The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove

his throat.
    "What can I do for you, sir?"
    "Mavis down to the Slug sent me up to ask you somethin."
    "I'm familiar with her medical records," Winston said, "You can have her call me if she has a question."
    "Yeah, shedon't want to call you. Shewant you to come down to see her."
    Winston adjusted his bob tie. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to have her call me. I can't leave the store."
    Catfish nodded. "That what she thought you'd say. Shesay to ask you if she can have a big jar of them sugar pills you selling instead medicine."
    Winston glanced at the back room where his staff was huddled like Anne Frank and family, peering out through the crack in the door. "Tell her I'll be right over," Winston said.
    "She said to wait and come with you."
    Winston was visibly sweating now; oily beads rose on his scalp. "Let me tell the staff where I'll be."
    "Hurry up, Flipper. I ain't got all day," Catfish said.
    Winston Krauss shuddered, hitched up his double knits, and waddled around the counter. "Ladies, I'll be back in few minutes," he called over his shoulder.
    Catfish leaned over the counter to where he could see the row of eyes peering out of the crack and said, "I be back in a few minutes my own self, ladies. Ineeds some medicine what can help me with this huge black dick I have to carry around. Theweight of it like to break my back."
    There was a collective intake of breath so abrupt that the drop in pressure sprung the barometer on the wall and made Catfish's ears pop.
    Winston Krauss turned and scowled at Catfish. "Was that really necessary?"
    "Man's got to look after his reputation," Catfish said.
    The Sheriff
    Burtonhad them cover him while he moved down through the rocks and across the marine terrace to the Blazers. He foundSheridan crouched behind the fender, his M-16 trained on the cave entrance.
    "Rough morning, Sheriff?"Sheridansaid, showing a hint of a smile atBurton 's disheveled suit.
    Burtonlooked around at the other team members, who were all staring through rifle scopes at the cave entrance. "So we only have five?"
    "Moralesis coaching Pee-Wee Football today. The others are on regular duty. We couldn't pull them off."
    Burtonscowled. "As far as I know, they only have the one weapon, but it's a fully automatic AK. I want two men on either side of the cavemouth, one down in that crevice where I was pinned down can deliver the gas, followed by concussion grenades. I'll stay here with a sniper rifle to take out anyone who gets past the entry crew. Shoot anything that moves. Let's go, five minutes.On my mark."
    "No gas,"Sheridan said.
    "What?"
    "No gas and no concussion. You wanted us here without checking in. That stuff is kept in the locker atCountyJustice. We just have the body armor and our own personal weapons."
    Burtonlooked around at the other men again. "You guys all have your own personal M-16s, but no grenades?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "So I have a standoff? I had a standoff before,Sheridan. A standoff doesn't do me any good. Come with me." He pushed a fresh clip into his 9mm and turned to the others. "Cover us."
    Burtonled the SWAT commander to a spot in the rocks just below the cave mouth."Crowe?"Burton called. "You've had enough time to consider my offer!"
    "Offer?"Sheridanasked.
    Burtonshushed him.
    "I haven't decided yet!" Theo shouted. "We've got thirty people in here to discuss it with and they're not being cooperative."
    Sheridanlooked atBurton. "Thirty people? We can't shoot thirty people. I'm not shooting any thirty people."
    "Five minutes, Crowe,"Burton said. "Then you have no more options."
    "What's the offer?"Sheridan whispered to the sheriff.
    "Don't worry about it. I'm just trying to get the subject separated from the hostages so we can take
    him out."
    "Then we'd better have a description of the suspect, don't you think?"
    "He's the one in handcuffs,"Burton said.
    "Well, aren't you the fucking hero?"Sheridan shot back.
    Skinner Skinner watched from the front seat of the Mercedes as the Food Guy was loaded into the back of the Suburban with the cage in it. The Bad Guys hadn't even left the windows cracked. How would the Food Guy breathe? He wouldn't be able to sit in the front seat and put his head out the window either.
    Skinner was sad for the Food Guy. He crawled in the backseat of the Mercedes and lay down to nap away his anxiety.
    The Head of the Slug The first thing Catfish saw when he came through the doors of the Head of the Slug was Estelle standing at the bar, and he could feel the crust