back to help him get Buck to the car. They’d
left his hood off, but Buck could barely manage even a Thorazine shuffle. His
right hand was freshly bandaged, but blood was still slipping through. It had
been a small victory for Buck. They’d taken his pinkie and not his thumb.
They all piled in and Twigs studied Buck a moment. “Looks
like he’s feeling no pain.”
Meatface poked at Buck. “Hey, the lady’s asking how you
feel.”
Buck managed a nod.
Twigs grinned. “Alrighty then, let’s go get our money.”
Chapter 29
The Safari was fully hooked up in a premium spot at the
Cimarron Trail, conveniently without close-by neighbors. The Porsche had been
unloaded so Vivian and Erika could run to a truck stop a few miles ahead. The
men weren’t really interested.
Inside, Dell prepared more lines of cocaine as he and Tony
talked.
“Sure the rich just get richer,” Dell was saying. “But it’s
a capitalist society, buddy. That’s the way it works.”
“That doesn’t make it right, man,” Tony countered. “Some
people never get a chance. It’s like they were born with one hand tied behind
their back.”
“So? You’re an investor. What do you care? You’ve certainly
benefitted from the system.”
Tony, remembering who he was pretending to be, changed his
tune. “Oh, well, me, sure. But…”
“You ever gotten into horses?” Dell asked.
“I like quarter horse racing.”
“Absolutely. Viv and I love horses. We have some Appaloosa’s
on our ranch in New Mexico.” He pushed the tile and the rolled up 100-dollar
bill toward Tony.
Dell waited for Tony to get his rush before he continued,
his tone becoming a little more precise, intimate. “You and your girl seem like…pretty
free spirits. No hangups.”
Tony looked up at him. “I guess. Why?”
“Oh, just…it gets a little dull, you know, after years with
the same person. Viv and I like to spice things up occasionally…if you know
what I mean.”
There was a long moment between them. Tony permitted a smile
to play on his lips. It did surprise him that they were swingers. He played
confused. “You mean, like a swap?” He dropped his eyes to the remaining lines
of cocaine.
Dell motioned to them. “Go ahead, help yourself. I’ve got
more.” He watched as Tony snorted Dell’s lines as well, then continued
casually. “Not a swap, exactly. More like a three way.”
Tony’s look was noncommital. Dell continued, assuming he was
holding out.
“Of course, you could watch if that’s your thing.” He nodded
at the hundred dollar bill still rolled up in Tony’s fingers. “And that little
C-note you’ve been snorting through would be yours, too.”
Outside, the sound of the Porsche pulling in stopped them.
A moment later, Erika came inside with Vivian, who tossed
the keys on the dashboard.
“You were right,” Vivian said to Dell. “That truckstop food
section didn’t have limes, but they did have this.” She held up a bottle of RealLime. “Ta da. Margaritas, here we come.”
“What’s all the rest of that?” Dell asked.
“She bought a bunch of stuff for me,” Erika explained. “I’m
not sure why.”
“To cheer you up, sweetie,” Viv said. “You’re just too sad
tonight. That shade of eye color is going to be perfect for you. Here, let me
put it on right now.” She started to apply the makeup.
“How’s your Dr. Pepper?” Viv asked her, then winked at Dell.
“We got her a big soda at the truck stop.”
“It’s fine,” Erika said. “I like the ice.”
Chapter 30
The dark SUV glided down the nearly deserted Exchange Avenue
as it neared the bank. Ahead of them, flashing lights from a couple of squad
cars got everyone’s attention.
“Damn, a bunch of cops,” Jorge said.
Twigs’ voice was low, reassuring. “It’s okay. Just drive
like you have a hostage in the car.”
This confused Jorge. “You mean—what do you mean? Drive
slow?”
Twigs patted his arm. “No, sweetie, drive legal.”
“Good
left his hood off, but Buck could barely manage even a Thorazine shuffle. His
right hand was freshly bandaged, but blood was still slipping through. It had
been a small victory for Buck. They’d taken his pinkie and not his thumb.
They all piled in and Twigs studied Buck a moment. “Looks
like he’s feeling no pain.”
Meatface poked at Buck. “Hey, the lady’s asking how you
feel.”
Buck managed a nod.
Twigs grinned. “Alrighty then, let’s go get our money.”
Chapter 29
The Safari was fully hooked up in a premium spot at the
Cimarron Trail, conveniently without close-by neighbors. The Porsche had been
unloaded so Vivian and Erika could run to a truck stop a few miles ahead. The
men weren’t really interested.
Inside, Dell prepared more lines of cocaine as he and Tony
talked.
“Sure the rich just get richer,” Dell was saying. “But it’s
a capitalist society, buddy. That’s the way it works.”
“That doesn’t make it right, man,” Tony countered. “Some
people never get a chance. It’s like they were born with one hand tied behind
their back.”
“So? You’re an investor. What do you care? You’ve certainly
benefitted from the system.”
Tony, remembering who he was pretending to be, changed his
tune. “Oh, well, me, sure. But…”
“You ever gotten into horses?” Dell asked.
“I like quarter horse racing.”
“Absolutely. Viv and I love horses. We have some Appaloosa’s
on our ranch in New Mexico.” He pushed the tile and the rolled up 100-dollar
bill toward Tony.
Dell waited for Tony to get his rush before he continued,
his tone becoming a little more precise, intimate. “You and your girl seem like…pretty
free spirits. No hangups.”
Tony looked up at him. “I guess. Why?”
“Oh, just…it gets a little dull, you know, after years with
the same person. Viv and I like to spice things up occasionally…if you know
what I mean.”
There was a long moment between them. Tony permitted a smile
to play on his lips. It did surprise him that they were swingers. He played
confused. “You mean, like a swap?” He dropped his eyes to the remaining lines
of cocaine.
Dell motioned to them. “Go ahead, help yourself. I’ve got
more.” He watched as Tony snorted Dell’s lines as well, then continued
casually. “Not a swap, exactly. More like a three way.”
Tony’s look was noncommital. Dell continued, assuming he was
holding out.
“Of course, you could watch if that’s your thing.” He nodded
at the hundred dollar bill still rolled up in Tony’s fingers. “And that little
C-note you’ve been snorting through would be yours, too.”
Outside, the sound of the Porsche pulling in stopped them.
A moment later, Erika came inside with Vivian, who tossed
the keys on the dashboard.
“You were right,” Vivian said to Dell. “That truckstop food
section didn’t have limes, but they did have this.” She held up a bottle of RealLime. “Ta da. Margaritas, here we come.”
“What’s all the rest of that?” Dell asked.
“She bought a bunch of stuff for me,” Erika explained. “I’m
not sure why.”
“To cheer you up, sweetie,” Viv said. “You’re just too sad
tonight. That shade of eye color is going to be perfect for you. Here, let me
put it on right now.” She started to apply the makeup.
“How’s your Dr. Pepper?” Viv asked her, then winked at Dell.
“We got her a big soda at the truck stop.”
“It’s fine,” Erika said. “I like the ice.”
Chapter 30
The dark SUV glided down the nearly deserted Exchange Avenue
as it neared the bank. Ahead of them, flashing lights from a couple of squad
cars got everyone’s attention.
“Damn, a bunch of cops,” Jorge said.
Twigs’ voice was low, reassuring. “It’s okay. Just drive
like you have a hostage in the car.”
This confused Jorge. “You mean—what do you mean? Drive
slow?”
Twigs patted his arm. “No, sweetie, drive legal.”
“Good
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