Two-Dollar Bill

50

STONE COULDN'T LOOK at his watch, but he estimated they'd been traveling for nearly an hour when he heard the rattle of a metal garage door opening. The Navigator reversed, and the door came down again.

'Get 'em out,' Billy Bob said to somebody. The rear door of the truck opened, the blind was rolled back and Stone and Dino were hustled out of the vehicle.

'Set 'em down in the corner,' Billy Bob said.

Stone and Dino were pushed into a corner of the garage, which was lit only by daylight coming through small, high windows in the door. A moment later, the garage door opened again, and the Navigator drove out. Stone figured there was still a guard inside with them.

'Excuse me,' he said to the wall, 'do you think you could cuff us a different way? This is very uncomfortable.'

There was no response.

Stone managed to turn toward the door and looked around the garage. 'We're alone,' Stone said.

'Now what?'

'I'm not sure,' Stone said. 'Since our hands are locked behind us, I can't get to the Keltec.'

'And, even if you could, there's nobody to shoot.'

From somewhere outside the garage came a faint woman's voice. 'Get me out of here!' she said, and there was a banging noise.

'Is that Arrington?' Dino asked.

'I've never heard her voice under these conditions,' Stone said, 'but my best guess is yes.' He yelled as loud as he could. 'Arrington?'

'Stone?' she shouted back.

'Where are you?'

'How the hell should I know?' she screamed. 'It's dark.'

'Just hang on. I'll try and find you.'

'I'd help, but they've got me handcuffed,' she yelled back.

'You, too?'

'You mean you're handcuffed?'

'Yes, but I'm working on it.'

Dino spoke up. 'I don't want to interrupt, but I'd like to know how you're working on it.'

'Good news,' Stone said. 'I have a handcuff key.'

'Why?' Dino asked.

'I've been carrying one in my wallet since I was on the force, just for times like this.'

'Well, that's just wonderful,' Dino said. 'Now could you unlock these cuffs?'

'There's a small problem,' Stone said.

'What problem?'

'My wallet is in my left front pocket.'

'Nobody carries his wallet in his left front pocket.'

'I do. It's very small and just has credit cards and my driver's license, that sort of stuff, in it.'

'Can you reach your left front pocket?'

'Well, no. That's the problem. Do you think you can reach it?'

'Let's find out,' Dino said. 'Sit still, and move your hands to your left.'

Stone moved his hands to his left, while Dino worked his way as far as he could to Stone's side.

'I can't reach,' Dino said. 'I'm a good eight inches short, too. What now?'

Stone thought about that. 'I don't know,' he said finally. 'I'm armed, and I can't reach the gun, and I have a handcuff key, and I can't reach that, either.'

'You don't have to explain the situation to me,' Dino said. 'I get it.'

'All right, you think of something.'

'I'm thinking.'

They both sat quietly, their backs against each other, and thought.

'I've got it,' Dino said.

'Tell me.'

'What we have to do is hang you up by your feet, and then your wallet will fall out of your pocket.'

'Swell, Dino; how are we going to hang me up by my feet?'

'Jesus, do I have to think of everything? It's your turn to figure out something.'

'Let's see if we can get to our feet,' Stone said. 'Press your back against mine, and let's work our feet back until we're upright.'

'Worth a try,' Dino said.

They pushed against each other and began taking tiny steps backward. They were halfway up, when Stone's feet slipped out from under him, and they both fell down, hitting the concrete floor hard.

'Shit, that hurt!' Stone said.

'Tell me about it. It's those faggoty Italian loafers you're always wearing,' Dino said. 'The soles are too slippery.'

'I suppose you're wearing those black cop shoes with the thick, rubber soles?'

'Sure, I am, and I didn't slip, did I?'

'Let's try it again.'

'And what's changed that's going to make it work this time?'

'We have to try. Billy Bob could come back at any moment.'

'All right, let's go.'

They started pushing up again, and this time, after a good minute of trying, they were on their feet.

'Man, that was hard,' Dino said, puffing.

'You're in lousy shape, that's why,' Stone said.

'Yeah, sure, like you actually use that exercise stuff in your basement?'

'Of course, I use it.'

'Don't bullshit me, Stone. You're breathing just as hard as I am.'

'All right, all right. Now what are we going to hang me from?'

They started to move in a circle, looking at the walls of the garage.

'There are tools in here,' Dino said. 'Shovels and stuff.'

'Yeah, it looks like some sort of maintenance facility.'

'You see anything useful?'

'Yes!' Stone almost yelled. 'There's a hose coiled up and hung on a hook!' He moved toward a wall, and Dino followed him, walking backward.'

Dino looked over his shoulder. 'First, we have to get the hose off the hook, so we can use it.

The hook was chest high. Stone tried nudging the coil of hose with his knee, but couldn't reach it. Finally, he bent over and pushed upward on the hose with his head. Most of it fell to the floor, leaving several coils on the hook. 'I think that'll do it,' Stone said. 'The hook's available; I've just got to get a leg up that high.'

'Try walking up the wall,' Dino said. 'I'll back up closer.' He did so.

'Push hard against me,' Stone said. He put a foot against the wall, then another. 'It's working,' Stone said. 'About two feet higher. Push harder!'

Dino pushed, and Stone continued walking up the wall.

'We've got to move about a foot to the left,' Stone said.

Dino worked in that direction, taking tiny steps.

'I think I can…' Stone got a leg over the hook and put his weight on it. 'Okay, I've got a leg hooked. You've got to get lower, and as slowly as possible.'

Dino eased himself down to a squatting position. 'I don't know how long I can do this,' he said.