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"About…?" Clouds forh confusion for several minutes as traffic swept past the double-​parked truck Vic let him work it out Finally, Polk’s face cleared of doubt and a rew very wide He could actually feel his knees starting to tremble

"Don’t even fuck around, Vic--"

"It’s no joke, Jionna start someday"

"Oh, come on! That’s just crazy shit It was a joke Stuff we talked about e got high back in school" Polk was shaking his head back and forth

"Jia about, and what it meant Don’t play like it was all LSD trips You know, man, you know!"

Polk looked at hi his head He could feel a burning in the corners of his eyes and a tingling in his nose and realized with horror that he was about to cry He made a face and started to turn away "This is bullshit, Vic--"

Vic’s hand caught his shoulder in a grip so fast and hard that Polk was jerked back around to face the round "Don’t you fucking walk away from me, Jimmy" He leaned close and his voice was a whisper as cold and hard as the edge of a new razor blade Polk didn’t want to look into Vic’s eyes, but they bored into hi at the same time Polk was terrified, but he was trapped, too

"You took money from me before, Jimmy Hell, you took money from him! You think you can take the Man’s dirip and pulled Polk even closer Polk could s sour on Vic’s breath "You took the man’s dime, Polk You took your thirty pieces of silver, just like me, and thatfilled with joy that so his chosen few That’s an honor, you shit bag, and don’t you ever forget it Ever!" He released Polk with a sainst the door of Vic’s truck

Polk caught his balance and quickly looked up and down the street to see if anyone had seen hihed up His partner was still asleep in the front seat of their cruiser, and no one but the old tra The hobo stared at hi in the trash

"Now," Vic said softly, "pick up that money" His eyes were hard as fists

Polk didn’t even try to stare him down; his eyes dropped and he bent over and picked up the bundle wrapped in the greasy rag

You took your thirty pieces of silver, just like me

Vic nodded his approval, and then suddenly s salary, man It’s an advance, and there’s a shitload more where that cah of it to let you buy all the broads and scotch whiskey in the world I’ll call you soon" He paused and pointed a hard finger at Polk’s face "You be ready"

With that, Vic turned and cliear, fought his way aggressively through the evening traffic, and vanished around a corner Polk stood and watched hi in his chest, and his h it all, waking only when she heard and felt the trunk slam shut She raised sleepy eyes and looked at Polk as he cli?" she asked

You took your thirty pieces of silver, just like me, and that means the Man owns us! He owns us

Polk dabbed at the sweat on his brow and upper lip "No," he said huskily "I…uh, I suddenly don’t feel all that good"

She shrugged, turned the key in the ignition, and eased the patrol car into the lane of traffic heading south

3

"I gave her a sedative and she’ll sleep through," Weinstock said as he settled into the bedside chair

Crow nodded About ten minutes after Val had snuck into his roo and clucking and scowling at Crow as if her elopement from her own room had somehow been his idea They bundled her off to her roo looks of disapproval over their shoulders as they went A few minutes after that Saul Weinstock had come in

"She tell you why she slipped out?"