Merlot Read Online Free PDF Page A

and what’s with the ‘we’d enjoy
dinner’ line? What did I miss?”
    “I kinda liked him. He bought us drinks,”
Cindy said.
    “The way you’re dressed, any guy in there
would have bought you drinks. Look, I know how it is. Jesus, the
last time I can remember being in bed with someone my nieces slept
over and got scared in the middle of the night. I’m just suggesting
that you go slow, that’s all.”
    “Oh, did you see the way he looked at me when
we left?”
    “Yeah, and I saw the way you gave him that
kiss, too. Look, I’m just suggesting you think this through, okay?
Just don’t get all wound up, fall in love, and then we pick up the
pieces a month down the road because he ends up doing what everyone
warned you about. That’s all I’m saying, okay?”
    “Well I don’t think he’d ever do that to me,
he’s too sweet.”
    “That’s three glasses of merlot talking,”
Karen said.
    * * *
    They fled the fairgrounds, reeking of the
swine barn, after getting shut down by a mother and daughter in the
beer garden.
    “Roll past that bank again, Lucerne,” Mendel
directed as the three of them crammed into the front seat. He had
to slam the door two or three times to get it to stay closed, the
window rattled dangerously with each attempt.
    By the time they had circled the block for a
second pass two more cars had pulled in front and dispatched people
to make what looked like a pretty fat night deposit. They also
spotted a St Paul police car parked on the opposite corner. Two
bored patrolmen in the front seat.
    “See, what I tell you, boys? So damn much
money the cops got to sit there at midnight and make sure
everything’s okay. We make a score like this, we got a real name
for ourselves.”
    “You fixin’ to kidnap another bank president,
Mendel? ‘Cause in case you forgot that last one we grabbed didn’t
work too damn well.” Elvis said.
    * * *
    A few hours later Lucerne and Mendel
stretched out on the motel room double bed. Elvis sat on the floor,
beneath a closet shelf, not quite passed out.
    “No man, I’m telling you, there’s only one
way,” Mendel said, sounding more rational after the better part of
a case of beer.
    “We hit the damn place fast and hard. We plan
a getaway route and a backup. In and out in just a few minutes, do
it when the traffic’s heavy. Most likely be five maybe ten minutes
before the cops ever get there, hell, we’ll be long gone.”
    “But how we gonna actually do it? I mean, are
we gonna blow it up, knock out a wall? What?” Elvis asked.
    “No,” said Mendel, “we don’t need to blow it
up. How ‘bout we work on planning, take our time, come into the
bank at different times, end up in there together. We don’t need to
blow anything up. We’ll just waltz in, scoop up all that money
waiting for us, walk back to the car and Lucerne here takes us
home. Lucerne?”
    Lucerne was stretched out next to Mendel,
surrounded by a half dozen empty beer cans, whispering. His
breathing was heavy and he played absently with the hair on his
chest.
    “So, what you wearing then? See through?
Right. What ya see?”
    “Lucerne,” Mendel shouted, reached over and
swatted the phone from his brother’s hand. “Damn it, I told ya
before, them gals ain’t worth the time it takes to call. She don’t
know your ass from the next stupid bastard. She just talks to fools
to take your money, dumb ass!”
    “Well, then that’s gonna be pretty hard
there, ain’t it, Mendel, ‘cause that phone belongs to that old
heart attacked banker back in Henderson, and I ain’t gonna have to
pay one red cent. And for your information, I’m getting to know
her, building a relationship. I seen Tracey’s picture on TV and
she’s shy and don’t like going out alone and all, it even said
so.”
    “That’s just about the stupidest God damn
thing you’ve said all day. I was just at the part where you drive
our getaway, so pay attention, damn it.” Mendel tossed the phone
back onto