“He and I talked some. Royal’s been known to do a little business with some fellows from Colombia.”

“He would,” Danny Boy said. “The business he’s in.”

“So they probably already know. But you could pass it on anyway, just for insurance.”

“Insurance,” he said. “What’s the opposite of life insurance?”

“I don’t know.”

“Death insurance. They may be waiting outside for you right now, Matt.”

“It’s possible.”

“Why don’t you go pick up the phone and call the cops? They could send a car and you go somewhere and make a statement. Let the bastards earn their money.”

“I want the killer,” I said. “I want him one-on-one.”

“You’re not Latin. Where’d you get this macho hangup?”

“Just pass the word, Danny Boy.”

“Sit down a minute.” He leaned forward, dropped his voice. “You don’t want to walk out of here without a piece. Just sit here a minute and I’ll get you something.”

“I don’t need a gun.”

“No, of course not. Who needs one? You can take his machete away from him and make him eat it. Then break both his legs and leave him in an alley.”

“Something like that.”

“Will you let me get you a gun?” His eyes searched mine. “You’ve already got one,” he said. “On you, right now. Haven’t you?”

“I don’t need a gun,” I said.

And I didn’t. On the way out of the Top Knot I put my hand in my pocket and felt the butt and barrel of the little .32. Who needed it? A little gun like that doesn’t have a whole lot of stopping power anyway.

Especially when you can’t make yourself squeeze the trigger.

I went outside. It was still raining but no harder than before. I tugged the brim of my hat and took a good look around.

The Mercury sedan was parked on the other side of the street. I recognized it by its crimped fenders. While I was standing there the driver started the engine.

I walked over to Columbus Avenue. While I waited for the light to change I saw that the Mercury had come around in a U-turn and was approaching. The light changed and I walked across the street.

I had the gun in my hand and my hand in my pocket. My index finger was on the trigger. I remembered how the trigger had trembled beneath my finger not too long ago.

I’d been on this same street then.

I walked on downtown. A couple of times I looked over my shoulder. The Mercury stayed a little less than a block behind me all the way.