“Woah, Sally, don’t be nervous.” Antone said, blocking him with his arm. “They’re just pizza delivery guys.” 

Sal pointed out the window. “I got a Chinese guy coming at me who looks like he’s walking on stilts and you want me to think he’s a pizza delivery guy in Ridgewood, New Jersey? I don’t see no pizza box in his hands.”

Still keeping his eye on the Chinese guy coming at him, Sal said to Joe, “Tell stilts to go back to the car and sit down or there’s gonna be trouble.”

Joe looked across the car’s hood at Chief and said in Chinese, “Chief, the big guy in the driver’s seat is pretty uptight, but I think the old geezer next to him trusts me. If you go back to the car, I’m pretty sure I can get them to back up so we can keep looking for the Tomato and the Cornstalk.”

Antone smiled at Joe and replied in Chinese, “I’m not that old, you know. Why don’t you let us help you look for these two guys—ya know, da Toemate and da Stalk.” 

Sal’s mouth dropped open. “You speak Chinese, Ant? Don’t tell me you’re a communist, too!” 

Antone laughed. “My grandmother was from China. Lived with us until the day she died. Made me speak the Chinese every day.” Then he gestured at Joe. “We’re gonna help you. Follow us.” 

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