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habit.”
    Frank shook his head. “No, we got something else in mind. But first we got to locate a couple of items.”
    â€œLike what items we talking about?”
    â€œWell, what this cleaning lady should look for are, you know, color TVs—”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œFur coats.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWatches. Jewelry.”
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œSilverware maybe, you know, silver stuff. And firearms.”
    Sportree grinned. “You almost forgot to mention that. Any particular firearms you got in mind?”
    â€œWell, like the kind you might find in the guy’s top drawer,” Frank said. “Underneath his jockeys.”
    â€œNo hunting rifles, anything like that.”
    â€œNo, I had more in mind the smaller models you can hold in one hand.”
    â€œPut in your pocket, or in your belt.”
    â€œYeah, that kind.”
    â€œYou remember my cousin LaGreta?”
    â€œThat’s right, your cousin.”
    â€œShe used to have big eyes. I can talk to her,” Sportree said. “Seems to me the rate was twenty bucks a house. I mean a house, you know, there’s goods in it. She give you the plan, where everything is, twenty bucks.”
    â€œThat’s fine,” Frank said. “Twenty dollars, if that’s the going rate, fine.”
    â€œShe’s with this Rent-A-Maid and also a catering service,” Sportree said. “Work parties, weddings, you understand? and does some cleaning jobs, too. She don’t do floors, though. I remember her saying she don’t do floors.”
    â€œLong as she gets in the house,” Frank said, “I don’t care what the fuck she does in there.”
    â€œNice thing,” Sportree said, “she gets around. You know, doesn’t work for the same people all the time. That wouldn’t be so good.”
    â€œListen, that sounds fine,” Frank said. “In fact it’s exactly what we’re looking for. If LaGreta’s got the eyes you say she has.”
    â€œNice big eyes,” Sportree said.
    â€œCan I ask you if she’s on anything?”
    â€œShe smoke a little, that’s all. Vacuum that big house, clean the oven, polish the furniture, she like to visit friends and have a little something. But what she make you know, she ain’t on any hard shit.”
    â€œYou think you can set it up?”
    â€œI’ll talk to her. You give me your telephone number.”
    Frank hesitated. “I better call you. We’re in and out a lot. Maybe we’re not there when you call.”
    Sportree said, “Frank, I hope you still the same person I used to be associated with.” His gaze moved to Stick. “Just as I hope your friend here is pure.”
    â€œI’ll tell you something,” Stick said to him. “I enjoyed the drinks, but I don’t know a rat’s ass about you ei-ther, do I?”
    It was the quiet way he said it that jolted Frank. He couldn’t believe it—the first time Stick even opened his mouth. Frank said, “Hey, let’s not have any misunderstandings,” and looked over at Sportree.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Sportree said, his tone a little cooler than before. “You call me in a couple of days. Maybe I’ll have something for you, maybe I won’t.”
    When they were outside Frank said, “What’re you trying to prove? The guy’s doing us a favor, you come on like you’re some dangerous character.”
    â€œAll I said was I didn’t know him very well.”
    â€œBut I do.” Frank was tense. “I’ve known him a hell of a lot longer’n I’ve known you. You don’t like the way I’m handling it, go back working cement, maybe I’ll see you around.”
    â€œYou’re handling it,” Stick said. “You made up the rules. It seems to me one of them, it says don’t even tell a junkie your name. The first guy we talk to, it