Abel Baker Charley Read Online Free Page A

bewilderment on his face. The face and the body had softened. For the briefest moment, the man had the look of prey again, and Jace attacked even as another word was forming on his lips. The knife lanced up between arms that hung still. He had him. The tall man had blown it, and now he was going to be the one who took Jared Baker and he was going to do it by himself. Jace had time for a cruel grin of triumph to curl at his mouth before a bear trap crushed down on his wrist. He did not see the pen that slid up through his nostril and tore it away from his face. The scream rising in his throat became a frac tured squawk as the pen rammed through the tissue of his cheek and pinioned his tongue against his upper jaw. Jace heard a dim snap somewhere below. He knew it was the wrist of his knife hand even before the message of pain reached his brain. He knew that hands had seized the thick hair at his temples, forcing his head down without effort, and he knew that something was rising toward his face. He remembered nothing more.
    Biaggi watched as the man turned toward the one called Sumo. Sumo seemed stricken. He was standing now, above the woman. One foot lay heavily across her neck and pressed her face into the wet grass. The man, once more in his wrestler's crouch, advanced on Sumo. One hand snatched Jace's knife from the grass as he swayed past it. He stopped then and seemed to make a show of examining the knife thoughtfully.
    “It's a pig-sticker, Sumo” came the voice that hissed. “And you f re a pig. does that suggest anything to you, Sumo ? ”
    “Stay away, man.” Sumo's voice was hoarse. He turned his own knife in his hand and held it by the blade in a throw ing position.
    Biaggi reached beneath his gray raincoat and groped for his pistol. Drawing it free, he raked its barrel across the plas tic of his radio case, making a soft zipping sound. No more. Baker seemed to hesitate and half-turn. Biaggi lowered him self farther. He was sure the sound could not have been heard. It was barely a whisper, which would have been lost amid the rustle of wet leaves. With both hands he sighted the pistol on Sumo's chest, sweating, trying to blot out all other fears except his fear of Duncan Peck if he allowed Baker to die this way.
    He waited too long. Sumo threw himself to his knees and with one hand dragged the woman's body against his own. She gasped and looked pleadingly at the shadow that was Baker, then went rigid as Sumo's knife pressed a spot be neath her breast.
    The man stopped. He seemed first to be studying her face and then for a long moment he studied Sumo. Sumo is about to panic, a voice told him. One stupid impulse and the woman could be dead. But the man with the animal eyes didn't care. The woman was the woman and Sumo was Sumo. He wanted Sumo. But he could not shake the voice away this time. All right, Baker. We'll give him some room. We'll try it your way, but do not stay long, Baker.
    “Try it. Baker,” he said. The woman heard the words and she too glanced around her, looking for the man who had been called.
    “Sumo,” came the new gentler voice. ”I want you to pay attention.”
    ”Wha... ?” He swallowed.
    Baker held up Jace's knife and tossed it far to one side. ”I have no knife, Sumo.”
    The big man breathed heavily but said nothing.
    “Sumo, I want you to let her go and then back away. Go away and wait until we're gone and then come back for your friend. Do that, Sumo, or you'll be hurt just as terribly.”
    Sumo rocked as the words sank in. He seemed to con sider running, backing off. But he was feeling better too. He was not afraid of this man now. He didn't know why he'd been afraid of him at all. It's the guy who's afraid, not him. He wouldn't try to deal if he wasn't afraid.
    ”I saw what you did to him, you bastard.” It was some thing to say.
    “The woman, Sumo. Let her go.”
    “You want her?” Sumo's voice was becoming shrill. “How bad do you want her?”
    “Now, Sumo. There's