L EVI SPUN HIS ratchet around a loose pipe and gave it
a strong twist, pulling back a bit to avoid snapping the
pipe completely. The apartment belonged to a friendly,
obese man named Carl who loved to chat with Levi
since he spent most of his time on his sagging couch,
in front of the tube, and had no one to talk to most
days.
“Need anything else?” Levi asked.
“Well, look at this. Those crazies are at it again.”
Carl siphoned a hit off his bong and turned up the
breaking news report that had interrupted the earlier
breaking news report just before it. Levi moved closer
to the screen and listened to the reporter, standing
behind yellow crime scene tape. At the bottom of the
screen he saw: Missing journalist found by neighbor.
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“The victim, controversial political journalist Peter
O’Leary, was found dead in his home over the
weekend,” the reporter said. “Police on the scene have
not been able to give a full description of what they
found, but an insider told us they’d never seen
anything like it, and that it could in no way be
interpreted as suicide. We’ll keep you posted as more
details emerge.”
Carl shook his head.
“You know what happened, right? Dang government
is what. They killed the songbird of freedom, man.”
Levi tried not to laugh at the whole songbird thing
and said, “You think the government assassinated
him?”
“Well, yeah. Don’t you?”
“Seems unlikely,” Levi replied. “They could’ve made
him disappear. Something like this would only serve to
indict them. Plus, they would’ve made it look like an
accident or suicide, don’t you think?”
“I guess,” Carl conceded.
Carl didn’t really care to debate; he just liked talking
to the handyman for entertainment. Levi didn’t mind
either. Chatting with tenants made the day go by
quicker.
• • •
59Sleep didn’t come easily for Levi, despite only
averaging a couple hours a night the past few days.
He’d come home to a new note from K.S. which simply
said:
Your fists cannot win this fight. Let wisdom be your
strength.
He sat in bed with the window open, allowing the
sounds and smells of the city to blanket his living
space. The odors of car exhaust and humid air bathed
him in an urban cloud. One reason he loved the city
was that it could put him to bed many a night when,
otherwise, sore muscles or a pinched nerve would
prevent him from falling asleep.
Levi’s apartment home was loft-style with only a half-
wall separating the kitchen and living space from the
small area he called a bedroom. One window
overlooked the front-side street, positioned to the side
of the stoop. It was usually covered by a small black
curtain. There was one other window, in the bedroom,
which gave him a higher view of the back alley and, if
he stuck his head out, a busy intersection at the end.
Levi could’ve opted for a much grander place with a
loan from the bank, but he had wanted to buy a place
of his own, with money he had earned and not money
he would someday earn. That idea would prove
60
valuable since going to a hard labor camp at the age of
thirty was never on his “To Do” list. Purchasing the
apartment with his prize winnings had enabled him to
return to this place. The fact that the warden or K.S. or
whomever was paying his utility bills made it all the
sweeter.
Levi sifted through the notes again, reading each one
in order, trying to make sense of his life now. He
peered over at the lamp on his table, the lamp that
lights itself. He wondered what kind of power was at
work in this whole scheme but such pondering only
made his brain itch. Levi liked to have a handle on
everything, figure things out. But his current
predicament was not an easy one to figure out.
Running through the events of the past couple of
weeks, he knew several things:
He had been released from a life sentence,
unexpectedly, without even filing an appeal… Someone
named K.S. was now intimately involved in his life…
and in exchange for his favors now wanted Levi to carry
a lamp around, which heals paralytic girls… and said
lamp can turn itself on.
It was maddening. Levi wanted to make rational
sense of all these things, but he kept coming up
empty. Who was K.S.? Why was he or she so interested
in helping him and why tag himself the hero/villain of
61
an old comic? Or was that a coincidence? What’s going
on with this crazy lamp? And who, or what, was
following him?
There was a loud knock on the door.
It wasn’t a friendly knock either, but a heavy series
of angry thumps that sounded like someone was
kicking the door with a heavy boot. Levi quickly
grabbed the lamp and stashed it underneath his bed.
The knocks persisted. Levi readied himself to fight,
tensing his forearm and back muscles, and rolling his
neck.
Slowly, he took a few steps toward the thick wooden
door. The knocking grew louder and louder as he
approached. In one motion, Levi knocked the deadbolt
aside and whipped the door open to surprise his foe.
“Levi?” said a confused man in wire-rimmed glasses.
“Charles,” Levi answered back, equally confused.
“I was driving past your place and saw the light on. I
thought someone had broken into your apartment.
What the hell are you doing out? You got probation
and forgot to tell your old pal?”
“No, I…,” Levi started, wondering where to begin. “It’s
a long story. Why you out so late? It’s past midnight.”
“Just closed down the bar. Man, you look…” Charles
said, realizing that honesty would only allow him to
62
finish that sentence with awful. “You look good. And
really thin. How long you been out of Hinnom Valley?”
As Charles was speaking, Levi noticed a person
standing behind a parked car across the street.
“Not long. A few weeks.”
Levi squinted, trying to make out the shadowy figure
who seemed to be staring back at him. The figure was
motionless.
“Listen, I know it’s late,” Charles said. “Come by the
bar tomorrow and you can tell me everything.”
Levi nodded, only mildly happy to see his old
manager. His peripheral vision was still monitoring the
figure across the street.
Levi gave Charles a pat on the shoulder and said, “I
didn’t break out so don’t bother calling the cops.”
“I know,” Charles said with a smile. “Seriously, come
by the bar and we’ll talk.”
Charles descended the walkup stoop and threw Levi
a wave once he hit the street. And as quickly as he’d
arrived, he was gone. Levi’s eyes rotated back to the
odd person on the other side.
The one staring back at him was tall and wore a long
overcoat with a hoodie inside, casting a dark shadow
over his face. The figure took a step forward and Levi
was struck by the odd idea that perhaps the
mysterious stranger was smiling. Levi noticed his
63
speeding pulse and felt a creepy sense of unexpected
danger. He curled his fists and took another step, now
on the stoop of his apartment. The figure reciprocated
with his own step forward.
Levi’s mind raced toward the irrational and, for some
inexplicable reason, he wondered if the dark figure in
front of him was entirely human, or something else
altogether. The smell of death radiated from this —
thing — who seemed at once corporeal and demonic.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Levi demanded in a
raspy voice.
The mute one did not respond.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Levi said, “but I won’t
hesitate to knock a hole in your face, pal. So take your
staring contest someplace else. I’ve got work
tomorrow.”
Levi waited for a moment before stepping backward
through the doorframe, careful not to turn his back on
the stalker. Once inside, he sighed and bolted the lock.
He shot a glance toward the lamp and began to relax,
just like that.
• • •
Levi walked into the empty lobby and wondered why
Russell wasn’t already yelling at him. Instead he heard
64
a heavy sigh followed by three loud bangs. Rounding
the corner, he saw Jenny kicking the vending machine
with the tip of her shoe. Levi didn’t recognize her at
first but when her face turned toward him, he realized
he’d met her before: she had teased him in the hallway.
Her suspicious but polite gaze had not changed.
“You know,” he began, “kicking that machine is like
rubbing a genie’s lamp. It always causes the
maintenance guy to show up.”
“Sorry about that,” Jenny said. “I’m not looking for
three wishes; I just want my animal cookies.”
“Animal cookies. Interesting choice for a woman in
high heels.”
Jenny stood back as Levi opened the glass door and
removed the bag of cookies. She nodded her
appreciation.
“I like your suit,” he said.
“Thanks. I like your… tool belt.”
She couldn’t think of anything else to say. Levi
offered a polite nod to make her exit less awkward.
“By the way,” she said on her way out. “I remember
you.” It was a good exit line. Jenny smiled and turned
the corner to leave.
“You do?” he asked, not satisfied to leave the
conversation there.
She stopped and turned to face him.
65
“Not at first, but then I heard Russell talking about
you. I saw you fight once. I think it was the last one
before…” she said as her voice trailed off.
“Yeah,” Levi said somberly.
“You were good,” she said. “Beyond good, actually.
My friends all wanted their money back, what with you
knocking the guy out in the first minute.”
Levi shrugged, his eyes downcast. “Paying them back
might take a while.”
“I bet you still get asked for autographs all the time,”
she said.
He couldn’t hold back the smile. “Sure do.”
They both knew he was joking.
“Maybe someday you can box again. They said you
were going to be the greatest of all time, or one of the
greatest anyway.”
The temptation to open his mind to the past came on
strong. He fought back the urge to consider such
flattery as something that might actually be attainable.
After a couple of years at the labor camp, Levi buried
that dream and decided that taking his mind back to
that place would only open old wounds. It was simply
not to be.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “That was another
lifetime. These days I have another kind of fight going
on, and I’m still an amateur.”
66
Levi noticed a book sticking out of her purse.
“You like to read?”
“Oh that,” she returned clumsily. “I do try to read
when I find the time, which is never.”
“I wasn’t much into reading before but it’s about all I
did while I was locked up.”
Right away he regretted saying locked up. He thought
it made him sound like an animal or something. But
Jenny’s face didn’t seem judgmental. Maybe she was
just good at faking it.
“I’ll see you later, Levi.”
“Avoid Ninth Avenue,” he said. “There was a bit of a
standoff earlier. I saw a few cruisers heading that way.”
She winked and left. He watched her go and
instantly missed having the attention of a woman. His
last relationship had ended shortly after his arrest and
sentencing. The sobering idea of life in prison can do
disastrous things to young love. Levi never had a
chance. He wondered if he should call his ex, but
decided against it. It had been seven years since their
separation and five since she’d last written to him. His
feelings for her had wilted over time and he knew that
he’d never pursue that road again. After all, she was
his age, so more than likely she had a husband and
three kids by now. Why bother a good thing?
67
• • •
Charlie’s Bar was winding down as the last few
drunks made their way out onto the street. It was well
past closing time on a Friday night. Levi saw Charles
wiping down the counter with a wet rag. For a minute,
Levi considered turning around and going home. This
was surely a bad idea.
“Levi the Leveler!” hit his ears from across the room.
Too late. Ugh.
Charles and Levi sat in a booth near a fancy jukebox
and shared a pitcher of beer. Levi felt his mind slowing
down after the first glass, so he decided to back off
before he made a mental error and lost sight of the
lamp, now tucked inside the bag against his hip.
“So was Hinnom Valley as bad as people say?”
Charles asked.
“Well, it wasn’t Disneyland.”
“So what happened, buddy? You get out on good
behavior or what?”
“To be honest, I’m not exactly sure. Warden took a
liking to me and made the arrangements.” Levi paused,
realizing how stupid that sounded. “Maybe he was a
fan and pulled some strings. Who knows?”
Charles just nodded along.
68
“You sure they didn’t turn you in there? Maybe you
formed some allies in exchange for government intel?”
“Pretty sure that didn’t happen,” Levi replied.
“Seriously though, if this warden was such a fan,
maybe he let you out so you could fight again. Guy
probably wants to put some money on a big one.”
“Unfortunately,
my
license
revocation
was
permanent. Not going to happen.”
“True,” Charles said. “Unless it was overseas.”
“You’re being serious with me right now?” Levi asked.
“I know a promoter. He can line up some big-money
jobs. I’m talking tomato cans here, not real
competition. You go in there, do three fights a year,
beat on some scrubs and get paid. A lot.”
“Charles, that’s not my life anymore.”
“Come on, Levi. What are you doing now, fixing
clogged sinks for minimum wage? You should be
jumping all over this!”
“I don’t know…”
“What’s not to know? This promoter is the real deal.
Listen, just take one fight, get a big paycheck, and
then reassess your situation after that. But I’m telling
you, this opportunity won’t be here forever. You’re not
getting any younger, pal.”
“Thanks.”
69
“Hey, I’m serious. People still remember your name
so headlining a foreign event is still very much doable.
Take the payday, champ. I doubt you’d even need to
train for these guys. They couldn’t get past the first
round with you. Maybe two rounds if you’re totally out
of shape.”
Levi stared at his drink, his mind wandering through
an endless maze of possibilities. He began to see a ray
of hope. Charles observed that he was considering the
idea and decided to dangle the carrot a little closer.
“Levi, this would allow you to have a normal life
again. Just a few fights and retire in luxury. Forget
about ever working for crumbs again. Dine on steak for
dinner instead of those cheap noodles. Settle down,
maybe start a family. It’s not too late, brother.”
Charles saw that Levi’s head was nodding along. He
was hooked by the idea.
A normal life. A simple life. A wife and kids.
In a moment, it seemed like it could become reality.
Charles smiled. Levi wanted to ask him a few questions
for a change, but felt ashamed. The beer in his gut
helped.
“Speaking of settling down,” Levi said. “How’s
Amanda? You seen her around at all?”
Charles sighed and glanced away, scanning the bar
to dodge Levi’s curious stare.
70
“What?” Levi pressed. “You’ve seen her around,
right? How is she?”
“She married Donnie Brookens, Levi.”
Levi’s face dropped. He tightened his lips and tossed
back a long sip.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, that’s about what I expected,” Levi said. “Can’t
expect a girl to wait around while her man is rotting
away doing a life sentence.”
Charles nodded.
“Don’t tell her I’m out, okay?”
“You got it.”
“In fact, it might be better if you didn’t tell anybody
I’m out. It would be nice to keep things low key for a
while, you know?”
Charles flashed a crocodile smile to his old friend.
“As long as you share a beer with me every once in a
while.”
“Keep the drinks free and you’ve got a deal.”
71