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The driver’s siderolled down A Colt pistol was thrown out A tattooed ar

Maia advanced, weapon trained on the driver The neighbors were co outside to see the exciteht?"

It took Maia a moment to realize he meant her

She looked at the lo, an ex-con judging from his tattoos His forehead was lacerated, his left hand a bloody bandagedassassin in her life

"He didn’t tell me you carried a damn bazooka," the man coave her hound dog eyes "This is where it gets ugly, I guess"

"You got that right, Tattoo," she told him "Get out of the car"

Chapter 10

I DIDN’T CARE IF THE COPS STAKED OUT MY HOUSE, but I wished they’d be consistent about it

Apparently they hadn’t been watching when some madman invaded and attacked Sa for my help, Detective Kelsey and a uniformed officer had decided to camp out on South Ala coffee and having a nice little chat

Fortunately we’d planned for this contingency

I watched from the end of the block as Guy White’s henchman Alex drove a delivery van in front of my house He slowed down next to Kelsey Ralph rolled down the shotgun histled, and the van took off

The effect was absolutely brilliant Kelsey un in his holster and trip over his own shoelaces By the time both cops were in their car and in pursuit, Ralph, Alex and the van were long gone

"Pull around back," Madeleine ordered our chauffeur "And keep the engine running"

"Alex does kno to evade police?" I ventured to ask

Madeleine raised an eyebrow "Alex’s first job was driving for a drug cartel in Houston Ten ed cars three times and the cops will pull over some little old lady in that delivery van You watch"

Not having much choice, I took her word for it

We walked up the back steps of my house and entered Chez Bloodbath

RED WAS SPRINKLED ALL OVER THE linoleum It made an arc across one wall and speckled the countertops

In the e, Sa chamomile tea at the kitchen table

I said, "Holy Jesus"

"It’s not as bad as it looks," Sam informed me "Lot of blood, is all"

"Your ear"

"What?" Saht side of his face

"The bastard shot off your ear"

"Only the lobe," Mrs Loomis corrected wearily "I put iodine on it"

"What?" Sam yelled

Mrs Loomis told me the story while Madeleine inspected the scene Robert Johnson lapped spilt tea and milk from Sam’s saucer Sam must’ve beenaway the cat

When Mrs Loomis was done, Madeleine held up a newly rinsed meat cleaver from the sink "You stabbed the intruder with this?"

Mrs Looed "I wanted him to leave"

"Ih," I said

Mrs Loo too hard

She described the intruder as a wild-eyed Anglo, grizzled hair, leathery skin, grungy flannel shirt and heavily tattooed arms Unfortunately, that sounded like half the people I knew and several ofodd," Mrs Loomis added "He said: ‘Where is she?’"

"Where’s who?" I looked at Madeleine for her opinion

She shrugged "Maybe wrong address Maybe he was a randoht," I said "Or maybe he was Frankie’s killer"

Sam perked up "Frankie White?"

I wasn’t sure what surprised meabout "Sam, you remember Frankie White?"

"What?"

"Franklin White!" I yelled

"Yeah Kid who got clobbered to death, right? Good money I was the fourth or fifth PI the dad hired Crazy damn family"

Madeleine’s eyes narrowed She was still holding the meat cleaver "Who is this oldSam more questions

I’d learned never to assu, but also never to underestimate him At times, he could tell o Other tiht on it, and the whole thing collapsed

"Sam, do you remember what you found out?"

He scowled at me over the rim of his teacup "About what?"

"About Frankie White"

"He died It was the father’s fault"