You Make Me Feel So Dead by Robert Randisi Page A

generous.’
    â€˜I’m a generous guy.’
    We left the room, went down the hall to another door.

TWENTY-NINE
    â€˜I n you go,’ Hargrove said. ‘Fifteen minutes.’
    I opened the door and entered. It was a room like the one I’d just left, furnished with a table and two chairs. Danny sat at the table, looking disheveled, like he hadn’t slept in hours. There were several empty coffee containers on the table, and an empty Milky Way wrapper.
    â€˜Crap,’ he said, ‘I thought it was my lawyer.’
    â€˜Nice to see you, too.’
    â€˜Have a seat,’ Danny said. ‘Sorry I can’t offer you some refreshment.’
    I pulled out the other chair and sat across from him.
    â€˜What’s goin’ on, Danny?’
    â€˜That’s what I want to know,’ he said. ‘We went to work today and the cops were waitin’ for us. I didn’t know what the hell was going on until we got here and they told me I was under arrest for killin’ William Reynolds.’
    â€˜Did you and Penny talk about Reynolds?’
    â€˜We did,’ he said. ‘Old boyfriend who took advantage of her, blah blah blah. What do I care? I only care about who she is now.’
    â€˜That’s fine,’ I said. ‘Now tell me you’ve never seen Billy Reynolds in your life.’
    He didn’t say anything.
    â€˜Danny?’
    â€˜I can’t say that, Eddie.’
    â€˜Oh Danny,’ I said. ‘You didn’t tell me the whole story, did you?’
    â€˜No, buddy, I didn’t,’ he said. ‘I’m really sorry, Eddie.’
    â€˜OK,’ I said, ‘let’s talk about that later. Just tell me you didn’t kill the guy.’
    â€˜I didn’t kill the guy.’
    I nodded. ‘I believe you.’
    â€˜So now what?’
    â€˜So now I guess we have to wait for your lawyer,’ I said. ‘Look, I don’t have much time. They say they got your description and your plate number, that you were in the area around the house.’
    â€˜I was,’ he said, ‘but I didn’t kill him. I just wanted to talk to the guy, to convince him to leave Penny alone.’
    â€˜And did you talk to him?’
    â€˜I did.’
    â€˜Did you convince him of anything?’
    â€˜I didn’t,’ he said.
    â€˜What else?’
    â€˜I flattened him.’
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜That’s it,’ he said. ‘He said Penny was gonna have to pay to get rid of him. I … I told him there were easier ways, and I hit him. Just once.’
    â€˜And then?’
    â€˜And then I left.’
    â€˜What’d you mean when you said there were easier ways?’
    â€˜I was just trying to scare him, but the guy didn’t scare.’
    â€˜OK, quick,’ I said, ‘tell me what you saw when you were there.’
    â€˜Not much,’ Danny said. ‘I’ve been thinkin’ about it. I didn’t see anyone else, didn’t see any other cars. Not when I got there, and not when I left. As a witness, I’m fuckin’ useless.’
    â€˜You can say that again.’
    The door opened at that moment and cut off any retort he might have had.
    â€˜You’re done,’ Hargrove said.
    â€˜My lawyer here yet?’ Danny asked.
    â€˜Not yet. But don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know.’
    â€˜Can I have another minute—’ I started, but I knew the answer even before he cut me off.
    â€˜Not a chance,’ Hargrove said. ‘You’re done. Let’s go.’
    â€˜I’ll see you later,’ I said to Danny.
    â€˜My lawyer will get me out, Eddie,’ he said. ‘I didn’t kill anybody. Take Penny home.’
    â€˜I’ll have Jerry take her, and stay with her,’ I said. ‘I’ll stick around until your lawyer gets here.’
    â€˜Thanks.’
    â€˜Hey, pit boss!’ Hargrove snapped. ‘Out!’
    I left the