Now and then - By Robert B. Parker Page 0,26

only thing he can blackmail me back with. He can’t come straight at me because he doesn’t know where the tape is.”

“You thinking ’bout reinforcements?” Hawk said. “Me and Vinnie gonna get spread pretty thin covering you ass and hers.”

“I’ve made some calls,” I said. “Until we get more feedback we’ll all cover Susan’s ass . . . so to speak.”

“Lot better-looking than yours,” Hawk said.

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Yeah, you do,” Hawk said.

A bald guy, maybe forty-five, in a black jacket and a blue shirt, came out of Susan’s front door and down the steps. I looked at my watch.

“Okay,” I said. “Fifty minutes, right on schedule.”

Five minutes later a young woman went up the stairs. She had on a gray jacket, unzipped, with a maroon sweater that ended four inches above her low-rider jeans.

“What you suppose her problem is?” Hawk said.

“Compulsive belly fl asher,” I said.

“Lotta that happening ’round here,” Hawk said. “You call Tedy Sapp?”

“I did.”

“Chollo?”

“Yep.”

“And?”

“Sapp’s out of the country. I talked to Mr. Del Rio. He said he could lend me either Chollo or Bobby Horse, but not both.”

“Chollo,” Hawk said.

“That’s what I told him,” I said.

“How ’bout the little dude from Vegas?” Hawk said.

“Bernard J. Fortunato,” I said. “Couldn’t locate him.”

“Last time he helped us out, he got shot up,” Hawk said.

“I know,” I said. “Probably deserves a bye on this one.”

“We got enough people anyway,” Hawk said. “Hell, Chollo come aboard, and we got them outnumbered.”

“You know it’s not your fi ght,” I said.

“Ain’t Vinnie’s fi ght,” Hawk said, “or Chollo’s either.”

“That’s right,” I said.

Hawk smiled.

“Any fi ght will do,” he said.

30.

Alderson came in with a big red-haired guy who looked like a tough hippie. Flannel shirt, work boots, beard. Halfway to the desk, Alderson stopped and stared at Chollo sitting on the couch.

“Who’s this?” Alderson said.

“My friend,” I said, “visiting from Los Angeles.”

Chollo was slender and medium height, with a ponytail. He looked with quiet amusement at the big red-haired guy.

“Why is he here?” Alderson said.

I pointed my chin at the big redhead.

“Protect me from the red menace,” I said.

“Him?” the redhead said.

“Sí,” Chollo said.

“Oh, I’m scared,” the redhead said.

“May I talk freely?” Alderson said.

“Absolutely,” I said.

The redhead kept eyeing Chollo. Chollo paid him no further attention. In fact he seemed as if he might be about to nod off.

“I have your money,” Alderson said.

“Good,” I said. “I have your tape.”

“Will this be the end of it?” Alderson said.

“You mean have I made a bunch of dupes,” I said. “And is this the fi rst of many payments?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve kept a backup to protect myself,” I said. “But I won’t ask for more money.”

“Not acceptable,” Alderson said.

“Does this mean you’re not going to give me the fifty large?”

I said.

“Not unless I get everything,” Alderson said.

“Okay,” I said.

“Okay?”

“Give me the fi fty, you get everything.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” Alderson said.

“I’m paralyzed with fear of Big Red?”

“Mr. Spenser,” Alderson said. “I do not respond well to frivolity.”

“What a shame,” I said.

“I will not be treated like this,” Alderson said. “I will not pay you any money.”

“And the tapes?” I said.

“There are many ways to get them,” Alderson said. “Please remember that I attempted the most civilized way fi rst.”

“How could I forget,” I said.

“This,” Alderson said, “is not a whimsical matter.”

“What kind of matter is it?” I said.

Big Red was eyeing Chollo as we talked. Red looked scornful. Chollo appeared to be thinking long thoughts about pleasant things.

“This government will use any means to silence me,” Alderson said. “The tapes would give them a pretext.”

“You don’t even know what’s on the tape,” I said. “Except for the excerpt I played. What do you think they’ll hear when they play it.”

“You won’t give the tape to them,” Alderson said. “You will lose any chance at fifty thousand dollars and any other leverage with me that you might need.”

“What other kind might I need?” I said.

“I will have those tapes one way or another,” Alderson said. Alderson turned on his heel and headed for the door. Big Red followed him. He stopped at the door and gave Chollo a long last look.

“Maybe I’ll see you again,” he said.

Chollo raised his head slightly and looked at Big Red through his half-closed eyes. Alderson was already in the hall.

“Ay caramba,” Chollo said.

Big Red went out without shutting the door behind him. Unmannerly.

“Well,” I said. “That went well.”

Chollo smiled.

“I’m here to protect you from that?” Chollo said.

“Give them a chance,” I said.

“Why don’t I go back to