I'm a fool to kill you

FORTY

I’d been in some tight spots before, even been shot at a time or two, but it occurred to me that this time I could really get busted up.

‘Freddy, take it easy. .’ I said.

‘Shut up, man!’ Freddy said. ‘Just take out the cash!’

‘I’d take his advice if I was you,’ Jerry said from behind Freddy.

I had no idea where he had come from, but was more than relieved to see the big guy step out.

‘Take it easy.’

Freddy froze, then turned. He saw Big Jerry standing there with that cannon in his hand.

‘Hey, man, what’s the idea?’ he said, as if he was accusing me of something. ‘We were just supposed to do business.’

‘Sounded to me like you were about to hurt our Eddie,’ Ava said, from behind me.

I turned and saw her standing there, overdressed for her surroundings in a jacket and pants that cost more than most of the cars around us. She was standing hipshot, holding her gun out like she was posing for a movie still.

‘What the hell-’ Freddy said.

‘Hey!’ Jerry snapped. ‘That’s no way to talk to a lady.’

He walked up to Freddy, who was still holding his gun, although loosely now. Still, Jerry grabbed his hand and, without removing the weapon, broke his wrist. We all heard the bone snap, and then Freddy screamed and the gun hit the dirt floor.

‘Jesus!’ one of the other men said.

‘Here comes the pain,’ Jerry said.

The other three men exchanged a glance, then dropped their iron and ran for the door. Freddy sat on the ground, cradling his damaged wrist, whimpering.

‘Should I shoot ’em?’ Ava yelled.

‘Let ’em go!’ Jerry called back.

‘I don’t know how you two got in here,’ I said, ‘but I’m glad you did.’

‘Hey, Mr G.,’ Jerry said, ‘you had ’em right where you wanted ’ em.’

‘The hell I did,’ I said. ‘I was about to get my ass handed to me. I can’t thank you two enough.’

‘So the next time I offer you my gun. .?’ Jerry said.

‘I’ll take it!’

We pulled Freddy over to one side and tied him up, just to keep him out of the way. He cried when Jerry pulled his hands behind him, but Jerry ignored it.

‘What have we got here, Mr G.?’ he asked, then, looking at the Chrysler.

‘Forget it, Jerry,’ I said. ‘That’s too much car for what we want.’

‘Lemme just look under the hood,’ he pleaded.

‘We don’t have time,’ I said. ‘Let’s see what’s under these other tarps.’

It must have been Chrysler day at Freddy’s Car Lot. We pulled the tarps off two more. One of them had been painted dark green, the other was covered with primer, ready to be painted.

The green one was a 1960 model and if the key was in it, we’d found our car — if it had an engine.

‘Look under the hood of this one, Jerry,’ I said.

‘These cars have all been boosted, Mr G.,’ he said, raising the hood.

‘I’m sure this one’s had more done to it than a fresh paint job,’ I said.

‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘The VIN number’s been changed. Nice job, too.’

I looked inside and saw the keys in the ignition.

‘How’s the engine?’ I asked.

‘Ain’t been souped,’ he said, ‘but it’s had some work.’ He stood up straight and looked at me. ‘It’ll get us where we’re goin’.’

‘This is our ride, then.’

Jerry looked over at Freddy.

‘Should we give him some money?’ Jerry asked.

‘Are you serious?’ Ava asked. ‘He was going to kill Eddie.’

I remembered Ava saying my name in front of Freddy. That wasn’t good, but I didn’t mention it.

‘Here,’ I said, peeling a hundred dollar bill from the sheath of cash Ava had given me, ‘give him this for the emergency room.’

Jerry took the bill, walked over to Freddy and shoved it into his mouth. Freddy looked up at Jerry, too afraid to spit it out.

‘Let’s go!’ I said.

Ava helped me open the garage doors while Jerry got behind the wheel. He drove it through the doors and we got in. He continued through the lot to the entrance, where we moved our bags from the cab to the Chrysler.

‘We gonna leave the cab here?’ he asked.

‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘Larry works for Freddy’s brother, Louie. Let them work it out.’

We got back in the car.

‘You looked pretty good in there, Ava,’ I said. ‘Like you were made for that part.’

‘That wasn’t acting,’ she said, ‘that was real life — and you know what? I liked it.’

‘Well, I gotta thank the two of you again. You saved my ass.’

‘And what a cute ass,’ Ava said.

‘Here,’ I said, holding the money out to her and ignoring the comment, ‘take your money back.’

‘Keep it,’ she said.

‘I’m not doin’ this for money, Ava.’

‘I know that, Eddie. Keep it for expenses. I don’t want Frank footing the bill for you helping me. Or the Sands. I pay my own way.’

‘Where we goin’, Mr G.?’ Jerry asked. ‘I’d like to get outta this neighborhood.’

‘Head for the highway, Big Jerry,’ I said, tucking the cash back into my pocket, ‘we’re goin’ to Vegas.’

‘Now you’re talkin’.’