Page 31 of Jeremy
“Idon’t expect you to need it, but better safe, yeah?” he says, handing me apistol.
“Absolutely.”I check the gun, making sure it’s loaded and the safety is on.
Anthonycontinues to scrutinize me. “I don’t think I need to tell you that nothing youhear, see, or do today leaves this place. I have high hopes for you in ourorganization, Jeremy.”
Nodding,I tuck the gun in my waistband. “I won’t let you down.”
Ireturn to the game room, the weight of the gun in my waistband reminding meevery second that I could just kill them all right here and now. It’s tempting,but I don’t know enough about their connections. I don’t want to cut off thehead just for another to grow in its place.
Hudsonnods at me, and I follow him outside. “Just ride with me.”
Hetakes us about twenty minutes outside the city to an abandoned church, andpulls around the back of the crumbling parking lot. He backs in where we canwatch for the guy we’re here to meet.
“Isthere anything I need to know?” I ask.
“We’vedealt with him before, so I don’t expect any problems, but you never know. Theguy is a good supplier. He can find a lot of shit that’s generally hard tolocate, but we never know whether to trust him. He just got out on parole forselling firearms, and Anthony thinks it may be a little too convenient that hecould locate what we’re looking for so quickly. The good thing is he alwaysworks alone. I’ll be honest, he isn’t going to be thrilled I brought you, but Iwasn’t going to get shot and robbed out here in BFE.”
“Canyou tell me what we’re here for?”
Hudsonshakes his head. “Not my place. That’s a question for Anthony.”
“Okay.I’m just not into running drugs. I got no problem with it if that’s how youfund your place, but I really don’t want to be involved.” They don’t run drugs.None of my searches came up with anything drug related. I’m just filling time,fishing for information.
“Nah,man. We don’t fuck with drugs.”
“Goodto know.”
Apickup truck with a camper over the bed turns into the lot, and Hudson looks atme. “Stay back, but don’t take your eyes off of us. Just have my back, that’sall.”
Weboth climb out of the car as the truck parks across from us. Hudson walkstoward the truck while I wait, leaning on the hood and watching.
Awiry guy jumps out of the truck, already bitching. “You’re supposed to comealone. What is this bullshit? No witnesses. You know the rules.”
“Relax,Pan. He’s a friend. I’m teaching him the business. He’ll stay by the car.”
Pan—ifthat’s a nickname they could’ve done better—stares at me for a long moment, andI just stare back, unfazed. Finally, he turns to Hudson. “You wire the money?”
“Afteryou show me the stuff. You know how this works.”
NowI’m paying attention. I assume we’re dealing with guns here, or maybe largeamounts of ammunition, but I’d like to know exactly what and how much.
Panchuckles and walks around to the camper. Hudson glances back to make sure I’mmoving out where I can still see them as he follows him back. Pan produces twolarge boxes, setting them on the tailgate. They converse for a few minutes, butI can’t hear what they’re saying.
Hudsonopens the box and it looks like everything is going to go smoothly until hesuddenly punches Pan right in the jaw, knocking him down, but not out. Whitedust floats up when Pan’s feet stir the gravel as he clambers to get up.
“Motherfucker!”he yells, reaching for his ankle.
Idon’t think, just react. Luckily, the punch did throw him off so I’m able toget to them and pull my gun before he can reach his.
Hefreezes when I press it to the back of his neck. “Don’t fucking move.”
Histune changes quickly. “Hey, ain’t no need for that. It was just adisagreement.”
Hudsonreaches down and jerks his pant leg up, revealing the gun in an ankle holster.“Yeah, that’s why you were reaching for this? We do have a disagreement. Youthink you’re not a bottom dwelling piece of shit, and I disagree.” He takes hisgun and searches him, but it’s the only one.
Oncethe situation is under control, I step back and holster my gun. There’s no onearound that I can see, but the threat is over, and I don’t want some passerbycatching onto what’s taking place out here.
“Clay,Pan? You brought me fucking modeling clay? You teach Kindergarten in your sparetime and mix them up, or you just think I’m that stupid?”
