The Other Side of Bad (The Tucker Novels) (36 page)

“You can open it from the inside with the knob. What are you going to do?” he asked, looking down at Pauly.

“Talk to Anthony. Don’t worry, I’ll play fair.”

While he was giving 911 the address, I walked over and opened the door.

The music blasted by me and Tony stood there with his mouth open, leaning on one crutch.

Tony was about five-ten, 185 pounds, short thinning sandy hair, no facial scars, and looked to be in his late twenties. He was what women might consider cute. But his dark eyes were too close together for me.

I stayed close to him, so he couldn’t see past me, and I backed up as he hobbled through the door.

“Close the door, Tony,” I said, after he was in the room.

He closed the door, muting the music, and when he turned around, I’d stepped aside, giving him a good view of the room.

Pauly, in all his gore, was completely visible.

“What happened to Pauly?” Tony asked, to no one in general.

I had to give him credit, he was calm. Maybe it was shock.

“He slipped and busted his lip,” I said.

Now Tony was looking at Boss, calmly waiting for an answer. Okay, not shock. He was just mean.

“Tucker did it. I’ve called an ambulance. Go get some of the boys, so we can get him out of here when the ambulance gets here.”

“No,” I said.

“Whataya mean, no?”

What a dumbass.

“You’d better not move him until the EMT’s get here, his chest may not be in one piece. And, I want to have a little chat with gimpy here.”

Tony turned to face me and said, “You’re going to pay for this, motherfucker.”

I walked over to him and did something I’ve always wanted to do. I kicked his crutch out from under him and said, “No, I’m not.”

He was tittering, but standing. For the first time, I noticed his sport jacket was thicker around his left forearm, probably a bandage. Must be Razor’s handy work.

I got in his face and spoke softly, “Take a good look at Pauly over there. See his face? That happened because he had a potty mouth. My name is Tucker, you can call me Mr. Tucker. If I ever see you within 5 miles of my home, I’ll kill you and figure it out later. Understand?”

He started to turn his head to look at Eddie, who was still standing by Pauly. I quickly reached out and gave his bandaged arm an unkindly squeeze.

“Tony, don’t look at Eddie, look at me.”

It hurt, but he didn’t make a sound as he looked back at me.

“Did you understand what I said?”

Through clenched teeth he said, “I understand.”

I let go of his arm and said, “Good. By the way, my dog’s in better shape than you.”

After gently patting his bandage, I eased the toe of my boot under his crutch and kicked it up so he could grab it.

“Now, go take a good look at Pauly,” I said, after he had the crutch under him.

He gimped over and looked down at Pauly who was now wheezing pink bubbles. He probably had a punctured lung.

“Jesus, Mother Mary, and Joseph,” he said, as he crossed himself like a good Catholic.

By now Pauly’s mouth was hard to discern. It looked more like a big red hole with loose white corn floating around.

“Tony, in a few days, when Pauly can understand you, you can tell him my name. It’s Mr. Tucker. He was having a hard time with that tonight.”

Looking at Eddie, I said, “Earlier you said you didn’t have anyone try and kill me in my car. Is that the truth? Don’t lie to me. It will not make me as congenial as I have been tonight.”

Without hesitation, he said, “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. I swear, I don’t.”

I believed him and I didn’t want to. I hate algebra, all those x’s and unknown factors.

I looked back at Anthony and saw the bewilderment in his face. This whole situation was flying over his head like a missed shot at a mallard.

“Anthony, stop thinking, you’re going to hurt yourself. Your boss will tell you all about it.”

I looked hard at Eddie, at least I was trying to, and said, “Eddie, make sure the next time I see you, it’s because
I
want to.”

I turned my back on them, opened the door and walked out into Satan’s heavenly hideaway.

As I walked through the hordes of sexually frustrated men and women, I felt good, light, I was walking on a cloud. I felt alive. In tune with the universe. I could see everything occurring around me. The connectiveness of the human race to nature. I walked in a straight line to the door, and people parted like Moses parting the waters. I held no judgment of the people in this place, they were right where they’re supposed to be, just like I was. Everything’s In Divine Order . . . EIDO.

I walked out of the Men’s Room into a light snow. It snowed that night, after Margie was killed. I used to like snow…before.

Chapter 44

By the time I was seated in my truck, letting it warm up, my spiritual high was waning.

I read somewhere God wants us to live in the present. To live every moment like we were children. Like seeing everything for the first time, full of joy, being overwhelmed by the wonders of life.    

For me, it’s much easier to live in the present when my life is in danger. Where any thought other than what is happening at this very moment, could end my life.

But, it wasn’t always so. I used to be able to make love to
her
.

Now, the wonders of life are so much easier for me to see when I have just survived a close call. The closer to death, the longer the awe lasts.

By the time the truck started blowing warm air, I was back on the ground again, the night not quite as sharp, the snowflakes not as white, the resolution of life’s picture dulling. The missing of her a black bulge in my chest that held tears that wouldn’t come.

My phone chirped at me. I picked it up and said, “Yeah,” not looking at the number because I knew I wouldn’t be able to see it through the wooden mask I had unexpectantly adorned.

“I see you’re still in one piece,” Spain drawled.

“Yeah.”

“I heard there’s an ambulance on the way to The Men’s Room.”

“Yeah.”

“You okay?” He asked.

“Yeah.”

“You’ve been sitting there for a few minutes. I was beginning to worry about you.”

I looked around. Double parked out on Dickerson Road, was Spain’s unmarked.

“How long you been there?” I asked.

“Since midnight.”

I looked at the clock on the dash, it was only 12:27 a.m.

I hadn’t given it much thought, but I would have figured it for later.

“You worried about me?”

“Not since I saw you walk out unassisted.”

“Thanks for the backup.”

“Who’s the meat wagon for?”

“Guy named Pauly.”

“Pauly Manfredy?”

“We weren’t properly introduced. He seemed to be Eddie’s right-hand man.”

“What did you do, Tucker?”

“I hurt him,” I said, as I pulled my truck out onto Dickerson Road and drove past Spain’s car.   

We looked at each other as I passed him.

“How bad?”

“It would be good for the ambulance to get here soon,” I said.

“Was it necessary?”

“He was one of the guys that paid me a visit this morning, I mean yesterday morning.” I wasn’t used to these night owl hours.

“Sounds necessary.”

“Spain, do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“If Pauly dies, don’t come get me until after 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning. It’s been a long day, and I’m going to the office to crash and burn.”

“Pauly’s a tough bastard, he’ll probably live, unfortunately. What about Eddie Tuma, you resolve anything?”

“Yeah, he won’t be bothering me anymore.”

“You sure?”

“I’ll tell you about it later. Thanks again, and goodbye.”

I slapped my phone shut and set it on the console.

The caffeine had evidently worn off. I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open.

I didn’t have to worry about my dogs. Before I left the house that morning, I’d made arrangements for my closest neighbor’s son to ride his four-wheeler over to my place and feed them. I often paid him to check on them when I was going to be in Nashville overnight or out of town. I was missing Tuesday. Maybe I’d take her to Houston with me.

The phone rang again. In a reflex I picked it up. It was Sonny Medica.

“Tucker? What the hell did you and Frankie talk about? He called and said you were going to work for us when you get back from some business trip.”

“That’s not going to happen, Sonny. No offense, but I don’t knowingly work for wise guys. I can’t afford it, personally or professionally.”

“No offense taken, Tucker. But why’d you tell him you would look in on Eddie? You did say that, right?”

“Yeah, Sonny. I told him I’d do it as a favor. You know, keep your enemies closer.”

Sonny’s sense of humor was warped and after he stopped laughing, he said, “For some reason the old man likes you. Says to me to make sure you come up and have a meet with him.”

“Go figure,” I said, too tired for wit.

“Yeah, go figure.”

“Sonny, it’s been a long day and I’m beat. Thanks for the help tonight. Without you it could’ve turned out differently.”

“Hey Tucker!” he said loudly.

“Yeah.”

“
Fuggedabowtit
.”

The phone went dead and I turned mine off.

I just wanted to get in the bed and curl up. I missed . . .  Tuesday.

Chapter 45

I was at the edge of a precipice, again. Waiting to take that step into the dark unknown. Not knowing how deep it was or what it contained. I did however, know what it didn’t contain. A safety net. Just like I liked it.

The phone was ringing, but I couldn’t find it. It was dark, I was groping around on all fours. Just as I started sliding around in something slick, the sun instantly blared.

I found myself in a pool of blood and brain matter. Somewhere on the edge a pig was grunting, snorting as he ate from the blood pool.

I couldn’t find the phone. It wouldn’t stop ringing. I had to get off my hands and knees. Get out of the blood and brains. A distant memory told me I had been here before. I
had
to stand up. I stood . I woke up to the sun shining through the windows, onto the futon I’d been sleeping on.

I was in my office. The phone was still ringing, the machine must be off.

“Tucker,” I said, after finding the portable phone on the floor.

“It’s Spain.”

“What’s up?” I said, opening and closing my eyes. Letting the dream bleed from behind my eyes, so I wouldn’t see red.

“Pauly’s dead.”

That opened my eyes.

“That’s bad timing. I was going to leave town in a couple of days. What do I need to do? You want me down at Metro?”

“Naaw, I’m just fuckin’ with you, you hardass. He’s alive, barely. His chest is crushed, left lung was punctured from a broken rib, he’s going to need a new mouth and a new knee. What the fuck you hit him with?”

“Me,” I answered, thinking I could leave after all.

“Yeah, okay. Anyway, you can leave, no charges are being pressed. They say he fell down some stairs.”

“Could of happened like that,” I yawned.

“Right.”

“What time is it?”

“7:30.”

“Damn it, Spain, I told you not to call me before 9:00.”

“Just thought you’d want to know.”

Remembering the dream he woke me from, I said, “Thanks, Spain.”

“You want to get some breakfast?”

“Thanks, but I’ve got a lot to do before I leave. I’d better get on it.”

“You mean you’re going to make me eat doughnuts.”

“You don’t have to.”

“They’re Krispy Kremes.”

“Okay. So you have to. Eat one for me.”

“Tucker.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Come back.”

“Christ, Spain, I’m just going to check on a wreck.”

“Yeah, well, deep shit has a way of getting under your boots.”

“Spain.”

“What?”   

“Go eat a doughnut.”

Chapter 46

I brewed some Hazelnut Cream Decaf and called Emmett. It was early enough that I was hoping to catch him in his dorm.

“Hello,” he said after the first ring.

“Hey, buddy, howya doin’”

“Hey, Dad,” he sounded happy to hear from me. “I’m good. You okay?

“Yeah, fine, how are your classes going?”

“Great! I really like my English Lit. professor. He’s very cool, doesn’t seem stuck on fundamentals.”

That’s right up Emmett’s alley.

“I know you like that.”

“Yeah.”

“How’s the job at the library?”

“I really like it. It’s quiet and no one bothers me. I got putting the books back on the shelves down,” he said laughing.

“Do you need anything? How’re you doin’ for money?”

“I’m okay,” he said, “but if you want to give me some, that’s cool.”

“I’m leaving town tomorrow or the next day. I’ll put some in your account before I go.”

“Where you going?’

“I’ve have to go to Houston.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t know. But if you do come down,  I think it would be a good idea to stay at your mom’s.”

Emmett liked to stay at my place when I was out of town. He liked to bring his girl over and hang. So the silence I was experiencing on the phone was understandable.

“What’s going on, Dad?”

The shooting had shaken Emmett up. He’s a laid-back kind of guy, a real sweetheart, a gentle soul. But, I taught him to shoot anyway. He took to it like I did at his age. He really loved shooting the pistols at the range. He was a very good shot, and underneath that gentle exterior, was a Tucker. I could see it in his eyes as he observed people.

After it happened he was very quiet about the incident and didn’t seem to want to talk about it. I didn’t know how he took it, or what he thought about me, and I cared.

It was a couple weeks after it happened when he opened up. He told me it was okay, what I had done. He was glad it was them and not me, said they got what they deserved. Said he was proud of me. Go figure.

“What’s going on, Dad?” he asked again, a little louder.

“Had a prowler in the middle of the night, up on the upper end, by the columns.”

“What happened? You okay?”

“Oh, sure, I’m fine. Razor ran them off, but I think he got a piece of them.”

“Them?”

I never could lie worth a damn. There’s always too much to remember.

“Yeah, well, there may have been more than one. Anyway, they took a couple of shots at Razor and ran away.”

“Razor okay?”

“He’s got a nice round hole in one of his ears, and he’ll have a nice scar on his head.”

“Sounds a little random, Dad.”

This wasn’t going like I had planned. There I go again, making God laugh.

“Probably some poachers.”

“Yeah. Right.”

“Anyway if you come to town while I’m gone, you should think about staying at your mom’s.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Emmett and his mother were struggling with the proverbial apron strings. I didn’t want to think about Emmett being home alone. I would have to do something about that.

“Do what you want. But if you stay at the house, keep Razor close. I’ll be taking Tuesday with me.”

Emmett had his own shotgun under his bed, so I didn’t have to mention that. I didn’t want to mention that.

“I understand,” he said.

“All right then. I’ll call you from Houston when I know more about how long I’ll be gone.”

“Be careful, Dad.”

“I’ll be fine, Buddy, I’m just going to look into something for a friend.” I didn’t feel like I was lying, I liked George Carr.

“Okay. Gotta go Dad, I’ll be late for class. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The connection was broken.

Emmett’s biscuits were done. I didn’t feel there was much more I could teach him. He was off on his own for the first time and loved it. He was making his own decisions and learning from their outcomes.

I worked out for an hour on the Bowflex. Donned some gloves, and hit the heavy bag for twenty minutes. When I worked out on the bag, there’re a lot of forearms, elbows, feet and knees working. The only reason I hit it with the gloves is for aerobics and timing. I aim for the throat a lot.

It took the rest of the morning for me to shower, eat breakfast, finish up the pistols I had been working on, ship them off, set the timers for the lights, and lock down the office.

I went downstairs and informed Pok I’d be gone for a few days and to watch the place for me. My place didn’t need watching, but it made Pok feel good.