Richard Stark Parker Omnibus by Richard Stark

Author:Richard Stark
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction, Noir, Crime
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Richard Stark

(Donald E Westlake)

Slayground (1969)

PART ONE

One

PARKER JUMPED out of the Ford with a gun in one hand and the packet of explosive in the other. Grofield was out and running too, and Laufman stayed hunched over the wheel, his foot tapping the accelerator.

The armored car lay on its side in a snowbank, its wheels turning like a dog chasing rabbits in its sleep. The mine had hit it just right, flipping it over without blowing it apart. There was a sharp metallic smell all around, and the echo of the explosion seemed to twang in the cold air, ricocheting from the telephone wires up above. Cold winter afternoon sunlight made all the shadows sharp and black.

Parker ran to the rear door of the armored car, slapped the packet of explosive against the metal near the lock so that the suction cups grabbed, then pulled the cord and stepped back out of sight. The armored car's right rear tire turned slowly beside his head.

This explosion was short and flat and unimpressive, with a little puff of gray smoke that lifted into the air. Parker stepped out again where he could see, and the door was hanging open. There was nothing but blackness inside.

Grofield had been up at the cab and now he hurried back to say, "He's on his phone in there and I can't get at him."

There were no sirens yet. They were in the middle of a large city, but it was the most isolated spot on this armored car's route, a straight and little-traveled road across mostly undeveloped flats from one built-up section to another. At this point the road was flanked by high wooden fences set back on both sides, the gray fence on the left being around the ball park and the green one on the right being around an amusement park. Both of them were closed at this time of year, and there were no private homes or open businesses within sight.

Parker rapped his gun against the metal of the armored car. "Come out easy," he called. "We don't want anybody dead, all we want is money." When there was no response, he called, "Make us do it the hard way, we'll drop a grenade in there with you."

A voice called from inside, "My partner's unconscious."

"Drag him out here."

There was a shuffling sound from inside, as though they'd uncovered a mouse nest. Parker waited impatiently, knowing either or both explosions might have been heard, knowing there'd be traffic along this road eventually, knowing the driver was up there on his radio-phone.

The blue-coated guard backed out, finally, bent over, pulling his partner by the armpits. The partner had a bloody nose.

As soon as they were out, Parker took the satchel from Grofield and went in. He knew which part of the load he wanted, and he moved fast and sure in the semi-darkness inside. Outside he could hear Grofield say, "Put some snow on the back of his neck. You want to make sure he doesn't strangle on his blood.

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