”I can’t. I can’t keep paying you. I’m… running out of money.“
Hawk smiled to himself. I looked at Susan.
She said, ”What about Paul? How can he grow up like this?“
Patty Giacomin shook her head.
We were all quiet. Paul was watching the television again. The network news was on now. Authoritative.
Patty said, ”It isn’t me he wants. It’s Paul. If I told on him…“
”The heat would be on you,“ I said. ”Instead of on Paul.“
Susan said, ”That’s it, isn’t it?“
Patty shook her head. ”I don’t know,“ she said. ”What difference does it make? I’m not going to the police. I’m not.“ Her voice was shaky. ”I’ve still got money. We’ll do something.“
I said, ”What?“
She said, ”You take Paul.“
”Take him where?“ I said.
”I don’t know. Anywhere. I’ll pay you,“ she said.
”I hide Paul out so your husband can’t find him?“
”Yes. I’ll pay you.“
”Why won’t they just try the same swap again that they tried today?“
”I’ll go live with a friend. Mel won’t find me.“
”So why not take Paul too,“ I said. ”Much cheaper.“
”He won’t let me bring Paul.“
”Your friend?“
”Yes.“
”That wouldn’t be old disco Stephen, would it? The one I met when I first brought Paul home?“
She nodded.
I said, ”Probably afraid if it got too crowded, his cashmere sweaters would wrinkle.“
”He’s not like that. You don’t know him,“ she said.
”Well, a friend in need…“ I said.
”Will you take Paul?“ Patty said.
I looked at him. He was staring hard at the network news. His shoulders were stiff and awkward. He was concentrating on ignoring us.
”Sure,“ I said. ”It would be a pleasure.“
Susan looked at me with her eyes widened. Hawk made a sound under his breath like a soft hog call.
”He ain’t heavy,“ I said at large. ”He’s my brother.“
Susan shook her head.
CHAPTER 14
We ate our BLTs and drank champagne in the kitchen without much talk.
For an extra fifty dollars Hawk said he’d take Paul and his mother home and stay there till I arrived. Neither of the Giacomins looked very happy with that, but they went.
”Don’t be scared,“ Hawk said as they left. ”Some of my best friends are honkies.“
Patty Giacomin looked at me.
”It’s okay,“ I said. ”He’s nearly as good as I am. In the dark maybe better. You’ll be fine.“
Paul looked at me. ”When am I going to stay with you?“ he said.
”Tomorrow. I’ll be home later tonight and tomorrow we’ll pack up and go.“
”He be around, kid,“ Hawk said. ”One thing about old Spenser, he predictable. He say he going to do something. He do it.“ Hawk shook his head. ”Dumb,“ he said.
They went out Susan and I stood in the doorway and watched them. Susan waved. Then Hawk’s Jag murmured into gear and they were gone. I closed the door and turned and picked Susan up in my arms.
”Couch or bed, little lady,“ I said.
”God, you’re masterful,“ she said.
”Maybe you could kick your little feet and pound prettily on my chest with your little fists?“ I said.
”Be happy I don’t apply heel to groin,“ she said, ”after all the goddamned unannounced company.“
