1953: Part 5
"So what happened after that?" Giles said.
They sat in the kitchen table at Joe's house, both of them holding bottles of beer.
"The guy pulled out a gun and shot me."
Giles laughed.
"Yeah, I know," Joe said. "You know how I had the car on its side? I flipped it onto its top and started pushing it down the street. I'm not Reg, but I got the car up to the speed of traffic."
"How did they take that?"
"They didn't like it much. Chunks of packed snow and ice were coming in through the windows. You know, the big chunks that build up behind the wheels? You should have heard them cursing at me. After a couple blocks, I came to Harris Hill and pushed them down it."
"The hill where we used to go sledding when we were kids? How'd they take the big bump?"
"Not well. The car rolled."
Giles laughed for a while.
"I stayed until they got out," Joe said. "They were all walking and didn't look too badly hurt. That made me feel a little better, but I still don't think I'd do it again."
"Why?"
"Well, with no windows it would be all too easy to stick an arm out and crush it under the car."
"Ah, but they're all parasites," Giles said. "They don't make their own money. They steal other people's. I'd say they deserve whatever comes to them."
"I'd say you're right except they wouldn't have been hurt in the name of justice. They'd have been hurt because I was angry that they shot Chuck."
Giles shrugged. "The law will never catch up to them. I've spoken to the mayor and the chief of police. They don't have any evidence on these people. We're as close as it gets, mixed motives or not. I'd say they still got treated better than they deserved."
Joe mumbled, "Could be.
"Well," Giles said. "We've got their attention anyway. A couple of them stopped by while Chuck was at the restaurant today. They told him that he was to call them if any of us came by or if he had any clue as to who we might be."
"Did Chuck lie or just play dumb?"
"Oh, he played dumb. He turned on the charm and pretended he was just another scared little lap dog. I don't think they have any idea what's coming. Which reminds me, how's Romy doing?"
"I think she's got just about everything we need."