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Chapters (57)
  1. Welcome to the Game
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraphs
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. Six months later . . .
  56. Acknowledgments
  57. Back Cover

The Yo-Yo gave curt directions, and they worked their way south and west, down toward River Rouge and Ecorse. When they hit Delray, he made Spencer pull over several times. He’d get out, check the sky, wait in case they’d picked up a tail, and then they’d be on their way again. Eddie was quiet, as if concentrating. Spencer detested him for his stupid, hidden competitive streak, his crazy little edge thing he had going on. They’d nearly been busted because of it. Prick.

“Take a right, down that road, between those two empty buildings.”

Spencer did as he was told. On their left he could see glimpses of the water. He knew they were getting near the final destination. His heart was hammering. He felt like checking his rearview, just to see what the grim reaper drove these days.

“In there.”

Spencer turned into a huge, rusty, iron-sided warehouse. Graffiti and filth covered its walls and doors. Puddles of oily water glinted amid rubble and garbage. A large portion of one wall was open to a quayside and yet the building was still gloomy. Spencer picked his way through fallen concrete pillars, their steel reinforcement rods twisted and exposed like veins yanked from a cadaver.

“Over near the water.”

Spencer guessed the water was where the Buick was destined to end up, probably with him in the trunk. Soon now.

They sat in the car, waiting.

Ten minutes later, McGrath’s silver Merc appeared at the far end of the warehouse.

“Flash your lights twice, Spencer.”

The Merc flashed back and started moving toward them.

Spencer felt light-headed his heart was thudding so hard. Although virtually nothing had been said to suggest it, he had felt himself being cut off by the other two men. Segregated, marked, already a dead man. He wondered whether it would come from Eddie or the Yo-Yo. He kind of needed to see it coming. Every rustle of fabric and creak of a seat spring was a harbinger. Would it be his throat slit or a bullet?

The Yo-Yo took out his gun.

45

45

Rolling with It

McGrath knew that the moment he flashed his lights a countdown started. Spencer’s countdown.

He worked the Merc through the trash and potholes on the warehouse floor while keeping an eye on the Buick. He was waiting for the flash of gunshot. Probably wouldn’t hear the noise; the Merc’s sound insulation was really good.

He’d quite liked Spencer. Played him from the start. But it was always easier to play someone you liked. He was always going to be from the other side of the tracks, the other side of the world.

Right about now. McGrath sensed it.

He braked, watching the Buick. Suddenly one of the Buick’s back doors opened and Eddie got out. He stomped to the rear of the car, opened the trunk, and stood there with a dumb-as-fuck expression.