Oslo probably owed them money. Sockeye Sammy’s shiner testified that it might not be a good idea to stiff his employer. But if I couldn’t pay up, I’d surely make myself scarce, too!

Jolly Jay rested the Louisville Slugger on his shoulder, as if he were Thor or some other god-like warrior who had come down from the heavens to our Deus ex machina rescue.

Oh, we’ll see you again, Mike. Just not with the same, pretty face. I hear you’re an actor, too. Pity. Your days of wooing leading ladies are about to end.

From inside the cooler, Duke pounded on the door one, last time: “Let me outta here!

Just so we’re straight,” I said confidentially, staring into his lazy eyes, a stupid smile on his sophomoric, look-I-can-grow-a-mustache-now face. “I don’t like you.

My life had turned into a Raymond Chandler detective story and there seemed to be nothing I could do to stop its precipitous slide.

As if some kind of demon were racking his brain, Curley Joe stood in front of the jukebox with a small, silver handgun still pointed at the hole its bullet had blown through the shattered Plexiglas.

Any weapons or drugs, Mr. Hepp?” she asked.“No. Of course not.”She continued to look inside the car at the back seat. “What’s in the briefcase?

I know when someone’s trying to get me in bed, babe,” she huffed, crossing her arms under her breasts. “They were acting all giggly about it, trying to buy me shots at the bar to get me drunk.