Elmore's Corner...Round Eight.

The Jimmy 4x4 was not a recognizable vehicle to Angelo, so perhaps he
was more lax than he might have been.  Or perhaps he just wasn't used
to dealing with this kind of "business" to know that you have to be on
your guard every second.  Whatever the reason, he was totally caught
by surprise as he left the hip little coffee house and headed down the
sidewalk towards his car.  Two big hands grabbed him by the shoulders
and spun him around into an alley.  Before Angelo even had a chance to
get his bearings, Bill grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him
another 10-20 feet away from the alley's entrance to the street.  He
slammed Angelo against the brick wall of the coffee house, eliciting a
dull thud from Angelo's head.

Angelo:  Wait a minute, wait a minute!  What're you doing?!

Bill:  Tryin' to get your attention, boy.

Angelo rubbed the back of his head.

Angelo:  Well, you've got it!  What do you want?

Bill:  Figured it was 'bout time you and me had a private conversation.

Angelo:  The bar?

Bill:  The bar.

Angelo:  You really need to talk to Mr. Cosmo.  I don't . . .

Bill smacked the side of Angelo's face with the flat of his hand, just
hard enough to sting, and leveled the index finger of that same hand
right in Angelo's eyeline.

Bill:  I'm talkin' to you 'bout it.

Angelo's breathing went a little shallow, and he merely managed a
brief nod in the affirmative.

Bill:  I'll be honest with ya here, Angelo, I don't *really* think
you're part of all this.  Least ways, not part of the underside of it.

Angelo's brow furrowed in confusion.

Bill:  I get the feelin' you're so clean ya squeak.  But ya ain't
gonna stay that way, you keep on dealin' with the likes of Cosmo and
Cole.

Angelo:  Look, I don't . . . this is just a business deal with me and
Cosmo.  And as soon as it's over, I have no plans to ever deal with
him again.  Cole.  I don't know anything about him, and I don't *want*
to know anything about him.  I certainly didn't condone what he did to
your . . . your girlfriend.

Bill:  I know that.  Hell, if I didn't, I woulda already ripped your
throat out by now.

Angelo swallowed hard.

Bill:  You helped her out back there.  I appreciate that.  That's why
I'm gonna give you a little piece of free advice.  This "business"
ain't what you think it is.  Cosmo's usin' you.

Angelo:  I know.  I mean, I know he just offered me this partnership
to take advantage of my name and my publicity.

Bill:  You're also gonna make it look legit.  And that's what he's
countin' on.  But I already know two feds sniffin' around.  Won't be
too long 'fore you find yourself sittin' in a grand jury box.  And
it'll be *you* 'cause Cosmo will be long gone with his money, and
you'll be the fall guy.

Angelo was attempting indifference, but Bill could see panic in his
eyes.

Angelo:  I . . . I don't know these people.  This is just . . . as
soon as this chain is up and going, I'm taking my profits and bailing.

Bill:  You're never gonna get the chance, son.  'Cause this thing's
never gonna get any farther than right here.  If you're smart, you're
gonna cut yourself a deal with the feds, and you're gonna take Cosmo
out before he buries you.

Angelo:  I didn't think *you'd* be on the fed bandwagon.

Bill:  I ain't.  But they want Cosmo and they can have him, for all I
care.  Cole, on the other hand, is mine.  Take the advice, Angelo. 
Get out from under these guys while you still got a Get Outta Jail
Free card.

Bill suddenly stepped into Angelo.  So close that his chest was
pressing against Angelo's, and Angelo was out of wall to back into.

Bill:  But if you're with Cosmo and Cole when they come near *any* of
my people.  Anybody I know.  Anybody I even have a passin'
acquaintance with.  There won't be enough left of *any* of your little
bunch to prosecute.  You understand me, boy?

Angelo nodded.

Bill:  Good.  Our conversation is over.

Bill stalked off toward the street and disappeared.  Leaving Angelo to
let the wall support his weight while he listened to the pounding of
his own heartbeat.

"Beth Franklin" - 1998

I had no idea where Billy had gone or even what he was driving - the
idea of the rusted out Jimmy never even occurred to me.  Quint and Coley
and I spent a quiet evening at home.  Coley ordered in pizza and Quint
went out to rent movies.  It was all very companionable, really.

Coley:  Ain'tcha worried about Bill, Ma?

Deb:  He does this a lot.  If I worried about him as much as I should, I'd 
be in Happy Valley by now.  

Quint:  Bill's a big boy.  He can take care of himself.

I went with Coley to bring pizzas to Elmore, John and Billy down at the
Corner.  They were watching football highlight tapes on the TV Billy had put
in, and seemed quite comfortable.  I made up the beds, as I had intended to 
do earlier, made sure there were clean towels, and would have fussed over 
them more except that Elmore made Coley take me home.  I went to bed just
after ten, and went right to sleep.

The phone ringing awakened me, not something it had ever been able to do
until I'd found myself keeping Billy's home fires burning.  I glanced at
the clock - it was something after two in the morning.

Deb:  Yeah?  Billy?

McCain:  It's me, Ma.  You better get over here.

Deb:  Billy?  What's wrong...it's two in the morning...

McCain:  Been a fire down here...now we're lookin' for Elmore.

Deb:  Fire?  What?!

I sat up in bed, fully awake but completely confused. Automatically, I
reached to shake Billy awake, let him talk to the Other Billy and try and 
make sense of this insanity.  But Billy wasn't home, his side of the bed
was empty.

McCain:  Had a fire here, but it never caught hold and now it's out.  
Neville's out lookin' for Elmore.

Deb:  What do you mean, looking for Elmore?  Isn't he there with you?

Quint and Coley must have been awakened by my yarking.  Quint was already
dressed, while Coley had only to drag a shirt over his head and slide into
his shoes.

Billy:  We heard noises, split up to check 'em out.  I found the fire,
stomped it out.  Neville checked in...but we ain't found Elmore.

Quint:  What?

Deb:  They can't find Elmore.  And they had a fire down there...God, Billy's
gonna have a hemmorhage when he finds out.

Coley:  Speakin' a-Bill, where is he?

Deb:  God knows.  He doesn't report to me.  Out.

McCain:  You better geton over here, Ma.

Deb:  On our way, Billy.  Keep looking.

Quint, man of action.  He had his car, a futuristic looking number he
insisted on calling the Black Moon, out in the driveway and ready for
ramming speed before I was dressed, and all I did was yank on a pair of
sweats and the first shirt I could find.  I didn't even bother with shoes.
We were at the Corner within ten minutes of Billy McCain's call.

Quint:  Found Elmore yet?

McCain:  Nope.  Neville's out...

Distantly we heard John shout, and instinctively everyone took off in the
direction his voice had come from.  I brought up a poor fourth, and so I
was the one who crouched next to the badly beaten Elmore while the others
pounded and yammered up the alley, looking for the person who had done for
him.

Elmore:  ...Deb...

Deb:  Yes, Elmore.

Elmore:  ...think I...might need a doc...c'n you get Beth for me?...

Deb:  First let's get you to that doctor, buddy, then I promise I'll call 
her.

Quint and Company roared up and surrounded us.

Elmore:  ...y'git Cole?...

Quint:  Cole?  You sure he did this?

Elmore:  ...sure as...shit he did...know that big bastard...anyplace...git
me on my feet 'n I'll make it...

Billy McCain and Coley walked Elmore to the Black Moon.  John and I 
followed them to the hospital in the Expidition.  Neville never seemed to
have much to say to me, though I got the impression he talked Billy's ear
off.  We rode in silence, mostly because it was plain that John was having
a hell of a time keeping up with Quint, and I was contenting myself with 
watching John.  So he didn't think much of me, so what?

Upon reaching the hospital we learned that Elmore had slipped into 
unconsciousness before Quint could get him there.  They had admitted him for
observation, which was SOP for head injuries.  Elmore'd had more than a
few shots taken at his head.  I took a place beside his hospital bed and
refused to be dislodged.  Coley, McCain, Quint and John draped themelves
around the waiting room and dared any wimpy security to make them leave.  I
called the Lubbock Police and asked them to put an extra patrol on the
Corner, since our night watchmen were all out and Cole was still on the
loose.  I picked up Elmore's bedside phone and spent most of the night
calling home and getting the machine.  Whatever Billy was up to, it was
taking him the best part of the night.  I would call Beth, as I had
promised Elmore...but in the morning.

I slept fitfully in the hard chair, waking several times to try and change
position.  Finally, I gave up when they brought breakfast in to Elmore at
eight.  He was too groggy to eat, so I had to stand over him.  Finally at
nine I was able to go to the cafeteria, only to find that I'd brought no
money.  Quint bought me a cup of coffee, and Billy insisted on adding a
plate of funny-looking eggs.  I got back to Elmore's room around ten to
find him awake and asking for something, anything to ease the mother of all
headaches.

Elmore:  They won't bring me nothin' for my head, Deb.

Deb:  Maybe they can't, Elmore.  I know they have to watch concussuions.

Elmore:  You call Beth like y'said y'would?

Deb:  Just gonna do that now.  I thought you'd want me to let her sleep.

Elmore nodded and closed his eyes.  I grabbed the phone and automatically
dialed home first.  I almost hung up, but figured I would only get the 
machine again anyway, so I let it go through.

Billy:  Where'n hell is everybody?!

Deb:  Billy!  Geez, you're home!  We're all down at the hospital with
Elmore...

There I went, subtlely leading up to bad news so as to give the recipient
a chance to prepare for it.

Billy:  Stop.  Tell me.  All of it, none of this blurting it out in bits 
and pieces shit.

Deb:  Sorry, you're right.  Okay, from the beginning...there was a fire at
the Corner last night...

Billy:  What fucking fire!?!

Deb:  Somebody tried to burn the place out, but the boys found the fire and
put it out before it had a chance to get going.  They heard some noises
and split up to investigate.  Elmore found...well, he says it was Cole, and
they got into it.  Cole must have got the drop on him, beat the living hell
out of him and left him in the alley.  We found him there, and brought him
here.  They kept him because he passed out on the way over.

Billy:  Jesus Christ....what about the Corner?  Anybody there afterwards?

Deb:  No, we all stayed here with Elmore.  And before you have more of a
fit, I called the police and asked them to patrol the place.

Annapolis had taken over, the trained operative.  Billy was leaving the
old boy drawl out back, so that he could question me concisely.  It told
me just how concerned he was.

Billy:  How is Elmore?  He be in any shape to open the place up?

Deb:  He should be, he's pretty badly beaten up but no worse than that.
Listen, why don't you come on down...I need to call Beth.  He wants her.

Beth sounded worked up as it was when I got hold of her, and this would
only make it worse.  She had a soft spot for Elmore, in fact the only
thing standing between our Elmore and what he wanted most in the world was
a certain cop.  But Elmore understood, valued her happiness above his own
and cheerfully stood aside.  He contented himself with being near her,
having as much of her as she could spare, and taking every opportunity that
presented itself to help in her protection.  Beth knew all this.  She
kept Elmore as close to her heart as she dared.  I was dreading telling her.

Beth:  I only have a few minutes, Deb...Roy's been on the phone all
morning and now Sam is expecting a call.

Shit, that meant I would have to blurt it out.

Deb:  Listen, Beth...shit, I'm so sorry to do it this way...Elmore's in the
hospital...I'm calling from there...

Beth:  What?...Hospital?...Why?

Deb:  Long story.  Here's the short version...Cole got hold of him and
batted 1000 on his head.  He's asking for you.  Can you come?

I could hear Sam's low rumble and a couple of other voices besides.

Beth:  I'll be right there.  Where are you?

I told her which hospital Elmore was in and she hung up as soon as she
had the information.  I was able to give Elmore the welcome news that both
Beth and Billy were on the way, and then we settled back to wait.  The
other four joined us and started watching, and yelling at, The Price Is
Right.  I didn't think it was very restful for Elmore, but he seemed to be
enjoying the commotion, so I didn't chase anybody out.  I left myself, to
go watch for Billy and Beth.  Billy was the first on the scene.

Deb:  Thank God you're here...!

I hurried to Billy, skidding in the paper slippers they were making me
wear.  He caught me to him, and I felt him running his hands over my back 
and arms and hips, checking for injuries.

Deb:  I'm fine...I was safe in bed.  It's Elmore...

Billy:  Found the doc...he'll be fine.  Gotta make a call, though...

Billy scouted around, looking for a phone.

Deb:  There's one in Elmore's room...

Billy:  Nope.  Too many ears.  Matter of fact, you stay here, you don't
need to hear, either.

I heard what little Billy said, simply because there was nothing else in
the room to drown him out.

Billy:  Perino...one of my boys's in the hospital...think about it.

Billy hung up with a powerful sweep and turned to me.

Billy:  Where've they got him?

I was about to take Billy to Elmore when Beth came in.  She was 
followed by a shambling bear of a man with two of the saddest eyes I 
had ever seen in a human face.  The ill-fitting suit only added to his 
pitiful air.  Beth hurried to us.

Beth:  Elmore...

Deb:  He'll be okay, Beth.  He only looks dead.

Beth made a face at me.  When she spoke, she hissed, so as not to be
heard by her escort.

Beth:  Ixnay on the eath-day...that's Eddie.  You know...Eddie!

Eddie had  escorted Beth to the hospital to protect her in case Cole 
took it into his head to see how many people he could shake up hasseling
Slick.  Eddie was a good choice.  I was afraid to guess what urbane Roy
would be good for in a fight.

Deb:  Oh...God, shit, I forgot!  Sorry!

Billy jumped into the breach admirably.  He'd met Eddie once or twice
before.

Billy:  C'mon, Eddie...let's you and me get down there and say hi to 
Elmore before these two manage to make him believe he's sick.  Doc said if
he felt up to it, we could take him home with us.

Beth rushed down the hall, whapping Billy aside with her hip.  When 
next I looked, I saw the Four Horsemen come tumbling out of the room,
looking rather perturbed.  I stood watch outside the room, much as I had
in San Saba.

Beth:  Elmore...Elmore, I'm so sorry about all of this.

Elmore:  Wasn't you, Darlin'.

Beth:  But I feel...responsible somehow.

Elmore took her hand in his battered one and raised it to his lips.  The
gesture was so gallant, so loving and so completely day late/dollar short
that Beth was moved to tears.

Elmore:  Wouldn't matter, baby.  You know there ain't nothin' I wouldn't
do for you.  Nothin' at all.

Beth:  That's why I feel so bad, Elmore.  It won't make any difference.

Elmore smiled gently.

Elmore:  I know that, baby.  It don't matter.  I'll still be here.

Beth:  That's what hurts, Elmore.  There's no chance.  And you could make
some woman so happy...

Elmore:  I don't want some woman.  And the one I want don't need me
that way.

Beth:  Jesus, Elmore...

Elmore:  Don't let it bother ya none, Darlin'.  If this's as close as
Gerard'll let me be, then it's close enough for my mama's boy.

Beth dropped her chin, held Elmore's hand in both of hers.  She felt
many things, mostly like a real heel, to have made this sweet man fall in
love with her without there being any hope of her returning the feeling.
Sam would probably be jealous and cranky when he met Elmore but, for his
own sake, Beth hoped he wasn't.

Billy:  You four clear off, go someplace, go on.  Get some sleep.  I'm
makin' some calls, gettin' us some help.

TO BE CONTINUED...