"Picking up now that you're here." She swiveled her head to the ground-level open window. "Yo, Deborah," she hollered. "Ranger's here. Gonna give us some entertainment."

Ranger moved into the building and started climbing the stairs. "Third floor," he said.

I was getting an uncomfortable feeling about this apprehension. "What did she mean . . . entertainment?"

Ranger was on the second-floor landing. "There are two tenants on the third floor. Thompson is on the left. One room and bath. Only one way out. He should be at home at this time of day. Regina would have told me if she'd seen him leave."

"I get the feeling there's something else I should know about this guy."

Ranger was halfway up the third flight of stairs. "Only that he's freaking nuts. And if he whips his dick out to take a leak, stand back. He tagged Hanson once, and Hanson swears he was fifteen feet away."

Hanson was another bounty hunter. Mostly worked for Gold Star Bail Bonds on First Street. Hanson had never struck me as someone who would fabricate war stories, so I turned around and started doing double-time down the stairs. "That's it for me. I'll call Lula to come pick me up."

My progress was halted by a hand grabbing the back of my shirt. "Guess again," Ranger said. "We're in this together."

"I don't want to get peed on."

"Just keep your eyes open. If he goes for his dick we'll both jump him."

"You know I could have lots of good jobs," I said. "I don't need to be doing this."

Ranger had his arm around me, encouraging me to walk up the stairs. "This isn't just a job. This is a service profession. We uphold the law, babe."

"Is that why you do this? Because you believe in the law?"

"No. I do this for the money. And because hunting people is what I do best."

We reached Thompson's door, and Ranger motioned me to one side while he knocked.

"Lousy fuckers," someone called from inside the room.

Ranger smiled. "Norvil's home." He gave another rap. "Open the door. I need to talk to you."

"I saw you out on the sidewalk," Norvil said, the door still closed, "and I'll open this door when hell freezes over."

"I'm going to count to three, and then I'm going to break in," Ranger said. "One, two . . ." He tried the doorknob, but the door was still locked. "Three." No response from inside. "Damn, stubborn old drunk," Ranger said. He stepped back and gave the door a solid kick just to the left of the doorknob. There was the sound of splintering wood, and the door crashed open.

"Lousy fuckers," Norvil yelled.

Ranger cautiously stepped into the doorway, gun in hand. "It's okay," he said to me. "He isn't armed."