Sacrifice Fly Read Online Free PDF Page B

Christ. “What’d you tell him?”
    “That I would get back to him after I worked out the details.”
    “I don’t know, Mrs. Mac. You’d need to clear out the outside area for the grills,”
     I said.
    “The Freddies will do that,” she said, referring to the twin Dominican brothers who
     worked the kitchen for her and whose parents showed little imagination when it came
     to naming their baby boys. “Billy said he’d have all the food delivered here and I
     can order enough beer to handle the extra business.”
    “Sounds like a good deal, Mrs. Mac.”
    “Yes,” she said, again playing with the miniature badge.
    “But…?”
    “I want … I need … you to work it for me.”
    “I don’t work on Saturday,” I said, a bit too harsh.
    “That’s why I’m asking for a favor, Raymond.”
    “Mikey’ll be here. You won’t need me.” And I don’t need this.
    “That’s not true, Raymond,” she said. “You know those boys. You can handle them. Make
     sure things don’t get too … rowdy.”
    Right.
    “Mrs. Mac,” I said. “I haven’t seen Billy—or ‘the boys’—in a long time.”
    “He said five years.”
    “You had a long talk with Billy, Mrs. Mac.”
    “I’m sorry to ask, Raymond, but it would mean a lot of money for the bar, and I love
     those boys dearly, and my Henry would roll over in his grave if he knew I missed an
     opportunity to help Billy out.”
    This woman could give lessons in guilt. Her Henry graduated from the police academy
     with my uncle about a hundred years ago. As Uncle Ray worked his way up the ladder,
     Henry McVernon stayed on the streets, eventually making detective. A couple of years
     back—not long after he’d bought The LineUp—it caught up with him in the form of a
     massive heart attack. Just like my father. I wasn’t the only ex-cop who picked up
     a weekly shift at the place to help his widow keep it going. No wages, just tips.
     And now a favor. A big one.
    “You don’t think Mikey can handle it?” Why should she? I didn’t.
    “He’s coming in early, but no, not by himself. I need you.”
    “I appreciate your confidence, Mrs. Mac, but I don’t think I’d be too comfortable
     around all those guys.”
    “Like I said, Raymond. Feel free to say no.”
    I thought I just did .
    “Mikey’ll work the bar?”
    “With a little help from you. I hope.”
    “And Gloria’s going to be here?”
    “She’s bringing her sister. The Freddies will do the cooking.”
    It sounded to me as if Mrs. Mac had already said yes to Billy.
    “You told Billy that you’d be asking me to work it?”
    “He couldn’t have been happier,” she said. “In fact, he says it will help ‘dispel
     the idea’ he’s had that you’ve been avoiding him.”
    “I haven’t been avoiding anybody, Mrs. Mac.”
    “You have nothing to explain to me, Raymond. I’m just passing on what Billy said.”
    After a few seconds, and against my better judgment, I heard myself say, “Then how
     could I possibly say no?”
    “You’ll do it?”
    “I’ll work the first couple of hours.”
    “And we’ll see what happens.”
    “Yeah.”
    She came around the side of the bar and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you, Raymond.
     And if my Henry were still alive, he’d thank you, too.” She took me by the hands and
     stepped back. “What’s that smile for?”
    “Your Henry should have taken you into the interrogation room with him. Suspects wouldn’t
     have stood a chance.”
    “Don’t think the idea didn’t cross his mind, young man.” She squeezed my hands. “Thank
     you, Raymond. And remember, it’s a school night. Last call is at eleven thirty.”
    “Go home, Mrs. Mac.”
    “Yes,” she said. “This time to stay.”
    As she passed behind Edgar, he put his hand in the air. Mrs. Mac grabbed it, gave
     it a kiss, and said, “Good night, Emo.”
    “What was that about?” Edgar asked as the door shut behind Mrs. Mac.
    “Billy Morris is having a party here this