"There's a small problem," Stone said.
"What problem?"
"My wallet is in my left front pocket."
"Nobody carries his wallet in his left front pocket."
"I do. It's very small and just has credit cards and my driver's license, that sort of stuff, in it."
"Can you reach your left front pocket?"
"Well, no. That's the problem. Do you think you can reach it?"
"Let's find out," Dino said. "Sit still, and move your hands to your left."
Stone moved his hands to his left, while Dino worked his way as far as he could to Stone's side.
"I can't reach," Dino said. "I'm a good eight inches short, too. What now?"
Stone thought about that. "I don't know," he said finally. "I'm armed, and I can't reach the gun, and I have a handcuff key, and I can't reach that, either."
"You don't have to explain the situation to me," Dino said. "I get it."
"All right, you think of something."
"I'm thinking."
They both sat quietly, their backs against each other, and thought.
"I've got it," Dino said.
"Tell me."
"What we have to do is hang you up by your feet, and then your wallet will fall out of your pocket."
"Swell, Dino; how are we going to hang me up by my feet?"
"Jesus, do I have to think of everything? It's your turn to figure out something."
"Let's see if we can get to our feet," Stone said. "Press your back against mine, and let's work our feet back until we're upright."
"Worth a try," Dino said.
They pushed against each other and began taking tiny steps backward. They were halfway up, when Stone's feet slipped out from under him, and they both fell down, hitting the concrete floor hard.
"Shit, that hurt!" Stone said.
"Tell me about it. It's those faggoty Italian loafers you're always wearing," Dino said. "The soles are too slippery."
"I suppose you're wearing those black cop shoes with the thick, rubber soles?"
"Sure, I am, and I didn't slip, did I?"
"Let's try it again."
"And what's changed that's going to make it work this time?"
"We have to try. Billy Bob could come back at any moment."
"All right, let's go."
They started pushing up again, and this time, after a good minute of trying, they were on their feet.
"Man, that was hard," Dino said, puffing.
"You're in lousy shape, that's why," Stone said.
"Yeah, sure, like you actually use that exercise stuff in your basement?"
"Of course, I use it."
"Don't bullshit me, Stone. You're breathing just as hard as I am."
"All right, all right. Now what are we going to hang me from?"
They started to move in a circle, looking at the walls of the garage.
"There are tools in here," Dino said. "Shovels and stuff."
"Yeah, it looks like some sort of maintenance facility."
"You see anything useful?"
"Yes!" Stone almost yelled. "There's a hose coiled up and hung on a hook!" He moved toward a wall, and Dino followed him, walking backward."
Dino looked over his shoulder. "First, we have to get the hose off the hook, so we can use it.
The hook was chest high. Stone tried nudging the coil of hose with his knee, but couldn't reach it. Finally, he bent over and pushed upward on the hose with his head. Most of it fell to the floor, leaving several coils on the hook. "I think that'll do it," Stone said. "The hook's available; I've just got to get a leg up that high."
"Try walking up the wall," Dino said. "I'll back up closer." He did so.
"Push hard against me," Stone said. He put a foot against the wall, then another. "It's working," Stone said. "About two feet higher. Push harder!"
Dino pushed, and Stone continued walking up the wall.
"We've got to move about a foot to the left," Stone said.
Dino worked in that direction, taking tiny steps.
"I think I can…" Stone got a leg over the hook and put his weight on it. "Okay, I've got a leg hooked. You've got to get lower, and as slowly as possible."
Dino eased himself down to a squatting position. "I don't know how long I can do this," he said.
Stone had all his weight on the one leg over the hook, now. He began to shake his hips back and forth.
"What are you doing?" Dino demanded.
"I'm trying to shake out the wallet," Stone said. "It won't come out."
Dino began to jump up and down an inch or two from his squatting position.
"It fell out!" Stone yelled. "Now you have to stand up again, so I can get my leg off the hook.
Making loud groaning noises, Dino slowly pushed himself upright.
Using his other foot for purchase, Stone managed to get his leg off the hook, and the two of them fell to the floor in a heap. They lay there for a moment, panting.
"Where's your wallet?" Dino asked finally.
"It's around here somewhere. Feel for it with your feet."
They scurried around in the dimly lit garage, feeling for the wallet.
"I think I've got it," Dino said. "It's tucked up under my ass. Let me see if I can reach it. Move backwards a little."
Stone moved backward.
"Got it," Dino said. "I pushed it between us. Feel for it."
"I have it," Stone said.
"Well, get the fucking key out!"
Stone got the wallet open and shook it. A tiny metallic sound came back. "It's on the floor." He felt for it. "Got it!"
"Unlock any bracelet," Dino said. "Doesn't matter which one."
Stone got hold of Dino's wrist, found the bracelet and the keyhole and turned the key.
"Yes!" Dino shouted, holding up his free hand. He turned to Stone. "Give me the key."
Stone put it in Dino's hand, and a moment later, he had a free hand, and a moment after that, they were both free of the cuffs.
Stone unzipped his trousers and fished out the Keltec and its silencer. He screwed the tube onto the barrel, then popped the magazine and counted. "I've only got five rounds," he said. "The guy who searched me took the other two magazines."
"Then make them count," Dino said. "You got any qualms about putting one in somebody's head, say so, and I'll do it."
"None whatever," Stone said. "Now let's find the switch that opens this door."
"Before we do that," Dino said, "you've got to hoist me up so that I can get a look outside and see what we're up against."
Stone stuck the gun in his belt and made a stirrup for Dino. Dino hopped up and had a look outside.
"Nothing," he said. "Nobody. Just a wall."
"You take that wall," Stone said, pointing. "I'll take this one. Look for the switch."
They both groped in the semidarkness.
"Got it," Dino said. "You ready?"
"Hit it," Stone said, his gun at the ready.
51
DINO HIT THE SWITCH, and the door started up. Stone ducked under it and stepped outside, the gun pointing ahead of him. He checked both directions. "Clear," he said, and Dino came out.
"What is this place?" Dino asked.
They were in a kind of alley between two long rows of garages.
"I don't know," Stone said. "Let's find Arrington, then we'll worry about it. It sounded as though she was nearby, but not too near. You take the other row."
Stone and Dino began walking down both rows of garages, banging on the door and shouting Arrington's name.
"Here!" Dino yelled, two doors down.
"Dino? Stone?" Arrington shouted.
"We're right outside," Stone said.
"Well, get me out of here."
"First, we've got to figure out how to get inside. You said you were handcuffed. Are your feet free?"
"They're tied together, and I'm lying on my side," she shouted back.