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mean； I'm assuming sisters； on account of they're Parsons； too。〃
〃Parsons indeed。〃 Augustine nodded and acted pleased。 Sisters？ He couldn't imagine。
He paid for his room with cash。 The clerk said； 〃Those girls know how to dress for a party； I'll sure say that。〃
〃Oh boy；〃 said Augustine。 〃What have they done now？〃
〃Don't you go fussing…let 'em have their fun； all right？〃 She handed him his key。 〃You're in 240。 I tried to put you in the unit next door； but some wise guy from Prudential； he didn't want to switch。〃
〃That's quite all right。〃
Once inside his room； Augustine put the loaded 。38 on the bureau； near the door。 He took the parts of the dart rifle from the gym bag and laid them on the bedspread。 The muscles of his neck were in knots。 He wished he'd brought a few skulls； for relaxation。
Augustine turned up the TV while he assembled the tranquilizer gun。 He was surprised that he'd beaten the black Jeep to Islamorada； hadn't even passed it on the eighteen…mile stretch south of Florida City。 He wondered if they'd turned on Card Sound Road； or stopped someplace else…and why。 His worst fear； the thing he kept pushing out of his mind； was that the creep with the crooked jaw had already killed Skink and Bonnie； and dumped them。 There were only about a hundred ideal locations between Homestead and Key Largo； years might pass before the bodies were found。
Well； he'd know soon enough。 If the asshole showed up without them； then Augustine would know。
If the asshole showed up at all。 Augustine still wasn't sure if 〃Lester Parsons〃 was the man with the crooked jaw。
He stood the dart rifle in a closet and put the pistol in his waistband； under the tail of his shirt。 Rain whipped his face as soon as he stepped out the door。 He shielded his eyes and hurried along the walkway to Room 255。 He knocked seven times in a neighborly cadence…shave…and…a…haircut； two bits…to give the false impression that he was expected。
The door was flung open by a fragrant redheaded woman in high heels and a luminous green bikini。 Augustine recognized her as the hooker in fishnets from 15600 Calusa。
An orange sucker was tattooed on the freckled slope of her left breast。 In her left hand was a frosty Rum Runner。
She said； 〃Shit； I thought you were Snapper。〃
〃Wrong room；〃 said Augustine。 〃I'm sorry。〃
〃Don't be。〃
Another woman came out of the bathroom； saying； 〃Goddamn this rain。 I wanted to go in the pool。〃 She wore a silver one…piece suit； an explosive white…blonde wig and gold hoop earrings。 When she saw Augustine in the doorway； she said； 〃Who're you？〃
〃I thought this was my sister's room； but I guess I'm at the wrong motel。〃
The redhead introduced herself as Bridget。 〃You wanna e in and dry off？〃
〃Not if it gets Snapper mad。〃 Augustine was thinking： Snapper…now what the hell kind of name is that！
The redhead laughed。 〃Yeah； he's quite the jealous maniac。 e on in。〃
The blonde said； 〃Jesus； Bridget； they're gonna be here any second…〃
But Augustine was already inside the room； scouting unobtrusively： an overnight bag； two cosmetic cases； a cocktail dress on a hanger。 Nothing out of the ordinary。 Bridget tossed him a towel。 She said her friend's name was Jasmine。 They were from Miami。
〃My name's George；〃 said Augustine； 〃from California。〃 Inanely he shook hands with the hookers。
Bridget held on； examining his ring finger。 〃Not married？〃
〃Afraid not。〃 Augustine gently tugged free。
Jasmine told Bridget to forget it； they didn't have enough time。 Bridget said they wouldn't need much。
〃George looks like a fast starter。〃 She winked somewhat mechanically at Augustine。 〃You want some fun until the rain stops？〃
〃Thanks； but I really can't stay。〃
〃Hundred bucks；〃 Bridget suggested。 〃Double date。〃
Jasmine pulled a long white T…shirt over her swimsuit。 She griped： 〃Hey； do I get a vote in this？ A hundred for what？〃
Bridget slipped a milky arm around Augustine's waist and pulled him close。 The obvious implant in her left breast felt like a sack of nickels against his rib cage。 〃Seventy…five；〃 she said； dropping her eyes to the bright tattoo； 〃and I'll give you a taste of my Tootsie Pop。〃
〃Can't；〃 Augustine said。 〃Diabetic。〃
Jasmine gave a biting laugh。 〃You're both pitiful。 Bridget； let 'George from California' go find his sisters。〃 She sat cross…legged on the bed and applied pungent glue to a broken artificial fingernail。 〃Boy； this weather's suck…o；〃 she muttered； to no one。
Bridget's motivational hug went slack； and slowly she recoiled from Augustine's side。 〃Our man George has a gun。〃 She announced it with a mix of alarm and regret。 〃I felt it。〃
Jasmine； blowing on her glue job； looked up。 〃Goddamn； Bridget； I knew it！ You happy now？ We're busted。〃
〃No you're not。〃 Augustine took out the pistol and displayed it in a loose and casual way； hoping to quell their concerns。 〃I'm not a cop； I promise。〃
Jasmine's eyes narrowed。 〃Shit； now I know。 The squeaker sent you。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Avila。〃
〃Never heard of him。〃
Bridget backpedaled to the bed and sat next to her friend。 Nervously she crossed her arms over her breasts。 〃Then who the hell are you； George？ What is it you're after？〃
〃Information。〃
〃Yeah； right。〃
〃Really。 I just want you to tell me about this 'Snapper；'〃 said Augustine； 〃and I also want to know if you two ladies can keep a secret。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…FIVE
The professor's VW van ran out of gas two miles shy of the Fort Drum service plaza。 Neria Torres stood by the Turnpike and flagged down a truck。 It was an old Chevy pickup； three men in the cab； four others sprawled in the bed。 They were from Tennessee。 Neria wasn't crazy about the odds。
〃Looking for work；〃 explained the driver； a wiry； unshaven fellow with biblical tattoos on both arms。 He said his first name was Matthew and his middle name was Luke。
Neria was nervous nonetheless。 The men stared ravenously。 〃What do you guys do？〃 she asked。
〃Construction。 We're here for the hurricane。〃 Matthew had a spare gas can。 He poured four gallons into the van。 Neria thanked him。
She said； 〃All I can give you is three bucks。〃
〃That's fine。〃
〃What kind of construction？〃
Matthew said： 〃Any damn thing we can find。〃 The other men laughed。 〃We do trees； also。 I got chain saw experience；〃 Matthew added。
Neria Torres didn't ask if the crew was licensed to do business in Florida。 She knew the answer。 The men climbed out of the truck to stretch their legs and urinate。
One of them was actually mannered enough to turn his back while unzipping。
Neria decided it was a good time to go。 Matthew stood between her and the van。 〃I dint ketch your name。〃
〃Neria。〃
〃That's Cuban； right？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You don't talk with no accent。〃
She thought： Well； thank you； Gomer。 〃I was born in Miami；〃 she said。
Matthew seemed pleased。 〃So you're on the way home…hey； how'd you make out in the big blow？〃
Neria said； 〃I won't know ti