A Morning for Flamingos (Dave Robicheaux 4)

"What's going on, Tony?"

"You're going with me and Paul over to our fishing camp in Mississippi."

"It's a school day, isn't it?"

"His school's closed for a couple of days. They've got to tear some asbestos out of the ceilings or something. You want to go or not?"

"I was going to do some things with Bootsie."

"Today you put her on hold."

"I don't think I want to do that."

"Yeah?"

"I'm meeting her for lunch, Tony."

"I owe you, I pay my debts. Are you interested or not?"

"What are you saying, partner?"

"Do you have your fifty K in place?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Don't worry, I can have it in an hour."

"So we eat breakfast, then you get it. At ten o'clock we're heading over for my camp. You're going to follow in your truck."

"This is all a little vague."

"You wanted the score. I'm giving you the score. It's a onetime offer. Are you in or out? Tell me now."

"I'm in. When's it going down?"

"You don't need to know that."

"Tony, I'm not sure I like being treated like a fish."

"I don't know when it's going down. That's something I'll find out later. I told you I don't deal with these guys as a rule. But you want the action, so I'm making an exception."

"Are you mad about something?"

"No, why?"

"You sound like you've got a beef."

"I'd already promised Paul to take him to the camp today. Then last night I got a message at one of my clubs about your deal. So I'm kind of mixing up business with a family trip. Which means I'm breaking one of my own rules, and I don't like that. But I don't go back on my word, either."

"I'll get dressed and pick up my money."

"Jess'll drive you."

"You think I'm going to leave town?" I tried to smile.

"No offense, Dave, but anyone who does business with me does it in a controlled environment. Anyone." He raised his eyebrows. They looked like grease-pencil lines drawn on his olive skin.