LITMIR.BIZ

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held the binoculars to his eyes with one hand while eating an apple. He stopped chewing and chuckled when he saw Bart slam their quarry back against a wall.

      Minutes later, Bart and Rex drove into an underground parking lot. Their quarry, whom they identified as Edward Trimble, lay slouched in the back seat. He was more than willing to cooperate in exchange for not going to jail. He admitted that he bought the speed from Red, who used to buy it from Lenny. He said Red now bought it from someone in Satans Wrath. Fast Eddy, as Bart called him, was willing to make more purchases from Red if they supplied the money. He thought he might soon be able to deal with Satans Wrath directly if Bart and Rex wanted him to. They did.

      Danny leaned over and opened the car door and watched as Jack eased himself inside.

      “You took a few good licks there,” Danny commented.

      “Had to make it look real. They bought it. Money shouldn’t be a problem now.”

      Danny started the car and said, “Where to?”

      “My ribs are sore. Maybe stop by the clinic to check things out.”

      “Check things out? What things?”

      “Shut up and drive.”

      “Oh, those things.”

       chapter seventeen

      During the next couple of days, Jack purchased another order of speed from Red. Bart and Rex were pleased. They were able to follow Red to a restaurant where they saw her meet with John Dragonovich, another striker for Satans Wrath, who went by the name Dragon.

      Bart and Rex were delighted when Fast Eddy said that Red was becoming receptive to introducing him to her connection in the event she wasn’t available, providing that Fast Eddy was buying quarter-pounds or more. They told him they wanted two more small purchases from Red, then they would have him make larger purchases.

      Marcie warily walked toward the car as it stopped by the curb and peered through the open passenger window at the man who was driving. The sun was low in the sky, and she squinted as she tried to make out his face while checking him out.

      “Hey, mister! Looking to party?”

      “Maybe.”

      “Think maybe you’d like to party with me? I could show you a good time.” She tried to put some enthusiasm into her voice.

      “Sure, little girl, you’ll do just fine.”

      “You got your own place?”

      “No.”

      “Well, that’s okay. We can use my place.” Marcie held up a key to a room at the Black Water. A room Red told her to share with two older hookers.

      “You look like you’re just a kid!”

      Marcie shrugged, forcing a smile. “So? Do you want to party with me or not?”

      “I don’t know. I guess you’ll do. But if I’m not getting a real woman, I’m not payin’ more than thirty.”

      “Hey! Get real! The room cost me that much!”

      “Take it or leave it. You look like you could use the money. Aren’t you hungry for a little food, or maybe somethin’ to get high?”

      “Not that hungry!” Marcie turned on her heel and walked away.

      “You’ll be sorry, girl! Next time my offer won’t be so good!” he yelled, speeding off.

      She watched the car drive out of sight. Then she waited, pacing back and forth. She tried to make eye contact with the drivers of various cars as they drove by. Some would slow down to gawk. One car with three young men pulled over to the curb. They laughed and quickly drove off when she approached. She wondered what other girls were doing on their thirteenth birthday. Danny watched Jack say goodbye to Red and slip out the back door of the Black Water. He ordered another beer. Jack would be meeting with Rex and Bart so there was no hurry. An hour later, he went to the car on the second level of the parking garage. Jack was peering through the binoculars as he arrived.

      “How did it go?” Danny asked.

      Jack put the binoculars down and said, “Good. Scored from Red again. Bart asked me if I would be willing to testify. Explained the witness protection program to me.”

      “They’ll be pissed if they ever find out who you really are.”

      “I played along. Bart said just one more small score and they’ll start funding larger transactions.”

      “Great. The sooner we’re out of here the better I’ll feel,” said Danny, while unconsciously massaging his jaw. It ached from grinding his teeth in his sleep.

      “I know,” said Jack. “You don’t like working in this den of snakes.”

      “Who are you watching?”

      Jack passed the binoculars to Danny and he saw Marcie on the sidewalk a short distance from the hotel. He heard someone yell from directly below where they were parked.

      “Hey, Mouse!”

      “Cyrstal!” Marcie yelled back, then crossed the street.

      Jack and Danny got out of their car and peeked over the edge at Marcie and Crystal.

      Marcie was pleased that Crystal gave her a hug.

      “So, Red has got ya back out on the street,” observed Crystal.

      “Just started.”

      “How much ya usin’ now?”

      “I sort of did what you told me.”

      “Sort of?”

      “I only used twice this last week.”

      “Twice is twice too much! Damn it, Mouse, if you can’t quit now, you won’t be able to by next week. Then you’ll be here until ya die! Which won’t take long.”

      “Yeah. I gotta get to work. I need to make some money.” Marcie started to walk away.

      “Hold it! Don’t go yet. I got somethin’ for ya!”

      Danny watched Crystal reach in her purse as Marcie walked back to her. He couldn’t hide his sarcasm when he whispered, “Bet the bitch is giving her some dope just to help her out a bit!”

      Marcie examined what Crystal gave her and said, “Oh, Crystal! It’s beautiful! A little glass mouse! Look! It’s got little beady eyes and black whiskers! It’s really cute!”

      “Yeah, well, I wanted to give ya somethin’ for your birthday. It’s made out of crystal, just like my name, so you’ll think of me.”

      Danny was shocked. “A birthday present?” he whispered.

      “A real den of snakes,” commented Jack, as they quietly got back in the car.

      Danny sat quietly.

      “They should all be shot,” added Jack.

      “Up yours. I get the point.”

      “Good. We’ll soon be out of this neighbourhood. You can take a crack at her then. Doubt that she’ll listen to you, though.”

      Wigmore received a call back from Vital Statistics. He wasn’t surprised. Yes, they had a record for Edward Trimble. He died of a drug overdose two years ago.

      Wigmore reached for a file he had marked “Project Hotshot.”

      It was Friday night when Jack paged Red and arranged to meet inside the Black Water within the hour. It was to be the last small purchase. Red said her connection didn’t trust her enough to handle large quantities yet. If Jack wanted a larger amount, she would have to bring in her connection. It was what he had hoped for. Bart and Rex assured him that they would have the authority next week to provide the money to make bigger purchases.

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