Spencer attempted to get a bead on the situation. All he could see was a huge black face shaded by a Tigers cap pulled low. He couldn’t even see for sure that it was the barrel of a gun at his throat, but he certainly didn’t want to take the chance. His head had been forced so far back it had slipped between the headrest and the door pillar, so he couldn’t reach the wheel even though the car was in Drive. If he simply took off, he’d hit the car in front.

“Get the fuck on with it, motherfucker, or I’m gonna unload this bitch through your sorry-assed skull.” Biggy Freak loved his work, loved the easy money, loved being able to impress his girl with the lines he’d used during the day. Shanique had sure gotten wet for that one.

“OK,” grunted Spencer. “Let me reach for the glove compartment. I’ll give you my cash, no worries.” He stretched out his right arm and waggled his fingers. He gave a silent prayer of gratitude for having followed Johnny Boy’s advice thirty minutes before. He’d been collecting all day and had two rolling drops coming up that night. There had to be forty thousand stuffed in the car’s speaker casements.

“Yeah, you reach, bitch.” Biggy Freak pushed Spencer over toward the glove compartment, keeping the barrel of the pistol up tight in his flesh. This guy would have something to remember Biggy Freak by next time he shaved.

Spencer opened the glove compartment and pulled out his wallet. He went to open it, but Biggy Freak snatched the whole thing off him.

“Now gimme the phone.”

“You don’t want my phone, man, it’s—”

“I’ll tell you what the fuck I want, bitch, and if I say I—”

“Mate, it’s thumbprint. It won’t work for you.” Spencer knew he was taking a risk, but he was gambling that the guy would be happy he got the ready cash and would want to split.

“Fine, give me that watch.”

Spencer looked at his watch with its brushed-steel case that would catch the sun sometimes as he turned the wheel. It was the watch Marielle had given him on their fifth wedding anniversary, bought secretly on finance, paid off less than a year before she died.

“Come on, man, it’s not worth much.” Spencer prayed desperately for the douchebag up front to just get the hell out of his way so he could floor the gas and save this little bit of Marielle’s love that he still carried.

“Give me that watch, you sorry-assed cocksucker, or I’m gonna fuck you the hell up.” Biggy Freak wasn’t looking for lines to arouse Shanique now.