito…
Ignore the shivers.
I haven’t heard a word from my sister since the day she was ripped out of my life. During my investigating, I heard from a source that she was alive and living in New York. That was three years ago, but still, Iwillhold out hope that Avianna is here waiting for me.
She’s my twin sister, after all. We’re connected. That hasn’t gone away just because we haven’t seen or spoken to one another in fifteen years.
Today I’m going exploring. Taking a tour of places where the Medellin crew are known to conduct business. That could mean so many things, honestly, but I have to hope at leastoneof these places could contain some information on the whereabouts of my sister.
