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The phone, that harbinger of doom and gloom, had been relatively silent at the Gerard/Wilson home. When it rang, Sam lunged to answer it before it could disturb Beth, who was busy with webpage designs.
Sam: Gerard. Billy: You got her over there? Sam: Got who? Beth's right here where she belongs. Billy: I know that, dammit! I mean the punk? You got her over there? Sam: No! Should we? Why? Billy: Well, she ain't back from the doctor's yet and I already called up there. They said she left over an hour ago. Sam and Beth were very familiar with the situation involving Frank Cosmo and his hired muscle, George Cole. Sam had a lap full of papers concerning both men, and Roy Foltrigg was due in later in the week to discuss legal action against them at the Federal level. Sam had been in total agreement that neither woman should be allowed to go about their business alone, though he suspected that Beth was in less danger than Deb this time. Now it appeared Strannix had blown it again. Sam: You sent her alone? You ass! What'd she need to go to the doctor for? Billy: We're down to one gimp now and no, jackoff, I didn't send her alone. As usual, she snuck out when I was downstairs. Woman don't mind worth shit. And she was gettin' that damn tin can taken off if that makes a damn bit of difference. Sam: Christ on a crutch! Beth, baby, would you get on the extension, please. Strannix lost Deb again! Beth: Jeez, Bill, you need to tie a bell around her or what? Billy: Goddamit, don't you start in on me, too, shrimp! Sam: From the beginning, Bill. When did she leave? Billy: 'Bout four hours ago, but she was expectin' to be in the doctor's office for at least two. You know how them damn biys make you wait. She shoulda left an hour ago. In fact she did, accordin' to the nurse. Sam: How far away is the doctpr's office from your house? Billy: 'Bout twenty minutes. Sam: Was anybody there that might have gone with her? Billy: Bully and John Neville and Billy McCain all came in early and everybody's at the bar. That's why I told her to stay put until I could go with her. You know how much she listens. Sam: She doesn't. So...do you want me to put out a BOLO...hold on a minute, the other line's ringing in... Sam punched the button for the second line. Sam: Gerard. Deb: Sam...I can't get through to Billy, he's probably talking to somebody down at the bar... Deb was whispering and her voice sounded a bit thick. Sam: He's talking to Beth and me. Hang on, Lil Sis... Sam switched back to Billy on the first line. Sam: Strannix, I've got her on the other line. Billy: Where the hell is she? Sam switched back to the second line and the Whispering Fool. Sam: Texas Relay operator number 52. Where the hell are you? Deb: The Hyatt, downtown. George Cole caught up with me in the parking lot at the doctor's office, he was sitting in the Expedition when I came down. Sam: How many times do we have to tell you to lock up? Deb: I forgot! Once! Sam: It only takes once. Hold on...Bill, Cole's got her. Billy: That sonofabitch! Did he touch her? Sam: Hang on...Did he touch you? Deb: Well... Sam: Hang on...Well... Beth: Well... Billy: That don't answer the goddam question! Sam: I get it. Hang on...That don't answer the goddam question. Deb: I'd rather not say. He's a big bugger and he's in the next room and I've got a feeling I shouldn't be calling at all except the service around here sucks and... Sam: Okay, hang on...She shouldn't be trying to call at all because he's in the next room... Beth: Easy, Bill. She sounds okay. Sam: Stay with it...Deb? Deb: Tell him I'm fine. I've got a black eye because I told him to go fuck himself... Sam: Okay, baby, hang on...Strannix, she's a woman after your own heart... She told him to go fuck himself... Beth: Shit, Sam, edit please... Beth stabbed the hold button, so Billy wouldn't hear her talking to Sam. Beth: Sam, hon, you need to be careful here. Bill hears the part about the eye and he'll storm the beach at Normandy before we even get off the phone. I'm here to tell you, George Cole is the one man in the world who can take Bill. Sam: So what'll he do when he sees it? Beth: I'm hoping we'll be rid of these people. Sam: Beth, that bar is a month from opening. Are you suggesting Deb should stay up there with Cole? He'll kill her! I would! Deb: Why don't you blow it right out your...OW! The line went dead. Beth: Ah, shit! Beth took Bill off hold. Beth: Bill? Billy: What the hell you people doin' over there, playin' pattycake? Sam: She's gone, Bill. They must have caught her on the phone. She was gonna tell me to blow something out my ear after I said there was no way Cole would keep her until the black eye faded... Beth: SAM! Billy: What fuckin' black eye? The two heard the sound of the phone smashing against the wall. Sam: The one Cole apparently gave her after she... Beth: Goddammit, Sam, shut the hell up! Bill!! Pick up the phone!! Frustrated, Beth had to listen to the sound of furniture being overturned. Sam: What! The man needs all the information he can get if he wants to make an intelligent decision. Beth: Believe me, Samuel, intelligent is the last thing this decision is going to be. This one's going to be made in blind rage. Bill!! Pick up the goddam phone!! The sounds of destruction and fury faded, though the phone line was still open. Beth: Bill! Sam: Strannix!! Elmore: Hi, baby. Beth: Jesus, Elmore, I thought you were down at the bar. Where the hell is Bill? Elmore: Came in for somethin'. Bill just went outa here like a bat outa hell, why? Beth: Great! Goin' to the Hyatt to kick ass and take names. Elmore, can you stop him? He needs to calm down and think! Elmore: For you, Darlin', I'll try. Cole ripped the phone cord out of the wall before backhanding me across the bed. George: You know, Flash, you're gettin' on my last nerve. There ain't a whole lot stoppin' me from punchin' your lights out right here and now. Deb: So what would you call what you just did, a preview of coming attractions? I was checking my messages, Tonto. George grabbed my chin in brutal fingers. George: That right, Flash? Then what were you doin' talkin'? Deb: I talk to my messages. Another one of my endearing little quirks let go of my face, you nasty fuck. George obliged me, in a way. Before I could try to jerk my chin out of his hand, he slipped his fingers to my throat and applied some pressure. George: You gotta big mouth, Flash. Keep flappin' it and someone's gonna close it for you...permanent. Deb: I suppose you're gonna volunteer, cause you're a great big man, right, Tonto? And the Lone Ranger ain't here to keep you in line? Aren't too many life forms lower than a man that'll beat on a woman, slimeboy. George knocked me back onto the bed and moved to pick up the phone and cord. Deb: 'Sides which, Tonto...somebody around this hole needs something big. George didn't seem to take too kindly to having his manhood questioned. He raised a hand to backhand me, but before he could the door opened and Angelo Perino poked his carefully styled head in. Angelo: Frank doesn't want her marked, George. George stopped, then turned away from me and walked to the door, shoved the phone into Angelo's middle. George: Somebody's lookin' out for you, Flash. You babysit for awhile. And if she gets loose, I'm gonna cut your eyes out. Angelo: Sorry about that, miss. George has a really short fuse. Deb: No apology necessary. Far as I'm concerned he can kiss my ass and bark at the moon. Angelo fumbled with the phone, finally busied himself with taking the cord off, wrapping it around the phone and setting the whole dismantled on the nightstand. Deb: You're not anything like Tonto, there...and I haven't met the head spook yet. What are you doing here, Angelo? You seem kind of...soft. What in the world are you doing here? Angelo and I had been briefly introduced when George dragged me in, and I suspected it was that very softness that had dictated George's contact with me and not Angelo's. Angelo: This is just...business. This is not my usual crowd. I could about imagine this clown's usual crowd. He would be the hanger-on, the token prettyboy in a society full of powerbrokers. I stepped to the mirror, examining what was becoming a truly impressive shiner. Deb: Angelo, what do you do for a living? What could be so bad that you'd be willing to do this? Angelo gave me a sheepish smile. He rand an expressive hand through his long hair Deb: You know...your name is so familiar. WHERE have I heard it before...I know I have. It'll hit me at three in the morning if you don't tell me. Angelo: I race for a living...Indy 500 cars. Deb: Angelo Perino!!! Of course! The Formula stuff! Ever won anything? Angelo: Daytona a couple of times...usually finish in the top five at Indy. Qualified for pole position at the Brickyard once. Deb: Well, hell...I'm thrilled to meet a real, live Formula car driver, Angelo. Who's big ugly out there? I should warn you...my significant other knows I'm here and if he decides to come down and liberate me personally, your pretty little noggin might undergo some serious remodeling. Angelo: George? Goerge Cole, professional gambler, professional kneebuster, professional other things. Who's this significant other of yours? Deb: He doesn't do well with women, either, does he? The name William Strannix put fear and anguish into your heart? Angelo: Damn! No wonder he picked you up. We've both been trying to get in touch with Mr. Strannix. He needs to take Cosmo's deal before this all gets blown out of proportion. Deb: Too late, I'm afraid. It's blown. Who's Cosmo? Only Cosmo I know is a dingbat deputy marshal works with Sam. Angelo: This guy's no lawman. He's got some ties to some congressional types but that's about it. He's the one trying to buy the property that Strannix and Pratt are developing. Sam? Deb: Sam Gerard. Close personal friend. What does this have to do with me? I only live with Bill. God knows I have no influence over him. Angelo: I don't think influence is what Cosmo is thinking about. My assumption, now that I know who you are, is that he's trying to throw a scare into Bill. Deb: So, go tell him. Billy doesn't scare. TO BE CONTUNUED...
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