30

Rufus helped me wash most of the piss and blood off my face, but there was nothing I could do about my blue jeans and shirt, which were also soaked through.

“What the hell happened?” he said.

“I got jumped by Walsh, Argent, and some kid.”

“Did you piss yourself?”

“No, Walsh pissed on me.”

“Sweet Jesus.”

I looked in the mirror. My Braves hat had even been darkened on one side by piss. My nose looked crooked and hurt with every beat of my heart. My lip was so swollen, it looked like roses were growing out of it.

“He also threatened those kids if I didn’t stop trying to find Mary.”

“Fuck him. He’s got to go down.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think we can count on much support from Patterson.”’

“I thought you said he was a good man.”

“He’s not crooked like Hank Shaw was, but he’s still comprised. The mayor is tight with Walsh.” I splashed some water on my face. “I need some pain meds.”

“I got whiskey at my place. Tons of it.”

I shook my head. “I need to go to Susan’s.”

“Why Susan’s?”

“That’s where the kids are. I’ve got to make sure they’re all right.”

“Makes sense,” Rufus said. “Then what?”

I closed my eyes and tried to think. There was the tattoo artist who did Lambert’s tattoo. I’d already planned to pay him a visit with Ronnie the next day. There was also the warehouse that both Lambert and Ronnie had guarded for Lane Jefferson. There seemed like more, but I couldn’t think of anything else.

“I got some places to check out tomorrow, but I’m going to need Ronnie,” I said. “You’re welcome to come along … but maybe you need to work on protest stuff.”

He nodded. “I’m available if I can help.”

“I know.”

“And I’d like to think I’m more useful than that asshole.”

“You are … in most cases, but the things I need to do tomorrow … well, one of them is going to be illegal.”

“Shit, let’s get you to bed. You ain’t thinking straight.”

Leaving the bar that night would normally have been beyond embarrassing, but I was still too pissed about Walsh all but admitting he’d masterminded taking Mary, not to mention his threat toward Virginia and Briscoe, to give a good goddamn.

People cleared a path for us as we came through, probably as much due to the smell of piss as the way we looked, which I’m sure was ghoulish at best and downright horrific at worst.

At the door, I turned around and saw Jeb Walsh back at the table with his friends, including Mayor Keith. He raised his glass at me and smiled.