“Take it easy,” I said. “I know you’re angry, grieving or whatever, but you don’t have to take it out on me.”
Frank came out from around the bar.
“A cab driver said he dropped her off by your apartment the day she disappeared. Then, that night, a cop pulled you over in Brooklyn.”
“It’s not what it looks like,” I said.
Frank came after me, beating his fists against my chest.
“Come on, take it easy,” I said. “Chill out.”
Frank kept beating me until he got too exhausted, gasping for air.
“Look, you have to believe me,” I said. “I know how bad things look right now, but I think you know I’m a good person. You know I wouldn’t kill somebody. You’ll see—they’ll find the real killer and then you’ll forgive me. But don’t worry, I won’t hold a grudge. I know what you’re going through.”
“What did you come here for anyway?” Frank said. “Money? If you can’t steal it, you have to borrow it from your stupid boss, right?” Frank took his wallet out of his pocket and started throwing bills at me. “Here, you want my money? You want my fucking money? Take it! Take it all!”
I started to pick up the bills when I heard loud sirens. I looked behind me and saw two police cars pull up in front of the bar. I was about to make a run for it—maybe try to get out through the window in the kitchen—when I looked back at Frank. He was still throwing money at me, but he was slumping back onto a bar stool.
“Come on, buddy,” I said, trying to help him up. “Hang in there. Just hang in there!”
I looked behind me and three cops were standing by the door with their guns drawn.
“Hurry up,” I said. “Do any of you guys know CPR?”
“Put your hands up where I can see them!” one of the cops shouted.
“The guy’s dying here!”
“Put your hands up!”
“For Chrissake. Look at him!”
“Now, asshole!”
“You gotta help him!”
“Get your fucking hands in the air!”
I looked over at Frank, who was staring right at me. A cop came up behind me and pulled my arms behind my back and cuffed me. Frank was slumped over on the stool, leaning against the bar.
“Will somebody help him, damn it? Forget about me. Help him!”
One cop went over to Frank.
“Hang in there, buddy,” I said. “You just hang in there.”
Frank was looking at me, his eyes half shut.
“Let’s go,” one of the cops behind me said.
“Don’t die,” I said to Frank. “Whatever you do—don’t die. You have to make it out to Arizona, buddy. You’re gonna love it out there.”
“Come on,” one cop said to me, and the other one said, “Move it.”
I tried to turn around, to look at Frank again, but I couldn’t.
“See you tomorrow!” I yelled as the cops pushed me out the door.
