Part 11 (1/2)

”For what, Tony?”

”Never mind for what. Just cheer her up, make her feel like it's all gonna turn out okay. It ain't, of course, but you've been lying to broads all your life so go tell some more lies.”

”h.e.l.l, I don't parleyvoo her lingo,” Fini replied.

”Then use sign language. But watch where you put your hands. I don't want her going into shock right now.”

Fini grinned wickedly and said, Tarty p.o.o.per.”

Lavagni shook his head disgustedly. ”You call that a party? A pregnant cow?”

”They make the best lay,” Fini told his boss. ”They got everything to gain and nothin' to lose.” He laughed and moved softly toward the cabin.

Lavagni watched him disappear inside, then he returned his attention to the wharf.

Hurry up Dammit, hurry up.

Lavagni lit a cigar and brooded over the situation for several minutes. Fini came back on deck and whispered, ”She's okay. A little bit uptight, but okay. I think she figures Prince Charming will come riding up any time now.”

T wisht he would,” Quick Tony complained.

Fini chuckled and moved back to his station.

Lavagni craned his head about, spotting the other boys. Everybody was ready. Every thing Every thing was ready. Why didn't the b.a.s.t.a.r.d come on and get it over with? That kid told him eight o'clock, and here it was nearly eight thirty already. was ready. Why didn't the b.a.s.t.a.r.d come on and get it over with? That kid told him eight o'clock, and here it was nearly eight thirty already.

It was almost as bad as the wait at Gla.s.s Bay. Lavagni s.h.i.+vered, remembering the awful scene they'd had there.

Well it wasn't going to happen here. It wasn't going to- He stiffened and took a closer look along the wharf.” Something was going on down there. The Manhattan doorman was moving around and people were taking off.

A chill trickled along Lavagni's spine. He turned around to whisper to Fini, ”Get set, something's coming off.”

Shops were closing, hastily, and the marketplace was being cleared. This was supposed to be the late-closing night. That guy had told Lavagni that those shops wouldn't close until nine o'clock. So what the h.e.l.l was... ?

The rube cop was walking along the line of fis.h.i.+ng boats now, yelling something in Spanish. Guys were jumping off onto the wharf and beating it.

Fini hoa.r.s.ely called over, ”What the h.e.l.l is it, Tony?”

”I dunno,” Lavagni shot back. ”But if that big rube comes this far, you know what to do with 'im.”

The cop spun around, though, and went back toward the middle. Evidently his only interest had been in clearing the commercial area. While Lavag-ni was pondering this, the cargo lights came on all along the wharf, brightly illuminating the entire strip.

A growl began deep in Lavagni's throat and he told Fini, ”Okay, give the signal. The guy's coming, and I think maybe with help.”

”You think he's got the law on his side, Tony?”

”Shut up what I think. Just give the signal.”

Fini went to the flying bridge and briefly illuminated the big spot-light, then he returned tensely to his station. ”Okay,” he whispered.

”Cool it, now,” Lavagni warned, in a voice loud enough to be heard in the immediate dock area. ”Follow my lead.”

And then a lone figure could be seen moving quickly along the wharf from the marketplace. The toonerville cop fell in beside him-and it was just the kid-and the two of them moved unhesitatingly, along the line of fis.h.i.+ng boats and into the public area.

Lavagni softly called out, ”Watch it, now. It's going to be a razzle-dazzle, so look alive.”

And then the kid and the toonerville comedian were standing there at the stern gangway. Lavagni was trying to look everywhere at once and wondering what the h.e.l.l the guy was trying to pull when the kid's voice came across, taut but well under control.

”We have come for Rosalita.”

”How do you want her?” Lavagni sneered back. ”By the pound or by the pint?”

The toonerville cop got into it then. ”It is illegal to hold a citizen of Puerto Rico against the will. If you are holding a woman in this manner, you will surrender her at this once.”

Quick Tony wanted to laugh out loud.

That f.u.c.kin' comic cop didn't even carry a gun.

He said, ”Well I'll tell you what. We'll look around and see if we got a stowaway on board after we leave here. If we find one, and we just might, then we'll send her back C.O.D., in a shark's belly.”

The kid stiffened and thrust his chin forward. ”I bring a message for a Senor Senor Quick Tony.” Quick Tony.”

Lavagni's pulse leaped. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d knew who he was going against! Okay, great. That made it personal, and that made it all the sweeter. He called back, ”So deliver the message.”

”Senor Bolan accepts the challenge. He will fight you, in this place, at this time.” Bolan accepts the challenge. He will fight you, in this place, at this time.”

”So why ain't he here?” Lavagni sneered.

”He is here. He watches you at this very moment. But he will not fight while Rosalita is in the way of harm. You must release her first. Then he will fight.”

Lavagni's eyes became busier. He shouted, ”You gotta be kidding! I'm not falling for a routine like that!”

^y senor senor has said to tell you this. It is a Mexican stand-off. You will understand this meaning, he thinks. He says that you will not release Rosalita even if he gives himself up. He says that you will kill us all, that it is your way. Therefore, he feels that he will not be aiding Rosalita in this manner. But he desires to fight with Quick Tony. He desires this very much. Release the girl, he says, and he will bring to you the thunder and lightning you so richly deserve.” has said to tell you this. It is a Mexican stand-off. You will understand this meaning, he thinks. He says that you will not release Rosalita even if he gives himself up. He says that you will kill us all, that it is your way. Therefore, he feels that he will not be aiding Rosalita in this manner. But he desires to fight with Quick Tony. He desires this very much. Release the girl, he says, and he will bring to you the thunder and lightning you so richly deserve.”

Fini croaked, ”That's a crock of s.h.i.+t if I ever heard it!”

The big dumb rube cop was just standing there like a b.u.mp on a log, gazing about him like a tourist on a sightseeing trip. The kid was standing there in a fighting stance, legs spread defiantly, jaw thrust forward-mad as h.e.l.l and telling it like it was, Lavagni had to figure.

”You will notice that the officer has cleared the area,” the kid yelled. ”It is at my senor's senor's bidding. He is ready for the fight. He says to tell you this. When you have come from behind the woman's skirts, you will also be ready for the fight. Do you receive this meaning?” bidding. He is ready for the fight. He says to tell you this. When you have come from behind the woman's skirts, you will also be ready for the fight. Do you receive this meaning?”

”Don't fall for that's.h.i.+t, Tony!” Fini urged.

But Lavagni's mind was clicking through the situation. He called over, ”What if I tell your senor senor to go to h.e.l.l? What if I tell 'im we're going to have a gang bang on the p.o.o.p deck with this little knocked-up girlie, and then we're gonna run what's left of her down the anchor chain for the sharks. How's he going to feel about that?” to go to h.e.l.l? What if I tell 'im we're going to have a gang bang on the p.o.o.p deck with this little knocked-up girlie, and then we're gonna run what's left of her down the anchor chain for the sharks. How's he going to feel about that?”

”He has antic.i.p.ated such a heinous action. He says, if this threat should be carried out, he will fade away into the night, Quick Tony, and he will take his own revenge in his own way, and at his own time. This is his message, it is all, it is final. If you desire a fight, then you know the conditions.”

”Awright, just a second,” Lavagni replied.