Two-Dollar Bill

Stone had all his weight on the one leg over the hook, now. He began to shake his hips back and forth.

'What are you doing?' Dino demanded.

'I'm trying to shake out the wallet,' Stone said. 'It won't come out.'

Dino began to jump up and down an inch or two from his squatting position.

'It fell out!' Stone yelled. 'Now you have to stand up again, so I can get my leg off the hook.

Making loud groaning noises, Dino slowly pushed himself upright.

Using his other foot for purchase, Stone managed to get his leg off the hook, and the two of them fell to the floor in a heap. They lay there for a moment, panting.

'Where's your wallet?' Dino asked finally.

'It's around here somewhere. Feel for it with your feet.'

They scurried around in the dimly lit garage, feeling for the wallet.

'I think I've got it,' Dino said. 'It's tucked up under my ass. Let me see if I can reach it. Move backwards a little.'

Stone moved backward.

'Got it,' Dino said. 'I pushed it between us. Feel for it.'

'I have it,' Stone said.

'Well, get the fucking key out!'

Stone got the wallet open and shook it. A tiny metallic sound came back. 'It's on the floor.' He felt for it. 'Got it!'

'Unlock any bracelet,' Dino said. 'Doesn't matter which one.'

Stone got hold of Dino's wrist, found the bracelet and the keyhole and turned the key.

'Yes!' Dino shouted, holding up his free hand. He turned to Stone. 'Give me the key.'

Stone put it in Dino's hand, and a moment later, he had a free hand, and a moment after that, they were both free of the cuffs.

Stone unzipped his trousers and fished out the Keltec and its silencer. He screwed the tube onto the barrel, then popped the magazine and counted. 'I've only got five rounds,' he said. 'The guy who searched me took the other two magazines.'

'Then make them count,' Dino said. 'You got any qualms about putting one in somebody's head, say so, and I'll do it.'

'None whatever,' Stone said. 'Now let's find the switch that opens this door.'

'Before we do that,' Dino said, 'you've got to hoist me up so that I can get a look outside and see what we're up against.'

Stone stuck the gun in his belt and made a stirrup for Dino. Dino hopped up and had a look outside.

'Nothing,' he said. 'Nobody. Just a wall.'

'You take that wall,' Stone said, pointing. 'I'll take this one. Look for the switch.'

They both groped in the semidarkness.

'Got it,' Dino said. 'You ready?'

'Hit it,' Stone said, his gun at the ready.

51

DINO HIT THE SWITCH, and the door started up. Stone ducked under it and stepped outside, the gun pointing ahead of him. He checked both directions. 'Clear,' he said, and Dino came out.

'What is this place?' Dino asked.

They were in a kind of alley between two long rows of garages.

'I don't know,' Stone said. 'Let's find Arrington, then we'll worry about it. It sounded as though she was nearby, but not too near. You take the other row.'

Stone and Dino began walking down both rows of garages, banging on the door and shouting Arrington's name.

'Here!' Dino yelled, two doors down.

'Dino? Stone?' Arrington shouted.

'We're right outside,' Stone said.

'Well, get me out of here.'

'First, we've got to figure out how to get inside. You said you were handcuffed. Are your feet free?'

'They're tied together, and I'm lying on my side,' she shouted back.

'Can you get to your feet?'

'Maybe. What do I do then?'

Stone went over to the side of the garage door and tapped the silencer against it. 'There's a button that opens the door, and it's probably right over here. If you can get to your feet, hop over this way and find the button.'

'I'll try,' Arrington called back. There followed some grunts and groans. 'Okay, I'm on my feet, hopping your way.' Her voice got closer.

'Do you see a button on the wall? It's about shoulder high.'

'I see it.'

'Press your forehead against it and push.'

A moment later, the door started upward. Stone ducked under it and found Arrington, her head still pressed against the button. 'You can stop pushing now; just hold it right there, and I'll get the cuffs off you.' He unlocked the handcuffs while Dino untied her feet.

Arrington fell into Stone's arms. 'Oh, God, I thought I would never see you again. I thought I'd never see anybody again.' She hugged Dino. 'How did you find me?'

'We were brought to you,' Dino said. 'You have any idea where we are?'

'No.'

Stone pointed upward. 'Seagulls; we're near water.'

'That's very helpful, Stone,' Dino said archly. 'Come on, let's look around.' He started down the alley, and Stone and Arrington followed.

They came to the end of the garages, and the alley joined a street.

'Look,' Stone said, pointing. A sign said 'Field 121.'

'We're back where we started; Randall's Island.'

'All that driving was just to confuse us,' Dino said.

'Where the hell is Randall's Island?' Arrington asked.

'In the East River,' Stone replied. 'Come on, let's find my car.' He started across the street, and they followed. Then Stone caught a flash of silver at the end of the street, where it joined the traffic circle. 'Quick,' he yelled. 'Under the stands.'

They ran across the road and ducked under the grandstand of the ballpark. 'Hit the dirt.' They all got on the ground.

Billy Bob's silver Navigator turned into the street from the traffic circle and started toward them. It turned into the alley and drove toward the garages they had just left.

Stone was on his feet. 'Come on, we've got to get to my car before they find out we're gone!' They started running down the street toward where Stone had left his car. From somewhere behind them he heard car doors slamming. 'They're back in the Navigator!' he puffed. They were still a hundred and fifty yards from the car, he reckoned. Arrington fell, and they stopped to help her. 'Hit the deck!' Stone said.

They were all on the ground again as the Navigator turned the corner and drove past them.

'They're seeing if your car is still there,' Dino said. 'When they find it, they'll know we're still here and on foot.'

The Navigator turned into the ball field.

'Come on,' Stone said, running toward his car.

'We can't go toward them,' Arrington said, grabbing his arm.

'We've got to get to the car. I've only got five rounds in this thing, but there are two guns under the car.