Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore (9780385538398) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Lana had gone I went out to the driveway to ignite Theon’s bright yellow Hummer. It was the largest model ever made and even a tall person needed the extra step to climb up into the driver’s seat.
    I grabbed onto the door handle and was about to pull myself up when he spoke.
    â€œHey, Deb.”
    I should have known that Richard wasn’t the kind of dog to let a bone go so easily.
    The pistol was in the house so I was on my own against the huge bundle of woman-hating violence. The fact that he was a coward only made him more dangerous.
    â€œHey, Dick.”
    â€œI don’t like people callin’ me that.”
    â€œThat’s okay, Dick. I don’t like you.” My heart was thundering and there was too much blood in my brain to make room for the underlying fear.
    â€œI’m gonna kick your ass, bitch.”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œNo? Why not?”
    â€œTwo reasons,” I said as if from the middle of a dead calm somewhere far out at sea. “First, if you take one more step I will holler bloody murder and you better believe every one of these housewives around here will call nine-one-one. Two—and you have to listen closely to this one,Dick—two is that if you don’t kill me, I will get that gun and blow you away … today, tomorrow, sooner or later. So if you kill me you’ll never get what Theon owed, and if you don’t it won’t matter.”
    His fists clenched and I took in a deep breath—ready to scream.
    I was counting on the fact that Theon always said that Richard was an intelligent man in spite of his looks.
    His hands unclenched and he took in a deep breath.
    â€œHe owes me seventy-two grand.”
    â€œCan you prove it?”
    â€œHe signed my book.”
    â€œYou got it on you?”
    â€œI could just take your key and drive your Humvee outta here.”
    â€œThen I’d call the cops and you can play Grand Theft Auto with the other fools in jail.”
    It was a dangerous game but Richard was forcing it. He wasn’t the kind of guy who gave away anything—no real loan shark is. They always move straight ahead; that’s why they called them sharks.
    â€œI’ll call you,” he said.
    â€œAnd we’ll meet someplace public,” I added. “Not here. If I see your ass here again I’ll put a cap in it.”
    I should have gone back in the house and had some tea after Richard left for the second time. My body chemistry was way off and I needed to calm down. But the adrenaline in my blood wouldn’t let me even try to relax.

    On La Brea just south of Wilshire I tried to change lanes without putting on the blinker and smacked into a navy blue Saab. I pulled to the curb and waited. The young black man driving the Saab jerked his car up behind mine and leaped out. He walked around, assessing the damage to his car in a herky-jerky manner that would have been funny if I didn’t know what had just happened.
    I climbed over to the passenger’s side and emerged slowly, perusing the damage to his car and mine.
    â€œWhat the hell do you think you’re doing?” he shouted.
    There was good reason for his rage. My car barely had a scratch while his was pretty torn up. Theon had an ornamental pipe running along the side of his car. This garish accessory gouged a deep gash along the side of the Swedish-made car.
    A young Asian girl, who was at least seven months pregnant, got out of the Saab. She waddled up next to the lanky driver, willing him, it seemed, to calm down.
    â€œI was in the wrong,” I said. “I’m very sorry.”
    â€œIt was your fault!” he hollered.
    â€œThat’s what she said, Willie,” the girl murmured.
    â€œStay out of this, Tai.”
    â€œWe should trade insurance numbers,” I suggested.
    Tai was staring at my face.
    â€œWhat the hell are you gonna do about my car?” he replied.
    â€œWe can wait for the