by Sandra Brown
"All the more reason for us to keep our asses covered."
"I know that, Doug, but " "Littrell won't touch a case unless we've got
solid evidence " "To back it up," Burke shouted."I've got it, okay?
God knows I've heard the sermon often enough."
"I just don't want another major fuckup," Pat fired back."This
department can't afford one, and neither can you."
Pat's shout reverberated around a sudden and uncomfortable silence.
The other officers averted their eyes from the two who were arguing.
"Come on, y'all," Mac mumbled."Stay cool."
It was well known, especially to Burke, that Pat favored him over other
officers in the division. Not only because he considered Burke a good
cop, but because the two had started out friends. They'd gone through
the academy in the same class. Pat had chosen administration over street
work, but rank hadn't made a difference in their relationship.
Until recently. The circumstances surrounding Kev Stuart's death had
placed a strain on their friendship. Burke felt it. But he also
understood where it was coming from. Doug had to answer to his superiors
for the conduct and performance of each of the officers under his
command. Being the go-between was difficult at any time, but especially
when he was trying to protect the reputation of an officer who was also
a friend.
Burke realized that Doug didn't want his career sacrificed to that one
dreadful mistake. Doug had gone to the mat for him when his stability
and reliability came into question following the incident. Publicly and
privately, he'd backed him one hundred percent through the trial.
Despite the anger of the moment, Burke understood that Doug didn't want
him to lose his head and do something reckless, providing the nervous
decision-makers a good reason to seize his badge.
Since the outburst, he and Doug hadn't broken eye contact. His temper
now under control, he said, "Give me a shot at Sachel."
"In your present frame of mind, I don't think so," Pat replied
evenly."Tomorrow maybe."
'"He'll be sprung by tomorrow."
"We'll drag our feet on the bail hearing."
Burke sighed, rubbed the back of his neck, then gave each of the other
officers a sour glance."Then I'm going home." "What about me?" Hahn
asked.
Pat looked at Burke."You call it. This is your show."
"Like hell it is," he grumbled. Then, to Hahn, he said, "We'll lock you
up for a couple of hours."
"Oh, Jesus. I hate that stinking place."
"Sorry, Ray, but we can't let you be blown or we're really screwed."
Pinkie stood up and snapped shut his briefcase.
"You're leaving?" Sachel exclaimed in disbelief."You can't leave.
What am I supposed to do?"
"You're supposed to spend the night in jail."
"Jail? Jail? When can you get me out of here?"
"I'll start working on a bail hearing first thing in the morning.
I'm afraid you're in for the night."
"Well that's just great. Fuckin' great."
"A little cell time will be good for you, Sachel. It might make you
think about how stupid you've been."
Sachel stopped his grousing and looked sharply at Pinkie."What do you
mean?"
"I mean you're a fool to get arrested for selling to a customer in the
club." Pinkie had kept his temper under control as long as the policemen
were in the room, but now that they'd granted him a moment alone with
his client, he felt free to vent his rage.
"This guy is no stranger to me," Sachel said in his defense."He's a
regular. I sell to him all the time. I didn't see any harm " "Shut up,"
Pinkie snapped."Since when did you become a user?"
"Me? I'm not. Never have been."
"But your girlfriend is."
"Girlfriend? What the hell you talking about, Pinkie? I gotta wife.
A kid. I don't have a girlfriend."
Pinkie hated for someone to lie to him. He hated it even worse when the
lie was so blatantly transparent as to imply that he was too stupid to
see through it."The acrobatic dancer. Frizzy red hair. Skinny ass.
Small tits, but nipples the size of saucers. Come on, Sachel, you know
the one."
Sachel swallowed hard. Sweat popped out on his forehead and his skin
turned a sickly shade of pale that clashed with his bright jacket.
"You've been banging her for three months," Pinkie said softly, almost
sympathetically."She's swapping you sex for dope. My dope. You're
supplying it to her for free. And that's stealing, Sachel.
"Furthermore, because it's free, she's doing so much of it that about
half the time she's too stoned to perform. As you know, she's the club's
most popular dancer. Men drink for hours while waiting for her act.
They pay well to stay and see her famous back-bend finale, but they go
home early if she cancels." Pinkie stepped close enough for Sachel to
smell his minty mouthwash."Your hard-ons are costing me money, Sachel."
Sweat rings had formed around the sleeves of Sachel's yellow coat.
"I wouldn't do anything against you, Pinkie. You know that." "Do I?"
He shook his silver head."I've heard rumors, Sachel.
Upsetting talk about you and your ambitions."
Sachel tried to smile, but his rubbery lips didn't quite cooperate.
"You can't believe gossip."
"Oh, I believe it. After tonight, I do."
"Wh ... whadaya mean?"
"Why would a smart narc like Burke Basile arrest you over a couple of
ounces? He was careless once, but he's too damn clever to screw around
with a cheap, smarmy hustler like you unless he wants something from
you."
"Like what?"
"Information. Evidence."
"I'd tell them to go fuck themselves."
Ignoring Sachel's self-righteous indignation, Pinkie continued: "They'll
let you spend a night or two in jail with the worst of the worst, let
you see how really bad incarceration is, and then, when your defenses
are down, they'll offer you a deal. My guess is it'll be a dismissal of
all the charges against you in exchange for information about your
operation."
"I'd never take a deal."
Pinkie smiled."No, I don't believe you would."
Sachel relaxed."Hell no. I'd never betray a friend."
"I'm confident you won't." Pinkie's voice was deceptively silky.
"Because I'm sure you'd rather do some jail time than have anything bad
happen to your boy."
Sachel's bravado collapsed."My boy? Oh God, Pinkie. No. I " Pinkie laid
a hand on Sachel's shoulder to calm him and to stop his sputtering."I
look forward to seeing that kid play for the Tigers, and so do a lot of
other people." He gently massaged Sachel's rigid deltoid.
"Wouldn't it be a shame if he was seriously injured in a freak accident,
if his promising career in football was abruptly ended before it even
got started?"
Sachel began to cry.
"Wouldn't you hate to see your son fall victim to a tragic accident,
Sachel?"
Sobbing like a baby, Sachel nodded.
Would you like some eggs?" v Jv "No thanks, Pinkie." Bardo glanced over
at Roman."But I'll take a cup of
coffee."
After returning home from the police station, Pinkie realized he was
ravenous. He'd awakened the butler and asked him to prepare a breakfast.
Rather than being disgruntled, Roman was happy to oblige. Having been
saved from death row instilled a lot of loyalty.
Roman carried a carafe of fresh coffee and another cup and saucer to the
kitchen table."Will you be needing anything else, Mr. Duvall?"
"No thank you, Roman. Good night." Over the rim of his china cup, Bardo
watched the old gentleman as he went down the hall toward his
quarters."Not too many niggers like that left in the world."
"I wouldn't let him hear you say that," Pinkie remarked as he broke the
yolk on one of his sunny-side-ups."When he caught his wife in bed with
another man, Roman took an ax to both of them."
"No shit?" Bardo was obviously impressed."Hmm."
Pinkie came straight to the point of the unscheduled meeting.
"We're going to have trouble with Basile."
"Duh! " Pinkie's fork halted halfway to his mouth. He looked up at Bardo
and was pleased to see that the other man correctly read the meaning
behind his dangerous expression.
'"Sorry," Bardo mumbled."Didn't mean to sound like a smart ass. It's
just, you know, I'd already figured we weren't finished with that Boy
Scout yet."
"I thought we could take care of him in good time, but I've changed my
mind. I don't think we should wait."
"Why? What's up?"
Pinkie told him about Sachel's arrest."I think it's time we sent Mr.
Basile a message."
"Okay."
"A clear message that if he meddles with us, he's begging for trouble.
Bad trouble."
"What do you want me to do?"
'"Pinkie?" At the sound of Remy's voice, both men looked toward the open
doorway where she was standing, wrapped in a robe, her hair tousled,
eyes sleepy."I didn't hear you come in."
"I've been back a while." Pinkie noticed that she had deliberately kept
her eyes away from Bardo, and Pinkie couldn't help but wonder why that
was."Mr. Bardo and I had some business to discuss."
"At this hour?"
"Urgent business."
"I see."
"Go back to bed. I'll be there shortly."
Her gaze shifted to Bardo for a millisecond before she looked back at
Pinkie."Don't be long."
Keeping his voice low, he finished his conversation with Bardo. It took
no longer than it did for him to finish eating his food. In conclusion
he said, "I'd like this taken care of immediately." "Sure.
" "Immediately," Pinkie repeated with emphasis."The impact should be
hard and strong, like a blow to the head. I want this to be a real
wake-up call for Basile and everyone in the Narcotics Division."
"I understand."
"As to your fee ..."
"The usual?"
Pinkie nodded."You can leave by the back door, same as you came in."
After Bardo left, Pinkie reset the alarm system, then went upstairs.
Remy was in bed, but she was still awake."What was that about?" "I told
you. Business." He began undressing, but his eyes remained on her. i"Are
you feeling well, Remy?" He could tell the question made her uneasy."Of
course. Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You haven't been yourself lately."
She gave him an unconvincing smile."You know I get a little blue every
winter. I'm ready for spring. It seems a long way off."
"You're lying." In their natural state, other men might feel vulnerable
and less imposing. Not Pinkie. Nakedness didn't inhibit him.
Placing his hands on his hips, he gave his wife a stern stare."You've
been dragging your ass around for weeks."
"I told you, it's " "The time of year? Bullshit. Where'd these
newfangled ideas of yours come from?"
"What newfangled ideas?"
"The ones you so outspokenly shared with our party guests last night."
Dropping his voice almost to a whisper, he said, "You came awfully close
to siding with the opposition, Remy."
"That's ridiculous. You know whose side I'm on."
"Do I?"
"You should."
She met his gaze levelly. He could see no equivocation in her eyes, but
he wasn't ready to let the matter drop just yet. Her position in his
life did not include the voicing of opinions on anything of importance.
"I also didn't like the fact that you disappeared during my party."
"I didn't disappear. I developed a headache and had to come upstairs and
lie down."
'"A headache?" he repeated skeptically."You've never had headaches
before. You've never been this lethargic before either. Are you ill?
Maybe I should schedule a doctor's appointment for you."
"No! " The force of her answer surprised even her. She mollified it with
a light little laugh."It's nothing, Pinkie. I'm fine. Just a little
moody, that's all."
He sat down on the bed close to her and stroked her neck."The one thing
I won't tolerate, Remy, is someone lying to me." His fingers ceased
stroking her."Tell me, now, what the hell is wrong."
"All right," she exclaimed angrily. Throwing back the covers, she left
the bed, then turned back to confront him."It's that man."
He came to his feet."What man?"
"Wayne Bardo."
"What about him?"
"He makes my skin crawl." She hugged her elbows and rubbed her bare
arms."I loathe him. I can't stand to be in the same room with him." "Why
not? Has he done something, said something to you?"
"No, no. Nothing like that." Obviously vexed, she expelled a deep breath
and pushed her fingers through her hair."It's just a feeling I get. He
gives off vibes, evil vibes. I was hoping that after his trial he
wouldn't be hanging around so much. Tonight, I find him at our kitchen
table."
Pinkie was on the verge of laughing with relief. Most women thought
Wayne Bardo was attractive until they got to know him better. It pleased
him that Bardo's Mediterranean good looks held no appeal for his young,
beautiful wife. Her studious avoidance of him was due to repugnance, not
attraction.
Hiding his relief, he said, "Bardo does odd jobs for me. He's working
off part of his legal fee." "Well, from now on please conduct your
business with him somewhere other than the house."
"Why do you dislike him so much?"
"Isn't it clear? He frightens me."
Pinkie did laugh then as he pulled her into his embrace."He frightens a
lot of people. That's why he's so useful to me."
"You use him to frighten people?"
Above her head, he frowned. She rarely asked him even the most harmless
questions about his business dealings. Lately she had expressed more
than a passing interest, and that could be dangerous.
More than a few of his clients had been double-crossed by spiteful wives
or girlfriends who knew too much."Why are you so curious about my
association with Bardo?"
"I'm not, so long as he doesn't come to the house. I don't want him
here."
"All right. If Bardo offends you, I'll try and keep you separated."
"Thank you."
"Now that's settled
, I want your promise that you'll stop this
irritating moping."
"I'll try."
He placed his thumb beneath her chin and tilted her head back.
"Do."
He spoke softly, but he didn't need to raise his voice for her to catch
his drift."Have I given you any reason to be discontent, Remy?" She
shook her head."Good." He ran his thumb across her lips."I'm glad to
hear that. Because I want you to be happy. I'd hate for us to have
another situation like Galveston."
"That was a long time ago."
"But not so long ago that we've forgotten it."
"No, I haven't forgotten it."
"So you're happy?"