October 24, 2022 • 23 mins
Destiny is finally found, and reveals truths Tony could never have predicted, including a revelation about Lisa that changes everything.
The novel this series is based on has been published and is available on Amazon, here: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Meat-Village-Crime-Thriller/dp/B0DYP2DRJ5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XXR35BASP3U7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Uj7dmdgVs7md8Qt3597vMQ.1KGFa38PJMCP5InjoiKJ0D9YJ086g80ajz6Sfh_fGyU&dib_tag=se&keywords=tris+power+red+meat+village&qid=1742329315&s=books&sprefix=tris+power+red+meat+village+%2Cstripbooks%2C83&sr=1-1
Red Meat Village is a production of Voyage Media. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, Robert Mitas, and Dan Benamor. Directed, produced and adapted by Dan Benamor, based on Andrew Bernstein’s upcoming novel of the same name.
Starring Ryan Heppe as Tony, Catherine Bell as Lisa, Malik Yoba as Reggie, Rachel Pate as Monjurrie, Abel Soto as Cortez, Kareem Ferguson as Chill, Luca Malacrino as Stevie, and Tracey Leigh as Destiny. Edited, sound designed, and mixed by Nick Messitte. Original music by Derlis Gonzalez.
If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a five star review in Apple Podcasts or anywhere you’re listening and subscribe now for future episodes.
The novel this series is based on has been published and is available on Amazon, here: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Meat-Village-Crime-Thriller/dp/B0DYP2DRJ5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XXR35BASP3U7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Uj7dmdgVs7md8Qt3597vMQ.1KGFa38PJMCP5InjoiKJ0D9YJ086g80ajz6Sfh_fGyU&dib_tag=se&keywords=tris+power+red+meat+village&qid=1742329315&s=books&sprefix=tris+power+red+meat+village+%2Cstripbooks%2C83&sr=1-1
Red Meat Village is a production of Voyage Media. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, Robert Mitas, and Dan Benamor. Directed, produced and adapted by Dan Benamor, based on Andrew Bernstein’s upcoming novel of the same name.
Starring Ryan Heppe as Tony, Catherine Bell as Lisa, Malik Yoba as Reggie, Rachel Pate as Monjurrie, Abel Soto as Cortez, Kareem Ferguson as Chill, Luca Malacrino as Stevie, and Tracey Leigh as Destiny. Edited, sound designed, and mixed by Nick Messitte. Original music by Derlis Gonzalez.
If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a five star review in Apple Podcasts or anywhere you’re listening and subscribe now for future episodes.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Voyage, Meet village village. Iheard one of the killer screams of Tony's
(00:24):
knife embedded in his shoulder. Theknife killer was still with it enough to
raise his gun and pointed at Tony. I had a mind, no water
pistol in my hand. Three quickshots. The whistling projectiles ripped into the
hitman's skull. Dead man's trigger.He got off one final shot before he
tilted to his left and, inslow motion, toppled to the floor and
(00:45):
lay motionless. That shot missed Tonybut hit me. I staggered. Tony
collapsed on his face and breathed.After a long moment, Tony rose and
hit the light switch. He couldsee I had been shot, and his
face was torn between his hatred forme and his worried for me. It
(01:07):
hurts to breathe. He approached andexamined me. We've got to get you
to a hospital now. Sorry,we'll talk about that. After he walked
away from me, I'm calling thisin. He stepped into my living room
and dialed nine one one. Hecame back and sat with me while we
waited for the ambulance to come.Say something. This isn't the time.
(01:34):
It might be the only time weget you really want to do this now?
Yes, you're crazy. You didn'tjust play me for a chump.
You put my life at risk.You were only one you'd find her.
I loved you like they never lovedanybody in my life, and you knew
(01:57):
it. And you traded done that. You called me, and you damn
near got me killed. You plannedthe heist. You don't need the money.
Why I didn't know the answer.I was just wired that way.
Regular life, the same coffee shopevery morning, the same drive home every
night. That was torture to me. I needed the action. Since I
(02:23):
was a teenager. Some people jumpoff planes. I did crazy shit like
this. I had no defense.I had no defense when I ran with
Stevie back in the day, Ihad no defense. Now it was indefensible.
It didn't even make sense to me. How could it make sense to
Tony? Make it up every dayand rested my life. Go to the
(02:52):
fence if you want, I thinkI can ever trust you again. Lisa
was an emergency surgery for six hoursat the hospital. The gunman's bullet had
punctured a lung, but mister Hardshe bled internally and received massive blood transfusions,
(03:19):
her lungs choked with blood. Inthe waiting room, I spoke for
hours to the homicide boys. Thecops seemed to buy that the shooting had
been self defense, and to befair, they were the money was still
hidden in Lisa's safe. I sworeto whichever demons ruled this world, that
if they'd just let Lisa live,might do anything. It was just over
(03:43):
six hours when the oar doors openedand a petite brunette dressed in blue scrubs
stepped out. There were blood stainsall over her chest and gloves, and
she looked exhausted. Her name tagread Elizabeth Gelman, m D. I
stopped, I stood, I awaitedsentencing. She told me Lisa was still
alive, but in a coma,and that when people talk to people in
(04:06):
a coma it helped. So Iwent to Lisa's hospital room. She was
unconscious, receiving oxygen through her nose. I talked to her. I told
her what our life together would belike, whether we married or not,
whether we lived together or separate,whether she turned herself in or she didn't.
I told her. I told herof the clothes I would buy for
(04:29):
her, of the meals, Iwould prepare for her of the types of
flowers I would bring her, andof the books I would dedicate to her.
I described every single dance club inNew York City, straight from their
websites, and promised her we wouldpatronize each whenever she desired. I spoke
to her through tears and through dryeyes, with a catch in my voice,
(04:49):
and with none, when I wasfresh, and when I was tired,
whether I was thirsty or I wasn't, I spoke to her, and
she leapt. Lisa recovered consciousness onthe third day. She looked at me.
We was silent for a long time. Then I felt her hand lightly
(05:11):
apply pressure to mine. Hi,Lisa. I couldn't choke out anything else.
It was enough. She rested peacefullyon the pillows. I still held
her hand. The hospital seemed unusuallyquiet. We're not through anymore. Her
(05:32):
voice was throaty, coming from somewheredeep inside. Did you hear me?
I've been talking to you for thepast forty eight hours. I believe I
did. Lisa. You saved mylife. Honey, I'm the one who
put you in danger in the firstplace. You don't look so good,
tony. Yeah, well you don'tlook so hard either, she laughed.
(05:57):
I know, she turned serious.I'll turn myself in. It's the worst
thing I ever did to you andto the users, all that blow on
the street. I can't live withit. To your minimum for trafficking in
that bulk, she nodded, convictedfelon. They'll strip you your license.
(06:20):
You know, they'll never practice psychotherapyagain. My lies almost got you killed.
We enjoyed each other's company until Lisaneeded to sleep. It was the
middle of the day. Maybe becauseI'm sick in the head, I still
thought about where destiny was. Ineeded to talk to her to get this
(06:40):
all squared in my mind. Wheredo you go when you got nowhere to
go? Family? Destiny was obviouslynot with Lisa or adoptive family. Maybe
she had biological family in the city. Now that I knew exactly who she
was, I had a way tolook. Turned out she had a brother,
Robert Chisholm Reggie, and I wentto his address. If she sat
(07:04):
there, she probably never goes out, pulled up in the basement like a
rat, never a chirp out ofher. Riverdale was a peaceful, upper
middle class neighborhood here the private homeswere set back from the street. The
lawns were bright green and freshly mowed. Kid shot baskets on driveway hoops and
(07:24):
road bikes in the street quiet,friendly, prosperous, little or no street
crime. I wondered if Robert Chisholmwas a swindler too. He had a
brick house, expansive and solid,built to last. It had a covered
front porch shrouded by a tangle ofplants and flowers and heavy ceramic pots,
and a series of arching trees adorninga wide expanse of manicured lawn. A
(07:46):
red luxury car was parked in thedriveway. Mister Robert Chisholm must be paying
a fortunate maintenance and gardener fees.I walked up the stairs on to the
front porch. I rang the frontbell. It took a few seconds,
then someone opened the door. Hewas a tall, slim black man with
high cheekbones and sharp, intelligent eyes. He was strikingly good looking, not
(08:09):
unlike his sister in that regard.I guessed he was friendly. I told
him the truth. He stopped beingfriendly and threatened to call the cops.
I encouraged him to do so,since he was harboring a fugitive. When
I told him we wouldn't involve thecops, he reluctantly let me in.
We sat on a polstered chairs atan expansive wooden table. I heard the
(08:30):
front door close with a soft click. I leaped at my feet. The
conniving be it outsmarted me. Iraced out of the kitchen and reached for
the door. She had guessed I'dhave the rear exitcot it that's where Reggie
was, and she slithered up thefront. I jerked the door open and
leaped under the porch. She stopped. She wir facing me, pointing something
in her right hand. Did shehave a gun? Now? It was
(08:54):
peppers rolling. I dived to myright, craning my neck, extending my
face away from her right hand.I crawled forward. She fired. The
inflammatory fumes flared the air to myleft. I dived across the body,
knocking the canister from my hand inmy chest. I flipped away with my
left hand. I pinned her shouldersround with each hand. Her eyes exuded
(09:15):
fear, like she was pinned bya terrant actor. Hey, look at
me, Look at me. I'ma friend of Lisa flowers. I'm not
the cartel and I'm not the cops. You're a friend of Lisa. I
pulled my private opie license and showedit to her. Can we go back
inside? Please? Eventually we didn'tReggie two. We sat down me,
(09:37):
Glara and at Destiny's brother. Doyou want to see Lisa? I love
Lisa? But but what Lisa's crazy? She pleaded with me to hijack the
cartel Manjerie agreed, but me witha gun going against those killers? You
didn't want to do it? Notwant to do it? I was terrified.
(10:01):
No, I didn't want to doit? Are you crazy? Two
point four million worth a blow?Split? Three ways? Would being inducement?
Lisa promised a clean heist. Itwas it, Yeah, would have
been, except the shipment was late. Cartel guys showed up tracking their package.
Monjury Panic shot one of them.But you should have seen Lisa.
(10:26):
She swaggered at the driver. Sheheld a big gun, too big for
her gloved hands, steadily aimed atthe driver's chest. Monjury was behind her.
I stood shaking in the background.Lisa shoved the snout into the driver's
ear. She never said a word, but held a note in both English
(10:48):
and Spanish, in front of hiseyes, said give us the payload,
or we'll splatter your brains across thewindshield. Do you think she'd have done
it? No, I know shewouldn't. But he didn't know it.
He was just a driver. Youshould have seen how fast he opened the
car's trunk and pulled out the gymbags loaded with blow. Then then what
(11:13):
I drove? My hands shook.The car was all over the road,
but Lisa shot out the front tiresof their car. I wouldn't have believed
that kind of shooting was possible.She came more alive than anybody I've ever
seen. She was joyful. Sheloved it. You wore masks correct and
(11:39):
padded coats and elevated shoes and men'sguns too big for my hand. Look,
you stay in New York. Nomatter how long you hide in your
brother's house. The cartel is gonnafind you and kill you. If I
found you, they will too,even if they don't know your real name.
Lisa has the money whatever jury didn'thave. Yeah, which is going
(12:03):
back to the cartel or we're allgetting killed. Reggie's gonna spot you some
walking away cast. I am there. You can afford you my accounting.
Now, I'll get you back whenfifty grand. You're a terrible friend.
That hurts me. You're a greatfriend. I wish I wasn't fifty grand.
You go somewhere you've never been,and you start over places that start
(12:26):
with an eye, Iowa Idoa,places people don't look got that, okay.
I just don't want to be scaredany to stay in touch with your
sister too. Set up a dummyemail account, use disposable cell phones,
call from pay phones if you canfind them, but stay in touch.
We went back to Lisa's. Therewas nine hundred thousand and us safe Monsourie's
(12:50):
death. That goes the rest ofvanish We left it in several black bags
that Cortez's garage, along with anote with a burner cell number. He
can reach me at calm. Where'sthe rest of it? In police evidence?
One of your thieves is dead.Not my problem. You had zero
when you woke up this morning.Nine hundred grand's not nothing, destiny.
(13:13):
I don't know. I made itthat way on purpose. You need another
million to leave her alone. Shedoesn't have it. There were three of
them, once dead, once gone, who's the third and where are they?
Maybe they have the rest. Mypart of this was destiny. How
(13:35):
poetic we're gonna have a problem dependson the mood of the evening. We
all got a boss. If there'sa problem next time, you won't get
the jump. Want me so easy? Well, but maybe I hope not
to see you again. You too, It wasn't a pleasure doing business with
you. What can I say?I'm all charmed. Yeah, don't feel
(14:01):
so bad about the fifty grand theessay contest for fifty grand do me a
favor of humor and me as Iread this to you. Reggie's essay was
profoundly original to critique a book fromthe perspective of a character within the book
is created in and of itself,but then to go on and point out
(14:22):
deficiencies in the author's portrayal of mycharacter, and of Wolf's character, and
of Leech's character, the things hegot wrong about us, and to make
a well supported case in each instanceshowing that London got some of our interactions
wrong, and that the logic ofour characters necessitated differing interactions, and that
(14:48):
a key part of the author's errorswas in misreading of Nietzsche. Well,
this is show genius. Whenever Reggielays down his boxing gloves, he could
easily have a bright future in academia. You are about done and missed a
birthday during that. As it turnedout, Reggie was bigger, stronger,
(15:13):
tougher, and smarter than me.And if I was honest, he was
more handsome as well. Now whatwas I going to do? Punch him?
Weeks later, my life had changedas expected. I'd been denied tenure
at Brooklyn University. I didn't complain. I just cleaned out my office one
night and left everything in my apartment. Lisa came by after she was released
(15:35):
from the hospital. Tony I heardfrom Destiny. Yeah, she sounds good,
living in some godforsake in rural area, working in a supermarket, getting
ready to enroll in a local college. Good. I'm doing it. Monsurie's
gone, Destiny, he's not talking. The DA might never know who sold
(15:58):
that blot to mold, but Iknow we'll have this hanging over our heads
for years. What if they flipone of Muldoon's guys, The FEDS will
put you away for years. Willyou wait for me as long as it
takes she came into my arms.My arms went around her. I pressed
(16:22):
her closer. Maybe I was ascrazy as she was, but I couldn't
help it. Sell my house,Tony, I'll give your power of attorney.
It's a beautiful home in a goodneighborhood. It's paid for. I
own it free and clear. It'llgo for a lot bank it. All
I could think of was Lisa inthe joint for God knew how many years.
(16:42):
Whatever you want, honey. Wesat together quiet for a long time.
The next morning, we drove acrosstown and then north. We put
the car in a lot and walkedto a jewelry store, Tony looking.
We got in the elevator and rodeto the second floor. I'd never been
(17:04):
here before. I just stared.The room was spacious, light airy,
the wall to wall carpet and wasa soft reddish brown. Comfortable. Display
cases were distributed around the room,creating an uncluttered, unhurried, relaxed ambiance.
It was a study in classic understatedelegance. Lisa and I walked slowly
(17:27):
among the displays, looking. Icaught the eye of a dark haired young
woman employee. She wore black bifocalsthat matched her hair. She came over
to us. I told her Iwanted latinum minimum, one carrot diamond.
The saleswoman led us to a display. Lisa looked at the thirteen thousand dollar
(17:48):
price tag on the ring. Icovered it. She knew roughly how much
money I made. I can't wearthis inside. I'll visit you whenever they
led me. If they led ustogether, I'll put the ring on your
fingers and as I arrived, andI'll take it off when I go home.
Go ahead, choose one. Shepointed at one ring in the display.
The diamond glittered. The saleswoman gaveit to us. I held the
(18:11):
ring. I got on my knees. There were people in the store.
They must have been staring at us. I didn't care. Lisa and I
were alone in a world that Ihad dreamed of for years. The cartel,
the d EA, the criminal justicesystem, a looming prison sentence.
None of that mattered right now.This was a moment I would have.
(18:33):
I would not be denied, andthe only pitfall that could stop me would
be the lady's refusal. Lisa,there's only one woman in this world that
I have ever felt this way.Abound and if you would have dumped me
to day, I would never dateagain. I would just stay married to
my memories of you. If Ilived to be nine hundred years old,
(18:56):
I will yes, Tony Yes.Tears filled her eyes and streaked her cheeks.
There was an obstruction in my throatthat made it difficult to speak.
Well. I didn't ask you yet. I took her left hand in my
left I held the ring in myright. I slipped the platinum diamond ring
on the ring finger of her lefthand. Right after that, Lisa and
(19:22):
I went to the d EA buildingon Tenth Avenue with a fancy attorney.
Lisa knew threw her parents. Sheinsisted on going inside without me. After
a lot of back and forth,she received a two and a half year
sentence owing to her cooperation with thed e A. I went to Betsy
Head Park with Reggie and we sawa chill again. Spring had arrived late,
(19:47):
and I felt its cool breath onmy face. It was early June,
but some people still ran to theheat. At night, green buds
was sprouting. The fragrance of freshearth opening filled my nostrils, and during
the day, chirping birds flitted throughthe trees fulsome growth, but there was
no spring in my world. Itwas two days later and Lisa had been
(20:10):
remanded into federal custody. We walkedslowly into the depths of the park.
In the distance, I heard voicesclosed for business. There are different kinds
of business. He advanced to meetus, walking alone, coming straight to
me, his right hand out stretched, smiling broadly. I gripped his hand.
(20:34):
He wore a black button down dressshirt, a black cashmere blazer,
faded blue jeans, and loafers withoutsocks. Now looking very gangster it at
night. I'm setting a trend.Chill reached his hand to Reggie, who
took it. We have all magnanimouslyagreed to remain silent about the body you
dropped in front of us. Nowyou are going to do some things for
(20:59):
us. Chill still gripped Reggie's hand. His left hand grabbed Reggie's right arm
and was almost swallowed by the massivebiceps. Chill had previously told Reggie he
planned to finish school and go intopolitics. He wanted to be the mayor
of New York City one day.Crazy thing was, we thought he could
actually pull it off. If youwanted to to get out a way of
(21:21):
making you like him. That wastough to explain anything for Tony. You're
out o here for good. Youcome with me to college, to grad
school or law school, into politics, and if you relapse, you're goin
down do hard time for the murderer, Ratitat and all those big plans shot
the ship. You ghost, I'llhunt you down. I'll scour the streets
(21:44):
until I find you, like agood destiny. This is not a choice.
I'm your foster dad now, andyou're coming with me. He stared
at me, a soft smile turningup the corners of his lips, and
not a hint of railery from him. Won't be needing to hunt for me.
There was nothing more to say.We left the pot, drove the
(22:07):
Reggie's Apotnam parked in a spot aroundthe corner, and sat in silence for
several minutes. Chill thought it wasover for a moment. You a wise
man, Tony. If not,I'll do until a wise man gets here.
(22:33):
Redmeat Village it's a production of VoyageMedia. The series is produced by
Nat Mandel, Robert Micas and DanBettimore. Directed, produced and adopted by
Dan Bennimore. Based on Andrew Bernstein'supcoming novel of the same name. When
a link to the novels available,it will be listed in the show notes.
Starring Katherine Bell as Lisa, MalikYoba as Reggie, and Ryan Heppy
as Tony. Additional cast credits areavailable in show notes. Edited sound design
(22:59):
mixed by Nick Missippi. Original musicby Drylis Gonzalez. If you're enjoying the
show, please give us a fivestar review and Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're
listening, and subscribe now for futureup listeners. YEA
Voyage, Meet village village. Iheard one of the killer screams of Tony's
(00:24):
knife embedded in his shoulder. Theknife killer was still with it enough to
raise his gun and pointed at Tony. I had a mind, no water
pistol in my hand. Three quickshots. The whistling projectiles ripped into the
hitman's skull. Dead man's trigger.He got off one final shot before he
tilted to his left and, inslow motion, toppled to the floor and
(00:45):
lay motionless. That shot missed Tonybut hit me. I staggered. Tony
collapsed on his face and breathed.After a long moment, Tony rose and
hit the light switch. He couldsee I had been shot, and his
face was torn between his hatred forme and his worried for me. It
(01:07):
hurts to breathe. He approached andexamined me. We've got to get you
to a hospital now. Sorry,we'll talk about that. After he walked
away from me, I'm calling thisin. He stepped into my living room
and dialed nine one one. Hecame back and sat with me while we
waited for the ambulance to come.Say something. This isn't the time.
(01:34):
It might be the only time weget you really want to do this now?
Yes, you're crazy. You didn'tjust play me for a chump.
You put my life at risk.You were only one you'd find her.
I loved you like they never lovedanybody in my life, and you knew
(01:57):
it. And you traded done that. You called me, and you damn
near got me killed. You plannedthe heist. You don't need the money.
Why I didn't know the answer.I was just wired that way.
Regular life, the same coffee shopevery morning, the same drive home every
night. That was torture to me. I needed the action. Since I
(02:23):
was a teenager. Some people jumpoff planes. I did crazy shit like
this. I had no defense.I had no defense when I ran with
Stevie back in the day, Ihad no defense. Now it was indefensible.
It didn't even make sense to me. How could it make sense to
Tony? Make it up every dayand rested my life. Go to the
(02:52):
fence if you want, I thinkI can ever trust you again. Lisa
was an emergency surgery for six hoursat the hospital. The gunman's bullet had
punctured a lung, but mister Hardshe bled internally and received massive blood transfusions,
(03:19):
her lungs choked with blood. Inthe waiting room, I spoke for
hours to the homicide boys. Thecops seemed to buy that the shooting had
been self defense, and to befair, they were the money was still
hidden in Lisa's safe. I sworeto whichever demons ruled this world, that
if they'd just let Lisa live,might do anything. It was just over
(03:43):
six hours when the oar doors openedand a petite brunette dressed in blue scrubs
stepped out. There were blood stainsall over her chest and gloves, and
she looked exhausted. Her name tagread Elizabeth Gelman, m D. I
stopped, I stood, I awaitedsentencing. She told me Lisa was still
alive, but in a coma,and that when people talk to people in
(04:06):
a coma it helped. So Iwent to Lisa's hospital room. She was
unconscious, receiving oxygen through her nose. I talked to her. I told
her what our life together would belike, whether we married or not,
whether we lived together or separate,whether she turned herself in or she didn't.
I told her. I told herof the clothes I would buy for
(04:29):
her, of the meals, Iwould prepare for her of the types of
flowers I would bring her, andof the books I would dedicate to her.
I described every single dance club inNew York City, straight from their
websites, and promised her we wouldpatronize each whenever she desired. I spoke
to her through tears and through dryeyes, with a catch in my voice,
(04:49):
and with none, when I wasfresh, and when I was tired,
whether I was thirsty or I wasn't, I spoke to her, and
she leapt. Lisa recovered consciousness onthe third day. She looked at me.
We was silent for a long time. Then I felt her hand lightly
(05:11):
apply pressure to mine. Hi,Lisa. I couldn't choke out anything else.
It was enough. She rested peacefullyon the pillows. I still held
her hand. The hospital seemed unusuallyquiet. We're not through anymore. Her
(05:32):
voice was throaty, coming from somewheredeep inside. Did you hear me?
I've been talking to you for thepast forty eight hours. I believe I
did. Lisa. You saved mylife. Honey, I'm the one who
put you in danger in the firstplace. You don't look so good,
tony. Yeah, well you don'tlook so hard either, she laughed.
(05:57):
I know, she turned serious.I'll turn myself in. It's the worst
thing I ever did to you andto the users, all that blow on
the street. I can't live withit. To your minimum for trafficking in
that bulk, she nodded, convictedfelon. They'll strip you your license.
(06:20):
You know, they'll never practice psychotherapyagain. My lies almost got you killed.
We enjoyed each other's company until Lisaneeded to sleep. It was the
middle of the day. Maybe becauseI'm sick in the head, I still
thought about where destiny was. Ineeded to talk to her to get this
(06:40):
all squared in my mind. Wheredo you go when you got nowhere to
go? Family? Destiny was obviouslynot with Lisa or adoptive family. Maybe
she had biological family in the city. Now that I knew exactly who she
was, I had a way tolook. Turned out she had a brother,
Robert Chisholm Reggie, and I wentto his address. If she sat
(07:04):
there, she probably never goes out, pulled up in the basement like a
rat, never a chirp out ofher. Riverdale was a peaceful, upper
middle class neighborhood here the private homeswere set back from the street. The
lawns were bright green and freshly mowed. Kid shot baskets on driveway hoops and
(07:24):
road bikes in the street quiet,friendly, prosperous, little or no street
crime. I wondered if Robert Chisholmwas a swindler too. He had a
brick house, expansive and solid,built to last. It had a covered
front porch shrouded by a tangle ofplants and flowers and heavy ceramic pots,
and a series of arching trees adorninga wide expanse of manicured lawn. A
(07:46):
red luxury car was parked in thedriveway. Mister Robert Chisholm must be paying
a fortunate maintenance and gardener fees.I walked up the stairs on to the
front porch. I rang the frontbell. It took a few seconds,
then someone opened the door. Hewas a tall, slim black man with
high cheekbones and sharp, intelligent eyes. He was strikingly good looking, not
(08:09):
unlike his sister in that regard.I guessed he was friendly. I told
him the truth. He stopped beingfriendly and threatened to call the cops.
I encouraged him to do so,since he was harboring a fugitive. When
I told him we wouldn't involve thecops, he reluctantly let me in.
We sat on a polstered chairs atan expansive wooden table. I heard the
(08:30):
front door close with a soft click. I leaped at my feet. The
conniving be it outsmarted me. Iraced out of the kitchen and reached for
the door. She had guessed I'dhave the rear exitcot it that's where Reggie
was, and she slithered up thefront. I jerked the door open and
leaped under the porch. She stopped. She wir facing me, pointing something
in her right hand. Did shehave a gun? Now? It was
(08:54):
peppers rolling. I dived to myright, craning my neck, extending my
face away from her right hand.I crawled forward. She fired. The
inflammatory fumes flared the air to myleft. I dived across the body,
knocking the canister from my hand inmy chest. I flipped away with my
left hand. I pinned her shouldersround with each hand. Her eyes exuded
(09:15):
fear, like she was pinned bya terrant actor. Hey, look at
me, Look at me. I'ma friend of Lisa flowers. I'm not
the cartel and I'm not the cops. You're a friend of Lisa. I
pulled my private opie license and showedit to her. Can we go back
inside? Please? Eventually we didn'tReggie two. We sat down me,
(09:37):
Glara and at Destiny's brother. Doyou want to see Lisa? I love
Lisa? But but what Lisa's crazy? She pleaded with me to hijack the
cartel Manjerie agreed, but me witha gun going against those killers? You
didn't want to do it? Notwant to do it? I was terrified.
(10:01):
No, I didn't want to doit? Are you crazy? Two
point four million worth a blow?Split? Three ways? Would being inducement?
Lisa promised a clean heist. Itwas it, Yeah, would have
been, except the shipment was late. Cartel guys showed up tracking their package.
Monjury Panic shot one of them.But you should have seen Lisa.
(10:26):
She swaggered at the driver. Sheheld a big gun, too big for
her gloved hands, steadily aimed atthe driver's chest. Monjury was behind her.
I stood shaking in the background.Lisa shoved the snout into the driver's
ear. She never said a word, but held a note in both English
(10:48):
and Spanish, in front of hiseyes, said give us the payload,
or we'll splatter your brains across thewindshield. Do you think she'd have done
it? No, I know shewouldn't. But he didn't know it.
He was just a driver. Youshould have seen how fast he opened the
car's trunk and pulled out the gymbags loaded with blow. Then then what
(11:13):
I drove? My hands shook.The car was all over the road,
but Lisa shot out the front tiresof their car. I wouldn't have believed
that kind of shooting was possible.She came more alive than anybody I've ever
seen. She was joyful. Sheloved it. You wore masks correct and
(11:39):
padded coats and elevated shoes and men'sguns too big for my hand. Look,
you stay in New York. Nomatter how long you hide in your
brother's house. The cartel is gonnafind you and kill you. If I
found you, they will too,even if they don't know your real name.
Lisa has the money whatever jury didn'thave. Yeah, which is going
(12:03):
back to the cartel or we're allgetting killed. Reggie's gonna spot you some
walking away cast. I am there. You can afford you my accounting.
Now, I'll get you back whenfifty grand. You're a terrible friend.
That hurts me. You're a greatfriend. I wish I wasn't fifty grand.
You go somewhere you've never been,and you start over places that start
(12:26):
with an eye, Iowa Idoa,places people don't look got that, okay.
I just don't want to be scaredany to stay in touch with your
sister too. Set up a dummyemail account, use disposable cell phones,
call from pay phones if you canfind them, but stay in touch.
We went back to Lisa's. Therewas nine hundred thousand and us safe Monsourie's
(12:50):
death. That goes the rest ofvanish We left it in several black bags
that Cortez's garage, along with anote with a burner cell number. He
can reach me at calm. Where'sthe rest of it? In police evidence?
One of your thieves is dead.Not my problem. You had zero
when you woke up this morning.Nine hundred grand's not nothing, destiny.
(13:13):
I don't know. I made itthat way on purpose. You need another
million to leave her alone. Shedoesn't have it. There were three of
them, once dead, once gone, who's the third and where are they?
Maybe they have the rest. Mypart of this was destiny. How
(13:35):
poetic we're gonna have a problem dependson the mood of the evening. We
all got a boss. If there'sa problem next time, you won't get
the jump. Want me so easy? Well, but maybe I hope not
to see you again. You too, It wasn't a pleasure doing business with
you. What can I say?I'm all charmed. Yeah, don't feel
(14:01):
so bad about the fifty grand theessay contest for fifty grand do me a
favor of humor and me as Iread this to you. Reggie's essay was
profoundly original to critique a book fromthe perspective of a character within the book
is created in and of itself,but then to go on and point out
(14:22):
deficiencies in the author's portrayal of mycharacter, and of Wolf's character, and
of Leech's character, the things hegot wrong about us, and to make
a well supported case in each instanceshowing that London got some of our interactions
wrong, and that the logic ofour characters necessitated differing interactions, and that
(14:48):
a key part of the author's errorswas in misreading of Nietzsche. Well,
this is show genius. Whenever Reggielays down his boxing gloves, he could
easily have a bright future in academia. You are about done and missed a
birthday during that. As it turnedout, Reggie was bigger, stronger,
(15:13):
tougher, and smarter than me.And if I was honest, he was
more handsome as well. Now whatwas I going to do? Punch him?
Weeks later, my life had changedas expected. I'd been denied tenure
at Brooklyn University. I didn't complain. I just cleaned out my office one
night and left everything in my apartment. Lisa came by after she was released
(15:35):
from the hospital. Tony I heardfrom Destiny. Yeah, she sounds good,
living in some godforsake in rural area, working in a supermarket, getting
ready to enroll in a local college. Good. I'm doing it. Monsurie's
gone, Destiny, he's not talking. The DA might never know who sold
(15:58):
that blot to mold, but Iknow we'll have this hanging over our heads
for years. What if they flipone of Muldoon's guys, The FEDS will
put you away for years. Willyou wait for me as long as it
takes she came into my arms.My arms went around her. I pressed
(16:22):
her closer. Maybe I was ascrazy as she was, but I couldn't
help it. Sell my house,Tony, I'll give your power of attorney.
It's a beautiful home in a goodneighborhood. It's paid for. I
own it free and clear. It'llgo for a lot bank it. All
I could think of was Lisa inthe joint for God knew how many years.
(16:42):
Whatever you want, honey. Wesat together quiet for a long time.
The next morning, we drove acrosstown and then north. We put
the car in a lot and walkedto a jewelry store, Tony looking.
We got in the elevator and rodeto the second floor. I'd never been
(17:04):
here before. I just stared.The room was spacious, light airy,
the wall to wall carpet and wasa soft reddish brown. Comfortable. Display
cases were distributed around the room,creating an uncluttered, unhurried, relaxed ambiance.
It was a study in classic understatedelegance. Lisa and I walked slowly
(17:27):
among the displays, looking. Icaught the eye of a dark haired young
woman employee. She wore black bifocalsthat matched her hair. She came over
to us. I told her Iwanted latinum minimum, one carrot diamond.
The saleswoman led us to a display. Lisa looked at the thirteen thousand dollar
(17:48):
price tag on the ring. Icovered it. She knew roughly how much
money I made. I can't wearthis inside. I'll visit you whenever they
led me. If they led ustogether, I'll put the ring on your
fingers and as I arrived, andI'll take it off when I go home.
Go ahead, choose one. Shepointed at one ring in the display.
The diamond glittered. The saleswoman gaveit to us. I held the
(18:11):
ring. I got on my knees. There were people in the store.
They must have been staring at us. I didn't care. Lisa and I
were alone in a world that Ihad dreamed of for years. The cartel,
the d EA, the criminal justicesystem, a looming prison sentence.
None of that mattered right now.This was a moment I would have.
(18:33):
I would not be denied, andthe only pitfall that could stop me would
be the lady's refusal. Lisa,there's only one woman in this world that
I have ever felt this way.Abound and if you would have dumped me
to day, I would never dateagain. I would just stay married to
my memories of you. If Ilived to be nine hundred years old,
(18:56):
I will yes, Tony Yes.Tears filled her eyes and streaked her cheeks.
There was an obstruction in my throatthat made it difficult to speak.
Well. I didn't ask you yet. I took her left hand in my
left I held the ring in myright. I slipped the platinum diamond ring
on the ring finger of her lefthand. Right after that, Lisa and
(19:22):
I went to the d EA buildingon Tenth Avenue with a fancy attorney.
Lisa knew threw her parents. Sheinsisted on going inside without me. After
a lot of back and forth,she received a two and a half year
sentence owing to her cooperation with thed e A. I went to Betsy
Head Park with Reggie and we sawa chill again. Spring had arrived late,
(19:47):
and I felt its cool breath onmy face. It was early June,
but some people still ran to theheat. At night, green buds
was sprouting. The fragrance of freshearth opening filled my nostrils, and during
the day, chirping birds flitted throughthe trees fulsome growth, but there was
no spring in my world. Itwas two days later and Lisa had been
(20:10):
remanded into federal custody. We walkedslowly into the depths of the park.
In the distance, I heard voicesclosed for business. There are different kinds
of business. He advanced to meetus, walking alone, coming straight to
me, his right hand out stretched, smiling broadly. I gripped his hand.
(20:34):
He wore a black button down dressshirt, a black cashmere blazer,
faded blue jeans, and loafers withoutsocks. Now looking very gangster it at
night. I'm setting a trend.Chill reached his hand to Reggie, who
took it. We have all magnanimouslyagreed to remain silent about the body you
dropped in front of us. Nowyou are going to do some things for
(20:59):
us. Chill still gripped Reggie's hand. His left hand grabbed Reggie's right arm
and was almost swallowed by the massivebiceps. Chill had previously told Reggie he
planned to finish school and go intopolitics. He wanted to be the mayor
of New York City one day.Crazy thing was, we thought he could
actually pull it off. If youwanted to to get out a way of
(21:21):
making you like him. That wastough to explain anything for Tony. You're
out o here for good. Youcome with me to college, to grad
school or law school, into politics, and if you relapse, you're goin
down do hard time for the murderer, Ratitat and all those big plans shot
the ship. You ghost, I'llhunt you down. I'll scour the streets
(21:44):
until I find you, like agood destiny. This is not a choice.
I'm your foster dad now, andyou're coming with me. He stared
at me, a soft smile turningup the corners of his lips, and
not a hint of railery from him. Won't be needing to hunt for me.
There was nothing more to say.We left the pot, drove the
(22:07):
Reggie's Apotnam parked in a spot aroundthe corner, and sat in silence for
several minutes. Chill thought it wasover for a moment. You a wise
man, Tony. If not,I'll do until a wise man gets here.
(22:33):
Redmeat Village it's a production of VoyageMedia. The series is produced by
Nat Mandel, Robert Micas and DanBettimore. Directed, produced and adopted by
Dan Bennimore. Based on Andrew Bernstein'supcoming novel of the same name. When
a link to the novels available,it will be listed in the show notes.
Starring Katherine Bell as Lisa, MalikYoba as Reggie, and Ryan Heppy
as Tony. Additional cast credits areavailable in show notes. Edited sound design
(22:59):
mixed by Nick Missippi. Original musicby Drylis Gonzalez. If you're enjoying the
show, please give us a fivestar review and Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're
listening, and subscribe now for futureup listeners. YEA
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