“Fifteen stitches, he’s going to have a scar.”
“So, what’s the deal, are these guys some kind of crooks or something?”
“No.” Maggie laughed. “Gordon used to be in the FBI. Jonas, well I don’t know, but I know he’s got a lot of friends and that he doesn’t like cops.”
“That’s obvious,” Gay said.
“Yeah, I can see how it looks like something out of a bad movie,” Maggie said. Jonas had a doctor waiting for them when they showed up with Gordon. A young guy she’d seen working the pinball machines downstairs in the Whale. He didn’t make any noises about getting Gordon to a hospital or calling the police.
“They just put him to bed and started working on him, like it’s something that happens every day,” Gay said.
“They’re close.” Maggie turned, looked out the window over the sink.
“Checking to see if anyone’s outside?”
“That’s the dumpster where he left her, right down there. God, I’ve been so stupid. I feel like this whole thing is my fault.”
“Nonsense. None of it is,”
“Especially tonight, I should’ve stayed home.”
“Then that would be you cut up, or worse, Jasmine. And you guys might not have been so lucky.”
“She’s right,” Jonas said, coming into the kitchen. “Gordon’s drugged up and mumbling, but he’s a tough old bird, it’ll take more than a scratch across his chest and a bash to the head to do him in. Doc says he’s going to be right as rain, but he’s stuck in bed for a few days.”
“Thank God.” Maggie favored Jonas with a weak smile. “What are the girls doing?”
“Television in the den, music videos,” Jonas said. “They think my place is cool, but they’re distressed that I don’t have any Sugar Frosted Flakes and they’re upset about not having their schoolbooks. What’s the fifth grade coming to, school’s supposed to be fun at that age, isn’t it?”
“I’ll go and get the books after I get back from the liquor store with the cereal.” Maggie started for the back door. It opened on a landing, the steps went down to the alley behind the Whale.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Gay said.
“The liquor store’s only a couple blocks away.”
“You’re not going alone,” Gay said. “And especially not down there.”
“I’ll be okay, I’ve got my trusty Sigma.” She turned, raised her sweatshirt, so Gay could see the gun tucked between her Levi’s and the small of her back.
“Where did that come from?” Gay said. “Do you know how to use it?”
“I stole it.” Maggie wondered if Nick had noticed it gone yet. “And yes I know how to use it.” She went to the back door, opened it.
“I’m still going,” Gay said.
“Just be careful,” Jonas said. “Gordon will have my neck if anything happens to you two on my watch.”
“Nothing’s going to happen,” Gay said.
“You can help make sure.” Jonas left the room, returned after a few seconds. “Take this.” He was holding out Nighthyde’s gun. “It’s easy to use, just point and pull the trigger.”
“I know how they work.” Gay took the gun, pulled her blouse out from her jeans and stuffed it between them and her back, like Maggie. “God I feel like we’re Bonnie and Clyde.”
“Thelma and Louise,” Maggie said.
“Whatever.”
At the liquor store on the corner Maggie said. “You go in and get the milk and cereal, I’ve got something I need to find out from information.” Maggie started toward a phone booth in front of the store.
“What?”
“Horace Nighthyde’s address.”
“You’re kidding.”
“It’s my only chance. I have to convince him it’s all over. Gordon was right about that. It’s the only way.”
“Yeah, and look what happened to him.”
“He said Nighthyde was listening to him when he took a chance and knocked the gun out of his hand.” She picked up the phone, dialed information and got the phone number. At first the operator didn’t want to give out the address, but when Maggie pleaded, saying she just needed it to address a birthday card to her stepfather’s brother, the operator gave in.
“God you’re good, you sounded just like a little girl.”
“It’s easier to bend the rules for children.” Then, “He lives in Lakewood, on Daneland.”
“You never were going to get the schoolbooks, were you?”
“No.”
“What if this Nighthyde character doesn’t listen to you?”
“He’s not gonna shoot me on his front porch.”
“I’m going with you?”
“I know.”
“Let’s go get the cereal.”
Inside the store Maggie picked up the Frosted Flakes, a half gallon of milk and a bottle of Sutter Home Cabernet. “To celebrate with when this is all over.”
“Big spender,” Gay said as they were at the check out.
“Yeah, I guess I’m not used to all the money yet.” Maggie bagged her purchases. “In fact, I hope I never get used to it.”
“You’ll do fine,” Gay said.
“You think?”
“Look out.” Gay pushed Maggie aside as a young Asian man burst through the doorway. He was wearing fringed jeans, not Levi’s, and a black leather motorcycle jacket with the sleeves cut off. Tattoos peppered his arms. It would have been a head on collision, but, thanks to Gay’s fast reaction, he only brushed against Maggie. “He didn’t even apologize.”
“Yakuza copycat,” Maggie said. “Japanese type Mafia.”
Back at the apartment Gay said. “We’ll have to stop and get gas, Gordon’s Ford is almost out.”
“Take mine.” Jonas fished a set of keys out of his pocket, handed them to Maggie.
“Wow, a modern version of the monkey poop green, 1966 VW I drove for years,” Gay said as she got in the passenger side of Jonas’ car.
“Bright red, new and improved.” Maggie took off the hand brake, started it.
“Much bigger than my old Beetle. It’s like a pregnant Bug.” Gay pulled on the shoulder harness.
“At least it’s not an automatic,” Maggie said.
“Yesterday you seemed so lost, but not now. You’ve changed.” Gay fiddled with the GPS as they took the on ramp to the 605 Freeway.
“I don’t feel any different.”
“You are.”
Fifteen minutes later they turned off the freeway. Another couple of minutes and Gay said, “Daneland, that’s it, that’s the street.”
Maggie turned, drove slowly, found the address, parked in front. “Lights are off. No car in the driveway. Doesn’t look like anyone’s home.”
“Car could be in the garage,” Gay said. The neighborhood was middle class tract homes built after the Korean War. Sidewalks in front, driveways led to garages in the back. People either parked their cars in the drive or through the gate and in the garage. There was only one other car parked on the street on the whole block. The red Volkswagen stood out like a tomato in a bag of onions.
“Could be, but I don’t think so.” Maggie drove to the corner, turned and parked next to a park at the end of the block.
“Now what?”
“He broke into my house. I’m gonna break into his.” Maggie got out of the car.
