"Just give me the rest of my money and I'll get out of here." Sonny Barner felt awkward sitting on the white-cushioned porch chair across the white table from the woman. Sitting like socializing, he thought. Like the dumb bitch actually wanted him to think he belonged there. Like she wanted him in her house one second longer than necessary. Why have him sit anyway? Couldn't she see his dirty coveralls? Her own damn fault if she can't smell.
"Stink kinda bad today, Mrs. Dellin. You know, the chemicals." Why talking nice to her anyway, like she cares what shit he gets into."
"You've been drinking. You smell to high heaven."
"Had to crawl around under some guy's house to treat scorpions. Got special stuff that I use. Dumb guy said he'd been throwing old boards into his crawlspace for years. Said you never know when you might need a piece of lumber. Okay by me if he wants to breed scorpions under his house and then pay me to kill them." Barner thought that was sort of funny, but she didn't even smile. When she hands him the money she can go fuck herself.
"Did you carry any of them in here, in your cuffs, in your shoes?"
Should tell her tough shit if he did. Hold off until the cash is in his hand. Feeling good about things. Stopped on the way over here had a couple beers with shots. Anybody would need something under his belt to face this woman. Would really celebrate later. Stop at Discount and buy a case of Daniels, maybe two. Can buy it by the case now. Go home spread that pretty green paper all over the floor: twenties, fifties, lots of hundreds. Flip them up in the air if I want.
"The money...Mrs. Dellin." Should call her by her first name, she can't stop him. Call her Loraine like she's nothing special, see how that grabs her. Loraine, I'm sitting on your white fucking cushion, Loraine. What's she gonna do, tell him to bring the senator back to life? She's the one has to play nice now.
"I've got your money. Do you have my gun?"
He put his palms on his cheeks, pretending to act surprised. "The gun?"
"Don't play with me, Sonny. You know the deal. I want that gun back. No gun, no money."
He knew what she's thinking, knows that gun ties her in. Maybe he'll just keep it for insurance. Let her worry about the gun turning up someday, and then needing to give him more money or else explain it to the police. Physical stuff like a gun is good, not a bunch of words. Just keep that little .38 she bought, the one out of the gun box she had him plant in Tammy's closet. Hold it over her head. Who's the dumb one now, rich bitch? Get on your knees and beg. Get more money out of her. She's getting millions anyway. Feeling good now.