Скачать книгу

sipped at his beer and sat down. “I’m Paul.”

      “Name’s Larry.” Larry stared at Amber as she spread and re-spread her long tanned legs at the edge of the stage. “Man, I’d like to get me some of that.” He picked up his beer and took a drink.

      “So, what’s your gig, Larry?” Behind his shades Paul’s eyes narrowed. Liquid acid was a fast rush. Any minute this dude was going into orbit.

      “I deliver parts for Rock’s Auto. It’s not bad.” Larry took a longer pull off the beer, downing half.

      Paul waved Ernie over to the table. “I’m into delivery myself.”

      “Oh yeah?” Larry rubbed his eyes. A red flush crept up his neck and over his face. “What do you deliver?”

      Amber held her breasts in her hands and licked her lips, squatting down in front of Paul.

      Ernie made his way to the table through the crowd.

      “Altered states of consciousness.” Paul sipped his beer. “You okay, Larry? Not feeling too good? Maybe you need some air.”

      “What was in that beer?”

      Ernie clamped a hand on Larry’s shoulder and lifted him from the chair.“ You’ve had enough for one night, pal. Come on. Out you go. Give me a hand, Paul.”

      Paul and Ernie muscled Larry through the crowd and out into the night.

      STELLA WATCHED AS Paul and Ernie walked the guy through the bar as if he was a regular drunk they were 86ing. After the door closed behind them, Stella went back to the office. He knocked twice. Janie had her jacket on and clutched it tight, holding on to the edge of the world.

      “You sure you want to come, Janie? It won’t change anything.”

      “I don’t care. Let’s go.”

      Stella and Janie were in his car. Paul drove the guy’s white van. Stella couldn’t see anyone in the passenger seat. He hoped Paul hadn’t done anything stupid. Paul had a short fuse and he usually carried a piece in his pocket. Stella pulled out first and Paul followed in the van.

      Janie stared straight ahead.

      Stella drove out to the tree farm where he’d found Janie’s stuff after the night that brought her into his life. He wished it had never happened for her sake, but she wouldn’t be living with him if it hadn’t. The drive seemed to go on forever before he reached a rutted logging road and the spot where he assumed she’d been raped, though she’d never said and he’d never asked. He stopped the car. Showtime.

      Stella reached across the seat and squeezed Janie’s hand. “You ready?”

      She nodded and opened her door, swinging her legs out.

      Paul got out of the van and left the headlights on. Stella helped Paul pull the guy from the back of the van, letting him fall to the ground. Janie stayed near Stella’s car.

      The guy pulled himself to his feet and wobbled around rubbing his eyes. “Oh man, oh man. Something’s wrong here.”

      “Yep. You’re damn straight on that one, Larry.” Paul took hold of his shoulder.

      “Don’t be in such a rush. All will be revealed. Stella, this here is Larry.”

      “Can’t say it’s good to meet you, Larry,” Stella said. “But you’re right about something being wrong. Something here is wrong and I’d say it’s you.”

      “Why are you fucking with me?” Larry’s voice shook. “Take me back. I need to go back. Take the van. I don’t have any money – ”

      “Oh, this isn’t about money, Larry.” Stella kept his words slow and simple. “This is about karma. Let me explain.”

      “Man, I want to go…”Larry was near tears. He looked around, waving his hands in front of him.

      “Karma is like that saying – what goes around, comes around.”

      Paul tossed the van’s keys back and forth in his hands. “Larry, I wanted to just plain off your sorry ass, but my friend here said we should let karma have a go at you.”

      Larry shook his head. “What did I ever do to you?”

      Janie stepped up to him. Stella could hear her breath sharp and panicky, but her voice was steady. “It’s what you did to me.” His face was blank. He didn’t remember a thing. “You picked me up hitching a few months ago. Remember?”

      “Aww fuck.” His eyes swam around in his face. “Look, man, I don’t know what she said, but she wanted it.”

      Stella’s fist met Larry’s face so fast there was only the sound of bone on bone. Blood spurted from his nose. “I shit you not. Shut the fuck up or you will lose all your fucking teeth. I put this girl back together. I saw what you did to her. Nobody asks for that. I bet she’s not the only one.”

      “I’m telling you – ” Larry backed away, wiping the blood from his face. He staggered, digging through the air with his fingers. He covered his head with his arms and dove to the ground. “What’s happening?” Larry flailed his arms at the sky and covered his head again.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAYABgAAD/2wBDAAUDBAQEAwUEBAQFBQUGBwwIBwcHBw8LCwkMEQ8SEhEP ERETFhwXExQaFRERGCEYGh0dHx8fExciJCIeJBweHx7/2wBDAQUFBQcGBw4ICA4eFBEUHh4eHh4e Hh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh4eHh7/wAARCAKoAf4DASIA AhEBAxEB/8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtRAAAgEDAwIEAwUFBAQA AAF9AQIDAAQRBRIhMUEGE1FhByJxFDKBkaEII0KxwRVS0fAkM2JyggkKFhcYGRolJicoKSo0NTY3 ODk6Q0RFRkdISUpTVFVWV1hZWmNkZWZnaGlqc3R1dnd4eXqDhIWGh4iJipKTlJWWl5iZmqKjpKWm p6ipqrKztLW2t7i5usLDxMXGx8jJytLT1NXW19jZ2uHi4+Tl5ufo6erx8vP09fb3+Pn6/8QAHwEA AwEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtREAAgECBAQDBAcFBAQAAQJ3AAECAxEEBSEx BhJBUQdhcRMiMoEIFEKRobHBCSMzUvAVYnLRChYkNOEl8RcYGRomJygpKjU2Nzg5OkNERUZHSElK U1RVVldYWVpjZGVmZ2hpanN0dXZ3eHl6goOEhYaHiImKkpOUlZaXmJmaoqOkpaanqKmqsrO0tba3 uLm6wsPExcbHyMnK0tPU1dbX2Nna4uPk5ebn6Onq8vP09fb3+Pn6/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwD6Cfdj 2puM1KR+dJhsbdtctiRuMCkIbipOg5pDSsAhFGFqprNwbbS7iaP/AFgQ7P8AfPA/XFQXl41obe3M 2WCkyPkDoMnPFOwi/ihtuKxZdWuhAGZIARbGaTDHIzwgHv1/KrWn3jPJHagGYp8k0pP8eMmjkYXL +zmk2rnBrJN3LLbyXbzSQh5zDAkYzjBxz9SKdJqro+37NmPzjCH39X/L6/lRyMLmmVX2pCKz49TM jhEtvmGPM+f7mc/4Uumamb2VY/s/l5h837+epwPzwfyp8jHcuMvPNLt/2ay/7UaG0EskbuN8gJLf cwfYdKl1HUZLTUFjKIYfIeU88nHpRysLl/ZxSbcdaonVJRAr/YyC8kcYBfGd/eorjVJZbaaKOLZM I5STv4Gz0o5GK5pkZHHU0mz+L8KybPU5PKgj8l5mEMTSPn+//wDqq1aX0ksE0zQeXFHv539cU3Bj uXCtJ5fGazRrBaOXFtlo5I0xv4O/p2psmovIGt1i2Tfvdx38DZxwfxFLlY7o0TS4xWTHfXEWlabL uR5JyA7yH2qWbVwI/NEGVJlCfP3jznP5Gq5COY0aaQ33RVAaqNjN5PTyv4+Pn9fpUM+oXKXCy+Th USUmPfw4Tv0o5WHMayAmnSLxUUd3C9p9pH/PPzCg6gYzVSLVN3lL9kIM5AjyeDkZ/pU8rDmL3lqe lO2tjjFZQ1YHy8W+N7yr9/vHn274p/8AbCg2+YeJTGpw/Tf0quVhzF4jnpQRVG3u5IdLmuWUzFJn Xk9t+Ka+pujyxvbgSRvtwH4Pyb/SjlYcxobOfakI5rN/tWaSMvb2ikCDziS/QYP+FJFqcnl2hmiG ZY0JcHgE/wAqOVhuaBFGGqrcXrrdNBFDvIdE6469/oKr/b5nEbC3Mcfn+VkP1OSPSjkYjSI5ox69 aq6RdSXds00qxg+Y4AB7ByP6VcIz020uSwhMUqb0cFDjFLt9aCOKLAbcf7yNX9RVfWJ3stHvbtFG 6CCSUD6Amp7L/j0j+lU/FI/4pjVv+vKX/wBANcXJ7x0x+E/M7XdTudZ1m81S7keSe7meV3c5OSc1 UpuKdXpkCGgUtKKoBvSlpD7UtACYpaQ0tABRRSmgkSikPFOB9aAD9aSkJ

Скачать книгу