I aint got any idea, Mr. Ha.s.sle, honest.

Its Haskell, f.u.c.kwit. So, guess who I saw trying to get into my friends house? Guess who was trying to break in?

Oh, I wasnt trying to break in. He just wanted me to see if there was a way to get in there, thats all. I. All of a sudden he shut up as if it dawned on him hed already said too much.

Trying to find a way in? Into my friends house? For who? I asked then pulled the .38 out of my pocket and shoved it in my waistband making sure Freddy could see my every move.

I probably shouldnt have said that. I didnt really mean it, he said, sounding even more nervous.

Hmmm-mmm, does that mean you were going to break into my friends house?

No, no honest.

Thats good. I didnt think youd do that, Freddy. At least I hope you wouldnt, because that would make me very mad and Im sure neither one of us would want that, would we?

No, youre right, that wouldnt be good.

Yeah, right, so who were you checking things out for? Whos trying to get into my friends house?

I really cant say.

Yeah you can, Freddy. You can tell me, after all were pals. Look, I even bought you a beer.

Yeah, I know, I already said thanks and all, but I really cant tell you.

Sure you can, Freddy, well unless you want to see that fancy car of yours out there in the lot maybe get torched and then after I set it on fire, Im gonna come back in here and look for you.

Me?

Yeah, and I wont be happy, because youre playing me for a sucker and that makes me mad, Freddy. It really does.

Im not playing you for a sucker, Mr. Haskell, honest. Its just that he can be kind of mean and all and I stuck my little finger back into Freddys ear gauge and pulled.

Ahhh-hhhh, G.o.d dont, come on that really hurts. Dont ahhh-hhhh.

You got about three seconds to tell me, Freddy, or Im going to rip this thing right out of your ear.

For just a brief moment the bartender looked over from where he was sitting at the far end of the bar watching the ball game, then he went back to watching the TV.

Three, two I cant, I cant tell you theyll One, I half yelled and yanked the gauge out of Freddys ear.

Ahhh-hhhh, he screamed loud enough that one of the regulars looked down our way and the bartender stood up off his stool and said, Take it outside, fellas, in a loud voice.

I grabbed Freddy by the back of the neck and moved him toward the front door.

Freddy had a bloodied hand over his ear and was screaming, You maniac, are you f.u.c.king crazy? G.o.d, you tore my d.a.m.n ear off, what in the h.e.l.l is wrong with you? Jesus, that hurts.

Listen to me, you fat a.s.sed idiot, Im gonna tear that gauge off your other ear, give you a matching pair unless you tell me what you were doing trying to get into that house tonight. You think Im fooling? So help me G.o.d you better start talking or I will tear you apart.

I already told you, I cant, h.e.l.l kill me.

Thats exactly what I plan on doing, I said and reached for his other ear.

Freddy pushed me away and started to run for his car. I sort of half jogged and caught up then dropped a foot or two behind while he kept waddling, trying to fish his keys out to unlock the car door. The lights on his Camaro blinked a moment later as he scurried toward the drivers door. He pulled the door open and just as his fat a.s.s was halfway in the car I slammed into the door full force.

It banged against Freddy and he gave a high-pitched yelp then staggered back a step or two. There was a vertical crease along the outside of the door where I slammed into it. I grabbed him by his Mohawk and bounced his head against the doorframe a couple of times. He stumbled back and started to slide down the side of the car. I lifted him with an uppercut to the chin and heard his teeth clack, then drilled him in what was left of his nose.

Okay, okay, stop it, G.o.d. It was Bulldog, Tubbys guy. Okay, you happy? Jesus, lay off, b.i.t.c.h, I didnt do anything to you. G.o.d!

Bulldog?

Freddy was bending over at the waist leaning against the Camaro with his hands on his knees. Blood from his nose and mouth was dripping down into a puddle on the asphalt parking lot. Blood from his ear had soaked a good portion of his shoulder and the front of his shirt. He stared at the ground and didnt look up at me when he spoke.

Yeah, Bulldog. He didnt tell me why, honest he didnt. He just said he wanted to get into the house, that the folks were moving and he was thinking of buying it back. Wanted to see what theyd done before he came up with a number.

Buy it back?

Yeah, thats what he said, honest, Freddy gasped.

Why didnt he just call? That doesnt make any sense, I half said to myself, but Freddy heard me.

I dont know, man. Its Bulldog, its not supposed to make sense. He just told me to go there and find a way in. He said no one was living there. If I knew your friend was there I wouldnt have tried the window, really, I wouldnt lie to you. I promise I wouldnt, Freddy said then coughed and spit more blood a couple of times onto the asphalt.

Chapter Seven.

I was lying awake on the couch at Caseys wondering why Bulldog wanted to get into this place. Its not like there was anything to really steal, maybe the flat screen, but a jerk like Bulldog would have access to an entire truckload just by making a phone call. Dermots laptop was three or four years old and besides, I didnt think Bulldog knew the alphabet. Then there was the bit that he, Bulldog was a previous owner. Knowing Dermot and Casey, they would have run the other way rather than deal with someone like him. I double checked to make sure the .38 was on the coffee table then promised myself Id call Casey in the morning and drifted off to sleep.

Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty, Casey called and set down a couple of bags and a tray holding four coffees.

I sort of groaned then rolled over and sat up. My shoulders, neck and back made audible cracking sounds as I twisted left and right, then I burped.

Charming. G.o.d, you slob, how could you trash this place all by yourself in just one night? she asked then placed my ice cream dish in the bowl full of chicken wing bones. She stacked the empty dip container on top and picked it all up along with the cracker box. Ill come back and get all the beer bottles and I better bring the vacuum, youve got crumbs all over. There are toothbrushes in the top drawer to the right of the bathroom sink. Might be a good idea, then come on back, if I remember correctly you like caramel rolls for breakfast.

I like anything I dont have to cook, I said. Then picked up the .38 as discreetly as possible and slipped it into my pocket.

We were sitting in the den. Two plumbers were banging pipes out in the front room doing something to the radiator. I was almost finished with my second coffee and eyeing the third. Casey was about halfway through her first and still nibbling at the same caramel roll shed started on twenty minutes earlier. She was doing the female thing; taking the smallest of bites, barely a morsel, eating that and then waiting. Id already inhaled both my caramel rolls and was picking up errant crumbs from off the coffee table. I eyed the rest of hers and decided to play rough.

G.o.d, I guess I should have gotten more, she said watching me lick my finger tips.

Nah, this was great. Really hits the spot. I have to say, Casey, you look really great, have you lost a little weight?

Probably just the stress.

Well, you look like youve been working out, you look fantastic.

Thanks, Dev, thats sweet, she said then pushed her plate to the center of the coffee table. Go ahead and finish that if you want, Im really not that hungry.

Nah, I couldnt. You sure, I mean you barely touched it?

Please, take it otherwise it will just go to waste.

Okay, I guess if you really dont want it, I said moving the plate over into my domain.

No really, Im full.

Hey, mind if I ask you something? I said then took a bite that cut her caramel roll in half.

Ask me and well see.

I was wondering, how long have you guys been in this house?

You mean like why isnt it finished?

No, I didnt mean it like that.

There was a sort of window bay area maybe five feet deep on the exterior wall of the den with four tall windows. The roof had leaked and probably still did where the bay jutted out from the main structure. Casey glanced up at the water-damaged plaster on the ceiling. It was cracked and stained a yellow brownish color. Unfortunate past experience told me those stains would bleed right through any paint. But then the plaster was so damaged the area would have to be replaced anyway so it didnt really matter.

All my friends from the burbs were always asking us when we were going to be finished. They just dont get it, but then how could they? Anyway, lets see, it was May when we moved in, and we had to get the furnace replaced before we moved. I think we closed the end of March. So thats She counted silently on her fingers, then said, So I guess thats about twenty-eight months.

You remember who you bought it from?

She ignored my question and took a detour down memory lane instead. It was going to be our house forever. I mean with four bedrooms upstairs thered be plenty of room for kids. We were going to live here for the next fifty years. Of course things happen and Do you remember who you bought it from? I asked again. Who lived here before you?

The seller?

Yeah, was it a family or an old couple, who was it?

I cant really say. It was sort of strange. It was never officially on the market, you know with a sign out front or anything like that. We sort of heard about it by word of mouth, I cant even remember who told us. I do know it had been empty, but not for too long. Sort of a weirdo character at the closing representing the sellers. He was a lawyer I think, Johnny or Jamie something. I suppose Ive got his card around here somewhere in a file, sleazy type, with a home dye-job on his dreadful slicked back hair. He kept leering at me and I remember when he gave me his card he sort of held my hand and raised his eyebrows like there was a lot more available if I wanted it.

What did you do?

Ran to the ladies room and washed my hands with disinfectant, twice. What a creep. We never met the owners, I think they were traveling or something?

Traveling, like they were in the circus or what?

Yeah, thats right, Dev, the circus. No, it was like they were out of town, out of state for that matter. I dont know Europe, Hawaii, China maybe, anyway not living the sort of life we had, she said and then I could see the tears beginning to well up in her eyes and so I changed the subject.

Hey, how would you feel if I moved in, temporarily, just so the place isnt empty at night?

Did you see him, did he come back?

No nothing, I lied. I would guess it was someone like Louie said. You know, they heard this might be going on the market and they wanted to drive by. That might actually be kind of a good thing since youre going to sell.

Yeah, I wont be able to keep up the payments by myself and then, well probably not the best idea to stay. Hey, I appreciate the offer, Dev, but I really cant impose on you like that. After all, you were kind enough to come last night when I phoned in panic mode and.

Casey, it wouldnt be an imposition. Really, besides youll sleep better and you know how I can worry so how bout we just agree Ill spend the nights here.

I could pay you, not much, but No. You dont need to pay me. Id like to do it, really.

Youre sure?

Yup.

I mean I could probably.

No, Casey, look Ill be back here around five tonight. If you could go out today, maybe get me a set of keys, well be all set.

I suppose you could use Dermots, she said and then the tears welled up again.

Chapter Eight.

Youre kidding me, the two of you are shacking up? Louie asked.

No, you low dripper, were not shacking up. Shes staying at her brothers place. Im just going to be there at night to make sure no one breaks in.

Did you tell her about that Fat a.s.s guy?

Fat Freddy? No, to answer your question. Nothing I could say was going to help in that vein, G.o.d shed just obsess and worry. I just told her it had been a quiet night and let it go at that.

Louie nodded.

I could use your help on something.

Whats that? Louie asked.

Well, if you wouldnt mind doing a little research, maybe you could sort of check out the history of the place. Fat Freddy said they bought the place from Bulldog. Casey said whoever owned it was out of town traveling in Europe or China when they closed on it. That sure doesnt sound like Bulldog. Im going to wander over there this afternoon, knock on some doors to introduce myself and see if the neighbors can tell me anything.

Ill check it out. When you talk to Casey, ask her if she has a copy of the abstract, it might be interesting to go through that.

I nodded, then said, She mentioned some sleazy lawyer handled their closing. Guy actually made a pa.s.s at her. His name was Johnny or Jamie something like that, he had slicked back dyed hair. Ring any bells?

Sleazy? G.o.d it could be just about anyone. Jackie Van Dorn comes to mind. Hes certainly sleazy. Hes got this pencil thin mustache thing and dyed black hair, G.o.d knows why, the only person hes fooling is himself. Looks like something out of a B grade movie from the 40s. Yeah, I could see him making a pa.s.s at someone during a real estate closing. He fancies himself as a man-about-town, its comical.

I was knocking on neighbors doors later that afternoon. No one answered at the two homes on either side of Caseys place. The third house was a three-story, two-toned green Victorian that sat directly across the street. I climbed the steps to the front porch and knocked on the carved oak door. A large picture window looked out onto the porch, a stained-gla.s.s window in a floral pattern sat above it.

Yes, a voice called from behind the door.