Joe Pitt 5 - My Dead Body

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Book: Read Joe Pitt 5 - My Dead Body for Free Online
Authors: Charlie Huston
been a taboo that takes many blows to shatter. A certain air of imminent danger crept into the debate. It appeared they might become targets for kidnapping or assassination.
    He drops his hands from his belly.
    --And they disappeared.
    --And you called Percy.
    --Someone I care deeply about is missing in the midst of Vampyre warfare. There is only one person I want looking for her. And that person has dropped from sight. So, yes, I called Percy. He knows people. And he is an old friend. I was born and raised in Harlem. When I was a small boy, before they went underground, the Hood were our Black Panthers.
    --And he told you about Evie.
    --He suggested there was a young woman, Enclave, who might have a line on you.

Joe Pitt 5 - My Dead Body
    I shake my head.
    --You went to the warehouse?
    He takes a step back.
    --Oh no. I am trying to find my daughter. Being eviscerated would not advance the cause. Percy spoke to the lady. And she came to see me.
    Does my heart skip a beat? I can’t say. I don’t count all of them. But it seems so.
    --You saw her?
    He nods.
    I don’t want to ask. I don’t want to ask. I don’t want to ask.
    But I do.
    --How’d she look?
    He casts his eyes to the ceiling.
    --She looked, Joe, both perilous and beautiful.
    He brings his eyes to mine.
    --As I imagine death must look.
    Evie knows me. If anybody does. Possible she’d rather she didn’t, but there it is. Some things, by the time we know they’re bad for us, we’re already hooked.
    She gave Chubby the bead on where he might find me. Hard to say how she knew for sure where that was, but figure she started with the idea that I’d be underfoot and went from there. However she sussed it, Chubby took the lead and poked. All the former street kids he has passing through his doors, he was able to put some feelers out. He knows what kind of setup a guy like me would need down here. And there’s only so many places like Freedom Tunnel. Asked some questions of some of the inhabitants who travel up top, got a description of some of the newer faces on the scene, and hit on mine.
    Big guy, limp, attitude, eyepatch.
    I keep to myself, but it’s not like I’m invisible.
    And here we are.
    The gun butt is poking me a little so I shift it.
    --She say anything?
    Chubby is holding a hand out to Dallas, letting the young man pull himself unsteadily to his feet.
    --She said you would take an interest.
    --Not what I mean.
    He lays his palm alongside Dallas’s cheek.
    --I’m sorry, my dear, I should not have involved you in this.
    Dallas gives me a look and touches the bandage on his forehead.
    Chubby winks.
    --Don’t be concerned about that. A small scar, a slight blemish on your great beauty, it will only highlight perfection. And it wouldn’t hurt to add a little of the rough stuff to your resume, would it?
    Dallas juts his chin, frowns at me, turns and walks out the door.
    Chubby shrugs.
    --Temperamental. Like all talent.
    --What else did she say?
    He shoots his French cuffs, fiddles with the links a bit.
    --She said I should tell you she wants you to help find them.
    The gun still isn’t right. I move it again.
    --She thinks they’re important? The baby and all that?
    He licks his lips, pushes out the lower, sucks it back into his mouth, and bites it.
    --She said they’re kids and they need help.
    I stop messing with the gun.
    --I want to see her.
    He looks at the floor.
    --She says no.
    I watch him.
    --There something you’re neglecting to tell me, Chubby?
    He shakes his head.
    I step close.
    --Is she in trouble?
    He shakes his head.
    I step closer.
    --Only if there’s something you’re leaving out, and I dig to it later, I might be upset if it turns out to be important.
    He looks up from the floor.
    --She said to tell you to crawl out of your fucking cave and do something, you son of a bitch. She says find them. She says maybe then she’ll see you.
    I nod, adjust the gun one last time.
    --What do you got for me?
    He sticks his hand inside his

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