Maximum Bob by Elmore Leonard

Author:Elmore Leonard
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Judges, Mystery & Detective, Probation officers, General, Literary, Palm Beach (Fla.), Palm Beach County (Fla.), Mystery fiction, Judges - Florida, Suspense, Fiction
ISBN: 9780060084080
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2002-07-11T04:00:00+00:00

17

“It was on the kitchen table,” Kathy said, watching Gary gnawing on a barbecued rib, his little fingers pointing out, the guy so neat. “But I don’t know if a shank is considered a weapon outside.” She watched Gary shake his head now, meaning he didn’t know either. “Elvin couldn’t have brought it with him, so I guess he made it, showing Dale how to do prison. What do you think?”

This time Gary nodded, sitting across from her in the booth with his suit coat off, cotton dress shirt soft and snowy white, an ad for Tide. Except he would never drip barbecue sauce on it to show how the detergent would get it out. He had asked where she wanted to go. She said she didn’t care, as long as it wasn’t dressy. He said how about Chuck’s Bar-B-Que Pit, his favorite place.

It was okay. They served pitchers of beer.

“Dale acts tough,” Kathy said, but he goes to FSP, he finds out he’s just another punk. I’m thinking maybe Elvin talked to him. You know, advised him, showed him how to make a shank… Dale says holy shit, man, he’d rather be a fugitive than try to hack DOC time. Or Elvin might’ve told him, you’re out, stay out. And he took off.”

Gary nodded, Mr. Agreeable today, picking up his napkin. “Who do you think he looks like in the movies?”

“Elvin or Dale?”

“Elvin.”

Kathy hesitated, then took a chance and said, “I don’t think he looks like anybody.”

“I don’t either,” Gary said. “Maybe some bit player. Elvin overacts, trying to be the bad guy.”

“But he is. What did you talk about when I was in the house?”

“I asked him if Dale had taken off, where he might be. Elvin said he didn’t know.”

“You believe him?”

“It doesn’t matter one way or the other. I can’t make him tell me if he doesn’t want to.”

“He told you to get fucked—I thought you were going to hit him.”

“That was for your benefit. He wouldn’t have said it if it was just him and me.”

“You weren’t mad?”

“I might’ve been on the edge.”

“Why didn’t you pull your gun?”

“I didn’t have to.”

“I mean instead of grabbing him by the hair.”

“Why? I wasn’t going to shoot him.”

“But you took a chance, he’s a big guy.”

“You had him distracted.” Gary smiled saying it. “They teach you that finger hold at the Academy? Somebody your size, you ever have to get physical, I think you’d do better with a gun.”

“You sound like my brothers.”

“At least show it. That’s why Elvin and I got along, after. I had a gun and he didn’t. What can he do? Guy fresh out of prison, does he want to risk going back? He isn’t that dumb.”

“Yes, he is,” Kathy said. “He doesn’t think. You heard him say he’s working for a doctor in Ocean Ridge? It has to be the same one Michelle was talking about, in the office.”

“Michelle,” Gary said. “She the one stands real straight? Has the nice posture?”

“You mean the cute ass.

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