Willy chose a neutral location for the meeting with Victor. He selected a twenty-four-hour diner in Queens, far enough from Manhattan to be relatively private but public enough that neither of them could easily harm the other. He arrived twenty minutes early and sat in a booth that gave him a clear view of the entrance. His cup of black coffee went untouched as he waited, his mind running through possible scenarios.
Victor arrived exactly on time, which somehow made Willy even more nervous. Victor's movements were precise and controlled, and his tailored suit looked out of place in the shabby diner. He slid into the booth across from Willy without ordering anything.
"You look like you have seen a ghost," Victor said, his mouth curving into something that was not quite a smile. "Or perhap
