Part 312 (2/2)

”I can't leave you alone with him.”

”Fine. We can always use a witness.” He stepped to the side of the bed.

”Blackpool.” He watched the eyes flutter, still, then flutter again.

”Blackpool, I want to talk to you about Darren McAvoy.”

Blackpool dragged his eyes open again. His vision wavered and pain

ice-picked into his head. ”You a cop?”

”That's right.”

”f.u.c.k off. I'm in pain.”

”I'll bring you a get-well card. You took a bad ride, pal. It's touch

and go.”

”I want a doctor.”

”I'm Dr. West, Mr. Blackpool. You're-”

”Get this b.a.s.t.a.r.d out of my face.”

Ignoring him, Michael leaned closer. ”It's a good time to clean out

your conscience.”

”I haven't got one.” He tried to laugh and ended up gasping.

”Then maybe you'd like to stick it to someone else. We know about you,

how you screwed up the boy's kidnapping.”

”She remembered.” When Michael didn't respond, he shut his eyes. Even

through the pain, he could feel hate and fury. ”It figures the b.i.t.c.h

would remember me and not him. Supposed to be a nice smooth job, he

told me. Take the kid, pick up the ransom. He didn't even want the

money. Then when it was all ticked, he just walked away. Told me to

clean it up. Like that guy in the kitchen who was ordering pizzas. All

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