Overdraft Protection - Part Three.

I was in the back, running tapes, checking the profit and loss statement Bill wanted. The statement of losses was done...we had spent almost exactly the amount of the loan the bank had given me, two hundred thousand dollars. Bill was going to have an absolute fit.

Elmore:  How's it lookin', Ma?

Deb:  Pretty nasty, buddy.

Elmore sighed, and for a second the big shoulders slumped.

Elmore:  Lemme know what it is...when y'get it done.

Deb:  I will.  Is Sam here?

Elmore brightened a little at that.

Elmore:  Gotta DEA windbreaker from someplace.

Deb:  Oh, geez.  Leave it to Gerard.

I followed Elmore out of the office and went looking for the windbreaker.
It wasn't hard to find.  I wove my way to it, and tugged on the sleeve.

Sam:  Yeah...

Deb:  Sammy?

Sam:  What's up, kid?

Deb:  Thank you.  For helping Elmore.

I dropped my chin and leaned very briefly against the federal chest.  A
big hand covered the back of my head, then straightened me up.  Elmore
appeared beside us.

Elmore:  In the street, Sam.  Ma...back in the office, go on now.

Beth had opened the door to Bill at just a couple of minutes after ten.
He'd had something like six pizzas under his arm, and a twelve pack of
beer to wash them down with.  She had chosen the movies 'ConAir' and 'The
Rock', excellent witless shoot-'em-ups with no Steven Segal in sight, very
carefully.  With mindless entertainment, Strannix might well be content to
sit for hours.  She doubted it, but it was worth a try.

Bill dropped the pizzas in the kitchen and growled at the dog, who growled
right back.  He stowed the beer in the fridge, after popping one open, and
loaded up two plates with pizza.  Beth imagined the Pizza Hut goofs trying
to make sense of his order - half Veggie Lovers, half Meat Lovers pizzas.

Bill:  C'mon, Shrimp.  Whatcha got?

No headlock, though not from lack of desire.  His hands were full.  But
he seemed restless, as though he were hanging with her to humor her only.
She could only hope to keep him as long as he would stay.

Beth:  Gonna be a Nic Cage doubleshot tonight, Bill.  'ConAir' and 
'The Rock'.  Seen either one?

Bill:  When have I got time for flicks anymore.  We gonna review 'em?

Beth:  No, Bill...don't think so.

Bill:  Damn...miss that bullshit if nothin' else.  Well...let's go.

Bill smacked the plates down and took a huge pull off the beer.  Beth
got the movies going.  Hewey lay at her feet, growling softly every time
Bill moved.  Bill growled softly every time Hewey moved.  Bill put Beth
in a headlock for old times sake, but his heart didn't seem to be in it.

'ConAir' had ended and they were well into 'The Rock' when the phone rang.
It was just before midnight, and Beth had been thinking that she just might
pull off keeping him until closing time.

Beth:  Hello?  Sam?

Nice cover, she told herself.  There was incredible noise on the other
end of the line.

Deb:  Beth...migod...we've got a fight down here...

Beth:  What's wrong?

Deb:  Where's Bill?

Beth:  Close.  What?

Deb:  Jesus, about five of them came in...they jumped Sam, but Elmore's
helping and so are two or three of the regulars...

Beth lost her composure for a split second, and that was all it took 
for the exquisitely tuned Bill to zero in on her.

Beth:  Sam?  Deb, is he...

Bill:  Thought he was on a stakeout.  What's she know, she's at the bar.
Lemme have the phone, Beth.

Deb:  Jesus, Beth...

Beth:  Can you see him?

Deb:  He and Elmore are at the bottom of this pile...crap's flying all over
the place...Bill's gonna go berserk when he sees this mess...

Bill had removed the phone from Beth's hand and had listened silently
to what I had to say.

Bill:  What mess, Punk?  Ya better start talkin'.  What's the Dawg doin'
down there tonight?

Deb:  It's...it's awful, Bill.  I think you'd better come.

Bill:  No shit, girl.  On my way.  Come on, Shrimp.

Bill grabbed Beth by the arm and boosted her into the Suburban...they
made the trip into the Corner in record time.  The brawl was still going
wide open when Bill charged through from the kitchen.  Beth stopped at the
office door, where I was standing.

Beth:  Called the police?

Deb:  What...?  No, I...

Beth:  You should.  Bill will be okay, if you're worried about that.

Beth picked up the phone and dialled 911 before I could say yes, no or
maybe.  She spoke a few words inside the office, then came back minus the
phone.

Beth:  On their way...

Most of the average patrons had cleared out.  The hardcore old boys were
along the walls, cheering the chaos to new heights.  Whoever Sam had
borrowed the DEA windbreaker from was only getting a rag back.  Elmore
seemed to have been through a mixmaster and Bill was rapidly becoming as
battered as the other two.

When the police came, things were rapidly sorted out.  Elmore, as the
owner of record, along with Bill and Sam and the fellows that had helped
out, were exonerated on the spot for helping to collar some known dealers.
Of course once the legendary Marshal Sam 'I Am' Gerard was recognized, the
tone of the encounter subtly changed.  Beth was amused to watch Sam handle
the officers and send them on their way with their night's haul.  I was
less amused.  Bill was staring around the wreckage of the Corner, torn
shirt, wild hair, gash on his chest oozing slowly.  Elmore was bruised and
battered, and staring at Bill.

Elmore:  Gotta talk to ya, Bill.  Private.

Bill:  Okay, boy.  Back in the washroom.

Bill led the way, and the door closed behind the two men.

Deb:  Here it comes.

Beth:  But it will be over.

Deb: Yes.  At least it will be over.

Bill started yelling.

Bill:  How fucking much???  Why didntcha come to me with this
shit, boy???

Sam came into the office in his shredded DEA windbreaker with a knot over
his eye, his knuckles bleeding and a wild expression on his fsce.  He looked
from Beth to me and back, then stepped to her side.

Sam:  Come on, baby.  Time to go home.

Beth:  I think so.

Deb:  Thanks for everything, both of you.

Beth:  You gonna be okay?

Deb:  I'll follow you out.

I had seen Bill in a state before, had seen him righteously pissed before
...but most of the time the force of that energy was directed away from me.
I might experience some small part of his fury because I had been stubborn
or inattentive, but mostly he was mad at someone else.  I had never received
that anger full blast.  I wasn't sure I could stnad up before it.  I rose,
quietly, and stepped out from behind the desk.

The washroom door shot open and Bill shoved his head out.

Bill:  Don't you move, woman.

I stopped where I was and leaned against the desk.
Beth:  He knows you too well.

Deb:  Apparently.

Sam:  We're not staying.  This is between you two.

Deb:  Always right there to protect me...go on...you've done more than
your share.  And thank you again, Sam.

Sam:  Anytime, darlin'.

Deb:  Scram, y'big lug.  Get on home, get her out of here.

It was very quiet in the room after a while.  Elmore's voice was
inaudible and Bill's a comforting low rumble except for once when he
yelled 'what the goddamn hell' and then quieted almost instantly.  I
waited, leaning against the corner of the desk, listening to what I could
catch of the conversation in the next room.  Finally the door opened to
reveal first Bill, then Elmore.

Bill:  Next time you come to me first, son...understand?

Elmore:  Yessir.

Elmore looked comforted, much relieved.  I was happy for him.  I was
also sure Bill wouldn't handle me as gently.

Bill:  Get on home now, boy.  Don't wait.

Bill clapped Elmore between the shoulderblades, a stunning blow that
Elmore scarcely felt.  My head came up and I watched Bill like a rabbit
watching a hawk.  Bill walked Elmore to the door, gave him another shot to 
the back, then closed the office door behind him.  He turned to me.

Bill:  How bad is it?

Deb:  Well...we're okay...

Bill:  How bad?

Deb:  Elmore and me are...

Bill:  How -

Deb:  ...going to manage but...

Bill:  - bad?

Deb:  Two hundred thousand.  Elmore told you already, why are you asking me?

Bill:  And what's this bullshit about a loan?

He had me, dead center.

Deb:  I took out a business loan.

Bill:  What's the goddamn interest rate?

Deb:  It's pretty reasonable for the time and the requirements...

Bill:  What's.  The goddamn.  Interest.  Rate?

Deb:  Ten and a half.

Bill's eyes rolled expressively.  I backed away from him and he stepped
forward, keeping the distance between us contant.

Bill:  Jesus H. Goddamn Christ!  Ten and a half!

Deb:  It was the best I could do!  I only got it because we're doing so
well and...well...because they know you.  I haven't been drawing a salary
for some time, I can just apply it to the payment.

Bill:  Shit!

Deb:  I know.

Billy:  Why didntcha say somethin'?

Deb:  I didn't want to admit that things had got this far out of hand.  I
was ashamed.

Bill stared at me with that tired expression that always caught me off
guard.

Bill:  Ya think I was gonna yell?

Deb:  You're getting ready to now.

Bill:  Ya gotta talk to me...I can't fix what I can't see.

Deb:  This was our responsibility to fix, Billy, not yours.  We've used up
our savings...I'm thinking about doing something with the Prowler...

Bill closed the distance, slipped his arms around my waist and hooked
his thumbs into my beltloop.  I leaned against his shoulder, but I knew I
wasn't off the hook yet.

Bill:  Damn right you'll sell it...and Elmore can sell that stupid ass
Hummer...

Deb:  Please, Billy...he's tried so hard.  Don't make him sell his car.
I'll sell the Prowler...he's been through enough already.

Bill growled softly into my hair and I knew then that Elmore's car was
safe.  I also knew the Prowler was gone unless I thought fast.

Deb:  But if I sell the Prowler, baby...how are you going to drive it?

Bill:  Ya want me to buy the Prowler...spend money to save money...what the
hell kinda shit is that?

I sighed against him.

Deb:  It's up to you, Billy.

Bill tightened his grip painfully, then released me and swatted me
gently across the backside.

Bill:  Okay, okay...tomorrow I'm gonna pay that damn loan off and you're
gonna sign that car over to me...and from now on we do the books together.
Understand me?

Deb:  I guess it's only right, Bill.

I stepped back an inch and looked him over.

Deb:  We get home and I'll take a look at that mess on your chest.

Bill:  Ya ain't off the hook yet, Little Mama.

Deb:  I know.  But I feel better now that you know about all this.

Bill:  Ya never woulda had to feel bad if ya'd only talked t'me.

Deb:  I know that, too.

Bill started shutting off lights from the main panel.  I waited by the
door, holding his heavy jacket and feeling as though a correspondingly
great weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  It was all going to be
okay, the way things usually were once Bill knew about them.

TO BE CONTINUED...