Raylan_ A Novel - Elmore Leonard [69]
“I gave him that,” Kenneth said.
“Girl musta tried to rob the bank,” Delroy said. “I did see her taken to the courthouse, the one on Barr Street? A while later I see you go in there.”
Delroy from another angle.
“Remember the time you came to arrest me and we facin each other? I’m holdin the shotgun at my leg. You told me let go of it or you’d draw and put me down. You not holdin a gun but you say that to me. Man, I had seven years to think about it. You bullshittin me or what? Bluffin? I realize while I’m in the slam you was takin it to the edge.”
Raylan said, “Cause you don’t know how far you can take it”—reciting it word for word with Delroy on the screen—“till you get there.”
Raylan said, “Hold it, Ken, while we take you up on your offer. You think you might stir up a couple of martinis? I like the show so far, even if Delroy’s fulla shit.”
They got back to Delroy saying, “That man I shot you put me away for? You know I wasn’t aimin at his arm. I fired and the gun jumped in my hands. See, I’d borrowed it and never fired the motherfucker till I shot the man’s arm off.”
“The guy’s arm was amputated at a hospital,” Raylan said. He took a sip and raised his glass to Kenneth.
On the screen Delroy was saying, “It wasn’t like I killed him. See, I hear this C.I. asshole snitch was gonna tell you people somethin he made up I done. So now I’m in a situation and borrow this shotgun to protect myself. I face him but missed. It’s the first time I’m usin the piece. I mighta blown his head off but I didn’t, did I? Now the snitch has a lawyer tell me he wants five million for makin him a one-arm man. I tell the lawyer I make ten cents an hour bangin out license plates, off Sundays, Christmas and when I’m sick. I spend some of my dimes on toothpaste and shave cream, buy some hooch, bet a few sports games. I come out of my incarceration with four dollars and twenty cents. How’m I suppose to pay this man?”
Delroy paused and said, “This girl Jane Jones? She mighta talked to you by now—you believe I ever associated with a chick name of Jane Jones. She hasn’t yet called you, I believe she’s gonna. Claims she knows me. Wants to tell you how she thinks I make a living. She calls, I wouldn’t waste my time talkin to her.”
“She already has,” Raylan said
Kenneth looked pleased. “It’s getting good, isn’t it?”
“You’re in it too,” Raylan said.
Kenneth paused the video. “I shoot his movies and tend his bar. I know nothing of his extra-curricular activities.”
“You know the girls.”
“Which ones? There always girls. But none committing felonies that I know of.”
He turned the sound on, Delroy saying:
“Raylan, I think me and you gonna have to meet sometime. I can’t say when right now. You gonna be lookin over your shoulder till I make the scene. Then we gonna take it to the edge.”
Delroy faded out, his face serious; the screen turned black and the credits in reverse said:
A KENNY FLIX PRODUCTION
PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY
KENNETH
They finished their drinks and Raylan said, “Ken, will you get the tape for us?”
Nothing about crossing their hearts.
Kenneth said, “I suppose you want the original.”
“Everything you shot,” Raylan said.
Kenneth dialed a cell and a voice said, “Kennet?”
“You were right, he came with a SWAT team. I served martinis and we watched your movie.”
“Man brought a SWAT team?”
“A carload of marshals. You’re a popular guy.”
“Kennet, I can’t find where the man’s stayin at. I don’t like tryin to catch him at the courthouse.”
“Why didn’t you ask? He’s staying at the Two Keys. I dropped in on Crazy Night and there he was. I told you that.”
“You go there?”
“Delroy, read my lips. He’s staying there,” and let that hang before saying, “He acts as bouncer and they give him a free room and tortillas.”
“That college bar?”
“It’s fun. I love it.”
Delroy took a few moments before saying, “Man, do it in a barroom.”
“He is wearing a cowboy hat.”
“Like the big scene in a western.”
“That’s what I just said.”
Delroy said, “Yeah . . .” nodding, seeing it in his mind.
“It’ll be crowded.”
Kenneth said,