Gonor nodded. “We can do that.”
“When you’ve got it,” Parker said, “give me a call. And Formutesca, you be ready with the old clothes.”
Smiling, pleased, Formutesca nodded. “I will,” he said.
Parker got to his feet. “That’s all for now,” he said. “If you’ve got a cleaning lady, take that stuff off the walls.”
“I’m keeping this room locked,” Gonor said.
“All right.”
Gonor walked him to the door. “I believe you’re a good teacher,” he said. “And I believe you will find us quick students.”
“That’s good,” Parker said.
5
Hoskins got to his feet when Parker came into the room. The gun in his right hand was small but efficient- looking.
Parker took his key out of the lock and shut the door. He dropped the key on the dresser and shrugged out of his coat. Hoskins watched him, a faintly pleasant expression on his face, attempting to be the club man meeting an old friend at the club. The gun spoiled the effect, and so did the wariness he couldn’t keep from showing in his eyes.
Parker tossed his coat on the bed, and Hoskins flinched, just a little. If he was that nervous, he might fire the gun by accident. To calm him down a little, Parker talked softly to him, saying, “Somebody let you in?”
Hoskins had control of himself again. “No, no, dear boy,” he said. “One picks up keys here and there, you know. They fit a variety of locks.”
The “dear boy” was new. Parker, looking closely at him, now saw that Hoskins was drunk. Quietly drunk, in a steady and dignified way. Full of what he himself undoubtedly would call Dutch courage.
Parker turned toward the bathroom. “You want a drink?”
“I think not. You’re playing with Gonor and that crowd, aren’t you?”
Parker stopped and looked at him. “Playing?”
“On their team.”
Parker shrugged.
“The only question is,” Hoskins said, “did you send those two cannibals down to the bar after me that day or didn’t you?”
Parker said, “That isn’t the question.”
“It isn’t? Really, dear boy. What isthe question, then?”
Parker said, “How to keep you from coming back.”
Hoskins opened his mouth to laugh. “But you can’t,” he said. “I have the smell of gold in my nostrils now.”
“You want a piece.”
“Of course. But not for nothing; I’m not like that. I can contribute, you know.”
“Contribute what?”
“Myself. My expertise, for what it’s worth. Because whatever you may think of Gonor and his lieutenants, dear boy, you should never underestimate them. You won’t get the booty away from them all by yourself, you know.”
Parker said, “What if I’m not going to take it away from them at all?”
Hoskins made a mocking face, lifting one eyebrow. “What, settle for twenty-five thousand? You don’t look that sort of man to me, Mr Walker.”
“I’ll tell you another sort of man I’m not,” Parker said. “I don’t do business with a man holding a gun on me.”
Hoskins looked at the gun in his hand as though mildly surprised to see it still there. Shrugging, he smiled amiably and said, “I didn’t know what your attitude would be, of course. I had to be ready to protect myself in case you were going to be difficult.”
“I won’t be difficult,” Parker said, “if you can be reasonable. And useful. We should be able to work something out.”
There was relief evident in Hoskins’ smile now. “I thought you were a sensible man,” he said. “I thought we could get together.”
Parker pointed at the gun. “Not with that in your hand,” he said. “Put it away.”
“Of course,” said Hoskins. “Sorry, old man.” He tucked the gun away in his hip pocket.
Parker walked over toward him, hand extended for a shake, saying, “Now we can start a partnership.”
Hoskins was delighted. “Bound to be a profitable one,” he said, and put his hand out for Parker’s. Parker hit him high on the right cheek and he fell backward over the bed and landed on his side on the floor.
Parker walked around the bed and kicked Hoskins once. Hoskins fell back and didn’t move.
Parker went to one knee and emptied Hoskins’ pockets, beginning with the gun, a Beretta .22 automatic, lethal
