I'm a fool to kill you

FIFTY-NINE

I had something to eat with Jerry and Ava, then Jerry took a walk before it got dark, while Ava and I sat on the deck with glasses of wine.

‘Franks and beans,’ Ava said. ‘I can’t remember the last time I had that.’

‘Me, neither.’

‘It was good.’

‘Surprisingly good,’ I agreed.

‘But because I’m eating, and trying to keep up with you and Jerry, I’m getting fat.’

‘You’re not fat, Ava,’ I said.

‘What am I?’ she asked, sipping her wine. She batted her eyes at me over the rim.

‘Oh no,’ I said, ‘you’re horny enough without me making it worse by telling you how beautiful and sexy you are.’

A self-satisfied smile spread over her face.

‘Thank you, Eddie, for not telling me.’

We clinked glasses.

‘What’s he doing out there?’ she asked.

‘Making sure there’s nobody in the bushes with a gun,’ I said.

‘Really?’

‘Kinda,’ I said.

‘Are you staying here tonight?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘I was planning to, but now that the cops are lookin’ for me I should call the detective and see what he wants.’

‘And?’

‘He might want me to come back to town.’

‘Tonight?’

‘Maybe. If he does, it’s not that late, and only thirty miles.’

‘Why can’t it wait until morning?’ she asked.

‘Maybe it can,’ I said. ‘That’s what I’m going to find out. I’ve had trouble with him before,’ I said. ‘Me and Jerry both. He’s got it in for me.’

‘Fuck him, then,’ she said. ‘Don’t call him.’

‘Well, if it was just me I might do that, but there’s you and Jerry to consider.’

She tapped the nail of her forefinger against her glass.

‘Well then, why don’t you go and call him now and get it over with?’ she suggested.

‘You know what?’ I said. ‘That’s what I’m gonna do.’

‘Do you have his number?’

‘Yeah, Entratter gave it to me.’ I stood up, left my glass on the deck rail. ‘I’ll be right back.’

As I headed for the door Jerry came up the steps.

‘What’d you find?’ I asked.

‘Nothin’. Looks good so far.’

‘I’m gonna make a call,’ I said. ‘Go ahead and sit with Ava.’

‘OK, Mr G.’

I went inside. I’d left the number on a piece of paper next to the phone, so I sat and dialed.

‘Detective Hargrove,’ he said, after four rings.

‘If you’re lookin’ for somebody, Detective, maybe you should answer your phone on the first or second ring.’

There were a few moments of silence and then he said, ‘Fuck you, Gianelli. Where the hell are you?’

‘I’m around,’ I said. ‘Not far. What’s goin’ on? I heard you were lookin’ for me.’

‘I’m lookin’ to throw your good for nothin’ ass in jail, that’s what I’m lookin’ for,’ Hargrove said with not a hint of humor.

‘What for?’ I asked. ‘What did I do now? Or what didn’t I do that you want to pin on me?’

‘Never mind,’ he said, ‘just get your ass in here so we can talk.’

‘OK, I’ll be there first thing in the mornin’,’ I said.

‘No, not mornin’,’ he said. ‘Now, so I can call off my men and not waste their time lookin’ for you.’

‘What, you got an APB out on me? Am I gonna be charged with somethin’?’

‘I told you, I just wanna talk.’

‘No, you said you wanted to throw my ass in jail, but I thought you were just talkin’ like you always do, in general. You got somethin’ specific you wanna toss me in a cell for?’

‘Eddie,’ he said, ‘if you run I’ll find you.’

‘What the hell, Hargrove,’ I said, ‘what reason do I have to run? Look, I’ll be there in an hour.’

‘I thought you said you were nearby?’

‘I’m an hour away,’ I said. ‘I’m on my way. Call off your dogs so they don’t shoot me on the way.’

‘Don’t worry about that,’ he said. ‘If you need to be shot I’ll do that myself.’