Читать книгу The Bachelor Party - Ron Hummer - Страница 9

It’s so cold in here. God dammit, it’s so cold in here.

Of course, I shouldn’t be the one complaining. It’s a Monday night and I’m in Willie’s hanging out, glancing at the 40 inch TV where the Giants were playing the Vikings on Monday night football. The Giants were winning 21-3 - what else was new. Not that I’m not a big fan who goes crazy and yells and screams when someone scores a touchdown.

Ever listen in on these conversations? It doesn’t matter to people who is winning the game anymore. Now all people care about is their fantasy players. Oh, I can’t believe my running back got 50 yards today. Did you see my wide receiver score three touchdowns.

I took a sip of my Jack and Coke and watched as my friend, Scott Turner, a huge grin on his face - he was always like that when he was beating me in pool - lined up the eight ball in the corner pocket and took the shot. The white ball hit the eight ball softly and went in.

“That’s game,” Scott said, his dark hair blowing from a ceiling fan above him.

“Fine. Next round is on me.”

“Just like the last two rounds.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m just kidding with you. I am kind of wondering if you’re going to be alone tonight.”

“Not sure I understand that,” I said.

“See the girl at 3:00. She’s been looking at you for a little while now.”

I turned and saw that she was staring at me, her smile going wider. Her dark hair was long, falling over her shoulders, framing her dark eyes and oval shaped face. She wore a red top and blue jeans that hugged her thin body. Not the kind of woman that I would take home with me. In fact, if I met her in a bar, I’d probably walk away from her. She got off her stool, then walked towards me.

“See what I mean,” Scott said.

I flirted with enough women in a bar to know when I was going home with them later. This wasn’t one of those times. She walked towards me because she knew who I was.

She reached me and smiled. “Hi, are you Jack Roscoe?”

“If you came here to talk to me about a case, I have an office. Stop by in the morning.”

Her smiled grew wider and she laughed. “Wow, I thought that during these times, you would be happy that someone would want to talk to you about a case.”

“What do you do for a living?” I asked.

She took a deep breath and she bit her lower lip. I could tell she was nervous by her silence.

“Not answering the question means you understand. I clock out at 5:00 and it’s nearly 10:00 now. Last thing I want to do is talk about a case.”

“I really need your help.”

“I’m in my office on Tuesday morning.”

She put her hands on her hips. “What makes you think I’ll come to your office tomorrow. I mean, you’re being very rude and obnoxious”

“If your problem is important, I’m sure you’ll be in my office tomorrow. Good night.”

“Wow, Amanda was right. You really are rude and obnoxious.”

I chuckled. “Amanda Collins. Really. She recommended me?”

“No. In fact, she didn’t want me to speak to you but after she told me about what you did for her brother, I thought that you could help me.”

“I’m guessing that you’re a lawyer then because you didn’t answer my other question earlier.”

“Yes. “ She pursed her lips together.

“I’m a very busy man. I doubt I’ll have the time to help you.”

“Yeah, right. You don’t want to help me because I’m a lawyer.”

I heard Scott laugh at that one. “I guess Amanda told you that.”

“She did. She said that you don’t like lawyers.”

“No one likes lawyers,” I said.

Scott laughed again.

“My brother is in jail as we speak. He’s accused of murdering Tony Sage. Have you read about the case?”

Of course I heard about this since it’s all over the news. Scumbag - that being Tony Sage for taking the life savings of people like other investment advisors did like Bernie Madoff. The lawyer - Michael Wells - was found in the strip club next to the body with a murder weapon - a knife - in his hand. Some people might consider him to be a hero. Not me since he’s a lawyer. I feel like I’m gonna throw up.

“I know all about the case.”

“Maybe what you don’t know” - she wiped a tear from her eye - was that my brother was beaten up in prison by three men a few days ago. They were hired by Frank Russo.”

Frank Russo. Mobster. Ran a waste management business and had a couple of restaurants that he won in card games as well as strip clubs. Truth be told, I could care less about this.

“Have you told the police?”

Her mouth fell open, forming the letter o on her lips. “You’re kidding. Of course we did. They said we don’t have any proof and he said he would deny it anyway.”

“I’m sure the police will do their best to help you.” I turned and walked away.

“Maybe I should sue you for discrimination like Amanda did.”

I smiled and turned around. “That would be tough especially since I did work for Amanda and I think you know that already.”

“You’re unbelievable. You really won’t work for me because I’m a lawyer.”

“Like I said, I’m busy.”

“Fine. How about a game of pool? If I win, then you have to work for me.”

I bobbed my head and Scott grinned. “What if I win?”

“I’ll give you $100 if you win.”

“I don’t want you money. You’ll just have to leave me alone. How does that sound?”

“Fine.”

“I gotta see this,” Scott said.

I grabbed a rack and brought the balls together. “You can break.”

She smiled. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll run the table?”

“That’s probably going to be the only way you’ll win.”

Scott laughed again, slapping his knee.

She grabbed the white ball, glared at me, and lined the cue ball up as three of my other friends - Bob, Ernie, and Dale - came over to watch.

“What’s going on?” Ernie said. His voice was low, deep. He ran his hand through his coppery red hair.

“This woman challenged Jack to a game of pool,” Scott said. If she wins, then Jack has to work for her.”

“Why don’t you want to work for her?” Dale asked, sipping his Budweiser. His Yankee cap covered most of his dark hair, which was below his ears.

“She’s a lawyer,” Scott answered.

“Oh,” Dale said. “Now I understand,”

The lawyer glared at Dale, then broke the balls and the 9 dropped in the side pocket.

“I guess you don’t like lawyers either,” Elaine said

“No one likes lawyers,” I answered.

She slapped the 15 ball in the center pocket. “I’m sure they don’t feel the same way that you do.”

“I don’t like lawyers,” Bob said. He scratched his head through his blond hair.

“Neither do I,” Dale added.

“Have to agree on that,” Ernie said.

“Me too,” Scott added.

Elaine shook her had and shot the 12 ball in the corner pocket.

“You might need one day,” Elaine said

“I hope not,” Dale said. “Not sure I can afford to hire one. I mean, not like I’ll win the lawsuit. The only ones that clean up in lawsuits are the lawyers.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Ernie said, taking a long hit of his beer. “Unless you’re lucky enough to spill hot coffee all over yourself at Burger King, then you can get some money after you turn over the other half to a lawyer.”

“You would probably get about 10%,” Dale said.

Elaine shot the 13 ball in the center pocket.

“Hey guys,” I said. “What does an honest lawyer and a UFO have in common?”

“I don’t know,” Scott said.

“You always hear about them but you never see them.”

All four of my friends started laughing, Ernie slapping his knee.

Elaine tagged the 11 in the corner pocket. “You’re not going to distract me.”

“I got one, Dale said. “How many lawyers does it take to screw in a light bulb.”

“None.” Scott said. “They only screw us.”

We all laughed at that one.

“Wrong,” Dale answered. “It’s one to do it, and the other two sue for malpractice.”

We all started laughing again.

“You guys are so funny,” Elaine said

“Hey,” I said, “If you don’t like it, then leave.”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you?” Elaine answered.

“Of course.”

“No, I’m going to win and you’re going to work for me.”

“You still have a few balls to sink in.”

“Fine,” she said angrily. “Why don’t you tell them your John Sanford joke.”

“John Sanford?” Bob said.

“Yeah, he’s a writer of the Lucas Davenport mysteries. You know, The Prey books. Rules of Prey. Silent Prey...”

“Oh yeah,” Ernie responded. “I saw one of them on TV. USA Network. Mark Harmon was in it.”

“I saw that too,” Dale said. “Great movie.”

“So, what’s the joke Jack?“ Scott asked.

Elaine shot the white ball towards the 10 ball. The ball hit the edge of the pocket and went out..”

“Okay. I don’t remember it word for word but here goes. “What’s the difference between a lawyer found unconscious on the road and a skunk found unconscious on the road?”

“They both stink,” Ernie said.

“Wrong,” I replied.

“Don’t know,” Scott said.

“The tire tracks stop after the skunk.”

Everyone laughed again, Ernie nearly fell on the fall.

“Are you going to shoot?” Elaine said, her eyes narrowed, her lips closed.

“Sure.” I turned and started to shoot the 6 ball in the corner pocket The ball turned and hit the one in the center pocket.

Elaine looked at Scott. “Aren’t you going to tell more lawyer jokes?”

“Not while Jack is shooting,” Scott said.

“You’re so funny,” Elaine said.

I sank the other balls and was left with the eight ball. The problem was that the last shot was going to be hard because the 14 ball was in front of the eight ball.

“You miss this shot and I’ll be clear to finish this.”

I brought the cue down on the white ball and took the shot. The white ball went in the air and fell down ahead of the 14 ball. It grazed the eight ball and it landed in the pocket.

“Nice shot,” Scott said.

“Awesome,” Ernie added.

“Jack Roscoe, pool shark,” Dale cheered.

“You can say that again,” Bob said, pumping his fist in the air.

I turned and looked at Elaine as she glared at me. She pressed her lips together.

“Nice game,” I said. “Now make like a tree and get out of here.”

Everyone started laughing again.

“It’s leave you idiot,” Elaine answered.

“I know,” I said.

She wiped tears from her eyes.

“Oh Christ, here comes the waterworks.”

“You’re such a bastard,” Elaine said.

I put the cue on the table and turned to walk away.

“So that’s it?” Elaine said

“Yeah.”

“How can you call yourself a detective?” Elaine said. “My brother is innocent and you’re willing to do nothing because he’s a lawyer.”

“That about sums it up.”

She sniffled and the tears grew larger.

“C’mon Jack,” Ernie said. “Maybe you should help her.”

“Yeah,” Scott suggested. “You’ve been after Frank Russo since his right hand man, Jeremy Evans, nearly put Richie in the hospital.”

“That matter was settled,” I said. “I sent Jeremy to the hospital with a broken arm.”

“Yeah, but now you may be able to put Russo in jail,” Scott said.

I turned and looked at Elaine as she wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Fine. I’ll help you.”

“Oh my God, thank you,” Elaine replied. She held her arms out and walked towards me.

I put my right hand out in front of her. “Let’s skip the hug. You’re still a lawyer.”

“Fine,” she said. “She opened her brown pocketbook and came out with her card. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I looked at the card and saw that this law firm was in New Jersey. Wells Carmichael Lane and McGregor LLC. Great.