The Erection Set

“Going somewhere?” I shouldn’t have let my teeth show through the grin like that. Hell, I could have told him where he was going. His face was like the proverbial open book. He was scared halfway out of his mind, but he was still the same old Lee and going through no matter what happened.

“Don’t stop me, Dog.”

I shrugged, stepped aside and pulled a cigarette from my pack. “That leather’s tough. It won’t burn so easily. And besides, supposing some of that money starts drifting up the flue and lands in the street?”

The simple idea of it shook him and this time his fingers did let go. The bag slammed to the floor and rocked over slowly to lie on its side.

“You always could think things through, you bastard.” His face was mad now, more at himself for being stupid, then his anger turned back to me again. “Okay, where can I dump it?” He was ready to come through me again.

“Why not try the bank? There’s one across the street.” I looked at my watch. “We still have an hour until closing.”

“Don’t try bluffing me out, Dog.”

“You can always call, kid.”

“Okay, I’m calling,” he said.

I went over, picked up the bag and he followed me out, pulling on a tattered sport jacket over his T-shirt.

The teller called the manager and the manager called the president. Lee waited in the reception room while the president took me into his office. Two bank guards stood by watching Lee, and his lips were dry and cracked. When I came out, the bank was closed for the day, but we got a grand escort to the front door and a fine shaking of hands.

Outside, I handed Lee an envelope with the two pass-books, so he could look at them and he still didn’t have enough spit in him to wet his lips. All he could say was, “What took so long?”

“They had to count it,” I said.

“You’re crazy, Dog, absolutely crazy. You’re going to get nailed sure as hell. Right now they’re on somebody’s hot line and we’ll have visitors before we ever get home.”

“What makes you say that?”

He shook his head, astounded at my lack of interest. “Buddy, unless that was tax-paid, clean money with verified sources of ownership, your ass is in one hell of a sling.”

I grinned at him. “How about that? Now can I get my shower?” I asked.

I said, “Rose?”

“Yeah, Dog.” She sounded sleepy, but she knew my voice.

“I need you.”

“Sure. I knew you would. I’ve been waiting.”

“Sorry to be so long.”

“It’s only a day. Forget it.” I heard her yawn elaborately and let.her get it out.

“You’re going to get a kick in the twat, honey. Money you can grab, but take that from the slobbies, okay?” I said.

“Come on, Dog...”

“If you really want me to wake you up...”

“Try getting past the doorman.” She hung up with total, flat finality and I went up and got past her doorman. The fifth pick opened the lock and I kicked her out of bed and watched her lie there, eyes wide open for a good five seconds, wondering if she was going to be raped or robbed and when she finally recognized me all she could say was, “What happened to the doorman?”

“I gave him a hundred bucks,” I told her.

“He can’t be bought.”

“If he didn’t take it I’d of killed him,” I said.

“He’s a retired cop. An honest one.”

“So I lied. I said I was your lover ...”

“He believed it?”

“Shit. He said you deserved the likes of me,” I grinned at her. “He thought I was a cop too.”

“He would have asked for your badge.”

“Come on, I showed it to him.”

“Dog ... all that for a piece of ass? You could have had it for free if you wanted.”

“Then...”

“Shut up and get dressed.”

Rose said, “Tell me ...”

“No,” I told her, “Lee doesn’t know. Only you know. Amateurs are out and that’s for sure.”

“I want my due. Something’s on your mind and if I have to go along I want my due.”

“That’s old-timey talk, sweetie.”

“So give me my due.”

“Like what?”

“A piece of ass,” she laughed.

“Supposing it hurts?”

“Use some baby oil. It won’t hurt. I can control my sphincter muscle.”

“Oh, you dirty girl.”

“But don’t you love me?”

“Naturally.”

“So? Don’t tell me it’s your first time?”

“It isn’t.”

“I didn’t think so. You probably come equipped with your own lubricant,” she said.

“Not now.”

“At least I did,” she told me.

“So break out the baby oil,” I said. I smirked at her and stepped out of my pants. “Stop watching,” I told her.

“I just wanted to see if you were equipped,” she said.

“Hell, doll, I only want to satisfy you without hurting your little teeny tiny body.”

Her laugh was loud and clear. She flipped the covers off, switched onto her spread legs in such a classic position with her head buried in her folded arm that she damn near forgot what I came for. “Go, man,” she said.

I lit a cigarette and said, “Sorry about that, kid.”

Rose looked around, all expecting to see the weirdo, the incapable, the all talk, but I was big and able and ready to go, only I wanted a smoke first.

“Dog, you’re a dirty slob.”

“I could have told you that.”

“Why?”