A Bullet Apiece by John Joseph Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

interaction. Jimmy’s rigged a helluva lion’s den.
I tuned in to The Beef’s boasts and proclamations without looking his way. Today I just wanted a drink and a little female attention, so I played the guy staring at his drink by himself. Most people see this as harmless; others take it as a threat. The Beef probably took it as the latter when he called down to my end of the bar.
    â€œHey, Gumshoe!”
    I looked his way concealing a sigh. “Yeah, George?”
    â€œWe’re trying to work somethin’ out here and need your skills.”
    That was likely bullshit, but once engaged by The Beef, it was best to take him at his word.
    I got off the bar stool and carried my drink in one hand and cigarette in the other. I stood outside swinging range and waited.
    â€œTake a seat,” he said. I took one. He likes to be the only guy at Broad Jimmy’s standing up and in action.
    â€œWhat’s up?” I asked, though I was thinking, “What’s the beef?”
    â€œSimple Simon here thinks you could take me on.”
    â€œYeah?” I looked at Simon, a skinny, towboat deckhand with a poorly trimmed grey beard. His rheumy, wide eyes and nervous smile told me he didn’t know what the hell The Beef was talking about, but he was snared and knew it.
    He didn’t make eye contact with The Beef when he spoke. “Now, George, naw, I never said—”
    â€œSure, you did. You were thinkin’ it, hunh? You can’t hide nothin’ with those clear blue eyes, Simon.”
    â€œNo, George, I sure wasn’t thinkin’ that. Not at all.”
    â€œYou were. Don’t lie to me, Simon.” The Beef’s executioner’s gaze was beginning to protrude through his eyes like darts. The pupils enlarged, swallowing up the silver-blue of the irises. If Simon could see himself reflected, he saw a man about to step off the gallows for a short ride south.
    â€œHey, Beef,” I cut in. Mostly people called him George, but “Beef” has a way of arresting his attention in an animal way.
    â€œYeah?” He turned his dilated peepers my way. Which—I won’t lie—unnerved me.
    â€œIt’d be no contest. Just give me a blackjack, some cords to tie you down, and a car running outside with a Tommy gunner to make my getaway when you tear through those ropes.”
    â€œThat’d be about right, gumshoe.” He was mollified, his eyes turning dull again. The silver-blue leached back around the pupils. “You got that, Simon? No matter what this guy’d try, I’d still tear him apart.” He returned to me and feinted right and left, then landed—what to him—was a light punch on my right shoulder. For me, it was more like he’d slammed a hammer against bone.
    â€œOuch, Beef, you’re slaying me. I give,” I said. I rubbed my shoulder exaggeratedly, but it sure as hell hurt. The Beef skipped around lightly, made as if to punch Simon, too, but Simon threw his hands up in front of him like he was at gunpoint. Then, The Beef laughed. It was a laugh like a machine gun,
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat,
somewhere deep in his throat. He stopped his antics and slung an arm around Simon’s shoulder.
    â€œAh, Simon. Buddy, I love to fuck with you. I really love it.” Simon picked up his beer and tried to smile, but it was more like a wince, and his lips quivered just a bit. I recognized then that a keen sense of hunger was erupting for that mythical bout I’d always wanted to see happen between Broad Jimmy and The Beef. I’d be there. And I’d have a big goddamn blackjack for The Beef.
    I decided not to stick around to see what other fun and games The Beef would be up to. Besides, sooner or later Broad Jimmy would come down from his upstairs apartment and assist Kira with the nighttime bar duty. And when he did, she would reign in the flirtation to the occasional discreet wink. Not only that, but The Beef would be