Page 35 of Lion & Lamb

SHUGGIE: I’m serious, man. I don’t need this grief.

BERNSTEIN: In that case, Mr. Working-Class Rat, start packing your things because I’m gonna have a sanitation crew up here in twenty minutes, and you’ll be spending the next few days fishing your crap out of the Schuylkill.

SHUGGIE: [unintelligible]

BERNSTEIN: What’s that, Shuggie? Couldn’t quite make that out.

SHUGGIE: I didn’t see no Maserati.

BERNSTEIN: But…

SHUGGIE: But…I heard about a guy who’s trying to fence a Super Bowl ring. That might be of some interest to your current investigation.

BERNSTEIN: See that, Shug? I knew you were the right man to talk to. Who’s selling the ring?

SHUGGIE: You must be high if you think I’m giving you a name.

BERNSTEIN: Dude, you’re as high as giraffe balls right now. And Iknowyou’re going to give me a name because you don’t want me throwing your skinny little ass into the river with the rest of your junk.

SHUGGIE: Damn, man.

BERNSTEIN: Come on. Nobody’s around—it’s just you and me, brother. Tell me a name. I probably know the guy already.

SHUGGIE: Brother, my ass. You know the guy. It’s Percy.

BERNSTEIN: Crazy Percy Marshall? From Kensington?

SHUGGIE: Told you.

BERNSTEIN: What’s Crazy Percy doin’ with a Super Bowl ring?

SHUGGIE: I’m just telling you what I heard.

BERNSTEIN: Okay, Shug.

SHUGGIE: He’s killed people, you know.

BERNSTEIN: Is that a fact.

SHUGGIE: I’m serious. You’d better be careful out there.

BERNSTEIN: Always am.

SHUGGIE: No, man, don’t you get it? The line? You know, fromHill Street Blues? Probably before your time…

BERNSTEIN: Try that joke on my dad sometime. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

SHUGGIE: Your daddy was a psycho fascist and everybody in the city knew it.

BERNSTEIN: Want to know a secret?

SHUGGIE: What’s that?

BERNSTEIN: I’m worse.

Chapter31

8:37 p.m.

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