The Con Man (87th Precinct #4)

by Ed McBain

“They come in shop. He say the girl want tattoo. I show them designs on wall. I try to sell her butterfly. Nobody like butterfly. Butterfly my own design. Very pretty. Good for shoulder. I do butterfly on one lady’s back, near base of spine. Very pretty, only nobody see. Good for shoulder. I try to sell her butterfly, but man say he wants heart. She say she wants heart, too. Stars in eyes, you know? Big love, big thing, shining all over. I show them big hearts. Very pretty hearts, very complicated, many colors.” “They didn’t want a big heart?” “Man wants small heart. He show me where.” Chen spread his thumb and forefinger. “Here. Very difficult. Skinny flesh, needle could go through. Very painful. Very difficult. He say he wants it there. Say if he wants it there, she wants it there. Crazy.” “Who suggested what lettering to put into the heart?” “Man. He say, ‘You put M-A-C in heart.’” “He said to put the name Mac into that heart?” “He no say name Mac. He say put M-A-C.” “And what did she say?” “She say, ‘Yes, M-A-C.’”