Page 30 of Buck Baxter and the Mysteries of Love

The horn blared and the limo swerved through the streets, almost taking out a cigar stand and narrowly missing Skip selling his newspapers.

Stella was already working on the ropes behind my back,setting me free.

I pulled shut the flapping door then set about untying Harry’s ropes, while Stella wriggled through the window into the driver’s compartment and worked on freeing Lois and Lucy.

“You’ve got parents?” Harry said over his shoulder as I wrestled with his ropes. “When were you going to tell me?”

“I wanted to. Every time I tried, it just never seemed like the right time.”

“You’re supposed to let me in, Buck. I trusted you with my secrets, you’re supposed to trust me with yours, whether it’s the right time or not.”

“I’m sorry. What else do you want me to say?”

“Aren’t you at least going to tell me who they are?”

At that moment, the limo slid to a rocking halt and the twins called out, “We’re here! Ginger’s Gin Mill.”

I pushed open the door and called back to the driver’s compartment. “Stella, get to the Peking Empress. There’s no time to waste. You gotta warn Madame Chang. And be careful.”

“Will do, Buck!”

As I pulled myself toward the door, Harry followed. “I’m coming with you, whether you like it or not.”

I didn’t have time to argue.

I leapt out of the limo with Harry on my heels, the car hightailing it outta there behind us.

When I saw Bugsy’s two cauliflower-eared stooges standing guard on either side of the entrance to Ginger’s Gin Mill, I realized that Bugsy had cleared the joint so he and Mamma could have some privacy.

I bolted for the door, shouting, “There’s a bomb inside. Get them out now!”

The goons were slower off the mark than I expected, and by the time my words sank in, Harry and I were already pushing through the door and rushing into Ginger’s joint.

Bugsy and Mamma were sitting together at a candlelit table inthe corner, while Ginger prepared cocktails for them behind the bar.

All three of them looked up in surprise.

At the same time, Harry stared at my parents, even more shocked. “Your folks are Bugsy Brown and Mamma Marlow?”

“Not if I don’t get them outta here now! Quick, go get Ginger.”

I raced for the table while Harry grabbed Ginger who dropped the glass she was holding.

“Buck?” asked Bugsy. “What the hell’s going—”

“There’s a bomb. This joint’s about to blow!”

Suddenly the goons were shoving me out of the way, knocking me to the floor as one seized Bugsy and the other yanked Mamma out of her chair.

“Buck!” Mamma shouted frantically as the stooges trampled over me to get my parents out first.

I pulled myself up.

I saw Harry race out of the speakeasy with Ginger.

I saw the goons practically carrying Bugsy and Mamma out the door.

I charged after them…

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