'We?'
Major grinned at me.
'Hobart Chamber of Commerce,' he said. 'Major Johnson, head nigger.'
'So where do you let them operate?'
'Part of Dorchester,' Major said. 'What you want with them.'
'Yang's got a younger brother, Animal, involved in something I'm working on out in the far western suburbs.'
'Animal?' Major said. 'The bodybuilder?'
I nodded.
'Out in the white, white west?' Major said.
'Yes.'
'Animal; dumber than my dick?' Major said.
'Big and scary, though,' I said. 'Reminds me a little of John Porter.'
'John Porter in the ground, man. Long time.'
'Somebody shoot him?'
' 'Course they did, man. What you think?'
'Can you set me up with Yang?' I said.
'I want to,' Major said. 'I can.'
I nodded.
'What you want to do with him,' Major said. 'I can have somebody dart him, you want.'
'No. His brother maybe supplied the guns used in that big school shootout last spring.'
'And you want to know if Chink Frito supply them. Say he do. What you gonna do then?'
'Nothing right away,' I said. 'I'm just gathering information.'
'And what you do if Jose don't like you asking, and decide to deuce yo white ass?'
'I figure you won't let him.'
Major sat back in the big, expensive swivel chair and looked at me, beginning to smile. I hadn't seen him in more than twelve years. He'd been a kid then. Now he was probably in his early thirties, and he looked like Tommy Hearns. His eyes were bright with intelligence and scorn and anger, as they had been. But there was control in them, too, instead of the craziness. Hawk had said a long time ago that Major Johnson was more like Hawk than most people.
'You got some big bangers,' he said, 'for a Bud Light. You see Hawk around?'
'Often,' I said.
'Tell him I say hello,' Major said.
'You want to set up my meeting with Jose Yang?' I said.
'Sure,' Major said.
Chapter 30
WITH PEARL ASLEEP in the backseat, I pulled into the parking lot at the country store in the late afternoon, and sat with the motor running and the a/c on low. In maybe five minutes, a vast Chevy Suburban pulled up beside me and Janey got out. I rolled down my window.
'Thanks for coming,' she said. 'I didn't know who else to call.'
'Nice vehicle,' I said.
'Oh, the car, that's Daddy's. We have horses.'
'They ride in the backseat?' I said.
She smiled faintly.
'George's in the car,' Janey said. 'Animal beat her up.'
'Can she move around?' I said.
'Yes.'
'Okay, put her in my front seat. You get in back with Pearl.'
'She's scrunched down in the front seat,' Janey said. 'She's afraid Animal will see her.'
'I'll take care of her,' I said.
Janey nodded.
When George got out of the car, she moved very carefully, as if her ribs hurt. She had one eye swollen shut and a fat lip and a long welt along her jawline. She eased herself into my front seat, and Janey closed the door behind her carefully and got in back. Without raising her head, Pearl opened her eyes and growled. Janey froze.
