Prohibition Read Online Free Page B

ins with the big lug same as everyone else. But the poor bastard didn’t deserve to buy it in a lousy, stinking pool room like that. And him and Archie being boyhood friends and all. Frank Sanders, too.” Shapiro set up a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses from behind the counter. “Hey, you collecting for Fatty’s widow and kids? I’ll be glad to pass the hat amongst my boys if you’d like.”
    “He’s not married,” Quinn said. He waited for Shapiro to pour the shots before adding, “He’s not dead, either.”
    Quinn watched Shapiro’s eyes shimmy. His hand shook as he put the bottle back on the countertop. “No shit?”
    “The bullets missed all the vital organs,” Quinn said. “Looks like he’ll be fine.”
    Shapiro managed a quick smile. “And thank God for that. Hey, let’s have a drink on it, to Fatty’s health and all.” He grabbed the bottle and topped the shots. “I just figured he bought the farm after hearin’ the way The Kid told it.” He reached over and gently knocked the Kid in the head. “Must’ve exaggerated some. Ain’t that right, Johnny?”
    Johnny flinched and stifled a sob.
    Quinn knew he needed to talk to Johnny, but getting him out of there would be tricky.
    Tread lightly.
    “Looks like Johnny’s still pretty shook up by the whole thing,” Quinn said. “Seeing a guy get gunned down can rattle anyone, especially a young kid like this.”
    Quinn managed a small smile of his own. “Blood’s nothing new to a couple of old hands like you and me, eh Ira?”
    Shapiro downed his shot.
    Quinn left his on the counter. “Maybe I should take him outside for a little walk. Might calm him down some.”
    “That’s awful nice of you,” Shapiro said, “but The Kid’s doing just fine. Besides, it’s past closin’ and we’ve got to be getting’ home anyways. I wish you’d come by with the good news earlier. Could’ve had a few snorts to toast Fatty’s good health and all.” He motioned to the other shot glass.
    “How about one for the road?”
    Quinn felt the man behind him shift his weight. The other two started breathing faster. Quinn knew he was bigger than any of them. Taking down a man his size wouldn’t be easy. They were getting ready to go to work on Shapiro’s signal.
    Tread lightly.
    “While you’re closing up,” Quinn said, “Johnny and me could step outside to jaw over what happened at Ames’ tonight. By the time you’re done, so will we. Say, I’ll even run him home for you if you want.”
    Shapiro offered a crooked smile and poured another shot for himself. “Johnny’s been through enough. Come back tomorrow.”
    Quinn wanted to string this out a little longer. See what shook loose. “But everything’s still fresh in his mind. He might remember something important about the shooting. Archie would want me to get it from him before it goes stale in his head.”
    The goon with the scared eyes on the left took a step forward. “Ira told you to come back tomorrow.”
    Tread lightly.
    Quinn ignored him and spoke to Shapiro instead. “I didn’t come here to fight, Ira. I just want to talk to The Kid.”
    Shapiro laughed and smacked the countertop. “That’s rich. Archie Doyle sends his chief goon over here in the middle of the night just to ask questions. You bog trotters really make me laugh.”
    Quinn said nothing.
    Shapiro did all the talking. “I don’t particularly give a shit about what Archie wants. This is the east side, fucko. Howard Rothman’s side. Not yours. I said you can’t talk to Johnny, so you don’t talk to him.”
    Quinn kept his hands open at his side. Loose. Ready. “Archie won’t like that.”
    “Fuck him,” Shapiro said. “You bastards sit in your goddamned nightclub expectin’ everyone to kiss your asses. Well not me, brother.” He poured himself another shot of courage and gulped it down. “Help Mr. Quinn find the front door, boys.”
    Quinn heard the floorboard behind him squeak.
    He snatched the thug with