Cop Out Read Free Page B

that big moosh of yours, Goldie. I’m telling you! When Howland sent this Taylor into town for coffee and we hit him on the road, he put up a fight and we had to cool him with a knock across the ear. We tied him up and threw him in some bushes. How many times I got to tell you?”
    Hinch said, “We parking here all night?”
    â€œLet me think!”
    Goldie let him think. When she thought the time was ripe she said, “Maybe if we think out loud.”
    Furia immediately said, “So?”
    â€œThe watchman can’t finger you, you hit him in the dark. Nobody saw us at the plant except Howland, and he’s dead.”
    â€œThat’s why I hit him. That and the extra cut. But you got to make out like I’m a dumdum.”
    â€œIf we’d worked it the way I said,” Goldie said, “he’d have cut his throat before he fingered us. But I’m not going to argue with you, Fure. The big thing went sour was the manager driving past the plant. So now we’re hung up here. For a while they’re going to stop every car trying to leave New Bradford.”
    â€œI know,” Hinch said brightly. “We bury it.”
    â€œAnd have the paper rot or be chewed up? Or somebody find it?” Goldie said.
    â€œWe sure as a bitch ain’t throwing it away,” Hinch growled.
    â€œWho said anything about throwing it away? It’s got to be put somewhere safe till they stop searching cars. The shack would be good, but we’re cut off from there till they get fed up and figure we made it out before they set up the blocks. Meantime—the way I see it, Fure—we need help.”
    â€œThe way she sees it,” Hinch said. “Who’s fixing this match, Fure, you or her?”
    But Furia said, “What help, Goldie?”
    â€œSomebody to keep it for us.”
    â€œThat’s a great idea that is,” Furia said. “Who you going to ask, the fuzz?”
    Goldie said, “Yes.”
    Hinch jiggled his bowling-ball head. “I tell you, Fure, this broad is bad news. Some joke.”
    â€œNo joke,” Goldie said. “I mean it.”
    â€œShe means it,” Hinch said with disgust.
    Furia picked a sliver of steak out of his teeth. “With a farout idea like that there’s got to be something in it. What’s on your mind, Goldie?”
    â€œLook,” Goldie said. “I’ve been keeping in touch with my family off and on through kid sister Nanette—”
    â€œThat is absolutely out,” Furia said. “I ain’t stashing no twenty-four grand with a bunch of rubes.”
    â€œAre you kidding? They’d break a leg running to Chief Secco with it. Ma’s the big wheel in her church, and my old man thinks having a bottle of beer in your car is a federal offense.” Goldie laughed. “But Nanette’s no square. She’s looking to cut out one of these days, too. I know from her letters. She does a lot of babysitting nights and one of her steady jobs is for a couple named Malone, they had a kid Barbara. The Malones live in a one-family house on Old Bradford Road. It’s one of the original streets of the town, never any traffic, and the neighbors pull their sidewalks in at nine o’clock. Well, Wesley Malone is a cop.”
    â€œThere she goes again,” Hinch said.
    â€œOn the New Bradford police force.”
    â€œWhat gives with this dame?” Hinch demanded of Taugus County. “Some idea! We should park our loot with the town cop!”
    But Furia was heavily in thought. “How old did you say their kid is, Goldie?”
    â€œMust be eight or nine by now.”
    â€œYou got yourself a deal.”
    â€œBut Fure,” Hinch protested.
    â€œThat’s the beauty part,” Furia said. “A cop’s got to know the facts of life, don’t he? He ain’t going to panic and try something stupid. Okay, Hinch, get going.”
    â€œWhere to?” Hinch