“I saw the fires.”
“Blew up part of the plant, and a gas station by the railroad depot, and the firehouse.”
“The firehouse?”
“Killed the man I had in there guarding your uncle.”
“Oh.” She was silent, but he didn’t have anything to say to her, he could outwait her. After a minute she said, “My uncle?”
“He got it, too. Everybody in the firehouse. The man I had in there was named Chambers. Hillbilly from Kentucky or somewhere like that. Has a brother named Ernie, in jail now. He’s the one was supposed to drive the truck.”
“What are you trying to do to me?”
He took a last drag on his cigarette, and flicked the butt out over the edge. “See if you’ll crack.”
“Why?”
“You know my name. You know my face. I don’t want you going back and talking to the law.”
“I see.”
They waited again. Parker got out his cigarettes, lit one, then said, “You want one?”
“Yes, please.”
He lit it for her. She looked up and studied his face in the matchlight, and when it was dark again she said, “The simplest thing would just be to throw me off the cliff here, wouldn’t it?”
“It would.”
“Why don’t you? You’re not afraid of Grofield.”
“I don’t kill as the easy way out of something. If I kill, it’s because I don’t have any choice.”
“You mean self-defense.”
“Wrong. I mean it’s the only way to get what I want.”
“Do you want me to promise I’ll stay with Grofield forever? Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. I know I won’t go back to Copper Canyon, and there’s no reason for me to go to the police.”
“Why’d you come along with Grofield?”
“He’s my chance. He’s smart and exciting and fun, and he knows a lot of things. He can show me the whole world, and make it all fun. I had to scream and holler before he’d take me along, so don’t blame him too much.”
“Grofield’ll be in jail within five years.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s impulsive. He’s smart, but he doesn’t always act smart. Also, he doesn’t pay his income tax. Also, he spends too loose and works too often.”
“So maybe I can help him, then.”
Parker debated. He walked up and down along the cliff edge, thinking it out. The girl was a lot better than he’d expected. The only false note was that she’d run off in the first place, that she’d decided to come along with Grofield. She was too cool and sure of herself to be the run-off type. But maybe the running off was cool and methodical, too, maybe she was just running a calculated risk. Looked at that way, it made better sense.
And made her a better risk for him, too.
He said, “Go tell Grofield to show you where his car is. That’s where you two will stay nights; we can’t have you in the shed with the rest of us.”
“All right. Thank you.”
She went away, and Parker stayed outside a while longer. Far to the east, a narrow band of faint lightness was beginning to mark the horizon. Parker walked back and forth, back and forth, unwinding, getting the tension out of his body and mind.
He’d never been involved with such a contradictory job in his life. A job where he deliberately put himself in a box with only one exit, but in this particular case it didn’t matter. A job where everything went smooth and sweet and precise, right up the end, and then all hell broke loose, with one madman going around trying to blow up the city and another madman bringing a girl along for the ride. But the first madman’s explosions and fires helped to cover the getaway in spite of themselves, and the second madman’s girl turned out to be a safe risk.
Thinking of the girl, he felt a quickening in his loins, the sudden return of desire that always followed a job. He walked back and forth, back and forth, smoking his cigarette, thinking of women, thinking about the next opportunity he’d have to get next to a woman.
Not Grofield’s girl. Messing with another man’s woman was always dangerous, and never more dangerous than while hiding out. Besides, she acted too cool and composed for his taste. He wanted something with more abandon to her.
He knew who, knew exactly who. Three or four days, and he’d go see her.
Somebody had to tell her Edgars wouldn’t be showing up.
2
The helicopter passed over again with a great flapping sound, like a huge bird of prey, and everyone in the shed crouched instinctively lower and stared upward at the roof.
