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Vic figured that maybe it was ti rid of the little pussy didn’t work out, then it was up to Vic to accooal If he upped the ante on Mike, s a bit worse--but not so bad that those cops that weren’t in his pocket would be forced to step in--then e and realize that, yes, life is hell so e Or so Vic had left razor blades on the side of the tub several times, but the little bastard was too damn dense to take a hint
Not for the first tile the little fucker That would feel so good! But the Man was very, very specific on that point If Mike were to die from a corrupt or evil hand, then the Man’s whole plan would be in deep shit Which sucked, because Vic ached to feel Mike’s throat collapse in his hands Then he’d be free of Mike, and would be finally able to cut loose of that drunken whore, Lois What a goddamn waste of human tissue she was Couldn’t cook, lousy in the sack unless Vic beat the shit out of her first, and nowadays she was drunk all the ti peevish
Upstairs he could hear the phone ringing He listened, counting the rings Three Four Five Five? Christ, how s at the s?
Vic closed his eyes and smiled with the first real pleasure of the day If both Mike and Lois were going to defy hi evening Really interesting
He was already heading toward the stairs when he heard Lois’s tentative knock on the door In a hesitant, quavering voice she called, "Vic? Vic, honey?"
"What?" he growled,the stairs two at a time
"Phone call for you, honey"
He jerked the door open "So I heard Now, correct , what, five tiht around her body, the belt cinched and knotted around her slim waist Her brown hair was tousled from sleep and her eyes were red and rheumy from vodka Fear reeled drunkenly in her eyes
"I’ot it as fast as I…"
He held up a warning finger and she shut up "You go into the living room and wait for me Don’t you dare sit down, either, Lois When I’ain Okay? Go on now"
Lois shrank back, herto form words of protest, to voice some kind of plea, but she did not dare make a sound It would always be much worse if she tried to plead for tolerance, and horribly worse if she begged She clutched the folds of her robe to her throat and cowered out of the room
Vic waited until she was out of the kitchen until he let the smile form on his lips He liked that color blue on her He reached for the phone
"This is Vic"
"Mr Wingate? This is Terry Wolfe"
Vic tensed, instantly on the defensive Why the hell would the ate, I’ on behalf of your stepson, Mike?"
"Christ, what’s the little shit done now?"
"Oh, nothing like that No, he was involved in an accident, Mr Wingate"
Equal aed up in Vic’s heart "Yeah? What kind of accident?"
"He was riding his bike on A-32 when someone, a trucker, ran him off the road near where Old Mill Road cuts over to the hayride Now, he’s not badly hurt, but he is banged up a bit A passing er there called me and asked if I would notify you"
"The hayride? That’s all the way the hell out--"
The mayor’s voice cut hiate, but as the boy’s health and welfare are involved, I’o pick him up"
Vic’s eyes were narrowed The phone call had a weird, fishy sree "Yeah Sure Whatever I’ll go fetch hi up on hi at the phone A trucker, he thought A trucker running the kid off the road He wondered if that driver had been at the wheel of a tow-truck
He sht If the little punk had been run down by a tow-truck, then that would be perfect That hat the Man had been trying to orchestrate for a while now, but Vic hadn’t known the plan was in full swing already
He nodded and chuckled "That’s cool"
Then he re rooht as he strolled out of the kitchen
3
"Does the mayor want you to arrest hiuest psycho? Tords best express it Hell no!" Crow shook his head "I’o out, close down the hayride, wait for your folks to pick you up, and then I’m done with it"
"But you’re a cop, aren’t you?"
"Kind of…well, not really I’ve been reinstated just for tonight Can’t have civilians doing official work"
"You used to be one, though?"
Crow said nothing, his eyes watching the road
"Crow? Didn’t you used to be a cop?"