'You were right about Grayson,' he said. I cornered him this morning and got him to tell me that he's meeting with Coakley and Manny Wednesday to iron out a deal. And you're right, the deal's going to protect Junior. So Joe, I'm expecting you to take care of this today. How are you going to do it?'
'I'm not telling you shit.'
'No, that's not a good answer. Three of my boys are waiting outside. Unless I hear something more convincing, I'm going to bring them in here and we're going to take care of things here and now. So Joe, how are you going to take care of this?'
As I looked at him I knew he; meant what he said. He casually took his revolver out of its holster and rested it on his knee. I knew I was a breath away from being a dead man.
My throat had dried up on me. I had to clear it before I could talk.
'I'll take care of this,' I said, my voice cracking. 'What did you say? I couldn't hear you. Your voice kind of faded on you.'
I went into the bathroom and poured myself a cup of water. I couldn't have gotten a word out without it. I drank it slowly and walked back to him. I stopped when he moved his hand to get a better grip on the gun.
I told him again that I'd take care of things.
"That's not good enough, Joe. You've been letting me down for three days now. I want to hear details. I want to be convinced.'
'I can't tell you,' I said. 'Someone else is involved. But it's all worked out. Manny will be gone by morning.'
'Joe, come on, you should know there are no secrets between us. I want to know every little detail.'
I could feel the sweat building on the back of my neck. I shook my head.
He pursed his lips as he studied me. I could tell he was trying to make up his mind, and I could see it in his eyes when he settled on a decision. He put his gun back in its holster and smiled as pleasantly as I ever saw him.
'Okay, Joe, you have until tonight. But I hope you understand, I'm not playing anymore. You understand that, right?'
I nodded.
'So tell me, this other person, you didn't by any chance mention my name to him?'
'No. No one else has been mentioned.'
"That's good, Joe. You're using some brains for a change. Keep it up. Maybe we'll all be able to look back at this someday and get a good laugh out of it.'
He stood up, gave me a wink, and headed towards the door. I tried to keep my mouth shut, but I couldn't help myself.
'It doesn't bother you what happened to that girl?' I asked.
He turned to me and shrugged. 'Of course it does,' he said. 'If it were up to me, Frechotte would have unloaded a full clip into Coakley's face and left her out of it. If he had done that, this would be over now and we'd have the added benefit of a closed casket.'
His smile turned wistful as he thought about it. He shook his head sadly. 'But it wasn't up to me, Joe,' he continued, 'just as it wasn't up to me that you've been fucking around with this the last three days. But I will miss her. She was a sweet girl, and you don't get a chance to see a nice little red bush like hers every day.'
He left then.
The back of my shirt had soaked through with sweat. I got out of my clothes, took a quick shower, and dried off the best I could with the dishrag that had been left in the bathroom to masquerade as a bath towel. Afterwards, I got dressed and sat on the bed and looked at the pictures I had of Melissa and Courtney. When I felt strong enough, I threw whatever I had into my duffel bag and checked out of the motel. As I drove to Bradley Memorial Hospital, I spotted one of Dan's deputies, Hal Wheely, following me in an unmarked Chevy.
I made no attempt to lose him. He did a pretty clumsy job of tailing me, and he must've known that I spotted him. But I guess he didn't care.
Chapter 15
It was twenty to seven by the time I pulled into the hospital parking lot. When I got to the lobby, I noticed Alice Cook behind the information desk. She avoided my eye as I walked past her.
I thought I'd catch Charlotte before her shift ended. I didn't feel that I could wait until eight to see her. As I headed towards the terminal ward, I spotted Junior and his two goons, Jamie and Duane, at the other end of the hallway walking towards me. When he saw me, a big ugly grin broke across his face.
'Hey, Joe,' he yelled out. 'Whatcha doin' here? You're not planning on bothering my pop again, are you?'
I stopped where I was. Junior and his two goons kept coming, maybe even speeding up their pace. When Junior reached me, he moved alongside me and put his arm around my shoulder.
'Get your hands off me,' I told him as I braced myself.
'Hey, I'm just talking friendly-like to an old friend, that's all,' Junior said. His two goons had positioned themselves so I was sandwiched between all three of them.
'I told you to get your hands off me,' I said.
'Lighten up. We're all friends here, okay? Now I asked you, are you here to bother my pop again?'
'Junior, I'm going to tell you for the last time to get your hands off me.'
I had taken my car keys out of my pocket. I could feel my muscles tensing. Even with his two goons standing next to me, I'd be able to get a couple of shots in. I'd make sure that Junior was bleeding from somewhere before they pulled me off him. I guess Junior realized that also. His ugly grin dulled a bit and he removed his hand from my shoulder. He backed up half a step. His two goons stood where they were.
'Hey, don't go psycho on me, okay?' Junior said. 'I'm just talking to you as an old pal, that's all. Want to know something, Joe? I hung out with Pop later than usual today hoping you'd show up.'
'I'm glad I didn't disappoint you.'
'You think you're so goddam smart, but guess what? You're not as bright as you think you are. I knew sooner or later you'd try bothering Pop again with your bullshit.'
'Is that so?'
'Yeah, that's so. And I want to tell you I figured out how you're going to pay for bothering Pop the other day’ I thought you told me last night.'
He looked away from me to his two goons. 'What's he talking about?' he asked them. 'Anyone say shit to him last night?'
Both Jamie and Duane shook their heads. Junior looked back at me. 'I don't know what the fuck you're talking about,' he said.
'You took a couple of shots at me last night.'
'I did, did I?' he asked. He turned to his two goons and asked them, 'Either of you know anything about this?' Neither of them said anything.
He turned back to me, his grin now tight against his face. 'You're nuts, Joe. If I took a shot at you, you wouldn't be standing here now.'
'Somebody took two shots at me.'
A young doctor, probably around thirty, was approaching from behind. He made sure to give us a wide berth as he passed by. Junior waited until he was out of earshot before he leaned closer to me.
'Look somewhere else, pal,' he said, making an effort to keep his voice low. 'I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find plenty of other guys who'd like to plug you. But not me. Not while you owe me money. And that's what I want to talk to you about. What you owe me is being bumped to forty large.'
I couldn't help laughing.
'Laugh all you want, bright guy. The extra ten grand is the price you're paying for bothering my pop. And now I want a minimum eight grand each week.'
'Yeah, well, I want peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind. We don't all get what we want, Junior.'
'I'll get it, don't worry. I'll either get the forty grand in money or in enjoyment. One way or the other I'll get it.'
'Don't hold your breath.'