Change of Address

by Rick Polad

  He looked around like he was expecting somebody, stretched, and yawned. I started out of the car, feeling pretty lucky. But that didn’t last. By the time I closed the door, Ronny was at his side along with two more fellows I didn’t recognize. They all looked around like they couldn’t remember where the car was parked. Then I got lucky again. Ronny reached in his pocket, pulled out his keys, and tossed them to Bobby. Mr. Bigshot figured he deserved a chauffeur. All of a sudden I had a plan. The bar was two doors away from the alley which was another couple of doors away from the lot where the yellow heap was parked. At the rear of the lot was another alley that ran parallel to the street and connected to the first alley with a tee. I was on the other side of the street another couple of doors down. It would be easy to meet Bobby in the parking lot without Ronny knowing.

  Keeping close to the buildings, I walked slowly to the edge of the lot and waited in a doorfront. A television was playing in the apartment above. Ronny got delayed by a single girl leaving the bar. She was pretty, almost as tall as me, and tough-looking. He tried to convince her she should give him the time of day. Maybe he was taking one last shot after getting turned down inside. He didn’t get any farther outside. She gave him a look that shut him up and turned in my direction. Bobby followed a few steps behind. She crossed the street before she got to the lot. Bobby turned in and headed for the yellow car parked against the rear wall. In the dim light of the parking lot the yellow looked like vomit. I followed and caught up to Bobby as he reached the car. He saw me without recognizing me at first. As he unlocked the door he turned his head and squinted. It took a few seconds but it finally sunk in. When it did, confusion turned to fear.

  “What are you doing here?” he sputtered.

  “I figured we could talk for a few minutes,” I said calmly.

  “I can’t talk to you.” His fingers fumbled with the keys as he struggled to get in the car.

  “We’re safe here, Bobby.” I looked around and swept my arm over the lot. “See, no Ronny.”

  “Ronny is right out on the street waiting for me. I’m getting the car.” His eyes darted to the street where raised voices carried from the bar.

  “It’s okay, Bobby. Sounds like Ronny is busy. Let’s take a walk.” I took his arm and started toward the alley. I was expecting him to give in if Ronny wasn’t in sight. I was wrong.

  “Ronny!” the kid yelled as loud as he could. “Ronny, help!”

  I led him back towards the alley, almost dragging him along. I thought if I could get him in the dark he might be scared enough to shut up. He kept yelling. As we reached the alley, Ronny and friends came running around the front. One more yell from Bobby brought Ronny running toward the alley.

  “You again! Let go of him. What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He pulled Bobby away from me. “I think I’ve taken as much of you as I care to. If you don’t listen to being asked nicely I guess we’ll have to try something else. Bobby, get the car started and be ready to take off.”

  Ronny moved to my left and his pals moved to my right. They moved slowly and looked like they meant business. They looked like wolves circling for the kill.

  “Not exactly a fair fight,” I said with more control than I felt. I was hoping the odds would even up but you never know. Johnny may have slipped on a banana peel.

  “Fair was asking you to butt out, twice. I’m done with fair. I’m not putting up with your crap anymore.”

  The car started, Bobby pulled out of the space and turned to face the street.

  They were only three feet away from me when Johnny stepped out of the shadows behind me.

  “How about my crap? Ready to try some?”

  They all stopped. My eyes didn’t leave Ronny. He was startled at first by Johnny; anyone would be. His eyes widened just a bit. But then he got cocky again as he got some guts from his friends and the gun he had just pulled out of his back pocket.

  “Big don’t impress me.” he said with a snarl. The shadows on his crooked teeth made it look like several were missing and his eyes had narrowed to little beads of black. “Just means more bullets. And we still got numbers. You’re not too smart after all. Why don’t you just walk away from your big buddy.” He motioned to my left with his gun.

  I started to move slowly. I had the advantage of being able to see what was happening behind Ronny.

  “You know Ronny, you should never leave your back uncovered,” I said.

  “Nice try. How stupid do you think I am?”

  I didn’t have to answer. The car shutting off made him look over his shoulder. One of Johnny’s friends had turned off the engine and taken the keys. Ronny took in the man moving up on him from behind and another by the car. He still didn’t look too concerned. After all, he was holding the equalizer. But in the few seconds that glance took, Johnny had pulled his gun and it was bigger than Ronny’s.

  “What a nice little party this is,” said Johnny with a big smile. Even in the darkness of the alley those white teeth shone. “Seems like we got more up our sleeves than you do. Or maybe we just got more sleeves.”

  Ronny looked at me with intense hatred which slowly faded. “Okay. We were just kiddin’.” He put the gun back in his pants. “Somethin’ you want?” he spat.

  “Nice of you to ask,” I said. “First you can drop that gun on the ground and kick it over this way.” He did. I picked it up. “Next you can all move over against the garage, hands at your sides.” They moved, Ronny kicking the side of a trash can on the way. “Now, I would like to have a talk with Bobby without you around.”

  He sneered at me. “Why don’t you leave the kid alone? What the hell do you want?”

  “Maybe nothing. But I won’t know that till I talk to him and you’ve been getting in the way.”

  “I don’t think he wants to talk to you.”

  “And I’m getting tired of what you think. Let’s see if Bobby can think for himself.” I kept the gun out just in case they had any more surprises. A slight smell of garbage drifted by on a gust of wind.

  “He doesn’t do much thinking. He’s not too smart.”

  “I’ll remember that. Thanks.”

  Johnny was at my side, gun pointed at Ronny.

  “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. You three will climb in the car and go home. Bobby will stay here and we’ll find out if he can think for himself.”

  “And how’s Bobby getting home?” Ronny asked.

  “I’d be glad to drive him,” I answered.

  “I don’t like that answer,” said Ronny.

  “What you like doesn’t matter anymore. Now let’s all walk slowly over to the car.”

  “You don’t know what you’re getting into here.” Sounded like a try at cocky but it was laced with hesitation.

  “Then I guess I’ll be surprised. Now move.” I pointed toward the car with the gun.

  They led the way. I motioned for Johnny to wait in the alley and told Johnny’s friend to get Bobby out of the car. The trio got in, Ronny behind the wheel. I thought about what I wanted to ask Bobby and realized I didn’t really know. But if Ronny was being this protective, there must be something he didn’t want the kid talking about.

  I pushed the door closed and said, “Drive away and keep driving. I don’t want to see you back here.”

  He started the engine and snarled at Bobby, “You don’t have to tell him nothin’.” They drove off, tires screeching when they hit the street. Dust billowed behind the car.

  I asked the two friends to watch the street and walked back toward the alley with Bobby. This time I didn’t have to drag him.

  “Ronny says I don’t have to tell you nothin’,” he said with a quiver in his voice.

  “You don’t, but maybe you’ll want to.”

  He looked confused. “Why would I want to?”

  I had no idea and shrugged my shoulders. “Never know, Bobby.”

  We reached the alley. Johnny had faded back into the shadows. We stood on the edge of the spilled ligh
t from the lot and the dark of the alley.

  “So what would you like to tell me, Bobby?”

  “Nothin’. I don’t have to tell you nothin’.”

  “Does that mean there is something to tell? You just don’t want to?”

  The confused look returned. It didn’t take much. He didn’t know if that was something he could answer. A door slammed somewhere down the alley. Bobby jumped.

  “Bobby, who are you more scared of, me or Ronny?”

  “I’m not scared of Ronny. He’s my friend.”

  I didn’t want to hang around too long. I was pretty sure Ronny would be back, with more help. I put my arm around Bobby’s shoulder. “What would he do to you if he thought you talked?”

  “He knows I wouldn’t.”

  “Sure. He trusts you. But sometimes people have ways of making other people talk even if they don’t want to.”

  His eyes filled with fear. I continued.

  “And Ronny knows we have those ways.”

  He stood with his arms crossed in front of him, shaking.

  “What do you mean? What ways?”

  I pulled him a little deeper into the shadows. “Why do you think Ronny drove off without a fight? And how do you think I got Ronny’s gun?” I showed it to him. “Do you think he’s scared of me?”

  “N... no,” he stammered. “He said he’s not scared of you.”

  “Right. So if he’s not scared of me then there must be something else he is scared of, right? Cuz I got his gun and he left you here without a fight.”

  I could see him trying to figure it out. He looked around. “I don’t see nothin’ besides you.”

  As he said that, Johnny walked out of the deep shadows. The gun was out of sight but he didn’t need the gun to be intimidating. Even I was a little afraid.

  Bobby’s eyes bulged in his head and he gasped.

  “You see, Bobby. There is something Ronny is scared of. So scared that he left you here. He’s not such a tough guy, and he’s not such a good friend either. Now, I’ll just have my friend here take you off into the dark part of the alley and we’ll see if you want to talk after that.”

  I waved. Johnny took one step toward Bobby and the kid cracked.

  “Okay! Okay! I didn’t mean to do it. Just keep him away from me. Please!”

  Johnny stopped.

  I was puzzled. “Didn’t mean to do what, Bobby?”

  “To kill those people. It was just supposed to be an accident. I was supposed to run them off the road as a warning but there was a curve and I lost control. I really didn’t mean it.” He put his face in his hands and started to cry, shoulders shaking.

  I looked at Johnny. He looked as shocked as I felt.

  “Bobby, what are you talking about?” I asked carefully.

  He wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “Don’t you know? Isn’t that what you wanted me to tell you?” he stammered between sniffs.

  “That’s one of the things. I just want to make sure. Which two people are you talking about?” I really didn’t want to know.

  “That police guy. But I didn’t know his wife was in the car too. Honest. I didn’t mean to hurt them. It was just a warning.”

  Somewhere during his explanation I had stopped listening. I was having trouble believing that the guy who killed my parents was standing in front of me. Robert Dayton—Bobby. I felt Johnny’s hand on my shoulder. I’m sure he put it there to keep me from doing something stupid, but it wasn’t necessary. I didn’t feel as angry as I thought I would if I ever met who did it. I didn’t feel anything. Maybe after the shock wore off. For the moment, I figured I’d better start thinking again. Ronny was sure to come back and I didn’t want to be here.

  I tried to talk calmly. I was sure Bobby wouldn’t notice the shake in my voice. “Bobby, what do you think Ronny will do to you once he knows you told us?”

  He shook his head, viciously. “He won’t like it. No, he sure won’t.”

  “I know that. But do you think he will hurt you?”

  “I’ve seen him hurt people.”

  Bobby didn’t like to think; maybe because he wasn’t very good at it.

  “Do you think we would hurt you?”

  He hesitated and then shook his head no.

  “That’s right. Now that you told us, we’re your friends. And Johnny here protects his friends. Do you think he can protect you from Ronny?”

  Bobby looked Johnny up and down and was duly impressed. “Yes, I think he’d be a good protector.”

  “Then would you like to go with Johnny till we take care of Ronny?”

  He nodded yes.

  I couldn’t hate this kid. He was just the errand boy doing what he was told. And if Ronny was so concerned about keeping him quiet, Ronny must have been the guy who did the telling. Him I could get around to hating. In fact, I already did.

  “Johnny, we gotta get outta here. Would you take Bobby with you and keep him somewhere safe?”

  “Sure thing, Spencer. You okay?”

  “Yep, for now. Don’t know about later. Don’t tell me where he is. I’ll call Stosh and see how he wants to handle this. I’ll call you.”

  “You got it.” He squeezed my shoulder and motioned the kid to start walking. “Let’s go kid.”

  Frozen to that spot in the alley, I watched them walk toward the street. About halfway through the lot, Johnny yelled over his shoulder, “Get the hell outta here, Spencer. You don’t want what’s comin’, at least not by yourself.”

  I barely heard him and couldn’t move.

  “Spencer, do I gotta come and carry you?”

  After a deep breath I got my feet moving, but I really don’t remember walking to the car. And I barely remember driving back to the office.

  Fumbling with the keys, I let myself into the office and sat down at the desk. I needed to think about what had happened and see if there was anything I was missing. I didn’t think so, but what I’d gotten certainly wasn’t what I had been expecting. But then I wasn’t expecting anything in particular. I needed to call Stosh and glanced at the phone. After a moment of thought, I realized I didn’t know what I should tell him, if anything. I also realized that the red light on my answering machine was flashing. Probably Aunt Rose reminding me that Kathleen was coming on Wednesday. Not what I needed to hear at the moment. But thinking about Stosh wasn’t getting me anywhere. Maybe a friendly voice would help me see straight. I pushed the button.

  The tape rewound and a voice that was not Aunt Rose said, “Okay, you got the kid. We want him back. We tried warning you nicely, like we tried warning your old man. He didn’t listen and look what happened to him. Last warning. And no cops. How is your friend Miss Green? Let him go and there’s no trouble.”

  Like I hadn’t had enough surprises for one night. I re-played it several times. Didn’t change. I was being warned. But for what? I’d never even told Bobby or Ronny what I wanted. And obviously it wasn’t just me they were threatening. And who was “we”? Ronny evidently had friends.

  It was late, a little past one. I knew she would be asleep, at least I hoped she would, but I had to know if Kelly was safe. I picked up the phone and dialed her number. A groggy, sleepy voice answered. It was the most beautiful voice I’d ever heard.

  “Kelly, it’s Spencer.”

  “Thank goodness. I don’t take well to strange calls in the middle of the night.”

  “Well just because it’s me doesn’t mean it isn’t strange. And this is. I need you to listen to me. Are you awake?”

  “As much as I will be, which isn’t much. Is something wrong?” she asked hesitantly.

  “No. And I want to keep it that way. Do you trust me enough to do what I say without explanation till later?”

  She paused. “There is something wrong, isn’t there?”

  “There is that chance. I need you to get out of that hotel right now and check in somewhere else without telling anyone where.”

  Silence.

  “Kelly?”

  �
��Sorry. Are you serious?”

  “Very. I will explain later. It involves Ronny.”

  “Oh, Spencer, I knew there was trouble. What happened? You okay?”

  “Yes, and I will tell you later. Will you do as I ask?”

  “Okay, if you think it’s necessary.”

  “I do. Pack light. Try and get out in ten minutes. Five would be better. Take your car and drive around. Make sure you’re not being followed. If you are, try and lose them.”

  “Try? How short is your memory?”

  “Okay. Sorry. Lose them. Check in and get some sleep. In the morning call Stosh at police headquarters.” I gave her the number. “Either he or I will talk to you then.”

  “Spencer, I have to be at the track for a workout in the morning.”

  “Don’t till you talk to us. Don’t even call. Don’t talk to anyone or go outside of your room till you talk to me or Stosh. Okay?”

  “Okay. Spencer, should I be afraid?”

  “Not if you follow directions. Now hurry. Wait, I’ve got a better idea. I’m heading to Stosh’s house. Meet me there. He’s got a spare room. I’ll explain then.”

  “Okay. I’m a bit scared.”

  “Good. That will keep you on your toes. Now hurry and keep your eyes open.”

  “What am I watching for?”

  “His yellow Chevy.”

  I gave her the address and directions to Stosh’s house and we hung up.

  I called Stosh and briefly explained the situation. He suggested I move quickly and said he’d get the spare room ready. He asked me to bring the tape for the lab to listen to. After warning me to watch for a tail, we hung up. I popped the tape out of the answering machine and replaced it. This case had come a long way from a little girl eating chocolate cake.

  Chapter 27

  I beat Kelly to Stosh’s and gave him the gun. It was a little after two and I was getting worried. But I was glad I had a chance to give him the story without her there. I didn’t want to worry her any more than I already had.

  Stosh walked into the living room and handed me a cup of coffee. He sat in his recliner. After taking a sip, I put down the cup on the glass-topped table. As I did, I heard a car pull into the driveway.