"Charles Coleman Finlay - An Eye for an Eye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Finley Charles Coleman)

Guy mutters a curse word or two, but makes a big show of putting his back
into the mulch-spreading. I hardly even see it because IтАЩm walking down the street,
shedding my hat, tearing the nametag off my shirt. Then IтАЩm in the car, and out
through the gates.
The two eggs weigh more than I expected. I donтАЩt know how much sperm
weighs, but I donтАЩt worry about it. I figure Beckett will plug them back in, theyтАЩll go
back to work, and thatтАЩs that.
In the end, itтАЩs one of the easiest jobs IтАЩve ever done.
****
At home, I spend the whole evening studying these eggs. TheyтАЩre
gorgeousтАФheavy, gold-enameled spheres, one decorated with dancing cabana boys
or whatever theyтАЩre called, the other with naked nymphs, look like porn stars, all in
silver filigree and ornamented with tiny gems. I figure even if itтАЩs all fake, itтАЩs still
worth a bundle.
It reminds me of the gold globe I was wearing when I went to meet Beckett. I
go back to my bedroom and pull it out of my sock drawer and hold it up to the light.
ItтАЩs a tiny world on a gold chain, a present from Diane to Joe. It had been on the list
of things she wanted back from him. Had been on the top of the list, actually. But
since it had been a gift, I figured she didnтАЩt really have a right to it and I kept it for
myself. A little something for ignoring the surgery I went through to be taller for her.
Maybe I even planned to return it once she dated me, only then she never did.
The world twirls at the end of the chain, throwing reflections off the silver
surface between the porcelain-enamel continents. ItтАЩs elegant and looks like it should
screw in half to hide something inside, but IтАЩve never been able to take it apart and
after Diane moved on, I lost interest in trying. It sat in a drawer for a couple years
until I needed to impress people with money.
I lay it on the table, coiling the chain around it like a nest, and go back to the
eggs. The read-sockets are hidden underneath. I try plugging in my computers but
itтАЩs security locked, and all I get are tiny flashing red lights that go away when I
unplug. I figure if thereтАЩs any kind of tracer in them that IтАЩve activated, itтАЩs best to
turn them over to Beckett. So I call him and tell him we need to meet right away.
Beckett is grinning and chuckling when I hand the eggs to him at an OpieтАЩs
Family Restaurant. WeтАЩre in the booth at the end of the counter thatтАЩs lined by
barber chairsтАФthey look great but theyтАЩre not so comfortable to sit in, so they stay
empty most of the time.
тАЬYouтАЩre amazing,тАЭ he says, drinking a big malted shake. тАЬHowтАЩd you do it?тАЭ
I tell him itтАЩs a professional secret and ask him to show me the cash. I like
cash because itтАЩs harder to trace. He hands over a duffle. I drop it beside me on the
seat and count the money out under the table. When IтАЩm satisfied itтАЩs all there, I say,
тАЬItтАЩs been a pleasure doing business with you. Keep me in mind for any future needs
you may have.тАЭ
He chuckles again, like this is the greatest thing ever, and IтАЩm thinking that
Haves are different than the rest of us, because they have more money. But now IтАЩve
got a piece of that for myself. тАЬHow you gonna spend that?тАЭ he says, grinning.
 Since itтАЩs none of his business, I smile and say, тАЬDunno. IтАЩll come up with
something.тАЭ
He laughs and tells me not to spend it all in one place, then we shake hands,
promise to keep in touch, part friends.
I hate that downhome Opie crap, so I go through a drive-through Thai King to
get some tom ka gai on the way back to my place. I pay them with one of the small