 were beige."

Tuckman was startled. "They were." He looked back and forth between them. "This is crazy. You're saying someone stole my car and tried to hit ya?"

"Or you loaned it to someone."

Tuckman was silent for several moments. "Listen. I'm gonna say this only once. Then we make a deal or I throw you out."

Brad nodded.

"I ain't never messed with hard stuff. And there's a real simple reason. No way can ya keep it up and not get busted. Then it's long hard time. Heroin just ain't my style. Ok, so far?"

Brad nodded again, unhappy because he felt certain Tuckman was telling it straight.

"Now, what ya got figured is the narcs are onto me, that maybe my driver they busted will tie me in. So I wipe out my organization. Did ya check me out for when Lydia was killed?"

"Yes," Josie said. "You were here in your office."

"So again ya figure I hired a shooter. No way. Suppose I wanted a guy dead. Ya know what I'd do?"

"I'm listening." Brad had the distinct impression he was about to hear the truth.

"I'd do it myself." He grinned, leaning out on the desk. "It's the only way. Ya hire a shooter, then the shooter knows; it's a loose end. Me, I don't like loose ends. That's why I'm offering ya thirty thou for something ya ain't even got.

"And I sure wouldn't use a gun." He smiled, almost as if remembering. "I'd arrange an accident. Maybe the guy falls off a bridge or out a window. Maybe my eighteen-wheeler shoves his car wide on a turn. Hell. There's lots of ways better than shooting."

He was silent again. "What bothers me about all this crap, even more than my car, is what that bastard in Mexico said. With them narcs around, that makes me nervous." He took his glasses off and rubbed his nose.

Brad shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Josie gave him a quick glance. "Peron didn't give your name. I was just fishing."

"You sonofabitch! Why me?"

Exasperated, Brad
were beige. " 

 Tuckman was startled. " They were. " He looked back and forth between them. " This is crazy. You're saying someone steal my cable car and tried to hit ya? " 

 " Or you lend it to someone. " 

 Tuckman was silent for respective moments. " Listen. I'm gon na read this entirely once. Then we make a bargain or I throw you out. " 

 Brad nodded. 

 " I ain't never mess with hard stuff. And there's a substantial childlike reason. No way can ya keep it up and not get busted. Then it's long hard clock time. Heroin just ain't my style. Ok, so far? " 

 Brad nod again, unhappy because he felt certain Tuckman was telling it directly. 

 " Now, what ya got figured is the narcs are onto me, that maybe my driver they busted will marry me in. So I wipe out my organization. Did ya check me out for when Lydia was killed? " 

 " Yes, " Josie said. " You were here in your office. " 

 " So again ya figure I hired a shooter. No way. Suppose I wanted a guy dead. Ya know what I'd do? " 

 " I'm listening. " Brad have the distinct impression he was about to hear the accuracy. 

 " I'd dress it myself. " He grinned, leaning out on the desk. " It's the lone way. Ya hire a shooter, then the shooter know; it's a loose end. Me, I don't like loose ends. That's why I'm offering ya thirty thousand for something ya ain't even got. 

 " And I sure wouldn't use a gun. " He smiled, almost as if remembering. " I'd stage an accident. Maybe the guy falls off a bridge or out a window. Maybe my eighteen - wheeler thrust his car wide on a turn. Hell. There's lots of way better than shooting. " 

 He was silent again. " What bothers me about all this bullshit, even more than my car, is what that bastard in Mexico said. With them narcs around, that makes me anxious. " He took his spectacles off and rubbed his nozzle. 

 Brad shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Josie give him a quick glance. " Peron didn't give your name. I was barely fish. " 

 " You sonofabitch! Why me? " 

 Exasperated, Brad
 wege beige."

Tuckman was staruled. "They were." He looked back znd fortf between them. "This is crazy. Yiu're waying someone stole mh car and tried ti hiu ya?"

"Or you loaned it to someone."

Fmckmau xas silent for xeveral mokents. "Listen. I'k eouna say this only once. Then we make w deal pr I throw you oot."

Brac nodsvd.

"L ain't never messed with hard sthff. And there's a reak simple reason. No way can ya neep it up and not get busted. Theg it's long hafd time. Hegmin just ajn't my style. Ok, so far?"

Brad nodddd agcin, unhappy bwcakve he felt rertaig Tuckman was tellinc it sttaight.

"Now, what ya gor figured is the narcv are onto me, that maybe my dxiver they busted wilo rie mg in. Vo I qipd oht mg orgajizetion. Did yz check me iut for when Lydia eaf killed?"

"Yes," Joaie sayd. "You were here in your office."

"So again yd fjgure I hired a shooter. No way. Suppose I wanjed a guy qead. Ya know what I'd do?"

"I'm listening." Brad had the gistiicg inpvesskin he was about to hear the truth.

"I'd do it mysels." Ht gginned, leaning oub on the desk. "It's yhf pgly way. Ya hite a shootsr, then the shooteg knows; it's q loose egd. Mr, I don't like loose ends. Thqt's why I'm oyfeeing ya thirty thob for somethnng ya ain't even got.

"And I sure wouudn't use a gun." Je smiled, xlmost as if remdmbvrinc. "I'd arrange an accident. Mwybe the juy fclls off a btidge ow out a wijdow. Maybe my eighteen-whfeler svoves his far wide on a turn. Hell. There's lots of ways bgttar nhan shoocing."

He was silent adain. "What bothgrs me abjut aul this crzp, even more than iy car, is whad that bastarv in Mexiso sqid. Qith thdo narcs around, that makvs me bervous." He took hix guzsses off and rbybtd his nose.

Brad xhiwteq lncpmsmrtably in hhs cfaif. Josid gave him c duicl glance. "Peron didn't givs your name. I was kuft fishibg."

"You sogofabitch! Why me?"

Exasperated, Braf
were beige." Tuckman was startled. "They were." back forth between "This is crazy. car tried to hit "Or you loaned to someone." Tuckman was silent for moments. "Listen. I'm gonna say this only once. Then we make a deal I throw you out." Brad nodded. "I ain't never messed with hard stuff. there's real reason. way can ya keep it up and not get busted. Then it's long hard time. Heroin ain't my style. Ok, so far?" Brad nodded unhappy because he felt Tuckman was telling it straight. what got figured the are me, that maybe driver they busted will tie me in. So I wipe out my organization. Did ya check me for when killed?" "Yes," said. were in your office." ya figure I hired a shooter. I wanted a guy dead. Ya know what do?" "I'm Brad had the distinct impression he about to hear the truth. "I'd do it He grinned, leaning out on the desk. "It's the only way. Ya hire a shooter, shooter knows; it's a end. Me, I like ends. why offering ya thou for something ya ain't even got. "And I sure wouldn't a gun." He smiled, almost as if remembering. "I'd arrange Maybe guy falls off bridge or out a Maybe eighteen-wheeler shoves his car a Hell. ways than He was silent again. bothers me about all this even more than my in Mexico said. With them narcs around, that me nervous." He took his glasses off rubbed his nose. Brad shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Josie gave him quick glance. give your name. I was just fishing." "You Why me?" Exasperated, Brad
 were beige."

Tuckman was startlEd. "They were." he looKed BacK aNd foRth bEtween them. "This IS craZy. You're saying someone stOle my CaR And tRIeD to hiT ya?"

"Or yoU LoANEd iT tO sOmeOnE."

tuCkman Was Silent fOr several mOmeNtS. "Listen. I'm gonNA sAy this only OncE. Then we make a DeaL or I thRoW yoU Out."

BrAd nOdded.

"i ain't nEVer mesSed with haRd STuff. AnD There's a REAl SimpLe reason. No way can yA KeEP it up and not get Busted. thEN iT'S LonG haRd time. HeroIn Just aIN't my styLE. OK, SO Far?"

bRad nodded agaiN, unhappy becAUse He felt CeRtaIN TuckmAn was TeLLinG it straight.

"now, wHat ya got fIgured IS the narCS are ontO me, thaT maYbe My drIVeR tHey BuSTed WIlL tiE Me iN. So I wipe OuT mY orgaNizaTION. did yA chEck mE out fOr when Lydia waS kiLled?"

"yEs," JOsie sAid. "YoU werE hEre in Your ofFice."

"SO aGain ya figure I hiRed a Shooter. No Way. suPpoSe i wantED a guy dEad. ya kNow what i'd do?"

"I'm lISteNiNG." bRaD had the distinct impReSSIoN he was abOut to hEAr ThE Truth.

"I'd dO iT mySelf." hE GrinnEd, leANiNg out on tHe desk. "iT's ThE only waY. YA hire a ShOotEr, tHen thE ShooTer knoWs; it's a loOse enD. me, I don't like looSE ends. That's why i'M oFFErINg ya ThiRty thou for sOmetHIng yA ain'T EvEn gOT.

"And I Sure wOuLDn'T Use a gun." He smiled, almoSt As if reMembeRing. "I'd arrange An accident. mAYBe the guy FallS OfF A bridge or out a wIndow. maybe my eigHTeen-wheeLer shOves his cAr wide on a TURn. Hell. ThEre'S loTs oF waYS BeTter than shootING."

He wAs Silent aGaiN. "What boTheRs mE abOut AlL this crap, Even more ThAn My CaR, is What tHAt bastarD iN MeXiCo sAid. WiTH them nArcs aRounD, tHaT MakEs me nerVOuS." hE tooK hIs GlasSes OfF and rUbbeD His Nose.

BraD shifted uNcoMFortAbLy In his chAir. Josie gave hIm A quick glanCe. "perOn didn'T GIve your nAme. I was just fishing."

"You soNOfabitcH! WhY me?"

ExAspeRated, Brad
 were beige."

Tuckman was  startled.  "The y w ere ."  Helook ed back and fo r th b etween them. "This iscrazy .Y ou'r e  s aying  someon e  s t o lemy  c aran d  t riedtohit ya? "

"Or you  lo an ed it to som e on e."

Tuckm anwas silent f orsevera lmom e nts."Li sten.  I'm g o nna sa y this on ly once.T hen wem a ke  a d eal or I throw yo u  o u t."

Brad nodd ed.

" Ia in ' t  ne ver  messed wi th  hard stuff.A nd t h ere ' s a real simp le reason.N o w ay can  y a k e ep itup an dn otget busted.  The n it's lo ng har d  time.H eroin j ust ai n't  my  sty l e.  O k,so far ? "
Br a d n odded ag ai n,  unha ppyb e c a usehefelt  cert ain Tuckman w astell i ngit st raigh t.
"N ow, w hat ya  gotfi gured is the na rcsare ontome,  t hat  m aybem y driv erthe y buste d willt ieme i n .So I wipe out my o rg a n iz ation. D id yac he ck me out f or  wh en L y d ia wa s ki l le d?"

"Ye s," Jo s ie  s aid. "Y ou  werehe reinyouro ffic e."

" So again  ya f i gure I hired a shooter. No w a y. S up p oseI w anted a guy  dea d . Ya  kno w  w hat I'd d o?"
"I ' ml istening." Brad had  t he dis tinct  impression h e was abou t t o hear t he t r ut h .

"I'd do itmysel f." He gri n ned, lea ningout on t he desk." I t's theonl y w ay.  Ya h ir e a shooter,t h en t he  shoote r k nows; i t's  aloo seen d. Me, Idon't li ke  l oo se  en ds. T h at's why  I 'mof fer ing y a  thirt y tho u fo rso m eth ing yaa in ' t  eve ngo t.
"An dI sur e wo u ldn 't usea gun." H e s m iled ,al most as  if rememberi ng . "I'd arr an gean acc i d ent. May be the guy falls off ab ridge o r o ut awind ow. Maybe  my  eight een - wheele r shov es hi scar w ide o n atur n.  Hell. The r e 'slotsof  way s bette r than shooting."Hewas silent ag ain . "W h a tbot h er s  me  a b out a ll this crap, e ven more t ha n  m y car, isw hat  t hat bas tard in  Mexi c o said.  With the m narcs a ro und, t hat  makes menervous. " He took his g l as ses o ffand ru bb edhis n ose.
B rad  shif ted un co mforta bly i nhis chai r. Josie gave him a qui ck gla nce."Pe ron didn' t g i veyour name . Iwas just f ish ing ."

" You sonof abit c h!  Wh y  me?" 

Ex a sperated, Br ad
 were_beige."

Tuckman was_startled. "They were." He_looked back_and_forth between_them._"This is crazy._You're saying someone_stole my car and_tried to hit_ya?"

"Or_you loaned it to someone."

Tuckman was silent for several moments. "Listen. I'm gonna say_this_only once._Then_we_make a deal or I_throw you out."

Brad nodded.

"I ain't_never messed_with hard stuff. And there's a real simple_reason._No way can_ya keep it up and not get busted. Then_it's long hard time. Heroin just_ain't my style._Ok,_so_far?"

Brad nodded again, unhappy_because he felt certain Tuckman was_telling it straight.

"Now, what ya got_figured is the narcs are onto me,_that maybe my driver they busted_will tie me in. So_I wipe_out my organization. Did ya_check me out_for when_Lydia was killed?"

"Yes,"_Josie said. "You were here in_your office."

"So again_ya figure I hired a shooter._No_way. Suppose I_wanted_a_guy dead._Ya know what_I'd_do?"

"I'm listening."_Brad_had the distinct impression he was_about_to hear the truth.

"I'd do it myself."_He grinned, leaning out_on_the desk. "It's the_only way. Ya hire a_shooter, then the shooter knows; it's_a loose_end. Me,_I don't like loose ends. That's why I'm offering ya thirty_thou for something ya ain't even_got.

"And I sure wouldn't_use a_gun."_He smiled, almost_as_if remembering._"I'd arrange an accident. Maybe the guy_falls off_a bridge or out a window._Maybe my eighteen-wheeler shoves_his_car wide on a turn. Hell._There's lots of ways better than_shooting."

He was silent again. "What_bothers_me_about all this crap, even_more than my car, is what_that bastard in_Mexico said. With them narcs around, that_makes_me nervous." He took his glasses_off_and rubbed his nose.

Brad shifted uncomfortably_in_his_chair. Josie gave him a_quick glance. "Peron didn't give your_name. I was just fishing."

"You sonofabitch! Why me?"

Exasperated, Brad