But in running, he ruined his reputation in Harlem. Running away was probably the only solution for Malcolm's dilemma he certainly could not have defeated all his enemies. They picked up Malcolm's possessions and set out immediately for Boston. But he was rescued at the last moment: Sammy called Shorty in Boston and Shorty came for Malcolm. Now he had gangsters investigating the robbery after him, he had Archie after him, and he had made another enemy. However, he got in a fight with another hustler, who also threatened to kill him. The next day, he slept until past Archie's deadline, but Archie did not find him. Later, Malcolm encountered Archie in a bar and was threatened again. To the hustler, reputation is everything. And, since word had spread that he had cheated Archie, Archie could not afford to lose his sense of honor. Malcolm was in a bad situation: he could not return the money to Archie without damaging his reputation.

He believed Malcolm had cheated him on the numbers transaction and demanded his three hundred dollars back by noon the next day. West Indian Archie found Malcolm at Shorty's that evening and threatened him with a gun. But just when he thought he had no choice but to be killed - or to kill someone else and be sent to prison - Sammy and Shorty came to his rescue. During this time, Malcolm's life was in constant danger he was trapped, through no fault of his own, in a web of circumstances. Chapter Eight covers the two days immediately following the end of Chapter Seven.

The Smoking Gun by Malcolm Rose