Gin Palace 02 - The Bone Orchard

combination. The safe opened and I tossed the bag containing the gun inside. There were three other guns in the safe, two Colt .45’s and a Ruger .380, all but one of the Colts gun metal blue. I took out the .45’s, gave them a quick check, then grabbed five clips, all my hand could hold. The clips were loaded. I slapped one into each Colt and put the other three in my back pocket. They stabbed my hip but I didn’t care. I closed the safe door and spun the lock to the left, then the right, then the left again.
    When I stood Tina was standing in the doorway.
    “Mac, what are you doing?”
    I checked the safeties and stuffed both .45’s into the waistband of my jeans, one behind and one in front. I walked toward Tina full stride. She barely got out of my way in time. I left the study and started down the hall.
    I said evenly, “You can’t stay here.”
    “Mac, do you even know how to use a gun?”
    “Call Eddie. Have him take you to Lizzie’s. Don’t leave her house till you hear from me. Understand?”
    “Mac, what’s going on?”
    I took off my denim jacket, then opened the hallway closet. I dropped the jacket to the floor and grabbed one of Augie’s spare field jackets and pulled it off a hanger. The hanger spun once, then fell to the closet floor. I put the jacket on as quickly as my shoulder and ribs would allow. The fact that it was too big for me was a blessing.
    Tina studied my torso. The bandage on my shoulder was visible under my short sleeves. “Mac, what happened to you?” she said.
    “Listen to me. If you don’t hear from me by morning, call Gale. Tell her that Augie wanted me to take care of you if something happened to him, and that I wanted her to take care of you if something happened to me. Okay? Do you hear me?”
    “What are you talking about? What’s going to happen you? Mac?”
    “Do what I told you, okay? Lock these doors when I leave, turn off the lights, then call Eddie and have him take you to Lizzie’s. And stay there. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do promise to do this for me?”
    “Yes.”
    “It’s a real promise, Tina, not a Tina Hartsell promise.”
    “Yes, yes, I promise. Just tell me what’s going on?”
    I was almost out of breath from the effort of putting on the jacket. I adjusted it once, quickly, then zipped it up.
    I took a step toward Tina then. Her eyes were searching out mine wildly. She was on the verge of tears. She waited eagerly for whatever it was I was about to say.
    “There’s a check for ten thousand dollars in my apartment. If you don’t hear from me I want you to take it.”
    “Mac, you’re scaring me.”
    I reached into my pocket and took out what was left of the thousand dollars Curry had given me. I handed it to her, stuffing it into her palm. She hesitated at taking it.
    “Please,” I said. “Just take it.”
    “Mac.”
    “Just take it.”
    Her right hand closed over the wad.
    “Just hold it for me till I get back, okay?”
    “Is Augie in trouble?” Tears were beginning to slip from her narrowed eyes. As always when she cried, she seemed more angry than sad – angry at herself for showing weakness. She was her father’s daughter. “Is he in trouble?” she repeated.
    “Yeah, Tina, I think maybe he is.”
    I transferred the three clips from my back pocket to the right cargo pocket of the field jacket.
    “Everything’s going to be okay,” I told her.
    “Do you even know how to use a gun, Mac? I’ve never even seen you touch one before.”
    I turned without answering and started toward the front door. Tina followed close behind. There was a metal dish on a table by the door with the keys to Augie’s pickup in it. I grabbed them and looked at Tina.
    “Frank Gannon killed Amy,” I told her. “If I don’t get a chance to, I want you to tell her father that. Do you understand?”
    She nodded. Her hands were hanging at her sides. I took her left hand with my right. It caught her by surprise. Her eyes locked on mine.
    “I’ll call you at Lizzie’s in a little while,” I said. I let go of her hand. She held onto mine for a while longer, then let go. It seemed to take everything she had.
    I left her then, closing the door behind me. I ran across the lawn to the driveway and climbed up into Augie’s truck. I cranked the ignition. The engine sang. I hit the lights and backed out into the street.
    I followed Little Neck Road to its end, then turned right and headed east down Montauk. I sped along the blacktop