Hook and Shoot Read Online Free PDF Page A

said.
    â€œSorry?”
    â€œI’m out of this, whatever it is. Eddie, sign my contract and fax it to the gym. We like it, we’ll sign it, and I’ll see you at the weigh-ins.”
    Burch stared at me with a face that belonged behind a sniper scope. He glanced at Eddie and something went between them.
    Burch said, “We need to talk.”
    â€œWe just did.”
    â€œHear me out or hand me another trash bag.”
    I rolled my neck.
    Eddie said, “Woody, please.”
    His voice made everybody wince. Even the guy on the floor felt sorry for him.
    I pulled my phone out. “You have until the cab shows up.”
    Burch helped Eddie into the front seat, handed him a bottle of water, and closed the door on his wheezing. Burch wasn’t even breathing hard. Between the two of us, you couldn’t tell which one had just chopped up a man’s throat.
    We took a moment to enjoy the fresh parking lot air, then Burch got to the point. “I’d rather have your help than your corpse to deal with.”
    â€œYou’re getting neither.”
    â€œLook, I pegged you sharp enough to realize something’s amiss, but maybe the dead bloke with a fucking ninja sword is too subtle for you. Mr. Takanori needs you around while we figure out what the hell’s going on.”
    â€œDid Eddie tell you what happened the last time he and I rode around?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSo you’re not stupid, just ignorant.”
    Something flashed across his eyes. He blinked and was back into calm waters. “Mr. Takanori filled me in on what you were up to before he pulled you out of the shit pile.”
    â€œYeah, so he could throw me to the wolves. I already sent him a thank-you card.”
    â€œMy point is, after all you got away with, it’d be a shame to end up in prison now.” Burch set his feet, ready.
    I quit watching for the cab. Somebody pulled the plug on traffic noise. “Why would I go to prison?”
    He nodded at the limo. “Accessory to murder. Saw it myself.”
    â€œYou don’t want to go down that road with me.”
    â€œHaven’t put a foot on it yet. Just standing on the corner, looking down at the thorns and skeletons. Needs irrigation, looks like the path to fucking Mordor. But you should know this: push me to it, I’ll bring a parade of shit to your door.”
    â€œBy blackmailing me as an accomplice to a murder you committed? That’s insane.”
    â€œGood, so we’re on the same page. Now at first I thought Mr. Takanori wanted you around just to look the brute, what with the scars and all. But talking about your dodgy past, I get it. You want me to step away while you make the call?”
    â€œWhat call?”
    â€œCome on.”
    â€œOh, sorry. You can stay right there. This won’t take long.” I raised my phone. “Ring, ring. Hey, Burch? Fuck you.”
    â€œGood one. I’ve seen two police cars drive past. Now call somebody who can help us before they pull over to see how much blow jobs are and find a dead body wrapped in a garbage bag.”
    Between Burch and Eddie with his unsignedcontract, I was walled in with the lid pressing down. The only daylight came from the crack Burch was holding open for me.
    Daylight, or the glare from an interrogation room.
    Too soon to tell.
    I remembered the phone numbers. The men who answered—if they were still breathing—would remember me. “You want the body burned or pieced out and sold?”
    â€œNice try. Don’t worry about the body; it’s going to a safe place. I’m naming him Collateral. Nice Asian name, yeah? You call around to your friends in the security game, see if anybody knows who Collateral is and who sent him.”
    â€œAren’t you all in the same union? You call them.”
    â€œI’m new in town. Nobody knows me.”
    â€œWho the hell are you? What makes you Eddie’s last hope?”
    â€œNah,