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accentuated his mongoloid features. Only at the last moment had fate veered away from inflicting Down’s syndrome. Nature’s arsenal of errant genes was evident in the ruddy face, egg-shaped head, and half-open, pig-pink eyes. Above these, mundane heredity had triumphed, shaping a canopy of fine, blond curly hair.
    â€œI’m Victor Joseph Menter. And he is Mr. Woodrow Winston. And you must be Tom Noonan. You want to talk or can I nap some more?”
    Noonan pursed his lips and said:
    â€œDon’t push too hard.”
    â€œIt’s your nickel.”
    â€œAs you say. The subject is Coney Island. But first I’ll show you something.”
    He lifted from the desk a poster-sized scroll and unfurled it against his chest. It showed two sketches of Orchard Beach in the Bronx. The left was captioned
Orchard Beach then
, the right
Orchard Beach now. Then
put Orchard Beach in its geographical context, a dot on Long Island Sound, alongside Rodman’s Neck and Hunter’s Island. The
now
portion enlarged it as the focal point of the area. A boardwalk, parking facility, play and game areas and a picnic grove were identified in large letters. Noonan’s index finger traced the facilities.
    â€œCommissioner Robert Moses did that. He created clean, white beaches, ample bathhouses where families change in comfort and then swim. He gave kids room to play, wholesome places where families picnic under beautiful trees. I had the privilege of working with him.”
    â€œHooray for him and you,” Menter interrupted.
    Noonan ignored him.
    â€œRecently Commissioner Moses has turned his attention to Coney Island. He wishes to create a park there. I believe this is only the beginning and that eventually he will want to do for Coney Island what he did for Orchard Beach. When he does, my principals wish to own the real estate that the city will be obliged to purchase.”
    â€œSounds good to me. Where do I come in?”
    â€œYou are President of the Coney Island Chamber of Commerce and Coney Island Businessmen’s Association. An outside buyer would arouse too much attention. Prices would rise. Therefore you will be the buyer. Everyone will get a fair price for selling. You will receive a fifteen percent commission for each sale.”
    â€œAnd if they don’t want to sell?”
    Noonan lifted the back of his hand to his lips and kissed a clear diamond set in a wide gold band.
    â€œYou are here because I have been told that you have great powers of persuasion. Use them. If persuasion doesn’t work, there are other options. I don’t care what condition the property is in when we get it. It’ll be razed anyway.”
    Menter nodded and winked. Noonan continued.
    â€œThe bank I represent will handle all the financial arrangements. Besides commission there will be bonuses. The less money we spend, the more for you. Understood?”
    â€œUnderstood.”
    â€œIt is my estimation that Commissioner Moses will want to move soon. I want the property by September.”
    â€œBy September it is.”
    In the hallway, Menter rubbed his hands in glee.
    â€œSome sweet deal!”
    He crossed himself and, with a continuing flourish, goosed the air.
    In the car, Menter screwed a cigarette into a silver holder and lit up. He clamped the holder between his teeth, elevating it to the jaunty angle favored by President Franklin Roosevelt
    â€œRemind you of someone, Woody?”
    â€œSure Vic, like I always say, FDR.”
    â€œI wonder where he got his infantile paralysis. For sure, not like me, from swimmin’ in the Gowanus Canal. And he didn’t have no kike doctor who stopped coming round when he sniffed no more dough.”
    â€œHow old were you?”
    â€œSeventeen. You shouldda’ seen me before. I was the best shortstop in Brooklyn.”
    â€œTough.”
    â€œYeah, now I’m like you, lookin’ at the world through assholes.”
    â€œLivin’