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.“What can I do for you, Rudy?"There was only a slight pause before: “Ah, well, I won't keep you.But I mentioned to you at Bruno's Saturday that I had a business proposition you might find of interest.""Yes? What kind of proposition?""I have the chance to buy one of the hottest bars in the city.The place is a gold mine, and I'm looking for one or two investors.Normally, I'd just do it all myself, but I've recently expanded my limousine service, and those stretch babies aren't cheap.So, I thought I'd approach you and Bruno to let you in on it.Bruno's definitely in, and since he speaks highly of you, I thought you'd like the chance to come in with him."Elliott suspected that Rudy's main target was Bruno, and that getting Elliott to come along would be a means of assuaging any hesitation Bruno might have."Well, that's nice of you, Rudy, but I don't know if I'd be the right person for you.What bar, by the way?""I can't say at the moment—the current owners don't want it known they're considering selling, and I promised I wouldn't say anything until I had a chance to line up a few investors before making an offer.As I say, if I hadn't just placed an order for four new limos."Elliott's immediate thought was to wonder why the current owners would be selling if the place was a gold mine.But he didn't want to ask and possibly give Rudy the idea he was interested."Well, as I say, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable getting into the bar business.""I understand, but this would only be as an investment—twenty-five, thirty thousand, tops.Bruno and I will put up the bulk of the cash.You can't go wrong."Elliott paused.He wanted to give Rudy an immediate flat-out no but felt he should talk to Bruno first.He was sure Rudy's proposal was one of the things Bruno wanted to talk to him about."I'd need to know quite a bit more about everything involved before I could give it any sort of serious consideration.""Of course.I'll work up some figures, and we can go over them.But promise me you won't just dismiss it out-of-hand before you have the facts, okay?""Okay,” Elliott said, though he knew that even if the deal were totally legitimate, which he instinctively doubted, he had no interest in investing in a bar."Good! We'll talk soon, then."They hung up, and Elliott returned to making his dinner.* * * *He arrived at Bruno's at exactly eight o'clock, and as he followed him into the living room, Bruno asked, “Which do you prefer—coffee or a drink?""Whatever you're having.""I think I'd better have coffee,” Bruno said.“I've been drinking way too much lately.I'm a quick drunk, and the hangovers are deadly.I'm toying with the idea of stopping altogether before it kills me."Elliott took a seat in the living room while Bruno went into the kitchen."Cream and sugar?""A little of both,” Elliott replied, and a minute later, Bruno carried a tray with a coffee carafe, two mugs and two large slices of a very rich-looking cake to the dining room table."We might be a little more comfortable here,” Bruno said, and Elliott got up to join him.“I'm glad you and Steve came up Saturday night,” he continued after they'd sat down.“Ralph really enjoyed talking with Steve about art.He asked me if I could give Steve his phone number.I hope you don't mind."Elliott smiled and shrugged."Of course, I don't mind,” although he did have a small, quickly repressed twinge of concern.Reaching into his shirt pocket, Bruno took out a folded piece of paper and handed it over."I'm sure he just wants to talk about art,” he said, almost apologetically."Steve's a big boy,” Elliott replied.“I trust him."Bruno sighed."Good!” After taking another sip of coffee, he said, “But the main reason I wanted to talk to you is to get your advice.""About Rudy's proposition,” Elliott guessed, making it a statement rather than a question."Yes.He said he was going to talk to you about it, too.""Yeah, I talked with him earlier tonight.Kind of short on detail, but he said he was pulling some information together on it, and that he'd present it to both of us.” He didn't mention that the only reason he wanted to see it was to spot danger zones Bruno might not recognize."So, what do you think of the idea? I'd love to own a gay bar.""Well, for one thing, I've made it a rule never to consider anything until I'm sure I have all the necessary facts, and even then I won't do it unless I'm positive all the Ts are crossed and the Is dotted.As for Rudy's proposal, I don't think I'd be interested in any event.The bar scene is a totally different world [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]