Zipless by Diane Dooley Read Free Book Online Page B

soon Zippy, dragged his drunken carcass to the couch and heaved him onto it.
    “They’re after me,” he slurred.
    Lou grabbed a bottle of water and emptied it over his head, smiling with satisfaction as he spluttered. She pointed a finger in his face. “It’s me you’re in trouble with, laddie.”
    Chiz started to giggle and hiccup. He might be a drunk, but he’d never been a mean one, Lou thought. And he was used to playing drunk. But— “Where’s Alasdair?”
    “With some Jamaicans.”
    “What Jamaicans?”
    “We met them at a bar down the street.”
    “So he’s at a bar? Which one?”
    Chiz shook his head and rolled off the couch. “He’s no at the bar anymore. Got to go, lass. Them…they’ll be here soon.” He pushed himself up on his feet and stood there, weaving dramatically.
    “The Jamaicans? Why are they coming here? What the hell did you do to them? Are they bringing Alasdair?”
    “Naw. He went away with them.”
    “Went with them where?”
    Chiz tried to take a step back, but ended up falling on the couch. Lou stood over him, hands on hips. Chiz looked a little terrified. “Jamaica?” He asked it nervously, trying to push himself into the couch away from her.
    Lou bent over and grabbed him by the shirt. “Tell me that—” She shook him. “—the fucking drummer—” She shook him again. “—hasn’t fucked off…to fucking Jamaica.” She kept shaking him until Bluto intervened.
    “Careful, Lou. You don’t want him hurling everywhere.”
    She stepped back, glaring at Chiz.
    “Sorry, Lou-Lou.” Chiz pushed himself up again. “I tried to stop him. But those Jamaicans were pretty persuasive.”
    The door opened and Lou turned to glare at the interruption. Two New York City police officers stood there. “That’s him,” said the female, pointing at Chiz.
    Lou thrust her hands into her hair, forcing herself not to pull it out. “What did he do?”
    The officers went over to Chiz and the male slapped handcuffs on him.
    “I didnae mean to upset you,” Chiz said to the woman. “I just saw you…and well…I fell in love. The uniform. That fierce expression?” He grinned at her stupidly.
    “You also offered me a joint and invited me back to your hotel for some rumpy-pumpy. Whatever the hell that is,” she said, furious.
    “And took off running, though it was more like staggering,” said the male officer. “That was the easiest chase ever.” He rubbed his rather rotund belly contemplatively. “Thanks for that, at least.” He hauled Chiz to standing. “And now it’s time for you to take a little ride in my vehicle.”
    “You can’t arrest him,” Lou yelled. “I need him. He’s my drummer.”
    The female officer fixed her with an icy glare. “He’s gonna be charged with every possible thing I can think up.” She pulled on Chiz’s arm, leading him towards the door. “But first he’ll be spending some time in the drunk tank.”
    “Since when was falling head over heels in love a crime?” Chiz slurred, grinning down at the very small woman with a very large gun.
    Lou closed her eyes and grimaced as Chiz was led out the door, loudly singing an extremely soppy love song. The door closed behind them.
    Bluto started to laugh. “Chiz never could resist a lady in a uniform.”
    Lou turned on him, surprised to feel hot tears burning in her eyes. “How can you laugh about this? Don’t ye understand it’s all over? Paolo in Mexico, Alasdair in Jamaica and Chiz in jail. There’ll be no big break now. After all our hard work. After all—” She stopped talking as the lump in her throat clogged her words. For it to come to this…
    “Aw, lass. It’s for the best.” Bluto tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.
    “How can you say that, Bloot?”
    He shrugged and stopped smiling for once. He eyed her, shaking his head. “Fucking blind, ye are.” He turned and started putting his guitar back in its case. He clipped it closed, picked it up, then stared at her. “We