Piggyback Read Online Free Page B

shopaholic, what can I say? ”
     
     
    “ Look, do you think you could pull over somewhere so I could piss? Somewhere that sells booze? ” asked Paul.
    There were back on the road heading south on Interstate 5.
    “ Why didn ’ t you piss when we were pulled over? ”
    “ They don ’ t sell liquor in a cornfield. ”
    Jerrod spoke up from the back seat. “ I gotta piss too. ”
    “ Piss your pants; it ’ s an old car anyway, ” Jimmy replied.
    They pulled off the freeway at an exit that promised fast food, cheap motels, and gas. Jimmy pulled into the gas station.
    Before he got out of the car, Paul tapped Jimmy on the knee and pointed with his head to beckon him out of the car.
    “ What? ” said Jimmy.
    “ Can I talk to you for a minute, ” Paul kept his voice low, “ privately? ”
    “ There ’ s no need to whisper, we ’ re all friends here. ” Jimmy looked back in the rearview and smiled at the boys. “ Be right back. ”
    The two men got out and stood behind the car. 
    “ Look man, I was thinking, maybe we should just call Jose. ”
    “ What for? ”
    “ These kids, man. I don ’ t want to get in too much deeper. Shit, I don ’ t wanna spend the next two days digging holes. ”
    “ The only hole you gotta worry about is the one you already dug for yourself. We ’ re going to get your shit back. Jose is going to be happy and that ’ s that. I ’ m good at what I do, that ’ s why you showed up on my fucking doorstep begging for help. Remember? ”
    “ Yeah, I know, I just don ’ t want to, you know. ”
    “ What? ”
    “ You know, Jimmy. ”
    “ What? See anyone get hurt? Too late for that. See anybody die? Just remember the person you ’ re trying to keep alive is you , Paul. ”
    “ Jesus, Jimmy. ”
    “ Go take your piss. ”
    “ After, you mind if I just run over to that store for one minute? ”
    Jimmy rolled his eyes.
    Paul stood there for a second. “ I ’ m still broke, Jimmy. ”
    “ Fuck, ” said Jimmy, pulling a twenty-spot from his pocket.
    Paul took it, but still stood there.
    “ Um, I need smokes too. ”
    Jimmy pulled out another ten dollar bill.
    “ Thanks buddy. I ’ ll be right back. ”
     
     
    Paul was sipping from his bottle of Jim Beam and had finally settled on a radio station. Classic rock, again. The lights of Sacramento were visible, lighting up the horizon and giving shape to a long stretch of heavy-looking clouds hanging low over the city. Jerrod spoke up.
    “ I thill need to pith. ” He was lisping now through his swollen lips.
    “ I told you, piss in your pants. ”
    “ Come on, ” said Paul, “ I don ’ t wanna smell that shit, and I know you don ’ t want that stink in your car. Just let him piss. ” The Jim Beam had mellowed Paul. He was growing more comfortable with the situation.
    “ All right, but his hands stay tied. ”
    “ How ’ s he gonna piss? ”
    “ You ’ re the one that ’ s so concerned, you help him, ” Jimmy said as he signaled to the right and exited the freeway.
    They pulled off the side road onto a gravel patch and Paul got out, opened the back door and unbuckled Jerrod. The two walked several feet from the car. Jimmy watched Paul bend over and manipulate the boy ’ s zipper. After a moment he heard the boy cry out, “ I ’ m pithing all over my leg. ”
    “ Shut the fuck up, man. I ’ m trying to help you. ”
    “ You hath to undo my panths, dude. ”
    Jimmy watched and shook his head. The phone in his jacket began to vibrate. He took it out and looked at the number—Shelly. He turned to Tristan and opened his jacket to show the boy his holstered gun. An unnecessary reminder of who was in-charge.
    “ Tell her you ’ re both on the way. That ’ s it. Sorry you ’ re late. Blame it on Jerrod. That ’ s it, no bullshit or we ’ re gonna bury your friend right here, right now. ”
    Tristan nodded. Jimmy hit answer and held the phone up to Tristan ’ s ear.
    “ Hey baby. ”
    There was a shrill