THE HAPPY HAT (14 page)

Chapter 22

Abraham Linsky

Linsky loved his bank account. His New York City bank deposits reflected his cash flow from Bizetes and work with the plaster scientist Boris Mindel. Only half of what he really received was processed legitimately–with a pay stub, itemized deductions including social security and withholding taxes. The other half from the Bizetes “chemistry” cartel was cash with no federal reporting. His extra-curriculum heroin-recovery windfall money from his Perkins venture went into a Puerto Rican bank under a coded account. Linsky often thought it might be like the way high rollers or money launderers used Swiss bank accounts. The thought made him feel a little superior. The only thing that bothered him was Amstel Perkins. Perkins was his only source to the Vietnam plaster heroin skimming and he sensed an aura of greed in his Navy co-conspirator. Maybe he should up Perkin’s share. They’d both die horrible deaths if Perkins did something stupid and tried a little action on his own.

Water was boiling and the hood ventilation fan was running full blast. He had the blenders ready to emulsify the sawed up cast Perkins was bringing. Linsky looked at his watch. Perkins was usually on time and he should be here in a few minutes. The doorbell rang and Perkins appeared at his door with the bulky laundry bag.

“Friday night and here’s our work for tonight.” Perkins opened the bag in the kitchen-work area.

“A bivalved long arm plaster plus a long leg cast.” Linsky took out the power saw to carve the units up into blender-size bits. “Must have been big guys?”

“They are.”

“Don’t take too much out of Queens Naval at one time Perk. You told me that nurse in charge of casts is a snoop and a detail person. One-a-week’s enough.” Linsky handed Perkins a 3-M mask. He began sawing after both had their plastic aprons and rubber gloves on.

After the chunking of the casts was done Perkins guzzled some water and turned to Linsky. “You may be right about the extra risk but I really need more money. My percentage goes up if I bring you more casts.”

“I was going to tell you tonight. I’m upping your share but I don’t want any more than the one cast per week. It’s just too fucking dangerous.”

“Okay Abe. What’s my new take?”

Linsky crammed the large blender full, added a jigger of water and put the cover on. He flicked on the hooded fan to full and after the loud blender roar was done and the cast powdered to a low humming emulsion he answered Perkins. “You get 20% and that’s a ceiling. You’re going to be rich.”

Perkin’s smiled beneath his mask. “Thanks Abe. Yeah, okay I’ll cool it with just the one cast a week. Let’s get cookin’.”

Just before Saturday’s dawn Linsky counted the sealed plastic heroin kilos. “Your share of what I get in Puerto Rico is goin’ to be about $35,000.”

‡

Perkins mopped his sweaty brow with a hand towel. “I know you have an overhead. What do you get after you unload the shit? And I thought you deal with Asians?”

“I do deal with Asians. My connection is in Puerto Rica same as my bank. I don’t use any Hispanics for trafficin’.”

“So you have plane fare, hotels and what else?”

“I pay off some PR airport entry guys. I make sure they’re waitin’ for me before I get on the plane.” Linsky tried to stifle a yawn. “My final tally is about 60%.”

“Wow. And I only get twenty?”

“You’re part is getting’ me the weekly cast. I take all the risks from that point on.” Linsky gave Perkins an icy stare.

“Yeah I guess you’re right. I appreciate the raise in pay.” Perkins packed up his laundry bag. As he got into his car he had only one thought.
If I do this myself
I can get 100% of what I sell here in New York City.

‡

Remo saved mail delivery for the G-wards last. He waited until Amstel Perkins emerged from the sawing noises of the plaster room during a cast removal from the new air-evacs. He knew the Nam casts would go sealed in plastic into a laundry bin which Perkins would wheel down to G-1 to that hard-ass Navy Corpsman–the one called Kaplan.

Perkins, however, walked first to the personnel locker room with a laundry bag. Remo heard a steel locker door slam shut and he moved quickly into the locker room.

“G-3 Mail Perkins.” Remo raised his voice startling Perkins before he could secure the locker door.

“What? You scared the shit out of me.” Perkins was white. “I’ll meet you at the Nurses Station.”

“I can’t just leave the mail on an empty desk. You have to sign for it, remember?”

“Hold your water. I’ll be right there.” Perkins massaged the irregular laundry bag to fit in the locker. He closed and locked it with a metal laminated Master lock.

Remo watched Perkins push the wheeled laundry cart out of G-3 after a second corpsman arrived from the mess hall. Perkins’ personal laundry bag was kind of lumpy like with solids rather than clothes.
I have to get into that locker
. Remo was determined and he had to find out soon because surgery for his colostomy closure could be as early as two weeks.

‡

Norman saw Boomer being wheeled from the F-1 rest room. He quickened his pace to meet up with his three G-1 patients.

“What are you guys doing down here? F-1 is a Dirty Surgery ward. It’s full of bacteria and I don’t want my ward contaminated.” Norman stared at Meaghan and Novo and bent over Boomer’s facial window.

“We didn’t go into F-1 sir. We just used the hallway head on the way back from the Gedunk.” Novo smiled. “We’re goin’ back now sir.”

Norman looked at his watch. He was supposed to meet with Minnie Zettler for evening mess in an hour. “Okay guys but if I ever find out you were in those F wards there won’t be any more general passes out of G-1.”

Meaghan paused and aimed the gurney toward the G-Wing. “We never went in there. You can check sir.”

“I’m going to call the F-1 medical officer when I get back to G-1. You don’t realize what a disaster infections will be if your wounds get infected from those Asian bacterial strains.” He followed the trio to G-1.

Norman hadn’t noticed the sheet over Boomer as he trailed behind. There was a vertical protrusion over Boomer’s groin.

Boomer looked at the perforated ceiling tiles as he was wheeled along. He remembered the F-1 head meeting. There were five guys from the Gedunk in addition to his two friends.

The Air Force sergeant had the others show Boomer photos of naked women and copulating couples.

“Whoa.” Boomer looked at the photos held over his plaster clad head and face opening. “These are better than Playboy.” His erection grew to tent-stake rigidity.

“See. He can get it up. So do we have a deal?” Novo faced the Air Force sergeant.

“We’ll set it up for one of the ramp wards. Boomer has to get his pecker inside the hooker and then shoot his load. We’ll be taking pictures. I’ll tell you guys when and where.”

Boomer had a good memory for those photos and his residual penile tumescence showed it. He was looking forward to winning the money and getting laid was an additional bonus.

Chapter 23

Kiss Me Kate

Kaplan wore a car coat over his sport jacket, slacks, shirt and tie and found Skagan’s condo easier to locate the second time. She buzzed the door in the main entry and let him into the apartment when he knocked. She was already dressed with her coat on.

“We can take my car. I’ll drive. I know a few short cuts into Manhattan.” Her voice was soft and friendly.

Kaplan took in her gorgeous appearance. Her ski-like puffy coat had a white fur-rimmed hood. The soft mint-green quilted coat extended to her mid-thigh and the color accentuated her sapphire blue eyes. With her bright red lipstick, ruby studded earrings, and touch of rouge to each cheek, Kaplan immediately dismissed her command choice for driving to the City.

“You’re dressed for a chill factor.” His smile matched hers as they left the main entryway.

“New York City can be windy and the breeze is off the still frigid ocean. It is okay for me to drive isn’t it?”

That’s better–getting me into this decision.
“Of course. I don’t even know the long way into Manhattan never mind a short cut.” Kaplan looked around the condo over her shoulder.

“Bork is in his crate. He’s eaten and attended to his litter box.” She smiled.

“What if a burglar comes in?”

“The crate isn’t locked. He can get out and give any burglar the scare of his life. Don’t worry, this condo building has good security.”

He opened her car door and went around the Dodge Dart and buckled in next to her.

“I came upon the idea of going in for a musical and Special Services tickets go so fast I didn’t have time to discuss it beforehand. If you’d disagreed I would have returned the tickets.” She drove effortlessly at the brisk traffic speed occasionally shooting a glance sideways when stopped at a traffic light.

“I love musicals and I’ve always wanted to experience Kiss Me Kate. It seems like a natural choice for us.” Kaplan hoped this would trigger some personal dialogue.

“Natural? What do you mean?”

“Well Kiss Me Kate is about an assertive female and a similarly strong-willed guy. Like us. I’m sure we’ll mirror ourselves off the main characters.”
I hope I’m not being confrontational.

Skagan was silent for a few seconds. “I never thought about it but you’re right. We both have leadership work ethics. I have to say though, from our first date, that you are a gentleman and not aggressive. I mean you didn’t impose yourself on me to dominate our evening last time.”

Okay. So I can be a little pushy and can get away with it–if the timing is correct.
“Phil, I want to be upfront with you. I wanted to ask you out again but it’s difficult in the hospital. I didn’t want to breach the officer-enlisted barrier and get you in trouble.”

“I could sense this when we’d see each other at G-1.” She smiled. “I didn’t want you to jeopardize yourself by being so obvious in front of witnesses.” She stopped at a toll bridge to pay the toll. “I hope you didn’t eat much of a breakfast because I planned a pig-out for us at the Carnegie Deli.”

“Carnegie Deli? Is that the place famous for kosher food and to-die-for sandwiches?”

“That’s the place. It’s beyond description–you have to experience it. And after it and the play is over you won’t have food on your mind until tomorrow.”

They turned into a ten-level parking edifice and found a spot on the third floor. The icy Manhattan wind hit them as they left the building and Skagan immediately thrust her arm through his and moved closer for the two-block walk to the Carnegie Deli.

Her close proximity gave him a warm feeling. Being with her today didn’t feel like a second date. Rather, it felt like he had known her on a personal basis for a longer time. Their touching seemed so familiar.

The hot steamy odorific atmosphere from the Carnegie Deli hit them like a wall of delicious vapor. Pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, sauerkraut and the tart aroma from the table centerpieces of half-sour pickles and pickled green tomatoes was identifiable at once.

“Wow.” Kaplan looked at the rows of tables. People sat next-to-and-across from each other. There were no individual tables. It reminded him of his high school lunch room. “I was mildly hungry until we came in. God, I could eat one of everything on the menu.”

Skagan laughed lightly tossing her hair within the furry jacket hood. They both removed their coats and draped them over their chair and sat facing each other. “It’s an illusion of the senses. Believe me one Empire State roast beef on dark rye, some of those pickles and steak fries and you’ll think your stomach will burst.”

“Is that what you’re getting?”

“Yes, but their other deli meats are equally fantastic especially the corned beef.” She reached in front and skewered a green pickled tomato with her fork.

A stocky middle-age waitress in a green-and-white gingham uniform took their order and asked about beverages.

“Celery soda.” Skagan piped up.

“They make vegetable soda?”

The waitress stared at Kaplan, “We have tomato, celery, radish, and turnip soda. Waddya want big boy?”

“Celery will be acceptable.” Kaplan immediately replied and Skagan laughed with his cautious selection following her lead.

They ate in silence as they manipulated their small mouths to take large bites from their Empire State roast beef masterpieces. The carbonation from the celery sodas caused occasional audible burps but every other patron was doing the same. Loud burps were a compliment to the management. There was a sign on the wall that said so.

The Embassy Theatre was three blocks in the opposite direction and they passed their parking garage with Skagan still clinging to Kaplan’s arm. The wind was blowing from behind but was still a little piercing.

“Phil, I haven’t been so full of food since Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner.” He looked down at her with her furry hood enshrouding her head like a halo.

“Just don’t fall asleep on me during the performance.” She squeezed his large biceps.

They arrived just as the entrance line began to move. “For a revival musical Kiss Me Kate brought out a huge attendance.”

“About a quarter of the people are freebies like the military to seed the numbers for the critics. By-the-way the musical did get rave reviews. I hope you’re not too stuffed with food and won’t nod off.”

He returned her smile. “I don’t think so, not with you sitting next to me. This whole day is a shared experience.”

Skagan squeezed his arm and they were escorted to their seats to the live orchestra playing Kiss Me Kate’s score.

Kaplan marveled at the scenery change from King Arthur type settings to Damon Runyon Manhattan. It was indeed a play within a play–a musical within a musical. They drank only water at the intermission along with a needed bathroom break.

‡

The chill had increased during their walk back to the parking garage. Skagan let the car warm up before edging into traffic and the sixty-minute drive to her condo.

“I have a light snack for us when we get back in case we do get any kind of an appetite. There are things I’d like us to talk about.” She kept her gaze on the road in the thick but moving traffic.

“I hope it’s not about the war or about work.” Kaplan looked at her handsome profile. Even with the heater fan blowing he could still make out her lilac essence over the roast beef and pickled tomato memory from their lunchtime engorgement.

“I chose our outing today to cleave a space between work and play. We see too much pain and suffering during the day. We need a break. We have to get real and not lose our personal identity.” She shot a sideways glance at him with a rapid return to traffic.

“I never seem to have the time to not think about work. Even when I get to my apartment I’m already planning my clothes and schedule for going back to Queens Naval the next day. I rarely have time for a book and I fall asleep in front of TV.” Kaplan sighed after his words.

They arrived at her assigned condo parking space and took the elevator to her unit. The contrast from biting cold to interior warmth was welcome.

“Hang our coats in the hall closet. I want to get our light dinner out of the fridge. I hope you like chili and salad with Italian dressing.”

“It sounds perfect.” Kaplan went to the sofa facing a multi-tiered wall unit which supported a television and a stereo sound system.

She put the meal to reheat slowly with the salads waiting patiently on the gray simulated granite Formica counter top. Skagan turned on the stereo to barely audible soft-listening music and sat next to him.

Kaplan looked at Skagan sitting with her hands together on her lap. Her pink sweater complimented the softness of her breast contours. “I really looked forward to our next–this–meeting. I was finding it difficult not to approach you in the hospital on other than our mutual plaster cast logistics.”

“That’s why I called you. I know it’s awkward and I feel the boundaries separating us during the day are artificial but necessary for the military to function. It’s what happens in a totally mission-oriented society.” She looked up from her lap after a slight pause. “I’ve decided not to re-up in the Navy.”

He raised his eyebrows, “Oh. And when is your re-enlistment anniversary date?”

“In seven months.” Their eyes met. “I’m packing Bork up and we’re going back to school for hospital administration. When is your Navy service over?”

My assignment is over when we catch the heroin cartel
. “Unless the Navy gives me an early out I plan to leave in August–six months.” Kaplan looked around for signs of Bork.

“Bork’s back in his crate with the lock on.” Her smile faded back to seriousness. “You said you might go to law school. Now’s the time to make plans.” She continued eye contact.

“I have no family to go back to so I’ll apply in June for next fall and I’d like to get into a Boston program–Suffolk, Brandeis, Boston University or Harvard Law. The government’ll pay my way without any payback to the military.”

“Ike, I know we’ve only seen each other on a personal level twice.” She swallowed and took a deep breath while Neil Diamond’s “Song Sung Blue” was a distant soft pulsating presence. “I sense something binding between us. We see each other every day and I feel something. I can almost reach out during the day and absorb some aura joining us.”

Kaplan placed his left hand on her two hands in her lap. “It’s a strain for me too Phil, especially when we’re alone in the cast room.”

She stood up with his hand in hers. “I really don’t feel hungry right now. I’ll shut the chili off and we can have it later.”

Skagan returned and moved close into Kaplan. She stood on her toes and placed her arms on Kaplan’s shoulders. She couldn’t reach around his neck.

Kaplan said nothing. He scooped her up in his muscular arms with his left arm under her knees and right arm under her shoulders. They kissed and he felt her moan and shudder at the same time. He opened his eyes and carried her to the bedroom where he laid her head on a pillow and looked down at her. “If you don’t want this I’ll understand.”

“What do you mean if I don’t want to?” She stood up and pulled her sweater over her head.

“This will change everything between us Phil. I’m not a ‘wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am’ guy. If we make love it’s a commitment. I was brought up that way. Making love to you is making love to Philomena Skagan the person not just to her body.”

Her eyes glistened as she removed her form-fitting slacks and began unbuttoning Kaplan’s shirt and then released his belt. “I just knew that Ike. I’m the same way and I’m afraid I haven’t had much experience with this aspect of romance.”

He kissed her again and unhooked her bra as their lips engaged for what seemed the longest of minutes. When their clothes were in a neat pile on the carpeted floor she grabbed his left hand to lead him beneath the bed covers. They turned on their sides facing each other and the kissing turned into embracing, groping and clutching as Kaplan rolled on top.

“Yes, please, Ike.”

He touched between her legs and when her wetness intensified he gently entered her female domain. He was slow with a gradual to-and-fro motion. There was no pain only absolute ethereal sensation for both. When his entry was complete she enveloped his body with her arms and legs. They developed a slow and deliberate rhythm punctuated with moans and kisses. They each wanted the other to experience a maximal and mutual physical expression of love that was an additive feeling for both. Skagan hung on with all her strength as the pinnacle of her feeling for Kaplan began to erupt. Kaplan could also no longer contain himself and their pent-up emotions exploded with exhalations of their names.

Skagan could feel his pulsatile ejaculations and Kaplan felt his manhood being intermittently stroked by her vaginal contractions. It seemed like it would never end but it did and they stayed together in a locked sweaty embrace as their breathing slowly, very slowly, returned to a normal cadence.

At last they uncoiled and lay side-by side. “Ike. I never experienced it like this. If I wasn’t on the birth control pill I think we would be pregnant from tonight.”