Im looking for something I lost, Haskell. Your name keeps coming up.

If you mean that protection money, I heard that was Fat Freddy. I didnt have anything to do with that.

Except drive the truck, I seen ya, you were there helping him. You think Im stupid? Well get to that money later. Right now, I think you know what the h.e.l.l Im talking about.

I dont have a clue what youre talking about.

Oh really, maybe thisll refresh your memory, he said then hit Heidi across the back of her head. She fell off his lap with a groan, he quickly reached down and pulled her head up by the hair and then held on.

Im really running out of patience here, Haskell. I could use a little cooperation from you right about now, he said then yanked Heidi again by her hair.

I already told you, I got no idea what in the h.e.l.l youre talking about.

Oh, really? Funny, aint it? Everyone I talked to so far said pretty much the same thing. The difference was they were so scared to death they were s.h.i.tting themselves. You on the other hand, I got a feeling you know. Youre just such a stupid son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h you think you can play me.

If I knew what you wanted Id give it to you, honest. But I dont know, I dont. I made my voice sound pleading hoping hed buy it.

Bulls.h.i.t, you know what Im talking about, it was in a nylon bag. And Im through playing games with you. You think youre so f.u.c.king smart? Someone tried to be cute and sent Tubby a currency band in the mail. So I asked myself, now, who in the h.e.l.l would know to send that to Tubby? Most of the folks I talked to cant see much past their next drink or score. They only read about Tubby in the papers, theyve never seen him, wouldnt know a h.e.l.l of a lot about him and certainly wouldnt know that Jackie Van Dorn was his attorney. What sort of a.s.shole do you think would know that sort of thing?

I was talking to Van Dorn about a real estate matter. Thats all. Its common knowledge the only client he has is Tubby. h.e.l.l, I got that information from the cops.

A real estate matter. Hear that, baby doll? he said then yanked Heidis hair again and she gave a sort of yelp.

Just let her go, Ill do anything you want.

You know what I want, Haskell, that bag, get it.

Let her go, Bulldog I dont know anything about a bag.

When I get whats mine, then you get her back. Until then, were just gonna sit back and party, arent we, baby? he said then ran a pistol along the side of Heidis face and kissed her on the top of the head.

Heidi let out a small groan.

You got till noon tomorrow then all bets are off. You can just contact me on your little f.u.c.k-buddies phone. You or anyone else shows up here unannounced and you can kiss her nice firm a.s.s goodbye. Now get out of here before I change my mind.

Bulldog, I dont You heard me, get the h.e.l.l out of here, he shouted.

I turned to go then slowly began to reach for the pistol I placed on the table.

Leave it and get out of here now or so help me.

Just go, Dev, and do whatever he wants, please. Heidi cried.

You heard the lady, dumba.s.s, get moving.

Chapter Forty-Six.

I walked out to my car and drove off. I parked two blocks away then ran back down the alley to Heidis. There was a light on in one of the guest rooms on the second floor, but other than that the house was dark. I crept through the neighbors garden to the front of the house, the door had been closed.

Even if I had a key I wouldnt be able to get in and surprise him, and then there was the matter of Heidis safety. I planned to be at the bank in the morning as soon as they opened up.

I was pretty sure I was safe from Bulldog for the rest of the night so I attempted to sleep at Caseys. Attempted is the operative word, I didnt sleep a wink. At just before sunrise I went down to the office and pulled the .38 and the blue nylon bag out of my desk drawer. Then I set about cutting reams of paper into the size of twenty dollar bills. I placed a twenty on the top and bottom of each stack and ran a length of blue masking tape Caseys contractor had left behind around each bundle. When it was finished it looked sort of convincing, maybe, if you didnt look too closely. I took the remaining bundle of twenties from my pocket and ran a length of tape around it then hauled everything including the corrugated wine box out to my car.

I phoned Bulldog on Heidis phone about 9:30.

Haskell? he answered.

Let me speak to Heidi, I want to make sure shes all right.

Shes fine, cant wipe the smile off her face after all the fun we had last night. Didnt we have a good time, sweetheart? Too bad you couldnt join us, Haskell, he laughed.

Let me talk to her or you wont see a cent of this money.

That seemed to get his attention, because suddenly she was on the line. Dev?

Are you okay, Heidi?

Yeah, she said, but she sounded like she was ready to burst into tears.

There, happy, a.s.shole? Bulldog said.

Heres what were going to do, Bulldog. I want you Im the one telling you how this is gonna go down, you piece of s.h.i.t.

No, I dont think so, Im the guy with your money. When I pull up I want you to let her go. She can get in her car and drive away. Ill stay in her place.

I said And I said all youre interested in is your money. So shut up and youll get it. I just want her out of there. Ill call you when Im out in front, I said and hung up. Then I waited for two very long minutes staring at my phone to see if it would ring. It didnt.

I pulled in behind Bulldogs Jaguar fifteen minutes later. I got out, opened the back door, took out the blue nylon bag and placed it on the roof of my car. I walked around the side of the house to Heidis back door and called her phone.

I seen ya pull up, what the h.e.l.l are you doing in back?

I told you before, I want you to let her go.

Get your a.s.s to the front and well talk about it.

No, I want her at the back door, she can leave and you got me to beat up or kill or whatever makes you happy. But just let her go or you get nothing. Im only going to wait one minute. Then Im leaving.

Ill blow your G.o.d d.a.m.n brains out, he screamed into the phone.

Go ahead, but then you may not get your money, fifty-fifty shot, Bulldog, after waiting all this time are you willing to gamble? I said then hung up.

I heard the front door open and thought Oh no, he didnt go for it. But then, just as he was coming down the steps a vehicle pulled in front of the house across the street and Bulldog quickly walked around the side toward me. He was grasping Heidi firmly by the arm and holding a pistol against her rib cage. She had a wild look on her face.

Just let her go, Bulldog. Just let her walk out the back gate.

You go get that bag and bring it up here, then well see.

Nope. Ive learned the hard way I cant trust you. I got something for you, though. Just to show you Im on the level. Its in my front pocket, Im gonna take it out so dont shoot me.

What the h.e.l.l is it?

Can I get in my pocket? Just watch, I promise no tricks, I said then reached in carefully and slowly pulled out the bundle of twenties with the blue masking tape around it.

At first he just stared, but then his eyes brightened as I held the bundle of cash out toward him.

Just to show you its all for real, Bulldog. Now, just let her go. This is the bundle I took the band from and sent to Tubby. The rest of the cash is in that bag, so just let her go.

Bulldog looked at me and attempted to smile then s.n.a.t.c.hed the cash out of my hand and stuffed it in his pocket. He grabbed onto Heidi again before either one of us realized what hed done. I gotta say, you really are one stupid, dumb son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h. Now I got the both of you and I got the gun. You so much as blink and she gets it first.

But, I thought we had a deal.

Shut the f.u.c.k up and lets go down and see whats in that bag. You first, dumb s.h.i.t. Then he motioned with his pistol toward my car. I was trying to come up with an escape plan and failing miserably. Heidi shot a look at me that was a combination of fear and the promise she would kill me as soon as she got the chance.

For the first time, I noticed the vehicle parked across the street was a shiny black pickup with chrome letters just behind the front wheel that said F-350, 4 x 4. It had dual rear wheels and very large mud flaps.

Thats far enough, Bulldog said as I crossed the sidewalk. We were all standing on the boulevard, gathered around my car like we were just saying a friendly little goodbye. Get that thing off the roof of your car and open it up, he said then half motioned with his pistol again, not that I needed a reminder.

I pulled the bag off the roof of the car and unzipped it. If he looked closely at the bundles he was liable to shoot the both of us. I dropped the bag on the boulevard and took half a step back.

Oh, my G.o.d, Heidi said.

Bulldog motioned with the pistol for me to step back further, he chuckled as he stared down at the bag and growled, Its about G.o.d d.a.m.n time. Then he reached down to fan one of the bundles and I knew we were screwed.

Wait a minute what the h.e.l.l is But he never finished, the rear door flew open, catching Bulldog across the top of his skull with a dull thunk and sending him backwards onto the sidewalk, unconscious.

Fat Freddy pried himself out of my back seat holding a pistol. Woo-hoo-hoo. You guys see that? I got him. Hows it feel, Bulldog? Happy? he said then kicked Bulldog on the chin, picked up his pistol and shoved it into his belt. G.o.d, does that ever feel good.

Freddy where in the h.e.l.l did you come from?

You kidding, I been following you for almost three days. I thought she was maybe Bulldogs main squeeze or something, but I guess I was wrong on that.

Heidi looked ready to kill.

Bulldog started to move his head back and forth and Freddy handed me a pistol then ran across the street to the truck. He came back with a pair of handcuffs and quickly rolled Bulldog half over and cuffed his hands behind his back. Bulldog growled as he began to regain consciousness.

Maybe you could help me get him in the back of the truck here would you, Dev?

Will he stay back there, is it safe? I asked as we hoisted Bulldog up onto his feet and began to walk him across the street. He was still groggy from the blow to his head and he staggered.

Freddy lowered the rear gate on the truck and we threw Bulldog up onto the bed like so much dead weight. Then Freddy climbed up, grabbed Bulldog by the collar and dragged him toward the front of the truck. He took a chain attached to the back of cab and wrapped it around Bulldogs neck three or four times. There, that should hold him, he said.

Will he be able to breathe?

Really not my problem, pal. You mind following me, just in case?

Yeah, I guess I can do that. I glanced across the street at Heidi who looked like she was about to have steam come out of her ears. I figured maybe some distance until she cooled down wouldnt be too bad an idea.

Freddy waddled back across the street and grabbed the blue nylon bag. Sorry, Dev, but finders keepers, he said then touched the pistol crammed into his belt suggesting Dont even think of trying anything.

Are you a policeman? Heidi asked.

Yeah, cant you tell by the handcuffs? Were going to take him down to the station, now, arent we, Haskell, Freddy said.

Give me half a minute here, Freddy. I said hoping to diffuse the potential eruption from Heidi.

Are you okay, Heidi?

You complete and utter b.a.s.t.a.r.d. You got me mixed up in this, this insane situation. Thank G.o.d that cop had enough sense to know sooner or later youd have things all screwed up. Just get the h.e.l.l out of my sight and dont you ever, never, ever contact me again. Do you hear me? she screamed as I backed up and quickly made my way into my car. I locked the doors sensing Heidi might want to be left alone, which, being a caring sensitive guy I understood.

Chapter Forty-Seven.

I followed behind Freddy, fortunately Bulldog had slumped down on the bed of the truck and couldnt be seen. Freddy took a round about way along the river bluff, then ambled across the 35E Bridge. He exited on the far end of the bridge then drove down along the river on the Lilydale road. He took his sweet time and it was pretty obvious we werent going anywhere near the police station.

This was relatively unused parkland without another vehicle on the road. All the activity was on the other side of the river. Freddy pulled off on a small seldom-used gravel road that was more weeds than anything else, then stopped maybe twenty yards in. We were hidden from the road wed just left by large cottonwood trees and shoulder high growth. The river bank was thick with weeds and I could hear the river, but couldnt see it. Just off to the side was a scorched patch of weeds and low hanging branches, bits of melted plastic and what looked like shattered car window glistened in the sun.

What are we stopping here for? I asked.

Dont you recognize it? This is where that b.a.s.t.a.r.d torched black beauty? Freddy said.

I thought you were going to bring him to the police?

You gotta be kidding me, you cant tell me you really believed that s.h.i.t, did you?

Well no, of course not, but what are you going to do with him?

Well see, Freddy said and lowered the gate on the pick up. Bulldog was lying on the bed of the truck with the chain wrapped tightly around his neck and not looking too good. His face was close to navy-blue and his tongue looked thick and was hanging out of his mouth. His eyes were open and gave off a gla.s.sy stare. He wasnt moving.

Jesus Christ, hes choking, I yelled.

With any luck the son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h is dead. He stopped kicking about a mile or two after we left. I figured taking my time along the scenic route would probably do the trick.

What are you going to do with him?

Well, we cant dump him in the river, I mean that would be pollution, you know. Freddy settled onto the gate of the pickup then groaned as he stood and stepped back toward the cab. He knelt alongside Bulldog and looked down at him.

G.o.d, he was a real b.a.s.t.a.r.d, the list is long of folks whod like to see this, he said then unwrapped the chain from around Bulldogs neck and let his head drop onto the bed of the pickup with a hollow thunk. He took his time wrapping the chain up on a hook attached to the back of the cab, acting like he had just finished hauling a piece of furniture. Then he grabbed Bulldogs body by the feet and dragged it onto the gate of the truck. The truck bounced a couple of times as Freddy jumped down and I felt the ground around me sort of shudder when he landed.