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THIS bunch did not indulge in a tearful reunion over Kroun&039;sin even distant view of the maudlin, but maybe at least a handshake traded between acquaintances Michael had been willing to kill me over Kroun, after all, but that business must have been e for the h of his shock to speak "What the hell happened to you?"

Kroun leaned against one end of the lobby bar, Broder anchored hihtly distanced, able to see theaze cut to s He didn&039;t have to bother; this was their business, not mine

While Kroun related his escape from the jaws of death, I eased past Broder and checked behind the bar Everything was normal, not a bottle out of place Despite the unlocked front door, no one had burgled the joint, and I didn&039;t think it was just good luck Maybe I needed to thank Myrna for looking after things She was quite a good guardian angel

I noticed I stood on the permanently stained tile that marked the spot where she&039;d bled to death No matter that the tile had been replaced several ti I ht plan to slip arsenic into the gin and offer hi?" I asked

"No"

That earthquake-deep groould take getting used to, and I&039;d hadtypes He shifted his attention back to Kroun, and though his face was impassive, Broder&039;s body was tense Froot the idea that he actively hated the man

"Mitch?" said Michael, all stunned disbelief His reaction looked and sounded sincere, whichI&039;d said back at the house "But Mitch hy the hell would he take the chance?"

Kroun didabout his hoet around to hypnotizing theet to the hospital before visiting hours ended

"Why didn&039;t you call ram?" Michael wanted to know

Kroun explained that as well He&039;d shrugged fro it and the new fedora carefully on the bar, and eased onto one of the stools as though we had all night I concentrated on being invisible without actually disappearing The other two re up his every word He made it sound plausible Hell, I knew the real story, and he hadthe eyewash

But Michael didn&039;t like what he heard "We came all the way out here, nearly killed him"-he jerked a thuh," said Kroun "Don&039;t go bla, either I told hiht Nicely chosen, having it see orders the same as any other soldier in their line of work Fine, whatever it took to get rid of these two

Counting Kroun, &039;s off the hook for my murder and whatever else you can think up Call Derner, tell hi&039;s squared, and take the next train back, we&039;re done"

"They still made a try for you I can&039;t let that pass"

"There is no &039;they&039; Mitch was my man, and Hoyle was already on the outs here No one else is responsible for their shenanigans I know that, the question is why you can&039;t get it through your thick skull"

Michael&039;s eyes sparked and narrowed Broder shifted

Kroun didn&039;t seem to notice "C&039; in the jaw a few times, call it payback, and have done already"

It wouldn&039;t have hurtto happen this side of hell Michael didn&039;t bother looking et it Mitch was a bad apple, he&039;s gone-and you&039;re ready to forgive and forget?"

"Yeah"

"That&039;s not like you"

"What can I say? People change"

"Sure they do See it all the ti picked up on a deeper tension between theh Kroun was one of Michael&039;s people, he behaved like the h Come to think of it, Michael could have been disappointed about Kroun&039;s surviving

"Maybe good old Mitch was acting on his orders," I said to Kroun Not sht, but I wanted hiuys to leave

He turned my way "Ya think? What about it, Michael? You want my job?"

"Go to hell" Michael&039;s reaction was instant, right on the surface He ust

Kroun&039;s relaxed expression remained the same, but he went utterly still His friend had crossed a line Maybe they both had Oh, crap Kroun was arain, I&039;d have to try and stop hih blood

Myrna , but not quite going out This went on for ain It successfully broke thea new one

Michael snapped around at me, suspicious

"Electrical short," I explained

"Who else is here?"

"Nobody but us chickens"

He didn&039;t believe h to stop a charging rhino with one shot, and headed toward theinto it was dark

"Wait," I said

He paused

"You ht There were a dozen of thehout the club, Myrna was that playful He caught it one-handed, neat and solid "But it&039;s just a short Electric panel&039;s over there" I pointed to a spot on the wall next to the lobby phone booth The utility was hidden by a red velvet curtain Michael crossed to check on it, then ot quiet enough that I could hear Michael&039;s heartbeat A little fast He shouldn&039;t be so nervous

"Drink?" I suggested

"No, thank you"

"At least a short beer" I drew one and put it on the bar "You gotta be thirsty after that trunk business, which I&039;m sorry about, by the way"

His focus shifted froot so," said Kroun

Damn I wanted him to shut up so I could keep his pal&039;s attention divided Kroun see

Michael downed half the beer Booze would have been better for such a cold night, but he didn&039;t strikeout in my share of dives and had learned a little about other drinkers

"I got your stuff," I said I pulled out the spoils I&039;d taken fro thelasses case, opened it, and put the it harder to see his eyes He looked less like a filuy who lived in the college library Neither i wheel in the New York ave ated quite a lot by the specs It was difficult to take him seriously while he had those on

"What?" I asked

"The money," he said with a pronounced frown

Money? Oh

"I&039;ve got it," said Kroun, casually He waswith his handkerchief, his attention wholly on it He shook open and refolded it so four points spilled over the top of his breast pocket like a tired flower

"Hand it back," said Michael

"Hm" Kroun pretended to think, then shook his head "No"

"That&039;s my money, danize the clips Next tiht you were-"

"Dead? That&039;s a good reason to take it I forgive you"

"One of those is ht" Kroun searched, produced the cash, and reht it reflexively, scowling "Funny"

"You can spare it You must own a bank or three by now I bet you&039;ve uys see in a lifeti, Michael finished his beer and turned downit with the others under the counter, just your friendly neighborhood barkeep

We all junized the sound: chairs clattering, hitting the floor, lots of thelanced at nal "don&039;t worry" and he eased off, doubtful

Michael was just to the curved entry hall when Broder appeared, nearly running into hiuy he had speed, but he hauled up short, as though he&039;d been caught in an e act

"What is it?" Michael de"

No one bought it

"The lights were out," he went on "I bus over The batteries are dead" He threw the flashlight I caught it less neatly than he had earlier but spared the bottles behind ht&039;s button The thing worked just fine now It would be unwise to point that out to anyone, so I quietly put it away Myrna was expanding her activities What a gal

"Find anything?" asked Michael

Broder holstered his cannon "A lot of dark Heat&039;s off back there Cold as hell" For all that, he eating, a sheen covered his broad face, and beads gathered at his te I&039;d not turned it down He had a tan sionea whiff of his scent and was rewarded with the un of fear

Looked like Myrna had found a new play What had she done? Maybe it was better not to know I poured Broder a whiskey without being asked, and this ti it quick

"You okay?" I asked

That gotabout what had spooked him "I am fine"

"Are we done here?" Kroun asked

"Yes," Michael said shortly "There&039;s a late train back to New York tonight-"

"Enjoy the trip"

Michael visibly steaot unfinished business"

What the hell? The three of us glared at hi for the rest Kroun spread the handkerchief out flat, refolded, and tucked it back so two neat triangles showed over the pocket

"Which one&039;s better?" he asked "This or the other way?"

"Like that," I said "What unfinished business?"

"Don&039;t get your feelings hurt, but I had other things to do out here besides buer "You sure? I liked the other way"

"So do floorwalkers What other things?"

"A floorwalker? Nah not in this suit"

"Whitey," said Michael "We&039;re going back to New York You don&039;t have any more business here"

"Actually, I do It&039;s none of your business, and it&039;s going to take a while, so don&039;t expect me back any too soon"

Michael&039;s tanned face wentDon&039;t cross ot blown to perdition and back, then had to put Mitch down like a rabid dog I&039;uys who can fill in foraround here, see a fes, ry force behind that, farMichael, I couldn&039;t tell for sure, but his anger was covering up so else

It was fear No such vulnerability showed on his face, but I could smell it I remembered a moment when, with no small shock, I realized that Gordy was afraid of Kroun Gordy didn&039;t know about the vale; it had been fear of the man himself He and Michael had that in common So, ere they afraid of him, and should I be worried?

Kroun&039;s eyes were darker than before His voice remained low and level and deadly patient This was Whitey Kroun, not the o back to New York, who&039;s to say the next guy I run into won&039;t try to finish what Mitch started? No, thanks I&039;"

Michael recovered his self-control Quickly Throwing his weight around wouldn&039;t work His tone shifted, beca to compromise "Okay come and help me, then Only you knoho you&039;ve pissed off lately"

Kroun barked a short laugh "That would be everyone"

"I&039;llanother chance at you I guarantee that"

"Thanks very -until further notice"

Michael&039;s hand twitched, reer under his coat Broder didn&039;t make a move, just watched and listened Apparently he&039;d seen this kind of thing before I tried to read hiht end, but would have had better luck with a brick wall

"It&039;s the old bastard, isn&039;t it?" Michael asked "You&039;re here to see him"

"Yeah," Kroun adood, he&039;s crazy, you&039;ll only stir hi an effort, I kept lanced at Broder, who did not react

Kroun poked at the handkerchief, pulling it out again A quick refold and he put it back, this tie of white He looked at onna look up an old friend or two," he said "No one you&039;d know"

"And do what?"

"None of your da myself"

"Whitey-"

"Mike" Kroun raised one hand in a sharp "back off" gesture and h"

Silence stretched, but not to a breaking point, and the lights remained steady Michael continued, body tense, but his voice was calht, fine But since you&039;re worried about people taking potshots, you&039;ll have to have a bodyguard Someone ill be the first person I hold responsible if anything goes wrong"

"Not hiain did not react

"No probleet it," I said instantly

"I can take care of htened, not in a s happens to you again, and I break this town like an egg-and Fleht He&039;ll bust heads to keep you safe"

I&039;d also be ht not be in keeping with his plan to retire from the business I threw him an expectant look Noas the time to put them both under and make them leave

"Cripes," Kroun "

"Go ahead," I put in "I don&039;t want the job"

"Gee, thanks," said Kroun

"You can get out of this," I re

He shook his head once, surprising me

"Coun wasn&039;t going to do it I snorted, turning to Michael, fra an appeal "Look-"

Kroun broke in "Won&039;t work, Fle He&039;s ht as well learn it now"

I already did and didn&039;t like it He could force a change in Michael&039;s views, but it wouldn&039;t stick Depending on how strongly a person felt, the hypnosis ht last for weeks or just a day or so It orth the effort to h However difficult to influence, once Michael and Broder were on their way out of town, they ain

Yeah, sure

I&039;m often a victim of my own optimism

"It&039;s just for a couple days," Kroun went on To hiood reason to cave in so fast "This place is closed, what else have you got to do?"

"Plenty," I said

If I&039;d been asked instead of appointed, it would have been different I&039;d beenpushed around by a bunch ofbastards Yes, I was one myself by now, but they all looked at nation parceled out between them

Oh, what the hell I wanted to keep an eye on Kroun anyway

He read h "That&039;s settled When&039;s that train leaving?"

"Never ht He rubbed at a lens with the end of his tie "Broder and I are staying in town"

"Why?"

"None of your damn business"

"You want to see how it turns out with the old bastard"

"A to start up all over again?

"Fle Everyone&039;s happy"

Except Fleesturedordered around by anyone, especially inthens, Michael wanted an off-the-record talk He couldn&039;t know that Kroun would be able to hear it frolasses in their case and looked s?"

"I&039;m wise"

"We&039;ll see You look after Whitey, and when I ask about what he does, you will tell me"

"No proble it, like Kroun needed a keeper

"Lie or leave anything out, I&039;ll know about it"

Threats were easy to drop, but I had the feeling he was giving"Okay But tell me why you&039;re so anxious to knohat he&039;s up to"

"You like him? Think he&039;s a friend?"

"I like him The jury&039;s still out on the other" I didn&039;tthat

"Smart of you It&039;s okay to like him, but don&039;t trust him even if he tells you the Pope&039;s Catholic"

"Why?"

"He came here to kill you, and you have to ask?"

Good point

"It takes a certain kind of man for such work He&039;s one of theer on me"

"Yes, that&039;s true" He tilted his head "But I would have felt really, really bad about it"

"You&039;d have felt bad?"

"For a long time Yeah"

He&039;d had me fooled

"Whitey doesn&039;t have a conscience, he never did He&039;s a is noa car is to you"

"You&039;re worried he&039;ll kill so up trouble"

"Who&039;s he after?"

"I wouldn&039;t know You get a hint of it, you call me"

If he knew, he&039;d probably tellto happen Adnorance would be weakness, and he&039;d never show that to the hired help I hated ga?"

"Whitey&039;s hotel Derner has the nu Important" He looked ale, and it would be stupid to dishtcrawler is you have scruples," he said "You don&039;t like it when people die"

"I&039;m old-fashioned that way"

"Good You watch hi trouble Do whatever it takes"

"What do youthe first to get the blauarantee there will be no reprisals"

What the hell? I went cold inside "Oh, now, just a damn minute-"

"You don&039;t know hi, level stare He was sh to see pastthat I was a cut above the usual ed h heaven It could well be another version of what I&039;d just avoided: Kroun gets bumped-preferably by someone expendable like myself-then they bump me "Fill me in"

"Get hiht As I said, do whatever it takes to keep him in line If his stay here is quiet, you won&039;t have to do a thing When he&039;s ready to leave, Broder and I will go with hiainst Kroun&039;s plan to retire If he wanted Michael to know, he&039;d haveit up

"This is business, Mr Fle to the phrase that was faet the ainst What the hell, it couldn&039;t hurt to pretend to go along with him

Well Actually, it could

"We&039;re done," Michael pronounced He should have told me not to repeat this conversation to Kroun, but hadn&039;t Did that mean he trusted me to keep shut, or he didn&039;t care if Kroun knew?

Daames

Kroun snorted, eased off the barstool, and pulled on his new coat and hat

"What the hell is that?" asked Mike, gaze fixed on the fedora

Kroun took it off, checking it carefully "Looks like a hat What are you seeing?"

"It&039;s black"

"Charcoal gray," Kroun corrected, putting it on

"You always get white"

"People change I have mentioned that, I know I just did" He ed, wanting to stay clear "Who wears white in the winter?"

Mike seeot the nicknaesture on the side of my head

"A white hat," said Mike "Always Since he was a kid"

How far did these two go back?

"It&039;s the end of an era," Kroun pronounced "C&039; talk reht back" I started toward the curving hall

Broder got in my way

I looked at Michael

"What is it?" he asked

It is infuriating to have to get permission to walk around in one&039;s own place I really missed my hypnosis, for then I&039;d have had the two of the a fox-trot till dawn

Pain like red hot railroad spikes in both eyes, followed bybut maybe worth it

"Business," I said, deadpan

Michael waved dis, so I had to go around him

In his low rumble-not directed atwhat you can infer when your naled to him to follow me, and Broder had refused He wasn&039;t about to take a second trip into the main room It was creepily dark in there I&039;d not bothered with the lights, nor taken a flashlight, and couldn&039;t bla fro I noticed right away: every chair and table was in place There was no sign of what caused the big crashing noise that had chased Broder out

"Myrna you&039;re the pip," I said at a conversational level

No response Maybe she was tuckered out from all the fun

I crossed the dance floor, hopped onto the stage, and passed through the wings to the dressing area There I did flip a light switch, as it was quite black with no s, and went into one of the rooms

Some of my clothes lay on the floor where I&039;d dropped thee Bristow had done toworse I&039;d co and afraid and had tried to wash it off my soul in one of the showers When that hadn&039;t worked, I&039;d tried to kill s up quick and piled them on a chair Bloodsmell floated up, rusty and stale That ca-if I could bring myself to wear-