Blue Belle

'Go to sleep, little girl,' I told her, holding her, kissing her hair.

Waiting for daylight.

70

I was back up a couple of hours later. I lit a cigarette, walked out onto the deck. A big seagull sat on the railing. He didn't fly away as I walked closer to him, just shifted his head so he could watch me close. He knew he had the whole sky to run to.

I felt Belle behind me. 'You better go back to sleep,' I said.

'Why? I'm awake now.'

'You already missed a couple of nights' work. You're going to be wiped out if you don't get some rest.'

'I'm not going back. In that business, girls come and they go. It happens all the time.'

'Yeah, but . . .'

'I'm in this with you, Burke. I know you could walk away from me anyway. When it's over. But I got to take this shot. Show you what I can do . . . so you'll want to be with me.'

'Look, Belle . . .'

'You promised. Maybe you didn't say the words, but you promised. An outlaw's promise - I'm in on this. I've got some money put away. You won't have to take care of me.'

'Hell, I'd have to rob a bank just to feed you.'

She slapped me hard on the arm. 'I mean it. Don't joke around.'

She slipped her arms around my neck from behind, pressed against me, talking only for my ears. 'I'm going to be with you. I don't want men looking at me anymore the way they do. You made it too late for that.' Her grip tightened. 'I want a man who looks at my face.'

I let out a breath. 'Get dressed,' I told her.

71

We were back in my office by seven-thirty. I let Pansy out to the roof, called Mama. No messages came in for me, but she got mine out to Max. One more quick call. The Prof was a little blurred on the phone - I guess they were still shooting him up.

'How you holding up, brother?' I asked him.

'If the Board don't call, it's time for the Wall.'

One of his old sayings - if you can't scam the Parole Board, it's time to start working on an escape plan. I guess he was pretty sick of the hospital.

I spread out the street maps on the desk again, stared at them.

Belle's hand on my shoulder. 'What're you looking for, honey?'

'I don't know yet.'

Pansy came back downstairs. One glance told her the situation. I was working - no point in trying to extort food. Then her beast's brain came as close to an idea as she was ever likely to get. She butted her massive head against Belle's leg, pushing her back a few feet. Belle headed for the couch, but Pansy cut her off, butting at her again.

'What does she want?'

'Food,' I said, not looking up.

I heard the refrigerator open. 'Well, what suits you?' Belle asked. Pansy growled. 'Can I give her some of this brown rice?'

'Heat it up first,' I told her, keeping my eyes on the maps.

Belle came back inside. 'Honey, is there a store around here?'

'What kind of store?'

'Like a supermarket or a grocery?'

'Not far. Why?'

'I need some stuff.'

'Later, okay?'

'But I want . . .'

'Belle, I'm trying to figure something out. Just be quiet for a while, okay?'

She leaned over the desk, her breasts in my face, one hand slipping into my lap. 'Maybe you should put something in my mouth . . . shut me up good.'

I looked up at her, holding her eyes. 'If you won't let me work with you here . . .'

Her eyes went soft and sad. 'I was playing.'

'Now's not the time.'

She leaned closer, watching my eyes. 'I know. I thought you'd give me a slap. Where you pinched me last night.'

'What good would that do?'

'I have to feel you. You won't let me help . . . I just wanted . . .'

'I will let you help. But if you don't shut up, I'll never figure out how.'

I patted her rump. Gently. 'Okay?'

'Okay.'

72

When I looked away from the map, she was curled up asleep on the couch, Pansy was lying parallel to her on the floor.

I snapped my fingers. Pansy's head swiveled. I pointed toward the far corner of the office. She moved with the speed of a runaway fire hydrant. As soon as she was at her post, I went over to the couch. I kissed Belle on the cheek. She came awake. 'What is it, honey?'

'I got something for you to do - you awake?'

She rubbed her eyes. 'Sure.'

'When you spoke to Marques, he call you or did you call him?'

'Both.'

'So you have a phone number for him?'

'Sure.'

'I want you to call him. Tell him I came by the club and saw you. Asked you to get in touch with him - set up a meeting. Tell him I said any time, any place. About what we talked about the last time.'

'What if he has to call me back - where do I tell him?'

'Don't tell him anything. If he can't give you a time and a place right then, tell him to call my number. The one he gave you the first time.'

'The Chinese woman.'

'Yeah.'

'Burke, is she the one? The one you . . .'

I ruffled her hair, kissed the back of her neck. 'Come on, Belle. We got a lot to do today.'

73

On the way to the hospital, I asked her about Marques.

'You know the best time to call?'

'What difference does it make?'