Part 34 (1/2)
”Well, the fewer criminals walking around, the better is how he likes it. Of course, I'm the exception to the rule.”
”I've wondered about that.”
”So have I,” he admitted.
”If Charles likes the idea, why's he bothered?”
”It's not over the killing, it's you. He's not been too happy about your state of mind. He's worried what it'll do to you. He doesn't say it like that. He dresses it up in a h.e.l.l of a lot more words, but that's what it is boiled down.”
Escott had a valid point. ”I've been shoved against the wall on this kind of business before, and I've learned I can live with it.”
”Uh-huh. But not too happily.”
”Shoe, I know you want to help, but what's going to work best is for me to find the b.a.s.t.a.r.d who killed Jewel and make him pay for it. No, I won't be happy afterward, but it'll be better for me than if I did nothing at all.”
”I know what that's like. On the other hand...”
”What?”
”Have I told you lately how I really hate sc.r.a.ping you off sidewalks?”
”I'm on the lookout. I know who I'm after, and so far they don't know I'm after them.”
”Who would that be?”
”A troublemaker named Hoyle is the odds-on favorite, two idiots named Ruzzo-”
”Oh, G.o.d, them?”
”You've met 'em?”
”Yeah. Two brains and not a mind between them. They're stupid, but cunning and faster than rats when they need to be.”
”I won't turn my back on any of them. Hoyle's the favorite for this job. I gotta find him, ask a few questions, then make a decision.”
”As in just how to b.u.mp him?”
”You reading minds?”
He shrugged. ”I've been doing this a while.”
”With any luck I'll settle it tonight, then we can try and”-I almost said ”forget it” but that wasn't going to happen-”get back to what pa.s.ses for normal around here.”
”Yeah, my guys are getting their noses out of joint for all the extra marching around in the weather.”
”Listen, I don't want you putting yourself out-”
”Forget it, it's good for them. Walk some of the fat off their shanks. They're keeping a sharp watch on Gordy.
There's no white people come within a hundred yards of this neighborhood we don't know about. He'll stay safe.”
”I appreciate it, Shoe.” ”It's good for business to look out for him,” he said.
I didn't gainsay. If that's what Coldfield had to put about to seem to have a tough, practical front for his troops, then I was all for it.
”That movie star mutt of yours looks like he's tugging at the leash.”
Kroun had begun to pace up and down a few times, looking my way impatiently.
”If he's cold, why doesn't he get in the d.a.m.n car?” Coldfield asked.
”Probably thinks I'll forget him if he's out of sight. I better go.”
”All right, but watch yourself. I'm fresh out of brooms and sc.r.a.pers.”
I walked toward the car, the wind picking up and pus.h.i.+ng at my back. Kroun saw my approach, putting on an ”it's about d.a.m.n time” face. He dropped into the front seat and hauled the pa.s.senger door smartly shut.
It made a h.e.l.l of a lot louder noise than it should have. Rather than a metallic bang, there was a deafening krump, then it was like the sound itself slammed me in the chest. I was hurled backward, right off my feet, not understanding why. I glimpsed smoke suddenly blacking the windows of the Caddy on the inside before I hit the pavement. Some instinct told me to keep rolling. Each time I saw the car a different view presented itself.
Smoke flooding from under it, thick and black.
Another explosion, the boom too loud to hear, only feel.
The rear end suspended five feet in the air and nothing holding it up.
The heavy body abruptly cras.h.i.+ng down on all fours, flames engulfing the back.
The tires ablaze, adding smoke and stink to the picture.
Pieces of metal shooting by like hot hail.
A tumbling wall of fire and blackness roaring toward me like a train-
Chapter 14
Insistent, annoying things plucked at me, at my clothes. I waved them off, but they made a solid grab, pulled strong, and dragged me over a rough, hard surface. A man yelled in my ear, but it was m.u.f.fled, as though I'd vanished. He might have been cursing.
Fire rained down. It was almost leisurely. Fat drops floated confetti-like or struck the cement, bouncing to scatter yellow-and-blue flames. A second look, and they proved to be attached to dark bits of burning things. It seemed a good idea to get out of their way, so I got my feet under me and working together. Hours later we reached the cover of a building and ducked in. Someone had broken the front window, and the lights were out. When I chanced to breathe, the air reeked of gasoline, burned rubber, and hot metal.
Doubled over, coughed it clear. Two other men were with me, Coldfield and Isham, also coughing.
Eyes stinging, I looked through the window-the shattered gla.s.s had blown inside-and saw the big Cadillac's sh.e.l.l engulfed in a fast and furious inferno. Smoke roiled from its stricken, blackened carca.s.s in a wide, twisting cloud that was fortunately blowing away from us. Even at this distance the heat warmed my face, but I couldn't hear anything from what should have been a blast-furnace bellow. Touched one ear. Came away blood. A lot of it. My face, too. d.a.m.n. Without thinking, I vanished and returned. My hearing popped back to normal and other hurts that were starting to make themselves felt ceased altogether.
”Jack?”
Turned. Coldfield stared at me, concerned. So did Isham, but with a different expression. He rubbed his watering eyes, shook his head, looking puzzled.