Page 22 of Kingpin

“Which butcher shop did you use?” I asked.

I watched my wife slide apple-braised pork shanks out of the oven, and my mouth began to water.

“I didn’t,” she said breathlessly.

“I’m not following.”

She set the hot dish on the stove. “I didn’t go to a butcher shop. I had the butcher bring me the carcass.”

“You had someone inmypenthouse without my permission?”

“No. I had your guards downstairs inspect the skinned and gutted pig he brought me, then your guards brought it up.”

I paused. “So…you…?”

She finally looked at me. “Chopped and sliced this thing up all by myself? Yes, Israel. I did. Do you have any other questions for me? Because I’ve still got sides to put together and the rest of this pig to break down before it can be put in your deep freezer.”

Color me impressed.

“How did you learn your way around stuff like this?” I asked.

I watched her wash her hands. “I grew up in a butcher shop, actually. My family used the backs of their butcher shops to start the family business we have now. Those old-school ways are passed down to every child, boy and girl, as a way to preserve our roots and traditions.”

“I figured a woman like yourself would have stayed away from such blood and violence.”

She shrugged. “It helps that I know my way around knives. You know, in case I ever have to use them for reasons other than butchering pigs for food.”

“Can you butcher other things?”

She dried her hands off. “Sure. Cows. Chickens. Turkeys. I’m less a fan of fish, but mostly because it’s time-consuming.”

I nodded. “The scales are a bitch.”

She giggled. “Right? The scales arereallya bitch.”

I watched the way she threw together rice and roasted vegetables to go with dinner. Then, as everything warmed to perfection on top of the stove, I watched her pull out another butcher’s knife. She tossed it into the air and caught it by the handle before throwing it at the pig. When the sharpened blade sliced and embedded itself right through two of the ribs, without so much as chipping the bone, my eyebrows rose.

Maybe the woman I married had what it took to stand alongside me.

Maybe she had what it took to keep up with me in the business.

“Anything I can help you with?” I asked.

She smiled. “Set the table. I’d like to change into something less tainted with pig before we eat.”

I found myself more than eager to comply with her request.

10

Bonnie

“You ready to head out?”

Israel’s voice piped up behind me, and I almost jumped out of my skin.

“Damn it, do you ever make any noise when you walk?”

“No.”

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