Page 88 of Wrench

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Did I even have a choice? Was I supposed to send him back driving for eighteen

hours? Besides, my body seemed magnetized to him¡­ desiring his comforting hold.

¡°Fine.¡±

Chapter Eleven

Wrench

¡°All right. It¡¯s settled.¡± Tank announced from the head of the table. ¡°All of us, together.

Armed. We¡¯ll rush their little hideout that Wrench confirmed earlier.¡± He turned toward

me. You¡¯re sure they¡¯re cookin¡¯ crank in there? Don¡¯t want to traumatize some kids

having a slumber party.¡±

I nodded. ¡°Couldn¡¯t forget that smell if I tried.¡±

The smell of ammonia and ether had been imprinted forever in my memory and Tank

knew it. Earlier that day when he sent me to the address in the Freeway¡¯s black book, I

could tell from a mile away. Not only was it the smell, but it was also obvious by the

aluminum foil covering the windows. That place was a drug den.

¡°Went around back, too,¡± I said. ¡°Saw a couple guys wearing coveralls, smoking in the

back. Think I recognized one of them.¡±

¡°Good,¡± Tank said.

From the other side of the table, I heard Crow mutter to no one, ¡°Finally does

something¡­¡±

Something about Crow¡¯s tone made me snap. At once, the whole bar went quiet when I

jumped from my seat and slammed my fists on the table, though, once the patrons

realized it was just our table scrapping, they turned back to their drinks.

¡°Crow,¡± I shouted, ¡°I¡¯m fuckin¡¯ sick of you blaming me for Hollywood¡¯s death.¡±

¡°Well ya sure didn¡¯t do anything to stop it,¡± he shot back with his knuckles clenched

around his bottle.

¡°I fucked up. People fuck up,¡± I said. ¡°You think I¡¯m not already blaming myself?¡±

¡°Not enough.¡±

Tank, Archer, Ripper, Maverick, and Rooster all watched the explosion in silence.

Tension between us had been building all week, and one of us was bound to snap.

¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who shot him, Crow.¡±

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