“Who you talking about?”
“Why’d Zig kill Clem?”
“You said that. I never said he did.”
“You said the grave was for Clem. Why’d he kill him?”
“Because Clem did something he shouldn’t have. Zig doesn’t like people who don’t listen.”
“So what’d Clem do that he shouldn’t have?”
“What do you care?”
“I don’t-but you should. You’re the one gotta work with the guy. What’d Clem do that got him the death sentence?”
“He was supposed to keep an eye on a certain party, and he didn’t do it.” Stu’s words came out between jabs of his shovel. “And now we don’t know where that party happens to be. I recognize it may seem like an overreaction.”
“Oh, no, Stu. Anybody’d do the same.”
“I admit Zig can be unreasonable.”
“Well, here’s a question for you-not trivial, for once. Here’s a guy shoots someone he works with for making a mistake. And here’s you. You saw him do it. What possible reason could Zig have for letting you live?”
“He respects me. He didn’t respect Clem.”
“Uh-huh. It seems pretty clear you don’t need me anymore. Which means you know where Max’s score is, or you know who knows. Are you betting your personal well-being on the notion that Zig can’t wait to share that money with you?”
“I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to sweet-talk me.”
“Yes, I am. But that doesn’t make what I say any less true.”
“So you think I should let you go. On the possibility that Zig’s gonna kill me.”
“More than a possibility, Stu. Stop digging, for God’s sake. You and I have been around the block. We know how people work. Right away I figured you three guys out. You tell me if I’m wrong. There’s you: tough guy, get- ahead guy, but not a berserker, not a thug. Right?”
“Pretty much.”
“Then there’s Clem. Not the smartest guy in the world. A follower. Kinda scared. He’ll do stuff he knows is wrong, real wrong, if it keeps him in good with the boss. Might even kill, if push comes to shove. Right?”
“Yeah, I’d say that pretty much covers Clem.”
“And Zig. Zig is a fucking psycho. Zig does not care how far he has to go to get what he wants. Knew it the minute you guys grabbed me. There’s no connecting with that guy. He’s missing whatever it is makes one human being recognize another. That’s why he formed the Subtractors. That’s why he works this way.”
“Subtractors?” Stu laughed and started digging again. “That’s a good one. You thought we were the goddamn Subtractors?”
“I can’t imagine what gave me that idea.”
“We’re not the Subtractors. The Subtractors are just a legend, man. The Subtractors are just a scary story.”
“Tell that to my fucking feet, Stu.”
“Naw, Zig just liked the legend, that’s all. Everybody’s heard about this mythical gang-why not live off their reputation? Act like you’re this invincible force of darkness, who’s to know?”
“So if you’re not the Subtractors, what’s the deal with Zig’s nipples? Being chained up in a bathroom, I got to see more than I wanted.”
“Word is, he was in D block at Sing Sing. He was in a beef, owed a lot of dough, and he was gonna get hit. So he did it to himself to get transferred.”
“Like I say-a guy who’ll do anything. So, if you think he’s going to let you live after all this, you’re out of your mind.”
Stu’s shovel clanked against rock. “Fuck.”
“You beginning to see my way of thinking?”
“No, no. I’m just hitting bedrock here.” Stu’s face was glistening with sweat. He was about two feet down. “What’s in it for me if I let you go? What am I supposed to do for work? Guy’s gotta make a living.”
“I don’t know. I could put a word in with Max. If he knows you saved my ass, he might do something for you.”
“I worked with Max one time. He was good for a laugh, but he’s past it, man. Way past it.” Stu had to rest on his shovel again, his face was dripping. “You think he might cut me in?”
“He doesn’t even cut me and Pookie in. But you’ll get some work. Max is a good guy to have on your side. Knows everybody.”
“Fuck it.” Stu threw down the shovel. “Okay, you convinced me. How about you help me dump Clem and then we hit the road together?”
“Deal.”
“Get outta the car and I’ll take off the cuffs.”
Roscoe got out of the car. His feet stung where the toes were missing, and every muscle in his body ached from being chained in the bathroom for days.
“I hope I don’t regret this.” Stu was fumbling in his pocket for keys. He found the right one, dropped it.
“Hurry up, man. I think I saw a car pull in over there.”
“Over where? I don’t see anything.”
“Under the cloverleaf. I could be wrong.”
Stu found the key and undid first the leg bracelets, then the handcuffs.
A pair of headlights rolled up to them and went out.
“Fuck, it’s Zig,” Stu said. “Let’s beat it.”
They got into the car, but before they could move, the headlights came on again and Zig swerved in front. Stu threw it into reverse, spitting dirt as they jerked backward. A bullet slammed into metal.
Their own headlights were on now, and they could see Zig standing in the glare like a scarecrow, gun hand pointing.
Stu spun the wheel so that the passenger side was between him and Zig.
“Fuck, man,” Roscoe said, ducking down.
“It’s the only way back to the-”
The glass above Roscoe’s shoulder shattered and Stu slumped sideways, a black hole in his temple. Zig was coming toward them, a black shadow in the cones of light.
Roscoe climbed over Stu and pulled up the seat release, pushing the driver’s seat all the way back. That left just enough room to sit on top of Stu and still reach the controls, even if his head was pressed up against the roof. He put it in drive and floored it.
Another shot hit the rear door.
As the car clattered onto the access lane, he could just see Zig climbing back into his car.
“You all right?” he said over and over again to Stu, but he already knew the answer.
TWENTY
“Oh, Jesus, son of the Father, light of my life, please, if I am worthy, send Sabrina back to me. Help me to win her back, for I know I can do everything through Him that gives me strength.”
Bill Bullard was on his knees before a round glass table in the corner of his Hyatt Regency living room. This time it was the honeymoon suite. Bill took one of the miniature Jack Daniel’s he had set out on the table, cracked it open, and drained it in one go.
“Heavenly Father, through whom and in whom all things begin and end, I thank you for helping me to find the woman of my life. And now I pray that you help me, a sinner-oh, I know I am not worthy-to help her.”
He checked the laptop that was open beside the minis. He clicked Update and the onscreen map shifted slightly, showing a squat red arrow on US 80 about one hundred miles east. She must have checked out of that Red
