Read Online Arsonist by Victor Methos - Free Book Online

bit down into the sandwich. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “You ready?”
    “You drive.”
     
     
    Stanton checked his watch and saw that it had taken them thirty minutes just to get to the freeway onramp. The traffic was so congested from an accident up ahead that people were standing outside of their cars talking.
    “Shit,” Gunn said. “Super Blow ain’t gonna wait forever.” He tapped the steering wheel a few times with his index finger and then said, “Hang on to your balls.”
    He swung the car over to the shoulder and one of the tires went up on the small cement curb leading up to the freeway. He sped past the other cars and forced his way in between two SUV’s. Horns were blaring and Gunn hollered as he weaved out from between the SUVs and lightly bumped a car forward by hitting them from behind.
    “Pull over,” Stanton said.
    “They’re fine.”
    “Stephen, pull over. We need to cover that damage.”
    “There was no damage, now pull your tampon out and relax.”
    Gunn got on the far shoulder and zipped past the other cars. If anyone opened their door at any time, they would ram right through it.
    They reached the scene of the accident and a uniform was standing there directing traffic. He grew furious when he saw their car barreling toward him until Gunn held up his badge out the window. The uniform immediately stopped other traffic and created an opening for them to slip through.
    “Come on through, Detective,” the officer shouted.
    Gunn thanked him as he whizzed past and onto the open left-hand lane. He sped up to eighty miles per hour and began shouting like a cowboy riding a bucking horse. Stanton watched him until he noticed. Gunn laughed.
    “You know what, Jon? You gotta get more fun outta life, man.”
    They took exit 239 to Palameno Street and found an old bar and grill named Ex-Wife’s Place. The exterior was brick and worn brown wood and there were neon beer signs up in the windows. After parking, Stanton checked his firearm’s safety and then stepped out of the car, following Gunn into the building.
    The interior was as depressing as the exterior. It was dark and smelled like cigarettes and spilt beer. The only customers here were a few drunks sipping away their hours at the bar. Stanton felt for them; they couldn’t escape.
    In the corner booth was a woman with chocolate skin and ruby red lips. Her hair was straight and fell over her lean shoulders. She was strikingly beautiful and didn’t fit in with this environment. Gunn sat across from her in the booth and Stanton stood by, pretending to keep watch. CI’s, particularly females, were jumpy and didn’t talk freely in front of strangers.
    “How you doin’, sugar?” she said to Gunn.
    “Good as can be. How ‘bout you, Nicky? You gettin’ by?”
    “I’m always gettin’ by, sugar. Just a matter a how well.”
    “You still with Pauly over there at Sherman Oaks?”
    “Pssh, that broke-ass nigga couldn’t keep a job much less a woman such as The Nicole. I kicked his ass to the curb and sent him packin’.”
    There was a pause and Stanton looked back and saw Gunn smiling.
    “Is that what really happened?”
    “Yes,” she said. “Why? You don’t believe me?”
    “Well it’s just weird ‘cause I heard Pauly was doin’ twenty for armed robbery.”
    She shrugged. “Well I don’t know about all that. All I know is I threw his ass out. I can’t keep track of what he doin’ when I ain’t there.”
    “So no more Pauly. Who you got protectin’ you now?”
    She reached into her purse and brought out the handle of a pistol. “I got Mr. Browning watching my back.”
    “That’s good. But you need someone out here watchin’ your back, makin’ sure you’re not left alone with the sick fucks.”
    “I got my girls; I ain’t need no man lookin’ out for me.” She rubbed his hand. “But you sweet for worryin’ ‘bout me.”
    “So what’s the info you got for me on the body in the dumpster.”
    “Cisneros? I was