Shadows Linger Read Online Free PDF Page B

Shed.”
    “Talk.”
    “All right. Krage and Red grabbed me. They wanted to
     know about Raven.”
    So Shed knew how Asa had come by money. He had tried to sell Raven. “Tell me
     more.”
    “They just wanted to know about him.”
    “What did they want to know?”
    “If he ever goes out.”
    “Why?”
    Asa stalled. Shed pulled the mug away. “All right. They had two men watching
     him. They disappeared. Nobody knows anything. Krage is furious.” Shed let him
     have the wine. He drained it in a single gulp.
    Shed glanced toward the stair, shuddered. Maybe he had underestimated Raven.
    “What did Krage say about me?”
    “Sure could use another mug, Shed.”
    “I'll give you a mug. Over the noggin.”
    “I don't need you, Shed. I made a connection. I can sleep over to Krage's any
     time I want.”
    Shed grunted, made a mask of his face. “You win.” He poured wine.
    “He's going to put you out of business, Shed. Whatever it takes. He's decided
     you're in it with Raven.“ Wicked little smile. ”Only he can't figure where you
     got the guts to buck him.”
    “I'm not. I don't have anything to do with Raven, Asa. You know that.”
    Asa enjoyed his moment. "I tried to tell Krage, Shed.
    He didn't want to hear it."
    “Drink your wine and get out, Asa.”
    “Shed?” The old whine filled Asa's voice.
    “You heard me. Out. Back to your new friends. See how long they have a use for
     you.”
    “Shed! . . .”
    “They'll throw you back into the street, Asa. Right beside me and Mom. Git, you
     bloodsucker.”
    Asa downed his wine and fled, shoulders tight against his neck. He had tasted
     the truth of Shed's words. His association with Krage would be fragile and
     brief.
    Shed tried to warn Raven. Raven ignored him. Shed polished mugs, watched Raven
     chatter with Darling in the utter silence of sign language, and tried to imagine
     some way of making a hit in the upper city. Usually he spent these early hours
     eying Darling and trying to imagine a way to gain access, but lately sheer
     terror of the street had abolished his customary randiness.
    A cry like that of a hog with a cut throat came from upstairs. “Mother!” Shed
     took the stairs two steps at a time.
    His mother stood in the doorway of the big bunkroom, panting. “Mom? What's
     wrong?”
    “There's a dead man in there.”
    Shed's heart fluttered. He pushed into the room. An old man lay in the bottom
     right bunk inside the door.
    There had been only four bunkroom customers last night. Six gersh a head. The
     room was six feet wide and twelve long, with twenty-four platforms stacked six
     high. When the room was full, Shed charged two gersh to sleep leaning on a rope
     stretched down the middle.
    Shed touched the old-timer. His skin was cold. He had been gone for hours.
    “Who was he?” old June asked.
    “I don't know.” Shed probed his ragged clothing. He found four gersh and an iron
     ring. “Damn!” He could not take that. The Custodians would be suspicious if they
     found nothing. “We're jinxed. This is our fourth stiff this year.”
    “It's the customers, son. They have one foot in the Catacombs already.”
    Shed spat. “I'd better send for the Custodians.”
    A voice said, “He's waited this long, let him wait a little longer.”
    Shed whirled. Raven and Darling stood behind his mother.
    “What?”
    “He might be the answer to your problems,” Raven said. And immediately Darling
     began flashing signs so fast Shed could not catch one in twenty. Evidently she
     was telling Raven not to do something. Raven ignored her.
    Old June snapped, “Shed!” Her voice was heavy with admonition.
    “Don't worry, Mom. I'll handle it. Go ahead with your work.” June was blind, but
     when her health permitted, she dumped the slops and handled what passed for maid
     service- mainly dusting beds between guests to kill fleas and lice. When her
     health confined her to bed, Shed brought in his cousin Wally, a ne'er-do-well
     like Asa, but with a