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derstanding。 She'd promise them Snapper's share of the Midwest Casualty settlement if they'd forget the whole dreadful evening。 She would drive them back to Miami without delay and （to prove she was basically a decent person） offer to replace the gold ring stolen from the lady trooper。 The unconscious Snapper would be run over on the highway by a passing shrimp truck and no longer pose a menace to society； or to Edie's future。
Unfortunately； Snapper wasn't nodding off。 The Johnnie Walker bottle lay capped on the dashboard。 Now he was playing with the gun； spinning the cylinder and humming mischievously。
Edie Marsh said； 〃Could you please not do that？〃
Snapper gurgled crapulously； his jaw jutting like a window box。 〃You're so hot and sweaty； Edie； you oughta do what she almost done。 Take off your clothes。〃
〃You'd like that； wouldn't you。〃
〃I would love it。 Wouldn't y'all？〃 He waggled the 。357 at Skink and Bonnie Lamb。 〃e on； wouldn't ya like to see Edie's tits？ They're cuties。〃
Bonnie felt crummy that she'd given Snapper the idea。
Skink said； 〃Speaking for myself； yes； I'm sure they're delightful。 But some other time。〃
Edie Marsh felt herself blush。 Nobody spoke。 Snapper began to hum again； acpanied by the metered squeak of the windshield wipers。 Ahead； on the ocean side of the highway； Edie saw the electric…blue sign for the Paradise Palms Resort Motel。
Skink shook Levon Stichler out of the carpet； dumping him like a sack of flour on the terrazzo。 Somebody yanked off the gag and the blindfold。
The old man's eyes watered at the sudden brightness。
A woman's voice： 〃You again。〃
Levon blinked until a face came into focus…the redhead from the hurricane house at Turtle Meadow。 The chiffon scarf； Levon's blinder； dangled from her festively painted fingernails。 Standing next to the redhead was a wild…looking blonde。 She said； 〃What's your name； sweetheart？〃
The redhead wore a diaphanous black bustier； fishnet stockings and stiletto heels。 The blonde wore a silver lame teddy that made her shimmer like the hood ornament on a Silver Shadow。 The air was sugary with perfume； pure heaven； after three hours of gagging on mildew and carpet fuzz。 When Levon Stichler sat up； he found himself in the center of an attentive circle： the two prostitutes； the thug in the pinstriped suit； the pretty long…haired brunette； another young woman； with creamy skin and delicate features； and a large bearded man wearing a flowered shower cap。 The bearded man was polishing a glass eye on the sleeve of his jacket。
They were gathered in a small motel room。 Levon Stichler said： 〃What's this all about？〃 The prostitutes introduced themselves。 Bridget and Jasmine。
Snapper dropped to a crouch。 Roughly he pinched the back of the old man's neck。 〃You tried to kill me； 'member？〃
〃It was a mistake。 I told you。〃
〃Here's the deal： You're gone stay down here two； maybe three days with the girls。 They're gone fuck ya and blow ya till you can't walk。 Plus they gone take some pitchers。〃
Levon was skeptical。 The man reeked of liquor and spoke as if he had a mouthful of marbles。
〃Just shoot me and get it over with。〃
〃We're not shooting anybody。〃 It was the pretty brunette。 〃Honest；〃 she said； 〃long as you behave。〃
Snapper said； 〃Maybe you're too old to get it up or maybe you like guys…I don't fuckin' care。 Point is； you stay here with these girls till I call and say it's OK to leave。 Then what you do； you take your sweet time gettin' back to Miami。 By that I mean； stand on the highway with your thumb out。 Unnerstand？〃
Levon stammered and blinked。 Snapper swatted him twice across the face。
Edie Marsh said： 〃I don't think Mister Stichler realizes the alternative。 The alternative is we go to the cops and tell how you tried to murder Snapper and rape me with that trailer spike。 Your family'll think you've gone senile。 The photographs won't help…Grandpa doing pony rides with two call girls。〃
Levon glanced up at Bridget and Jasmine。 They were large and scary。 He could tell they'd worked together before。
〃Think of it as a vacation；〃 said Edie。 〃Hey； you're allowed to have fun；〃
〃I wish I could。〃
〃Uh…oh。〃 Bridget knelt beside him。 〃Prostate？〃
The old man nodded somberly。 〃It was removed last year。〃
Jasmine told him to cheer up。 〃We'll think of something。〃
Skink； fitting his glass eye into its socket； advised Levon Stichler to do what he was told。 〃It's still better than getting shot。〃
Bridget said； 〃Gee； thanks。〃
Snapper paid the prostitutes from a wad of the stolen roofing money； which they counted； divided and put away。 They turned their backs so he wouldn't peek inside their pocketbooks； which bulged with the other cash given to them ten minutes earlier by Avila； and ten minutes before that by the good…looking young man with the 。38 Special。
〃Is there ice in the bucket？〃 Bonnie Lamb asked。 The hooker named Jasmine told her to help herself。 Bonnie scooped two handfuls of cubes and pressed them to her cheeks。
The one…eyed man helped the prostitutes lift Levon Stichler to his feet。 Snapper poked the old man's Adam's apple with the barrel of the gun。 〃Don't try nuthin' stupid；〃 he said。 〃These young girls can crack coconuts in their legs。 Killing a skinny old fart like you is no problem whassoever。〃
Levon Stichler didn't doubt it for a moment。 〃Don't worry； mister。 I'm no hero。〃
The redhead pinched his butt playfully。 〃We'll see about that。〃
Augustine was hiding behind a Dumpster when the black Cherokee with the cheesy mud flaps arrived at the Paradise Palms。 His spirits leaped when he saw Bonnie Lamb get out； followed by the governor。 The driver was a brown…haired woman in a lavender top； probably the one from the driver's license photo； Edith Deborah Marsh； age twenty…nine。 She was the next to get out of the Jeep。 From the passenger side： a lanky sallow man in a rumpled suit； no necktie。 He carried a gun and a bottle； and seemed unsteady。 His crooked jaw was made conspicuous by a street light。 Augustine had no doubt。 It was him； the one who'd attacked Brenda Rourke； the one the prostitutes had told him about。 Snapper in real life； 〃Lester Parsons〃 on the motel register。
The man opened the hatch of the Cherokee and barked something at Skink； who removed a long lumpy bundle and hoisted it across his back。 Once the procession disappeared into the motel； Augustine ran to the Jeep； climbed in the cargo well and quietly closed the hatch。 He flattened himself below the rear window； placing the 。38 at his right side。 With both hands he held the dart rifle across his chest。
This； he thought； would be something to tell the old man。 Make those fat wormy veins in his temples pop up。
Dad wouldn't dream of risking his neck unless vast sums of money were at stake。 Love； loyalty and honor weren't part of the dope smuggler's creed。 Augustine could hear the incredulity： A。G。； why the hell would you do such a crazy thing？
Because the man deserved it。 He beat up a lady cop and stole her mother's wedding ring。 He was scum。