Early Autumn Part 11

"My advice to you, big fella, is to keep your hands to yourself," she said.

I opened another beer and we went back into the living room. Hawk was stretched out in a wing chair near the fireplace, feet straight out in front of him, body slumped easily in the chair. When we came in, he took a small sip from his champagne gla.s.s and put it back on the end table near him. Patty and Paul were watching the six o'clock news. No one was talking.

I sat in a Boston rocker on the opposite side of the fireplace from Hawk.

I said, "Paul, you did good today."

He nodded.

"Patty," I said, "tell me what happened."

"I came out of the supermarket and three men with guns made me get into the car. That one that came to our house was one of them."

"Buddy?" I said.

"Yes. He sat in front with the driver and the other man sat in back with me and we drove to a pay phone in Boston. Then we drove to the bridge and they told me to get out and start walking. Other than that they didn't talk to me at all or say anything."

"You recognize any of them, Hawk?"

"Dude I threw in the river is Richie Vega. He used to shake down ma.s.sage parlors."

Patty said, "My G.o.d, how would Mel find people like that to hire?"

Hawk raised his head slightly and looked at me. I shrugged. Hawk let his chin settle back onto his chest.

Patty Giacomin said to Hawk, "Do you know my husband?"

Hawk said, "No. Not if he go by Mel Giacomin."

"Well, that's his name."

Hawk nodded.

Patty said, "Do you know what this is all about?"

Hawk said, "No."

"You got in a fight with three men and they had guns, and you threw one into the river, and you don't even know why?"

Hawk said, "Yeah, that's right."

"And you're not a detective or anything?"

"Nope."

Paul was watching and listening. We had distracted him from the tube.

"A strong-arm man?" he said.

"Yeah, something like that," I said.

The newscasters joked painfully with the weather forecaster on television.

I said to Susan, "I don't know how much Patty's told you since she arrived, but for your benefit and Hawk's I'll run through it very quickly."

I did.

When I got through, there was silence. Hawk seemed almost asleep. Only the evening news mewled in one corner.

Susan said, "You can't continue this way. You and your husband will have to negotiate."

"After what he pulled today?" Patty said. "I will not talk to that man."

"What about the law?" Susan said.

"The law has already given me custody."

"But kidnapping," Susan said. "Kidnapping is illegal."

"You mean report him to the police."

"Certainly. You can identify at least two of the men. Hawk and Spenser can testify that they had indeed kidnapped you. Surely the police could trace it back to your husband."

Susan looked at me. I nodded. Hawk sipped champagne and put the gla.s.s back gently on the end table. He was nearly p.r.o.ne in the chair, his feet stretched out and crossed at the ankles.

"He'd kill me," Patty said.

"You mean you're afraid to tell the police because of what your husband would do?"

"Yes. He'd be furious. He'd... I can't do that."

"But he's already had you kidnapped. Aren't you already afraid of him?"

"But he wouldn't try to hurt me. If I told, he'd... I can't. I can't do that."

"So do you plan to employ me permanently?" I said.

"I can't. I can't keep paying you. I'm... running out of money."

Hawk smiled to himself. I looked at Susan.

She said, "What about Paul? How can he grow up like this?"

Patty Giacomin shook her head.

We were all quiet. Paul was watching the television again. The network news was on now. Authoritative.

Patty said, "It isn't me he wants. It's Paul. If I told on him..."

"The heat would be on you," I said. "Instead of on Paul."

Susan said, "That's it, isn't it?"

Patty shook her head. "I don't know," she said. "What difference does it make? I'm not going to the police. I'm not." Her voice was shaky. "I've still got money. We'll do something."

I said, "What?"

She said, "You take Paul."

"Take him where?" I said.

"I don't know. Anywhere. I'll pay you," she said.

"I hide Paul out so your husband can't find him?"

"Yes. I'll pay you."

"Why won't they just try the same swap again that they tried today?"

"I'll go live with a friend. Mel won't find me."

"So why not take Paul too," I said. "Much cheaper."

"He won't let me bring Paul."

"Your friend?"

"Yes."

"That wouldn't be old disco Stephen, would it? The one I met when I first brought Paul home?"

She nodded.

I said, "Probably afraid if it got too crowded, his cashmere sweaters would wrinkle."

"He's not like that. You don't know him," she said.

"Well, a friend in need..." I said.

"Will you take Paul?" Patty said.

I looked at him. He was staring hard at the network news. His shoulders were stiff and awkward. He was concentrating on ignoring us.

"Sure," I said. "It would be a pleasure."

Susan looked at me with her eyes widened. Hawk made a sound under his breath like a soft hog call.

"He ain't heavy," I said at large. "He's my brother."

Susan shook her head.

CHAPTER 14.

We ate our BLTs and drank champagne in the kitchen without much talk.

For an extra fifty dollars Hawk said he'd take Paul and his mother home and stay there till I arrived. Neither of the Giacomins looked very happy with that, but they went.

"Don't be scared," Hawk said as they left. "Some of my best friends are honkies."

Patty Giacomin looked at me.

"It's okay," I said. "He's nearly as good as I am. In the dark maybe better. You'll be fine."

Paul looked at me. "When am I going to stay with you?" he said.

"Tomorrow. I'll be home later tonight and tomorrow we'll pack up and go."

"He be around, kid," Hawk said. "One thing about old Spenser, he predictable. He say he going to do something. He do it." Hawk shook his head. "Dumb," he said.

They went out Susan and I stood in the doorway and watched them. Susan waved. Then Hawk's Jag murmured into gear and they were gone. I closed the door and turned and picked Susan up in my arms.

"Couch or bed, little lady," I said.

"G.o.d, you're masterful," she said.

"Maybe you could kick your little feet and pound prettily on my chest with your little fists?" I said.

"Be happy I don't apply heel to groin," she said, "after all the G.o.dd.a.m.ned unannounced company."

"You mean I'm going to have to force my attentions upon you?" I said.

"Yes," she said. "But you may as well force them in the bedroom. It's more comfortable."

I walked toward the hall with her. "You smell good," I said.

"I know," she said. "Halston."

The bedroom door was ajar. I pushed it open with my foot and walked in.

"You better kiss me," she said. "Stifle my screams."

I sat on the edge of the bed and kissed her. I kept my eyes open. In the light from the hall I could see that she closed hers. She moved her head away and opened her eyes and looked up at my face.