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Myflip-flops Even if we hadn’t lost Neddie, what could we charge hio to the post office or whatever Were weshit up out of pure desperation?

We looked up and down Jones, peering into shop s, and didn’t see Neddie We split up I went up Geary, and Richie took O’Farrell We checked in with each other by phone, and fifteenNeddie, Conklin and I met back at the car We took our seats and kept our eyes on the alley Dauy?

And then—Neddie walked right past us His eyes were still down and he was talking to himself

I heard only a feords: “… need some cash”

I said to Conklin, “Now”

We sprang out of the unmarked car and walked up on Neddie as he turned into the alley

We were ten feet ahen he saw us and started to screa and disappeared inside I heard the door lock behind him I pulled on the handle anyway, but it was secure

I let out a few loud curses

Conklin pulled his gun and shot out the lock

CHAPTER 83

CONKLIN PULLED OPEN the e roos The room was about fifteen feet square and was bracketed by two doors

We’d coh the first, the metal door that connected the trash rooainst the wooden door in the far wall, which led to the underground corridor—and he was screaood”

At the sa to fit a key into the door lock and was having no luck His height and the short length of his ar the key

I took very quick stock of the situation Neddie was crying and wailing, and yet I’d seen hi noas an act, it was a very convincing act of awith half a deck

My gun was in my hand when I said, “Neddie Give me your keys”