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talk, is all,” said Bart. “But we’ll do it outside the car. You stink too much, even with the windows rolled down!”

      The three men got out of the car before Bart continued. “You’re goin’ to tell us who you got this from.”

      “Fuck you, I am.” Leonard looked around at the empty parking lot and said, “What are you going to do? Beat me? Go ahead!”

      “Don’t be impolite,” said Rex. “I get real pissed off at people who are impolite!”

      The conversation was interrupted when the police radio informed Bart and Rex that Leonard was still on probation for trafficking in drugs.

      “How about that, Lenny!” said Bart. “Caught again while you’re still on probation. You’re lookin’ at doin’ some serious time!”

      “Don’t care. I ain’t rattin’.”

      Leonard leaned and stretched his head forward as Bart and Rex whispered to each other, then jumped nervously when Bart unexpectedly laughed.

      “Okay, Lenny, you can go. We’ll keep the dope, but go ahead, fuck off!”

      Leonard stood with his mouth gaping, looking back and forth at the two faces in front of him. “You’re gonna shoot me for escapin’!” he said, his eyes nervously darting back and forth.

      “Naw, I ain’t gonna shoot you,” replied Bart.

      “I can just walk away?” said Leonard in disbelief. “Just like that?”

      “Sure, Lenny, just like that. I’d suggest you use what little time you have left to wash out your shorts so you won’t smell so bad at your funeral.”

      “What do you mean?” asked Leonard suspiciously.

      “Well, the way I got it figured is you’ve got three choices.”

      Leonard stared at Bart without answering.

      “Number one is you can tell everyone about the two nice narcs who relieved you of a few thousand dollars worth of dope but didn’t arrest or charge you.”

      “I won’t do that! Everyone would think I was a rat! My life —”

      “If we find the prints of your supplier on these baggies, we’ll tell ’im you ratted!”

      Bart let this message sink in and then continued.

      “Number two is you could just say you lost it or were ripped off. But I got a feeling that a low-life like you doesn’t have enough money to pay for this up front. So I think you still owe money … which means someone will be awful pissed off at you. In fact, they’ll probably think you ripped them off.”

      Lenny’s head drooped down. “You guys have pretty well got it all figured out, don’t you?” he mumbled.

      “It’s our business. Do you want us to spell out your third option?” asked Rex.

      Lenny raised his head. “No, I know how the game is played. But if someone finds out I squealed … I’m dead!”

      “We won’t tell if you don’t. But make up your mind fast because I don’t plan on hanging around here all night!” said Bart gruffly.

      Leonard swallowed, and then said, “All right, I’ll talk. It’s speed. I get it from a biker by the name of Halibut. I don’t know his real name,” he said nervously, looking at Bart, “but he’s got a glass eye,” he added quickly.

       chapter fourteen

      “What’s the scoop, Red?” asked Jack as he sat down. “Last night was a waste of time.”

      “My guy almost got busted last night.”

      The word almost bothered Jack. “What are you talking about?”

      “He said there were narcs all over. Bart and Rex in the alley and more of ’em out front. He saw them and split. We’re gonna lay low for a few days until the heat is off.”

      “There’s always narcs. We just gotta be cautious or go somewhere else.”

      “I don’t call the shots. Who knows? There could be some narcs in here right now watchin’ us. Best for everybody to tap it cool. Give it a week or so.”

      “Maybe I’ll find somebody else. Maybe at a better price.”

      Red laughed. “Don’t try and scam me. My stuff is the best there is, and I’m still sellin’ it to you the cheapest. If you have been lookin’ elsewhere, you know that I’m not shittin’ ya.”

      Jack grinned and said, “Yeah, I know your stuff is the best.”

      “I sometimes wonder why I’m lettin’ you have it so cheap. I think it’s only because of them big blue eyes of yours. Tell ya what. To make up for last night I’ll buy ya a beer. You can sit and chill with me for a bit.”

      Marcie sat on her mattress and looked at a small swollen lump on her arm from the last needle taken an hour ago. With her fingernail, she scratched off a little piece of dried blood.

      It had been two weeks since … the motel. If she could go thirty seconds without thinking about it, it would be a relief. She thought about her grandmother. She’s the only one who really loves me.

      She heard the door open as Red arrived home. A moment later, she stuck her head into the room to check on Marcie.

      “Red, I’ve been thinking,” Marcie said. “I’m gonna split out of here. Go live by my grandma in Regina.”

      “What? What are you talkin’ about?”

      “Well … I kind of miss her. I think I’ll go live there so I can visit her.”

      “You ungrateful little slut! You think you can just walk out of here like that?”

      “What do you mean? Why not?”

      “What about all the money you owe for clothes an’ dope?”

      “Money?”

      “Yeah, money! You retard! Where is it? Go ahead; cough up with what you owe! Then I don’t give a rat’s ass what you do!”

      “I thought, like, the speed was free?”

      “Free? Like fuck it was free! Sure, I lent you some out of the goodness of my heart, but you damn well better pay me back! It cost me money! Besides, it’s not speed, you twerp. It was the big H. An’ that stuff is fuckin’ expensive!”

      “Well, like, I thought I didn’t have to go to work, you know, since, because, you know…”

      “You still mopin’ about that? It was only a dog! He couldn’t have had that big of a dink! You think you can just fuckin’ hang out here all day, while I pay the rent, buy your clothes, and put juice in your arm? Who the fuck do you think you are that you can just rip me off like that?”

      Marcie looked up with her mouth gaping open.

      “You want to leave? Fine!” said Red, shaking her fist. “Get up and get the fuck out there! Start earning me the money you owe! It’ll cost ya a hundred bucks a day for protection. What you owe me is above that.”

      Marcie’s voice was barely audible. She started to get up and said, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinkin’. I know I owe you, but…”

      Red grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pulled her close enough for Marcie to feel the hot breath on her face.

      “You’re damn right you owe me!” said Red, shoving her back down on the mattress. “And now is payback time!”

      Marcie wiped some spit off her face with the back of her hand. She could feel Red’s burning glare as she slowly stood up and walked over to the closet. She trembled as she took off her jeans and put on the new clothes that Red had given her

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