“Does knowing what you want make a difference?“
Colby glanced at him. Eddy wasn’t usually given to philosophical questions. “It makes a hell of a difference.“
“How? You think you’re tougher now because you know what you want?“
“Put it this way, Eddy. When a man finally gets his priorities straight, he knows what’s worth fighting for and what isn’t. He can conserve his energy for the important stuff.“
Eddy walked in silence for a long moment. As they approached the Mazda parked in the front drive, he resettled his camouflage cap on his thin blond hair. “I got me some new priorities these days.“
“Glad to hear it.“ Colby opened the car door and slid behind the wheel.
Eddy braced his arm on the car roof. “I got a line on something real good this time, Colby. Real good.“
Colby looked up as he switched on the ignition. “That’s great, Eddy.“
Eddy leaned closer, excitement simmering in his voice. “It’s something hot, Colby. I mean really hot. It could be the big one. The break I’ve been waiting for.“
“Good luck.“ Colby meant it but he knew Eddy Spooner would be looking for his big break until the day he died.
Eddy’s big breaks always had a way of falling to pieces before he could get his hands on them.
“You’ll see,“ Eddy said with soft intensity. “You and everyone else in this hick town.“ He stepped back from the car. “I’ll keep an eye out for the black ‘vette.“
“Thanks, Eddy. See you later.“ Colby slipped the Mazda into gear and picked his way through the ruts and potholes of Eddy’s front drive. He realized he was eager to be away from the moonlit cemetery. It wasn’t just old cars that were buried here. A lot of impotent dreams had also been buried in Eddy Spooner’s yard.
Colby drove down the lonely country road and thought about fate and luck and priorities.
It was a while before he noticed the altered feel of the road, but when he finally did he groaned and reluctantly pulled over to the side. Why did flat tires always happen at night five miles from the nearest gas station?
Colby turned off the engine and reached for the flashlight he had instructed Brandon to always keep in the glove compartment. Then he climbed out of the car and morosely surveyed the shrinking rear tire.
“Damn.“
He was going to be late getting home to Diana. He hoped she wouldn’t be unduly alarmed. She had been a little nervous following last night’s idiocy out on River Road. But at least she had Specter with her. Whatever else you could say about the stupid dog, he was highly protective of Diana.
Colby hauled out the tools he would need to change the tire.
He was removing the last of the lug nuts when Margaret Fulbrook’s heavy old Cadillac pulled off the road and cruised to a halt behind him. Its headlights illuminated the Mazda in a harsh glare. Harry Gedge opened the door and got ponderously out of the driver’s seat. He was alone.
Colby stayed crouched near the tire, but he kept the wrench in his hand as he watched Harry come toward him. It had been twenty years, but he knew Harry could carry a mean grudge.
“Well, well, well,“ Harry drawled as he stopped a few feet away. “Got yourself a little project there, I see.“
“It’ll keep me busy for a while.“ Colby went back to work on the lug nuts, but he watched Harry out of the corner of his eye.
“I’ll leave the Caddy parked where it is while you change the tire,“ Harry volunteered. “The headlights will make it a little easier to see what you’re doin’.“
“Thanks,“ Colby muttered, dropping the last of the lug nuts into the hub cap.
“Don’t thank me. Thank old lady Fulbrook. She gave me strict instructions about how I wasn’t to cause any trouble with you.“ Harry leaned against the fender of the Cadillac, a dark, bulky shape behind the glare of the headlights.
Colby said nothing. He hesitated and then put down the wrench in order to grasp the flat tire and pull it off the wheel.
“You hear me, Savagar? I said old lady Fulbrook doesn’t want me causing any trouble with you.“
“I hear you.“
“You know why she doesn’t want no trouble?“ Harry asked conversationally.
“No.“
“She’s afraid you’ll keep her from seeing that boy of yours. Weird, huh? Twenty years go by, and she pays no attention to that kid at all. Then one day he shows up in town and she’s fascinated with him. It’s probably those eyes of his. Just like little Cynthia’s eyes. Remember those eyes, Savagar?“
Colby didn’t respond. He wished he could pick up the wrench again but it took both hands to fit the spare tire onto the axle. He told himself that if Margaret Fulbrook had given her gofer instructions not to start a fight with him, Harry the Ox would follow orders. Harry had always followed Fulbrook orders.
“Old lady Fulbrook’s gettin’ on, you know?“ Harry continued. “One of these days she’s gonna kick the bucket.
Been having a few chest pains lately. Doctor can’t find nothin’ wrong, but you know what chest pains mean.“
Colby hoisted the spare tire and started to slide it into place.
It was then Harry moved, charging out of the shadows and into the glare of the Cadillac’s headlights with a speed that was astonishing in a man his size.
Colby dropped the tire and spun to one side, trying to get to his feet. He didn’t move fast enough. Harry’s arm came down in a vicious arc. There was a length of pipe in his fist.
Just like old times, Colby thought. His spinning movement ensured that the pipe missed his skull but he took the blow in his ribs. Pain shot through him. He went sprawling on the pavement, forcing himself to roll quickly to the side.
“Now that’s a sucker punch, you son of a bitch,“ Harry roared and swung the pipe again. “I’ve been waitin’ twenty years to do that.“
The second swing narrowly missed Colby’s shoulder. He staggered to his feet as the pipe clanged on the pavement and he stepped quickly back out of Harry’s range. The big man charged again.
This time Colby went in under the swing but he was still off balance. He managed to sink a fist into Harry’s huge belly, but Harry fell on top of him, using his massive weight to carry Colby toward the ground.
Colby barely escaped the full weight of the other man. He threw himself to one side as they both hit the hard pavement. Harry lashed out with his fist because the hand holding the length of pipe was trapped momentarily under his body. Lights danced in Colby’s head as the huge, meaty hand caught the side of his face.