Geezer Paradise by Robert Gannon

computers?" I asked.
                  "I don't know anything about computers, I just took the bus to one of those big computer stores and talked to a young kid.  He explained it to me.  Of course, I didn't tell him what I was going to do with it."
                  "I don't think we'll find anything on Flaherty's computer that will tie him to Freddy's murder," I said.
                  "No, he's too smart for that, but if we can copy his financial records maybe we can find a computer geek who will know how to trace them to bribes.  That's where we'll find the false expense records from when he bribed officials.  There has to be plenty of those, and if we can just prove one bribe we'll have him."
                  "How will we find a computer geek?" I asked. 
                  "I haven't figured that out yet." Before I knew it I had finished my shot and beer.  I looked over at Willey, his glasses were empty, too.  Willey made the trip to the bar. When he came back I asked, "What about alarms?  They must have alarms."
                  "That's just a chance we'll have to take."  That was not what I wanted to hear.  I poured my shot into my beer and gulped down half the glass. 
                  "Easy there, Barney, we have to be sober enough to pull this off." 
                  I didn't think I could get drunk if I tried all night.  "I just hope you know what the hell we're doing," I said.
                  "It'll work out just fine, Barney.  Just leave it to me." 
                  After we finished our drinks I suggested we leave.  Willey started to get up and then stopped. "I think I need one more round," he said, and he headed for the bar.  When he came back carrying the beer and shots, he said, "One more thing, Barney.  If we get separated we'll meet back here."  That made my stomach lurch again.  After more false starts and more rounds, we were off.  On the way out, Willey handed Bertha a few dollars.  "That's in case the Judge gets thirsty," he said.
                  "The Judge is always thirsty.  Thanks boys, come again."
     
                  It was a hot night and we were overdressed.  Or maybe I was just sweating out of fear.  There was an orange half moon peeking over the roof tops, and a warm breeze was blowing.  I noticed that both Willey and I were a little unsteady on our feet.  Great, drunken burglars.  We walked down the block, stopped and looked around.  No one in sight.  We ducked into the dark alley behind Flaherty's offices.  The alley was stacked up with black plastic bags full of garbage.  The stench and the heat in the alley were overwhelming.  We had to climb onto the pile of garbage to get to the fire escape.  The bags broke open as we climbed onto them, forcing garbage into our shoes.  So far, Willey's plan stunk as much as the garbage. 
                  "That's from the Hungarian restaurant out front," Willey said.  "Delicious food, terrible garbage."  The stench was starting to gag me. 
                  "Let's get this over with," I said.  "I want to get out of here."  I reached for the fire escape ladder, but even standing on the garbage I couldn't reach it.               
                  "Willey, this fire escape is meant for people to come down, not to go up.  I thought you planned this out." 
                  Willey worked his way past me.  "I weigh less than you, just give me a boost and I'll grab the bottom of the ladder.  I locked my hands together for Willey to step into.  He put his foot into my hands and his right hand on top of my head to steady himself. 
                  "On the count of three lift me up," he said.  I tried to push him up, but my arthritis wouldn't let me. 
                  "Push," Willey stage whispered.  I got a better