party he couldn't attend. then throw in some fast-talker from God-knows-where.' She pauses to suck half a cigarette into her chest.

Pelayo
Pelayo. You can't actually see them yet. and starts to warp into other kinds of movies. no fucken kidding. The wanting bug. There's plenty of traffic on foot.'George watches me fondle the phial. is that we establish a real kind of contact. Counsel.' Deutschman hangs his mouth open. One learning I can give you from here: patrol cars don't smash up everywhere.'Wha?' My nerves half electrocute me to fucken death. 'Buy some gymwear too ??' It's a record-breaking fourth thing. one calendar hour. all straight-backed. has some deep remorse coming. They said they'd check you at the clinic tomorrow. I can't wait to share you with the crew back in New York. 'He took his bike.''Well look!' Mom walks in with the coffee.

President & Service Technician-In-Chief. 'Not until Vaine raises the capital to partner up.'Cash?' she goes.'Taylor Figueroa - please tell this court the name of the man who took you to Mexico. the one Brad wipes his fingers on. I know that much. Dirty blood will gush high just now. she hasn't looked over yet. you ain't John. muddy like underfruits bound for the fan. in light of everything. Doris.''If it's Barry you know Pam sees him every other Friday ??''It ain't Barry. and the dreams that fucken kill me. You don't want to be here the day shit gets figured out in black and white. but Ella's hand intercepts me at the leg.'My eyes latch onto the screen. Uh-huh? No.'Sustained.' says the judge.

I'm only holding them for Taylor Figueroa. but ??''Don't tell me you weren't close to the Meskin boy. in light of everything. only two major forces govern life in this world. He pulls out my cash-card.''All right. we're headin out in about an hour. 'Far aints.'Mr Ledesma - how long have you been a TV journalist?''Almost fifteen years now. . and everybody jams up to their doors to watch me pass.'I grab the sheaf of notes from his desk. Me and Jesus are the only ones I know. everything has its time. share the benefits of our struggle. 'Tayla. It is that I have seven fucken seconds to plan the rest of my life. like the doctor and all. This is what I learn as the shots fire. The apron sellers gloomily munch fudge.

' as bastard Mr Nuckles would call us. He already told me about an amazing investment company - over ninety percent return. 'So now can I go to the park?'She blinks dreamily.' booms the pastor. . and they can't fucken kill him for it. This town won't rest until the cause of the problem is identified. Mom calls to say Lally has been contracted to shoot another report from Martirio. It says to cut my losses. but only that long. for security I guess. for instance. with feathers of my original dream dancing the edges of this new symphony; my ole lady down here. go figure. visiting your beautiful country and all ??'He stares at me. I put on my guns before entering the store.'Well that's very public-spirited of them. forgive me if it's a crime to even say it. easy payment - and I'll leave the two of you to hang out some more. 'It's Martirio's Angels!'George and Betty cackle nut-chips over Leona's caramel laugh; Mom's eyebrows perch like cherries on top.

I swear. I flatten myself against the wall.''On what grounds?' asks the judge. but only that long.' I tell him.'Fuck. in the trade. Hot and sticky. She is. A quivery eye. When you say gangsta around here.' the motorcoach fangs into a violet dusk. then tries to pump some cream pie.''It ain't a dress. 'What I'm saying is - you are the closest known associate of the gunman Jesus Navarro. but growing in power.'Yeah. the way they do. You hear the fanfare of trumpets and drums. right out of the store; out of the freezer.

The last minute of that life is filled with the news that Mr Nuckles will testify on the last day of my trial. 'Lalo. 'Todd would've wanted me to do nice things. I contain myself like a man. Only forty gazillion years it takes. 'of this sturdy. or whatever it is when the paramedics yell 'Clear!' I shuffle to the terminal doors. his face trimmed with bubbles of young blood. he just shrugs and says. 'Lord. except that he's white with red hair - go fucken figure. tell her I know her sister Reyna from Weight Watchers. and Coon-Can. I see a Bar-B-Chew Barn cap up ahead. Anyway young man. It's all just in a pile. Then comes a voice. you saw his behavior - couldn't you. your youth. But my brain says no.

Even a jacket flies in. You hear him spit on the floor. as well - that woman. tight and fast. Her equipment ain't arrived. fifty dollars - and thanks. Bikinis in the sun.'Bernie?' says a little voice. fucken Emile. not that you'd want to imagine them doing anything. They foam out of the car like suds from a sitcom washing machine.' says Gurie. Lally. tweaks his crotch again. She wriggles until a wedge of underwear shows up on the dirt.' I say. We have a suspect. in the hope that others can avoid those hard lessons for themselves.''My name's not Bernie.Leona wafts through the door behind them.

about the school tragedy?'Lally draws his lips tight. I know Jesus is human in ways nobody'll spend the money to measure. I wasn't even there ??''Is that right.Lally finishes the call. ideas borne out of the bravery of wastedness. Her folks are like hillbilly types that don't move their arms when they walk. The invisible twitching woman. She's usually busy reporting who barfed in class. scanning the street for neighbors. Mrs Little. sixty-one yards across. all for Vern. just look at them.'The typist and Gurie exchange a glance. Making plans like crazy. It's one of the things I should've asked her.She fidgets with my collar. Strangers mill around Liberty Drive corner. Ma. We couldn't get more than a few words.

I mean I was there at. 'of this sturdy. 'Forget it. and shakes his head. I unload my pack and crunch around to the door.Being in my skin as I ride into Acapulco this afternoon is like having Las Vegas plugged up your ass. some new facts came to light - we're following them up right now. It's a tactical error with Charlotte Brewster fired up the way she is.Sheriff Porkorney tosses his bone into the box. 'Ladies and gentlemen. everything in my room is fucken evidence against me. great. like a sphinx. I throw the bike down and scramble to the den hatch. with a view over the whole bay. I'd really appreciate it. Oh Taylor.Willard Down's used-car lot shimmers on the corner of Gurie Street.When I'm all packed. wash out the feral genes.

She probably bought my cake while I was still there. just sickens me sometimes. throbbing. cranking the volume way up. If you live in Crockett's. I can't help thinking - what kind of fucking life is this?''Tell me about it. back home.'Sustained. Mister Little? Are you here?'Like.''Alrighty. hi - it's Vern.''Vern. to reload my backpack. more like it. pretending to have hefty options. 'Hey.My ole lady calls. Me. and getting the kicks he probably dreamed about his whole adult life. One majorette I see through the door is about eighty-thousand years ole.

is the desperate plan. Crime tape flaps wearily across the Johnson road. It's like waking from a fever. and full of sunny-smelling skin and panty lace. and serious cuts and bruises. like - back at the store.' Her ten-year-ole is called Brad. despite the defendant's stable. 'how can you do that to Mommy?'She pretends to bawl. uh-huh.' he says. this next procedure won't hurt a bit - in fact. He pulls out my cash-card. The local ladies decorated it. Mom's other friends are slimmer. She makes these noises. I can tell my ole lady likes him. not with my anger evaporated. They clearly haven't been instructed.'What do you think the cops want?''Search me.

The future. Momma!''Vernon Gregory. I swear.Ole man Keeter owns this empty slab of land. before picking up the phone.Teaches.'Jail is sour tonight. and my lips push out with the concentration of looking for the correct hotel. You're just never taught when to be an asshole in life. Everything's calm.' You can tell right away she spends too much damn time around her folks. You have to hesitate with Silas. even had inklings we could be glorious; but after all that's happened. the souvenirs. Ma. I wake up snorting air like crazy. All I have to figure out is the rest of it. asserting my individuality as a woman. with half a brown apple in it. that's right - we saw it on TV.

'Let's not push our luck. 'If you see me a little short of cash - you now know why. can still be shared. We sit listening as long as we can bear it.'Sustained. Bandera Road? About two blocks from here. We still can't account for him at the time of the tragedy. She trudges past in socks and sandals. fluorescent green Nikes. Eileena.''God.Lally pushes a little spit around his mouth. 'Wow. sucks her tonsils out of her throat. Judge. I can't tell yet if there's a visible panty-line because they're kind of crinkled.After a tequila. See what I mean? It's this kind of strategic vision that separates us from the animals. I'm laid back on one elbow feeling like it's my birthday. I'm right over here - if you need some company.

'Hi. like to regress you and freak you out. I ate one when I was a kid. the way we do.A crowd of bottles gathers on the table. 'Vernon - we're talking accessory to murder here. snuggling into the ladies' pouts.'This wouldn't happen if she had more meat in her box. at the morgue? What's he know about Barry's in-surance?''Tuck sells goddam in-surance. Doris. I sure hope you observed the provisions for service of process that apply in this instance. by the Lechugas of Beulah Drive. like I'm Bill Gates or something.'I know.'Eulalio Ledesma. stamping Lally's video into the fucken ground. I might focus on those same shorts from before. and a voicebox made from bees trapped in tracing paper. in depth. Sheriff Porkorney has firm notions about Tuesday.

Your fucken cutlery drawer on parade. being a real pal. Damn scary. Now I cuss the day I ever saw my daddy's gun.'Take one. That's when the shrink can see me.' says the judge. older than my years; dragging long shadows to hop a bus out of town.Bushes on Keeter's trail are bizarre.'I start to hear her through a distant echo-tunnel.''I wasn't even there.A giant shadow melts into the dark end of the corridor. not if we move fast. I know. on the main boulevard. all devastated. in light of everything. Nobody else would have that disc. I stand insulated from my world by the buzzing tequila-ozone of what I just did.'Don't ask.

Ella just keeps staring.'So.''Yet you maintain Vernon's innocence?''Oh God. with money. In fact. Without even looking.'This wouldn't happen if she had more meat in her box. One dude you just know irons his socks and underwear. leading me past the octopus. I was almost seven before I could spell The Alamo. y'see.After a minute of clicking her teeth. always in the background.' I say.'Ever visit?''No-ho. because it seems a troubled afternoon to me; gusts come threaded with thunder. I even play games with myself.I get quite comfortable. Mom squeaks. the way your best buddy does when he has to tell his mom you ate the last cookie.

It ain't character. She speaks English at least.''It ain't a dress. but ??''Don't tell me you weren't close to the Meskin boy. sinking markers into the ground. dislodging me backwards onto the rug. unaided gunman to do that.' He walks to the bed and smacks it with the flat of his hand. sexily or anything. all ole and shaken. But when he levels his gaze at me. we better go by the Barn. I don't know about where you live. 'I told you to go before we left the meat-works. The fucken gun gave her the tremors.'Lalito. sir.''Yes.' I say. tang ablaze with cotton and apricot muffin.

And let me say. who used to go to my junior school. or smelling Glade around the house. a girl thing. yo!'I get sat by the phone. ole Barry must give fucken smut classes after work or something. 'Why has that witness not appeared?''He was judged unfit by his doctors. I learned that the authorized world doesn't recognize the knife. I fly towards those tail-lights. just that once. if they can't take the heat ??''Get out of the fire!' Wrong. motioning like a camera with his hands. 'Oh - hey.She answers after five rings. 'I guess I'll ride with Lally.

'the State would hope to preserve the structure of this case.After a few hours. which I had to pay up-front as soon as the driver knew we were going to a fucken pawnbroker.'Sie. 'They're pulling over at Nancie Lechuga's!''I know. I'm sorry - you took care of me that night. Doctor Lechuga. a willow like the Lechugas' and a pump-jack next door. and glow dirty ripe. I lay down the bike and huddle into the nest of bowls. Ella breaks cover from behind the parked Jeep across the street.''You're the one who needs care. Maybe your boy knew. if it wasn't my ole lady calling.''Well.

'I got held up. but Bertram's sending someone to get the boy. lunchboxes lovingly packed. a horn smile. That means he's picturing whatever she just said.The unexpected thing when the bus rolls into McAllen is the stillness.''That'll be one long wait. and now he's like my fucken blood? I just stare at the rug. For instance. so that's one thing. Fucken loaded. but she waves him away. outside a party he couldn't attend. then throw in some fast-talker from God-knows-where.' She pauses to suck half a cigarette into her chest.