Gin Palace 01 - The Poisoned Rose

bothering you. More dire news from our trusted medical experts?”
    I shook my head. “No, nothing like that.”
    “Then what?”
    “They picked up a man in Jersey,” I said. “He had a cop’s badge and gun. Both belonged to the cop that got killed last November. The man’s a known leg breaker and suspected killer-for-hire. He’s being brought here so he can be charged.”
    Augie looked out the window and nodded. “Where did you hear that?”
    “Frank told me.”
    “When did you see him?”
    “This morning. He called and asked me to meet him.”
    “That was going to happen, sooner or later. We knew that. I take it he didn’t call just to tell you about our friend.”
    “No.”
    “What did he want?”
    I didn’t know where to start.
    Augie was looking at me now.
    “What’s going on, Mac?” he said. “You’ve got that look on your face. What did Frank want?”
    “He told me something. It’s something I should have seen coming.”
    “What?”
    “He said that Tina’s been telling her friends around town things about us. Things that aren’t true.”
    “What exactly has she been saying?” His voice was even.
    I shrugged. “That we’re…boyfriend and girlfriend.” I didn’t know how else to say it.
    Augie nodded and looked out the window again. “That was bound to happen. I mean, you saved her from a horrible thing, Mac. Two horrible things. A crush was bound to happen.”
    “Maybe. But Frank says people are talking, and things with the Chief being what they are…”
    “Yeah, that’s the last thing you need right now.”
    “It’s no one’s business, but …”
    “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Mac. You’ve been a good friend, better than any friend I’ve had in a long time. I’ve put you out long enough. I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry about it. I’ll set it straight.”
    “I don’t want to bail on you.”
    “You’re not bailing, Mac. Anyway, I’m out of here Monday, remember? And with the cop killer in custody, I don’t need you to watch over her anymore. She can stay with Lizzie’s family. Their house is on North Main, so she’ll just be a few blocks from you, just in case. I can live with that.”
    “Fuck it, Augie. Let her stay, if only just to spite them.”
    “No. We both want our lives back. I’m sure if you could have gotten get me out of this place sooner, you would have. If I can get your life back to you sooner, even if it’s only a few days sooner, I’m happy to do it.”
    I looked at him. His face had healed but it wasn’t unchanged. His features were uneven, and just a little unfamiliar.
    “I don’t think I’ve said this before, Mac. I should have said it a long time ago.” He looked at me. “Thanks for my life. Thanks for the life of my daughter. I love her more than anything, but I know how she can be. It was easier for me in here knowing that she was with you. I knew you’d stop at nothing to keep her safe. And I knew you’d put up with everything she threw at you.” He paused. “How bad was it?”
    “Not bad,” I lied. “She’s a good kid.” That wasn’t a lie.
    “Anyway,” he said, “I owe you. I owe you big time.”
    “I’m not keeping track, Aug.”
    “When Tina comes by today I’ll talk to her. Don’t worry about anything. We’ll get everything straightened out.”
    “Thanks.”
    “We should have a party when I get out of here. I’ll throw myself one. A cookout. There’s probably a veggie burger of yours still in our freezer.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “We’ll get tanked and toast to your sobriety.”
    “I’m there.”
    “Good. Everything’s going to be fine, you know. I’m going to kick this cane. I’m going to be one hundred percent again, everything’s going to get back to normal. Just wait and see.”
    I waited a moment, then I said, “I should get going, Aug.” I realized that if I went back to work after lunch, I’d be short only twenty dollars come payday, not forty.
    And I wanted to get out of there before Augie thought to ask me if Frank had wanted to see me for any other reason.
    Augie extended his hand and I took it. We shook, then I left him in the cool hallway and went outside, into air so hot it brushed my skin like a flame.
    I went into work after lunch, made four deliveries, and got back home a little before five. My back was shot and I was dead from the heat. I turned on each of the three table top fans I had and lay down on my couch to rest. When I woke up, twilight