him right now. Because if we do, a million cops’ll hound us to our graves. It won’t work.”
“What about his mother or his brother?”
Gronke took another shot of beer, and shook his head in frustration. He was a tough thug who could threaten with the best of them, but, unlike his friend, he was not a killer. This random, search for victims scared him. He said nothing.
“What about his lawyer?” Barry asked.
“Why would you kill her?”
“Maybe I hate lawyers. Maybe it’ll scare the kid so bad h«’ll go into a coma like his brother. I don’t know.”
“And maybe killing innocent people in Memphis is not such a good idea. The kid’ll just get another lawyer.”
“We’ll kill the next one too. Think about it, Paul, this could do wonders for the legal profession,” Barry said with a loud laugh. Then he leaned forward as if a terribly private thought hit him. His chin was inches from the salt shaker. “Think about it, Paul. If we knock off the kid’s lawyer, then no lawyer in his right mind would represent him. Get it?”
“You’re losin’ it, Barry. You’re crackin’ up.”
“Yeah, I know. But it’s a great thought, ain’t it? Smoke her, and the kid won’t talk to his own mother. What’s her name, Rollie or Ralphie?”
“Reggie. Reggie Love.”
“What the hell kinda name is that for a broad?”
“Don’t ask me.”
Barry drained his glass and snapped again for the waiter. “What’s she sayin’ on the phone?” he asked, in low again, just above the shaker.
“Don’t know. We couldn’t go in last night.”
The Blade was suddenly angry. “You what!” The wicked eyes were fierce and glowing.
“Our man is doing it tonight if all goes well.”
“What kinda place has she got?”
“Small office in a tall building downtown. It should be easy.”
Scherff pressed the earphone closer to his head. Two of his pals did likewise. The only sound in the room was a slight clicking noise from the recorder.
“Are these guys any good?”
“Nance is pretty smooth and cool under pressure. His partner, Cal Sisson, is a loose cannon. Afraid of his shadow.”
“I want the phones fixed tonight.”
“It’ll be done.”
Barry lit an unfiltered Camel and blew smoke at the ceiling. “Are they protecting the lawyer?” He asked this as his eyes narrowed. Gronke looked away.
“I don’t think so.”
“Where does she live? What kinda place?”
“She’s got a cute little apartment behind her mother’s house,”
“She live alone?”
“I think so.”
“She’d be easy, wouldn’t she? Break in, take her out, steal a few things. Just another house burglary gone sour. What do you think?”
Gronke shook his head and studied a young blonde at the bar.
“What do you think?” Barry repeated.
“Yeah, it’d be easy.”
“Then let’s do it. Are you listening to me, Paul?”
Paul was listening, but avoiding the evil eyes. “I’m
not in the mood to kill anyone,” he said, still staring at the blonde.
“That’s fine. I’ll get Pirini to do it.”
SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER, A DETAINEE, AS THEY RE CALLED IN
the Juvenile Detention Center, a twelve-year-old, died in the room next to Mark’s from an epileptic seizure. A ton of bad press and a nasty lawsuit followed, and though Doreen had not been on duty when it happened, she had nonetheless been shaken by it. An investigation followed. Two people were terminated. And a new set of regulations came down.
Doreen’s shift ended at five, and the last thing she did was check on Mark. She’d stopped by on the hour throughout the afternoon, and watched with growing concern as his condition worsened. He was withdrawing before her very eyes, saying less with each visit, just lying there in bed staring at the ceiling. At five, she brought a county paramedic with her. Mark was given a quick physical, and pronounced alive and well. Vital signs were strong. When she left, she rubbed his temples like a sweet little grandmother and promised to return bright and early tomorrow, Friday. And she sent more pizza.
Mark told her he thought he could make it until then. He’d try to survive the night. Evidently she left instructions, because the next floor supervisor, a shor^ plump little woman named Telda, immediately knocked on his door and introduced herself. For the next four hours, Telda knocked repeatedly and entered the room, staring wildly at his eyes as if he were crazy and something was about to snap.
Mark watched television, no cable, until the news
started at ten, then brushed his teeth and turned off the lights. The bed was quite comfortable, and he thought of his mother trying to sleep on that