11 Eleven On Top Read Online Free PDF Page B

with Morelli and overslept. So I was late rolling in to work.”
    “And?”
    “And I got fired.”
    “That was fast,” Lula said. “You're good. It takes most people a couple days to get fired.”
    “Maybe it all worked out for the best. I got another job already at Kan Klean.”
    “Do you get a discount?” Lula wanted to know. “I got some dry cleaning to send out. You could pick it up tomorrow here at the office on your way to work.”
    “Sure,” I said. “Why not.” I shuffled through the small stack of files on Connie's desk. “Anything fun come in?”
    “Yeah, its all fun,” Connie said. “We got a rapist. We got a guy who beat up his girlfriend. We got a couple pushers.”
    “I'm doing the DV this afternoon,” Lula said.
    “DV?”
    “Domestic violence. My time's real valuable now that I'm a bounty hunter. I gotta use abbreviations. Like I'm doing the DV in the PM.”
    I heard Vinnie growl from his inner office. “Jesus HIM. Christmas,” he said. “Who would have thought my life would come to this?”
    “Hey, Vinnie,” I yelled to him. “How's it going?”
    Vinnie poked his head out his door. “I gave you a job when you needed one and now you desert me. Where's the gratitude?”
    Vinnie is a couple inches taller than me and has the slim, boneless body of a ferret. His coloring is Mediterranean. His hair looks like it's slicked back with olive oil. He wears pointy-toed shoes and a lot of gold. He's the family pervert. He's married to Harry-the-Hammer's daughter. And in spite of his personality shortcomings (or maybe because of them) he's an okay bail bondsman. Vinnie understands the criminal mind.
    “You didn't give me the job,” I said to Vinnie. “I blackmailed you into it. And I got good numbers when I was working for you. My apprehension rate was close to ninety percent.”
    “You were lucky,” Vinnie said.
    This was true.
    Lula took her big black leather purse from the bottom file drawer and stuffed it under her arm. “I'm going out. I'm gonna get that DV and I'm gonna lack his ass all the way back to jail.”
    “No!” Vinnie said. “You're not gonna kick his ass anywhere. Ass kicking is not entirely legal. You will introduce yourself and you will cuff him. And then you will escort him to the station in a civilized manner.”
    “Sure,” Lula said. “I knew that.”
    “Maybe you want to go with her,” Vinnie said to me. “Since it looks like you don't have anything better to do.”
    “I start a new job tomorrow. I got a job at Kan Klean.”
    Vinnie's eyes lit up. “Do you get a discount? I got a shitload of dry cleaning.”
    “I wouldn't mind if you rode along,” Lula said. “This guys gonna be slam barn, thank you, ma'am. And then we drop his sorry behind off at the police station and go get some burgers.”
    “I don't want to get involved,” I told her.
    "You can stay in the Firebird. It'll only take me a minute to cuff this guy and drag... I mean, escort him out to the car.
    “Okay,” I said, “but I really don't want to get involved.”
    A half hour later we were at the public housing project on the other side of town and Lula was motoring the Firebird down Carter Street, looking for 2475A.
    “Here's the plan,” Lula said. “You just sit tight and I'll go get this guy. I got pepper spray, a stun gun, a head-bashing flashlight, two pairs of cuffs, and the BP in my purse.”
    “BP?”
    “Big Persuader. That's what I call my Glock.” She pulled to the curb and jerked her thumb at the apartment building. “This here's the building. I'll be back in a minute.”
    “Try to keep your clothes on,” I said to her.
    “Hunh,” Lula said. “Funny.”
    Lula walked to the door and knocked. The door opened. Lula disappeared inside the house and the door closed behind her. I looked at my watch and decided I'd give her ten minutes. After ten minutes I'd do something, but I wasn't sure what it would be. I could call the police. I could call Vinnie. I could run around