It Was a Very Bad Year

TWENTY-ONE

Danny found us a downtown warehouse that had seen better days and had been empty for a while.

He was waiting for us when I pulled the Caddy up in front. I drove so Jerry could sit in the back with Irwin, making sure that Barney didn’t try anything.

We got out and Irwin asked, ‘Who’s he?’

‘Shut up,’ Jerry said, and cuffed him on the back of the head.

Danny opened the door.

‘Thanks, Danny.’

‘It’s all set,’ he said. ‘Just some chairs and a table.’

‘Good enough.’

I let Jerry drag Irwin inside.

‘Here’s the keys,’ Danny said, handing them to me. ‘Lock up when you leave.’

‘What’s in here to steal?’

‘Nothin’,’ Danny said. ‘Just lock it, OK? I’m borrowin’ the place.’

‘OK, I’ll lock up.’

‘And I promised the owner you wouldn’t leave any bodies behind.’

‘That’s a promise I can keep.’

‘Sure you don’t want me to come in with you?’

‘No, Jerry can handle it,’ I said.

‘Keep him on a short leash, Eddie,’ Danny said. ‘He can do some real damage.’

‘I know it,’ I said. ‘Don’t worry.’

Danny slapped me on the shoulder. ‘I won’t worry. Let me know what happens.’

I slapped his back and went inside.

Jerry already had Irwin in a chair, his hands tied behind him. He was watching us with wide eyes, his face already slick with sweat. His skin had a yellow cast, because of the naked yellow bulb above him.

‘What’s goin’ on?’ he demanded.

‘Barney, my friend does this for a living, so make this easy on yourself.’

‘What are you talkin’ about?’

‘I want the nude photos of Abby Dalton.’

‘I already toldja,’ Irwin replied. ‘I never took no nude photos.’

‘I can’t buy that, Barney,’ I said. ‘The way Abby looked back then, young and fresh? No way you’d let her get away without a few nudies. Somebody’s threatening to take those photos public, and you’re the only one who ever took any.’

‘That’s what she said?’

‘That’s what she said.’

He thought about it for a minute, then said, ‘She’s a liar.’

I stared at him for a few seconds. ‘OK, Jerry. He’s all yours.’

‘What? No, hey, wait a minute-’

I went out the front door, closed it behind me and leaned against it. Danny had picked a good place. I couldn’t hear anything that was going on inside. I checked my watch, and after five minutes I went back in.

Irwin was still in his chair, but his head was hanging down, his chin on his chest. I looked at Jerry.

‘I think he’s ready to deal,’ he said.

I checked Irwin out, critically. It didn’t seem that any of his appendages were broken.

‘What’d you do to him?’ I asked.

‘Nothin’,’ Jerry said, ‘I just kinda. . asked him nicely.’

‘Asked him nicely, huh?’

He nodded.

I walked over and stood in front of Irwin.

‘Barney.’

He looked up at me. His eyes seemed haunted, but he didn’t look like he was in pain.

‘The nude photos of Abby,’ I said. ‘Where are they?’

‘I got ’em. . in the bank.’

‘A safe deposit box?’

‘Y-yes.’

‘What bank?’

‘The Bank of Las Vegas.’

‘What branch?’

‘The one on Simmons.’

‘OK,’ I said, ‘how about we go there and get ’em tomorrow?’

‘Sure,’ Irwin said, ‘OK.’

I turned and looked at Jerry.

‘He’ll be there, Mr G.’

‘OK,’ I said, turning back to Irwin, ‘so let’s meet in front of the bank at nine a.m.’

‘Yeah, OK.’ Irwin lowered his eyes, as if he couldn’t meet mine. Whatever Jerry had done to him had made him feel. . ashamed.

I walked behind him, untied his hands. He didn’t bring them around in front until Jerry said, ‘It’s OK, Barney.’

He rubbed his wrists.

‘Let’s get you home,’ I said. I went to grab his arm and help him up, but he flinched and pulled away.

‘Come on, Barney,’ Jerry said. ‘We’re just gonna drive ya home.’

Once again I drove while Jerry sat in the back with Irwin. When we got to his house they got out of the car together.

‘I’ll just walk him to the door,’ Jerry said.

I watched as they walked, Jerry with his arm around Irwin’s shoulder, Irwin looking completely crestfallen. At the door they stopped. Jerry turned Irwin to face him, spoke to him briefly, at which point Irwin nodded miserably, and went inside.

Jerry came back and asked, ‘Can I drive?’

‘Sure.’

I shoved over and allowed him to get into the driver’s seat.

‘Jerry, he seems like a completely broken man.’

‘I know.’

‘But. . he’s not. You didn’t break anything. . right?’

‘Only his spirit, Mr G.,’ Jerry said, ‘only his spirit.’