“At the doctor having his fractured jaw fixed. I ought to bill you for the damage.”

“Or invest in a better bodyguard.”

“You’re wasting my time, Mitchum. I got things to do. What do you want?”

“Let’s say I believe you didn’t kill Pete Stahl. You’ve gotta have an idea who did.”

“You asking me as the town genius or as someone involved in the industry?”

“I didn’t realize you were a genius.”

“Not everyone does. Usually I call those people idiots. I’m guessing you went to a state school of some kind.”

“I’m asking if you heard anything in your position as a local drug dealer.”

“You trying to insult me? It sounds like you’re talking down to me. Frankly, you’re not smart enough to talk down to me. No one is. I don’t appreciate that sort of attitude in my business.”

That was one sentence too many from this little prick. “Do you appreciate this?” I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him close to me. “My brother is in deep shit for something he didn’t do. I think you have information that can help me clear him. And you’re gonna start talking. Right. Fucking. Now.”

As soon as I released him, Alton took a step away and reached behind his back. Before I had time to act, he was holding a small semiautomatic pistol. Worse, he still had a smirk on his face as if he was absolutely brilliant for walking around with a gun.

I didn’t hesitate. That’s the key in a situation like this. I used my right hand to slap him hard across the face and at the same time grabbed the gun with my left hand. I twisted Alton’s arm, pulling him close to me as I put the gun to his head. We shuffled toward the rear door. I looked at Blade the bartender and said, “Be cool and this will all work out. I don’t think you want to blow your meal ticket just yet.” As soon as we were outside, I pushed him forward into a brick wall that hid the dumpster.

I said, “I’m out of patience with you. You’re gonna start talking or I’m gonna smack you around so hard no one in this town will ever respect you again. They’ll have to take you by the emergency room to get this gun removed from your ass.”

“You think because you’re a big guy and were in the Navy that you know what tough is. Try being the smartest kid in Cincinnati who’s only five foot seven. There’s nothing you can do to me that will make me talk.”