Part 5 (1/2)
”Yeah, they are from Boston really, but they tell anyone who will listen that they are from County Kildare-it's like a badge of honor or something.”
”You don't look Irish.”
”My mom is from Puerto Rico. She has a fiery Spanish temperament. I guess she and my father never stood a chance.”
”They are divorced?”
”Isn't everybody?”
”My folks live in Seattle,” said Verner glumly. ”They have been married since Eisenhower was running things. They almost called me Dwight,” Verner said.
”That's funny.”
”How so?”
”My Dad looks like Ike. Even has a photo of him in his office.” Brad Verner looked suddenly brighter, ”Say, can I take you to dinner or something? You can maybe even teach me some of those crazy kung fu moves?”
Karyn gave Brad Verner a tight look, ”That's real generous of you Verner, but like I already told you, I am running a tight schedule.”
”But everyone needs to eat dinner right?” Verner paused, looked earnest and said, ”I am a vegetarian personally-not a complete vegetarian you understand-I eat fish, and eggs and cheese and sometimes I will even have a veggie burger-I know I shouldn't really, it causes guilt by a.s.sociation-the unconscious mind a.s.sociates meat shaped food items with the real deal, so it is actually really unhealthy to even consider...”
”Verner, where is your G.o.dd.a.m.n car?” asked Karyn, her voice cool and even.
”Oh, I parked it down the block. Not far really, but you are lucky if you can get a s.p.a.ce at all most days. This is what society is coming to-we are swamped with gas-guzzling motor vehicles and cities that are overpopulated to the point of collapse.”
”I never really thought about it to be honest,” said Karyn, scoping the back lot for movement, her every instinct on overdrive.
”You didn't?” Brad Verner sounded shocked. In the street light glow, he stared at her over the top of his black-framed spectacles, like she had just revealed a thoroughly unwholesome truth.
Karyn saw him staring and snapped. ”What is this, the third degree? I got no time to mix with causes Verner, so quit trying to throw the big sell on me would you? I got business to attend to downtown. So, if you can give me a ride, cool-if not, I will flag down a taxi and figure things out for myself.” Karyn looked up the street, first one way then the other, scouring the traffic to see if she could see any sign of a cab. Instead she saw something rather more unwelcome, Detective Kibis.h.i.+ standing outside the Club Carmady, having a heated conversation with a pair of burly goons who looked more like poster boys for the yakuza than members of Honolulu Police Department.
”We've got to go,” said Karyn.
”What's the hurry? The world clocks off at five, can't this business of yours wait until tomorrow?” asked Verner.
Kibis.h.i.+ and the thugs were looking their way now. One of the thugs turned and threw a signal-flagging down their wheels-that could only mean one thing, the goons were making ready for a heavy move-things were going to get ugly- real ugly and quick.
”I have never driven a Prius before said Karyn.”
Brad Verner stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to Karyn, his face beaming with newfound enthusiasm, ”Oh, they are marvelous to drive-comfortable, economical, great gas mileage. Did I tell you, I have the dual fuel model?”
”Give me the keys Verner.”
”Oh, I couldn't possibly do that. You are not down on my insurance policy as a recognized driver. Can you imagine how many forms I would have to fill out if you had a fender bender? Plus, I would lose my no claims discount for certain and insurance companies being what they are, they would probably try and drop me as a customer altogether-it is just another example of corporate greed run rampant I am afraid.”
Karyn drew her automatic, held it low by her side so it couldn't be seen in profile. She said, ”Give me the car keys, Verner. Give them to me
now.”
Brad Verner looked like he was about to blub. ”You have a gun? What the h.e.l.l do you need a gun for? Wait a minute-you are a cop aren't you?
Working undercover or something-well it's no good, I won't tell you anything, I...”
Karyn grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and marched him faster down the street. ”Where is this G.o.dd.a.m.n car of yours?”
”Wait a minute, you aren't going to shoot me are you? You will never get away with it. Too many people saw us together at Police
Headquarters.”
”I am afraid that is part of the problem,”
said Karyn, her tone grim.
”What do you mean?”
The Yakuza thugs were walking their way now, slowly at first but with building speed. Brad Verner was still staring slack-jawed at Karyn. Karyn said, ”If you want to live, you will follow my instructions exactly. First, you will give me the car keys and you will walk quickly and quietly with me to the car, do you understand?”
Verner plainly didn't understand. He paused for a long moment, staring at her, a thousand questions forming as he reasoned through the instructions he had just been given. Then he looked back up the street. When he did, things moved fast.
The Yakuza thugs broke into a sudden run, both of them pulling guns.
Verner turned to Karyn, a look of horror on his face.
The first bullets zipped past them high and wide.
Verner fumbled through his pockets for the car keys, found them, then promptly dropped them on the sidewalk. As he stumbled forwards to pick them up more bullets came, the hornet fizz of 9mm sh.e.l.ls cutting through the air.
Karyn dropped to one knee and returned fire. Four quick rounds and the first guy was down from a hundred yards out. The rapid takedown sent his buddy careening into traffic to avoid the gunfire. Karyn saw him, had him marked as he bobbed along the far side of the parked cars. Seamlessly she scooped Verner's keys off the sidewalk and whispered to him, ”You good?”
Verner was laying p.r.o.ne on the pavement his hands pressed tightly over his head, as though this might offer him some kind of protection, ”h.e.l.l no,” he almost shouted. ”Those men are firing bullets at us, they are trying to kill us.”