Key Lime Blues Read Online Free PDF Page B

all I had.   I tightened my hand around the coconut and continued on.
    Billy made up his mind, dropped his cigarette butt, and said, “Get off.”
    “You can’t be serious,” Destiny’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
    “I said get off, now.”   Billy’s voice trembled, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the gun.
    “Good thinking.” Bob waved the gun in front of him.   “There’s something else you need to consider.”
    “What?”   
    “You need to remember—I know where you work.   If you even think about going to the cops I’m gonna come down here just like now when there’s no one around, and I’m going to break both your kneecaps—understand?”
    “Yes sir,” Billy said.
    “Good.”   Bob stepped toward the scooter.   “You don’t have to worry about the girl; I don’t want to hurt her.   We’re gonna have us a nice little chat, that’s all.   I’ll make sure she gets back home all right.   Now why don’t you get the hell out of here?”
    “Yes sir,” Billy repeated.   At the same time he pushed back with his butt, forcing Destiny off the scooter.  
    “You son of a bitch,” she shouted when Billy started the bike.   Sliding the purse off her shoulder she grasped it by the straps and swung it toward Billy’s head.     
    He ducked, cursed when it glanced off his arm, and once again nearly tipped the scooter.   With a quick glare over his shoulder, Billy took off down the street as fast as the bike would carry him.
    I used the distraction to edge up behind Bob. When Destiny turned to face him she saw me.   She opened her mouth and I gave my head a quick shake, holding a finger to my lips.     
    She hesitated, but only for a moment.   “How’s Frankie doing anyway?” she asked Bob.   I admired the girl’s spunk.
    “He wants his diamonds back,” Bob said.
    “I don’t have ‘em.”
    “Too bad, Destiny.   In that case I’m gonna have to…”  
    At that moment I twisted my ankle on the uneven concrete.   A flash of pain shot up my leg causing me to let out a sharp breath.   Bob’s reaction was instantaneous.   He swung around, dropped to one knee, and pointed the revolver at my stomach.     

Chapter 5

    Destiny may have saved my life. She jumped forward without hesitation and swinging her purse like a mace she brought it down on Bob’s wrist. Whatever she was carrying in her bag made a dull thump when it hit and the revolver flew from his hand.
    At the same time I threw the coconut. Bob ducked and the coconut zipped past his ear. When he started to reach for the gun I launched myself at him. My shoulder slammed into his face and I heard the cartilage snap in his nose. Bob let out a whoosh of air as I landed on top of his chest and then he lay still beneath me.
    “Did we kill him?” Destiny’s face was flushed. Her voice rose an octave and her eyes opened wide with excitement. “He looks like hell.”
    I rolled off Bob, pushed to my knees, and studied his face. She was right, he did look like hell. I looked around and made sure Willie wasn’t anywhere to be seen. When we were on the phone, Frankie made it clear the brothers wanted to break my legs because of what I had done down at the docks earlier. That was nothing compared to this.
    Blood dripped from Bob’s smashed nose and there was a wide cut over his left eye. Reaching out, I touched his neck, searching for his pulse. I felt the throbbing, let out a sigh of relief, and jumped back when he coughed and opened his eyes.
    His eyelids fluttered while he tried to focus on my face. He said something in a low whisper and I leaned forward in time to hear, “You’re a dead man, Darling.” He closed his eyes and groaned. “Fuckin’ lousy name.”
    “Yeah, well I’ve gotten used to it.” I pushed myself to my feet and added, “I couldn’t let you hurt the girl.”
    Bob felt his nose and let out a hiss. “You broke it.”
    I’m not sure how he could tell. His nose was flat and looked like