Dread Brass Shadows

16

Morley's place was deserted. I stepped into half the usual light and none of the usual uproar. I looked across the desert at Puddle, behind the serving counter, polishing glassware. "What the hell?"

"Not open tonight, buddy. Come back some other time."

"Hey! It's me. Garrett."

He squinted. Maybe his eyes weren't so good anymore. He was going to flab fast, but that didn't keep him from being a bad man. "Oh. Yeah. Maybe I ought to say we're double not open for you, pal. But it's too late. You done got Morley dragged in."

"Where is everybody?"

"Morley shut the place down. You think anybody's going to come in here with that circus parked out front?"

"He here?"

"Nope." He didn't volunteer any information. Most of Morley's people think I take advantage of his good nature. They're wrong. He doesn't have a good nature. And he owes me for a couple stunts he pulled on me back when he was hooked on gambling and he had to cut things fine to keep from taking that long swim in the river. "What you want him for?"

"Just talk."

"Right." His tone said I was full of it.

"He leave any word for me?"

"Yeah. Have a beer. Hang in there till he gets back."

"Beer?" Morley never has anything drinkable around except a little brandy upstairs for special guests of the female persuasion. The kind that always scurry for cover when I show up, afraid I work for their husbands.

Puddle swung a pony keg onto the bar, grabbed the biggest mug he had, drew me one. I arrived as he topped it off. I noted that the keg had been tapped already. I noted that Puddle had brew breath. I grinned. Another of Morley's bunch who didn't share his boss's religion. Puddle pretended he didn't know why I was showing my teeth

"Seen Saucerhead?"

"Nope

"Morley supposed to be back soon?"

"I don't know."

"Know where he went?"

He shook his head, Probably afraid he was going to get a sore throat with all this yammer. A real heavyweight conversationalist, Puddle. Always ready with a lightning riposte. Rather than subject myself to any more abuse, I went to work on my beer.

It went down smooth. Almost too smooth. I let him draw me another and finished half before I thought about all I'd put away already today. Where was the point of the running if I was going to fix myself up to look like Puddle anyway?

"You got anything back there ready to eat?"

A big, wicked grin grew on Puddle's homely face. Before he turned toward the kitchen, I was sorry I'd asked. He was about to make me pay for my sins.

He came back with something cold smeared on a bed of soggy noodles. "Chef's surprise." It looked like death and didn't taste much better

"Now I know why all those breeds are so damned mean. Can't help it, eating like this."

Puddle chuckled, pleased with himself.

I ate. To get through a mess like that, all I have to do is recall what I'd had to eat as a Marine. I could dig in and feel pampered.

Saucerhead ambled in. "Where you been, Garrett?"

I filled him in

"I heard about Squirrel. Can't figure it."

"What about the redhead?"

He frowned. "She went home meek. And disappeared." He shook his head. "Went in the place where she stayed. Wanted to ask her a question. I looked all over. She wasn't in there no more. And I know she never come out. Only two people ever did and she wasn't one of them. And she never came back." He shrugged and forgot it. Not his problem anymore. "They tried to ice you, eh?"

"Yeah."

He sighed. "Hey. Puddle. Whup me up a double load of whatever this glop is Garrett's got." He asked me, "Where's Morley?"

"I don't know. Puddle ain't saying."

"Hmm. Chodo's in it now. Account of Squirrel. What you going to do?"

"I don't know. I have a couple grudges. And like Chodo told me, letting them slide isn't good for business."

"You think that Winger smoked Squirrel?"

"Maybe. I think Chodo's going to find out."

"Pretty pissed, eh?"

"Yeah. Probably hasn't had a good excuse to off somebody for days."

Saucerhead drank about a quart of beer, inhaled the food Puddle brought him, shoved back, said, "Well, it's been an interesting day. I got to get on home. Got a little gal waiting." Off he went.

I sat quietly for a while. It got dark outside. I waited some more. I asked Puddle, "You sure Morley didn't say when he'd be back?"

"Nope."

Puddle seemed to be the only body in the place. Where were all the help? Where was Sadler, who was supposed to set up his headquarters? Where the hell was Morley Dotes?

I waited some more. Then I waited some. And when I didn't have anything else to do, I waited. Then I got up and said, "I'm going home."

"See ya." Puddle grinned me out the door. He locked it behind me in case I had a change of heart.

The morCartha were zooming around, trying to undress the night. I recalled Dean saying we were going to have cobbler for dessert. I cussed. I'd eaten that sludge at Morley's place and now I wouldn't have room for decent cooking.

Story of my life.