Blitz

He smiled, said,

‘To tell the truth, the guy didn’t want to part with it. Said the sign had been in the window since Romero’s opened. I didn’t really want to know how long that might have been.’

She took a deep breath, then:

‘So, now what?’

‘Well, I better get you home and maybe, you’ll ask me in for a drink.’

‘Okay.’

As he put the car in gear, he said,

‘I thought we might... try... and start over.’

She didn’t answer for a long time till,

‘I don’t know if there’s such a thing as second chances. It’s hard enough first time.’

He tried to keep the disappointment from his voice, said,

‘Yeah, I thought I’d ask is all.’

She punched his shoulder, said,

‘Jeez, don’t give up so easy, where’s your fight at?’

Later, that night, lying in bed, he said,

‘That was awesome.’

‘It’s rehab, makes you hot.’

She got out of bed, went to the kitchen, got two beers. The thought of a fast line surfaced but she bit down hard, went back to the bedroom. He was propped up on one elbow, said,

‘I better tell you what’s been happening with The Blitz.’

‘They’ve caught him?’

‘Not exactly.’

He went over the whole series of events and she didn’t once interrupt. He concluded with:

‘Weiss is holed up in some posh London hotel with The Tabloid picking up the tab. Any day now, we’ll be treated to his exclusive story.’

Falls put her beer down, said,

‘You seem certain he’s the killer.’

‘Not just me. Brant, Porter Nash, the Kensington guys, they all swear he’s the one.’

They were silent and he said,

‘Lots of loose talk about someone maybe doing the job themselves, shooting the fuck.’

She was shaking her head, going,

‘No, no.’

He shrugged, said,

‘I suppose you’re right. A cop taking the law into his own hands isn’t exactly the ideal solution.’

She took his face in her hands, looked right at him:

‘You misunderstand. I’m not against that; it’s the shooting I disagree with... it should be a hammer.’