Hollywood Ending by Kathy Charles Page A

horse.’
    â€˜You’re disgusting. It’s not like that.’
    â€˜Okay. I’ll come then.’
    I tightened my grip on the grass. Hank had been something I wanted to keep to myself, something just for me, but now I had no way of telling Benji I didn’t want him there. I was worried about what he might say, or do. But there was no way I couldn’t let him come. Hank would be fine, I figured. He was a tough guy. He could handle a kid like Benji.
    â€˜Okay, sure. I mean—you don’t have to. It’s pretty boring over there.’
    â€˜On the contrary, it sounds like there’s a mystery afoot.’
    I couldn’t fault him there. I had to admit I was intrigued by Hank, by what he said and what he didn’t say. He seemed eager to have visitors, and at the same time uncomfortable with their presence. I reasoned to myself that we were doing a good deed, that visiting Hank in his old apartment and keeping him company was akin to community service. But in my heart I knew it was the dead cat all over again. Something about Benji’s eagerness also made me nervous. I watched him lying on the grass, his eyes closed, body cushioned by the earth beneath him. I worried about Benji, but I wasn’t sure whether he was a danger to others, or just himself.
    An expensive car pulled up in front of us and a man in a business suit got out. He was followed by a young couple, anticipation etched on their faces. They looked at us curiously as they started to walk up the path and the man in the business suit stared at me with a confused smile.
    â€˜Can I help you?’ he asked. He looked at Benji lying on the grass, eyes still closed. The couple locked hands nervously.
    â€˜No,’ I said, as I got up, brushing grass off my jeans. ‘We were just leaving.’
    â€˜Hey,’ Benji shouted from the ground. ‘You interested in buying this place?’
    The guy held his girlfriend’s hand tighter. ‘Don’t know yet,’ he said with a forced smile.
    â€˜Oh, this place is great,’ Benji said, getting up, and the estate agent smiled with relief. ‘It’s the kind of place you could really lose your head over.’
    The agent stopped smiling. The couple looked at him for an explanation and I dragged Benji off, hissing at him to shut up as his laugh echoed down the street.

THIRTEEN
    â€˜You didn’t tell me you were bringing him ,’ Hank scowled, refusing to open the door more than an inch.
    Benji saluted like a captain and tried to get his hand through the door, almost getting his fingers chopped off as Hank struggled to close it on him.
    â€˜I can’t catch a cab every day,’ I said. ‘He gave me a lift. It’s cool.’
    â€˜Good afternoon Mr Anderson,’ Benji beamed. ‘Lovely day.’
    Hank looked over our shoulders. ‘You got anyone else with ya? Huh? Any more of your little friends?’
    Benji looked behind him. A Korean woman stepped out of her apartment and threw a saucepan of hot water onto the concrete.
    â€˜There’s one!’ Benji cried as she scarpered back inside. ‘No, wait, she’s gone.’
    I kicked Benji in the ankle. ‘It’s just us,’ I assured Hank, ‘and I got you these.’
    I held up a bag from Blockbuster Home Video, filled with tapes. I took one out and shook it at him. ‘Psycho ? I’ve got Lawrence of Arabia too. The uncut version.’
    Hank closed the door in our faces, and for a moment I thought we’d been given our marching orders. Then we heard the sound of a chain unlocking and the door opened. We slithered through the crack Hank had left for us.
    â€˜Wipe your feet,’ he snarled at Benji, who did a little tap dance on the welcome mat before stepping inside. Hank walked to the kitchen to prepare some tea. I put the bag of tapes on the coffee table and sat on the sofa. Benji slid over and whispered in my ear.
    â€˜Looks like