Chapters (95)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by David Swinson
- Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.
I slide the car seat back and recline to my usual comfortable position. Everything I need within arm’s reach. Have to keep the car running, though, or I’d die of heat exhaustion. It’s gonna be another hot and humid day. But the heat is good, ’cause my car won’t spew exhaust like it would in the cold months. Honestly, no one’s going to think much of me parked here anyway. I’m not in the type of car cops use, and I know Vice isn’t hitting this area that much anymore. They’re stuck on more important details, like standing on corners in uniform and serving lemonade under an umbrella.
A little after ten, a young white chick unlocks the front door to Thrift World. I peer through my binos. She’s fairly attractive in a grimy sort of way. She has long dreads and wears a V-neck white T-shirt and short shorts. Her nose is pierced, and she’s got a lot of ink. She enters and closes the door behind her.
The hot coffee I bought on the way is cooling down. I grab a bottle of Jameson out of my pack and pour a couple shots’ worth in the paper cup.
After a long sip I exhale with contentment. Gotta keep yourself content.
In the couple of hours that follow I only notice a handful of people entering, but they look like regular customers. Today might not be the day for the other kinda business. Buying stolen shit might be reserved for those days Wendland is working. Who knows at this point? It’s only the first day, and this spot sure as hell doesn’t look like a fencing operation. Maybe mom-and-pop, but nothing major.
The day’s a bust. Night encroaches. The interior of the store darkens a bit. The front light over the door and interior back lights go on. A couple of minutes later she exits and locks up.
I watch her as she walks around the corner. I follow.
When I get to the corner, she’s heading toward 9th Street. I ease up to let her make that turn, then I drive to the corner. She walks into a place I know well. The Velvet Lounge. Used to be a cool hangout, probably still is, but I haven’t been there in years. I’m thinking I want a drink, but then maybe that’s not such a good idea, especially if Wendland is meeting her there. I won’t take the chance. Drinking alone at home is what I’d rather do anyway. That I do enjoy.