rig we were riding in. We'll have to figure out how and why later. We don't have any proof that they know who he hired to make the run."
Not that it mattered. Just the fact that there was nothing secret about the job was going to bring the level of complexity up a notch.
He looked back down the alley, and then at Carl. "Okay, so we need to get him clear. Prithi, how about you go out there and make a distraction. Flash your tits or something?"
"Go to hell."
"Yeah, you're right. This is Vegas. They might not notice." He put a meaty hand to his chins and rubbed them. "I'll be right back."
I expected him to go out into the street and hail a cab, or maybe try to find some clothes to cover up the corpse a little better. I even half-expected him to go out and flash his own boobs. Instead, he turned and started running back up the alley. Towards the cops.
"What the hell are you-" I started to ask.
"I said I'll be right back," he whispered over his shoulder. "Stay hidden."
It was easier said than done with a six-foot-six dead bruiser in tow. "Let's hit the showers," I said to Carl, moving back down the alley and ducking under a small overhang. I watched Amos creep to the bad end of the strip and peek around the corner. He waited a few seconds, and then vanished into the throng.
"What do you think he's doing?" Prithi asked.
"Something stupid that's probably going to get us out of this mess."
"You don't think he'll get himself killed?"
"No. Disappointed?"
"Maybe a little."
"How am I doing, Coach?" Carl asked. He was sitting against the wall, smacking his left fist into his right palm.
"You're doing great, champ. Hang tight."
We waited. Five minutes. Ten. After fifteen, I started to get worried that the cops were going to be searching the alley soon.
"We need to get out of here," I said. "He must have gotten arrested."
I moved back down the alley with Prithi and Carl behind me. We reached the safe side, and I scanned the street. I was going to have to leave Carl here. There was no other choice.
I started turning, my mouth opening to direct him back to the "showers," when an ambulance turned the corner, siren off but lights flashing.
"Get back," I said, putting my arm out to motion Prithi and Carl to the shadows. The ambulance reached the alley and came to a stop. The driver's side door opened, and Amos leaned his head up over the roof.
"What are you waiting for? Cardiac arrest?"
"Back of the limo, champ," I said to Carl. He went to the rear of the ambulance and got himself inside on his own. Prithi followed behind him.
"Better company," she said.
I climbed in on the passenger side.
"How the hell did you steal an ambulance from the middle of a scene like that?"
"I didn't. I mean, I wanted to, but that wasn't going to happen. So, I grabbed a cab and took it to Sunrise Hospital. I stole the ambulance from there. They won't miss it for an hour or two at least."
"I knew I brought you along for a reason."
"Heh. You don't know the half of it. This is ugly, Skeletor, and it's going to get uglier. Trust me."
The worst part was that I did trust him.
EIGHTEEN
Thanks for dragging me into this.
I pulled out my cell while Amos drove us through town, away from the scene of the ambush towards someplace a little quieter.
I called Fran. I waited anxiously while the phone rang, afraid that the assault on the truck was only part one.
"Necromancer," she said, picking up the call.
"We were made. Ambushed. Jet and two snipers. They were already positioned on the rooftop. Astral is dead."
"Shit. Where are you now?"
"Cruising the strip," I lied. "We snuck away in the confusion. Wherever your safe house is, I'm not so sure that it's safe."
"What about Jet and the shooters?"
"Shooters are dead. Jet? He knocked over the truck and then disappeared."
"Too public. He didn't want to be implicated. I guess they thought the snipers would be enough."
"They guessed wrong."
"I'm sending you the address to the safe house. You need to get here asap."
"Did you hear what I just said? The safe house may not be safe."
"If they knew about this location they would have hit it already, don't you think?" Her tone was condescending. I hated that.
My cell beeped. I pulled it away from my face to check the location.