Crackpot Palace Read Free Page B

A bullet had left a gaping third eye in his forehead.
    â€œThe rat fuck,” said Dex. He leaned over, grabbed his hat where it had fallen, and then felt through Killheffer’s jacket pockets. All he came up with was a cigar tube, holding a single Wrath Majestic. He slipped it into his inside jacket pocket.
    â€œThey’re coming,” said Adeline. She hit the lights. There was the sound of running feet and voices in the hallway. “They’re going door-to-door.”
    â€œWe’ll shoot our way out,” said Dex.
    Adeline was next to him. She whispered in his ear, “Don’t be a jackass; we’ll take the fire escape.”
    Dex moved toward the window. Adeline slipped off her heels.
    Somehow Mondrian had known to call the car up, because when Dex and Adeline arrived in front of the Ice Garden, breathless, scuff marks on their clothes, the Belvedere was there, top down and running, Jim-Jim holding Adeline’s door.
    â€œI like your shoes,” said the boy, pointing to her bare feet.
    â€œMy new fashion, Jim,” said Adeline.
    Dex moved quickly around the car. Mondrian was there to open the door for him. As Dex slid in behind the wheel, he said, “No hard feelings about tonight,” and flashed a tip to cover the intended homicide. Mondrian bowed slightly and snatched the bill.
    â€œEver at your service,” said the maître d’. “Safe journey.” He shut the car door.
    Dex took a silver dollar out of his pocket, hit the gas, and flipped the coin back over the car. Jim-Jim caught it and before he could stash it in his vest pocket, the Belvedere was no more than two red dots halfway down the avenue of monkey-puzzle trees.
    â€œMy feet are killing me,” said Adeline as they screeched out of the entrance to the Ice Garden and onto the desert highway.
    â€œYou are one hell of a shot,” he said.
    â€œLucky,” she said, her voice rising above the wind.
    â€œI’ll cherish the moment.”
    â€œAll well and good,” said Adeline, “but what’s his game this time?”
    â€œLaughter in the dark,” said Dex and cut the wheel hard to the right. Adeline slid toward him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The car left the road and raced along an avenue of moonlight, plowing through tumbleweeds, trailing a plume of dust across the desert. Adeline switched on the radio and found Dete Walader, crooning “I Remember You.”
    T hey lay on a blanket beneath shimmering stars. A light breeze blew over them. Here and there, the dark form of a cactus stood sentry. Ten yards away, the radio in the Belvedere played something with strings. Adeline took a sip from her silver flask and handed it to Dex. He flicked the butt of the Majestic off into the sand, and took a drink.
    â€œWhat is this stuff?” he asked, squinting.
    â€œMy own special mixture of oblivion,” she said.
    â€œThat’s Killheffer’s line,” he said. “Did you see him tonight?”
    She nodded and laid her cheek against his chest. “In the ladies’ room, he was in the stall next to the one I chose, waiting for me.”
    â€œHe gets around,” said Dex, “ ’cause he was at our table when I got back to it.”
    â€œHe whispered from the other stall that he wanted me to kill Mondrian. I said I wouldn’t, but then he said he had the solution and was willing to trade me for the murder. I told him I wanted to see it. The next thing, the door to my stall flew open and he was standing there. I almost screamed. I didn’t know what to do. I was on the toilet, for criminy’s sake. He had that stupid smile on his face, and he pulled down his zipper.”
    Dex rose to one elbow. “I’ll kill him,” he said.
    â€œToo late,” said Adeline. “He reached into his pants and pulled out this big hypodermic needle with green juice in it. He said, ‘You see the tip at the end of that