Part 19 (1/2)
”Jesus, Mazie”
”But then the brewery sort of caught on fire”
”The old Brenner brewery? You can see the fire all over the city You started it?”
I was tired of being blas I hadn't done ”I just told you,” I snapped ”It was the Janitors And stop shi+ning that thing in my face”
He aimed the beam down We stared at each other, our faces skull-like in the backsplashed light
”We can hash this out later,” Labeck finally said ”Let's get the locker first”
”You know about the locker?”
He started ht at the numbers
”The station sentplayer interviews When I ca lot was empty-except for my car The car you stole-”
”Borrowed”
”Oh, excusenext to it, arguing-”
”Eddie and Rico?”
”Yeah They weren't too happy when I showed up de with my car The kid with the weird hair jumped me, said he'd kill ot it all straightened out, once I had theround with my knees in their kidneys-”
”God, Labeck-you didn't hurt theuello kid isn't exactly a cream puff Anyway, they told me how you suddenly disappeared while they were in the can They figured those guys you called Janitors o on was the pickle factory I figured I'd rush over here and play superhero I told the sports prettyboy to drive the truck back to the station, then I took off in my car Great plan, except for the part where the car runs out of gas two blocks later”
”UhhI guess that was sort of my fault”
”It took me an hour to walk to a service station and coas Then I headed onto the freeway and got locked in the world's worst traffic jaridlock I-Forty-three was closed down because of blowing smoke They said on the radio that traffic's backed up to the Illinois border It took et to an off-raht at a locker ”I think this is it”
We both gazed at locker nu locker Gray metal, about the size of a file draith a built-in keyhole lock
”It'll be eloomily ”It's been four years”
”Don't be too sure” Labeck yanked on the door, which didn't budge ”I've seen calendars in this place dating fro and General Custer took it”
He heaved a deep sigh ”I' to ask Move aside”
He reared back, raised his right leg, kicked the locker in
”Jeez-why don't you just destroy the whole place?”
He yanked open the stove-in door and dragged out the locker's contents A deni pickles A pair of beat-up sneakers A handful of coins A cruht on the card ”Luis Ruiz,” he said softly
Labeck handed me the coins This was it? Disappoint sick Two quarters and a di my life for?
Labeck turned the ju
I peered into the locker and spotted so for it, I retrieved a battered Spider with excite, knotted at the top, probably containing the otten to eat
”We'll look at it later,” Labeck said ”Let's go”
Labeck hauled the locker loot while I carriedand crossed the parking lot to his car The passenger-sideof the Volks was smashed
”What happened?” I asked
”I punched it out”
”I think you have anger issues”
”I have don't-want-to-stand-around-waiting-for-a-lockset in the car” He tossed Luis Ruiz's stuff into the backseat, then turned to ht?”
I folded azed off toward the canal
”Never mind I suppose Wild Bill Hickock took theht at me
I slapped it back at him ”Want me to tell you where you can shove that?”
Labeck stared at me, bewildered
”Hold this! Move aside! I' ry cobra
Labeck looked around nervously ”Mazie, quiet down-”