Stephen Cannell - King Con

"No, it's not. We'll get forty percent of billions of dollars," Beano said. "Come on, Dr. Sutton. This is better than we could have hoped for, trying to make it the other way, stealing from Las Vegas." Beano shoved his glasses back on his nose. "You got a deal," he said to Tommy, but then added, "You better hurry though. The S.E.C. could shut this stock down and freeze trading on the company any day."

"I can be back here with the money in less than a day," Tommy said, stroking the decanter of oil on his lap like it contained a magic genie.

"Good," Beano said.

Tommy nodded to Wade, who put the car in gear, and they headed back to Fresno where his jet was waiting. On the way, Beano looked at Tommy intently again.

"The fuck you always starin' at me for?" Tommy growled.

"I know all about you and your little brother," Beano said. "You probably have to go ask his permission to take his money."

"I don't ask nobody's permission for nothing."

"I heard he was the boss," Beano insisted. "He makes all the decisions."

"You heard fucking wrong," Tommy snarled.

Duffy thought Beano had played it perfectly, by being reluctant to do what the mark wanted and then being forced to agree. Tommy was sure he was getting the truth. When Tommy finally ended up with the oil in his hands, he was convinced because his own insistent questions and demands had led him to it. Now he was sold and ready to plunge. In the old days once a mark was hooked on the con, the sharpers would always send him home to get more money. It was called "The Country Send."

*

"The Devil can quote Scripture."

– AN AMERICAN PROVERB

THEY LEFT TOMMY AT THE FRESNO AIRPORT. HE GOT on the big red and white, three-engine Challenger jet. Beano and Duffy watched with Wade and Jimmy Freeze as the plane thundered off the runway and lifted into the pale morning sky.

Beano took off his glasses again and wiped them on his tie. He turned his geeky smile on Jimmy. "Said he'd have the money in a day," Beano said happily and slid his glasses back up on his nose. "Very exciting. Very exciting, indeed."

Jimmy grunted, turned, and along with Wade got back in the limo and pulled out, leaving Duffy and Beano standing there. Beano immediately bagged the goofy grin and the thick tortoise-shell glasses which had been giving him a headache. He dropped them into his pocket.

"Tommy fell for the moose pasture hook, line, and decanter," Duffy grinned, watching the plane until it was out of sight.

"Come on. We've gotta see about Dakota and Roger." They called for a rental car to be delivered to the Spanos Executive Jet Center. A yellow Caprice arrived twenty minutes later, and they drove it back to the houseboat at Mud Flat Marina.

Victoria and Roger were sleeping in the Winnebago at the far side of the parking lot when Beano knocked on the door. She let them in, and Roger-the-Dodger wagged his tail, even though he was too weak to stand.

Beano moved over to the dog, kneeled, and patted him gingerly on the head. "You got him. I was afraid he was dead," Beano said. "Where's Dakota?"

"Hospital in Livingston," Victoria answered. "Tommy really beat the shit out of her. They had to remove her spleen."

Beano winced as he listened to the rest of the details.

"You can pick him up," Victoria said, pointing at Roger after they'd finished exchanging information. "He likes being held. Just watch out for his right hind end. He's missing a few centimeters back there."

Beano picked the little terrier up into his arms and cradled him. "Thanks, buddy," Beano said to the dog. "I screwed up on Tommy. If you hadn't taken a piece out of his neck and bought me a few seconds, I'd be one dead grifter."

Roger tried to wag his tail as Beano cradled and hugged him gently.

Victoria had her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. "We could drive up to Livingston and see how Dakota's doing," she said.

"Yeah," Beano said, "I'd like that."

"And I got an address for a vet. I told him I found Roger this way and he wants to see him. We can drop him on the way."

They took Roger to the vet, who, once he examined him, said he should keep him for twelve hours just to be safe. They kissed Roger good-bye and drove to the little hospital in Livingston. Victoria explained to Beano that she should stay in the car because she had left before the police arrived and hospital Security might try to hold her until the police returned. Besides, she couldn't take the chance that Tommy's thugs might see them together. Beano nodded and got out of the rental car. She watched as he and Duffy moved into the hospital.

Victoria suddenly felt tired, and something else hovered around her, beating dark wings of despair.

The hospital room was filled with metal C-stands, all draped with dripping fluid bottles. Dakota was awake, and she looked up at Beano and Duffy for a long time without talking. Her face was still badly discolored from the bruises. Her lip had been stitched up, but it was going to leave a bad scar.

"You gonna be okay?" Beano asked, worried.

"That's what they tell me," she replied softly, trying to talk without moving her lips.

"You weren't supposed to get beat up."

"Just get those two assholes, Beano. If you get 'em, it'll be worth it."

They talked for a few minutes, and men Duffy kissed Dakota and told her that his part in the hustle was over for a while and he'd stay here in Livingston to look after her and Roger.

"You're a doll," she said, smiling up at him, her luscious black hair fanned out on the pillow, her body taped up under her hospital gown.

"You'll be glad to know Fentress County Petroleum has full dental and medical," Beano said, reaching for her hand. "We'll take care of all this."

Dakota smiled weakly, exposing her broken teem, then she closed her eyes.

"We better get goin'," Duffy said and they started to leave.

"Beano, I need to tell you something," Dakota said, and Beano stayed behind as Duffy moved out into the corridor. "What happened in the Bahamas," Dakota said, talking slowly, "this beating, was partly my fault. I mishandled it… but Tommy isn't right. He… he snaps. Loses it completely. And when he does, he's got no control. It's scary. I've never seen anything like it. He loves hurting. You can see it in his eyes. Be careful of him. He doesn't bounce right."

Beano already knew that. He'd seen that look when Tommy shoved the gun in his mouth. "I'll be careful," he said, and leaned down and kissed her gently on the side of her face. "You did great. You got him here. He's in play."

"I'm sorry about us, Beano," she said. "Y'know, I thought we could work. I really did. But I don't know how to love a man, only how to take one."

Then she smiled. Her two missing front teeth devastated him. She had been so beautiful. The effects of this beating would never completely vanish.

"All this great-looking equipment," she continued, "and they left out one important ingredient. No desire to make a nest… to share a dream. But I want you to know I tried with you, I really did. I wanted it to be you, and when that didn't happen, I decided it would be nobody."

He looked down at her and nodded.

"One other thing," Dakota said, "that lawyer, Vicky…" She paused and Beano wondered what Dakota would say. "She's okay, she stepped up. She put it on the line for me. She lured that rapist who was guarding me away from the car and hit him with a sap. The docs here said another hour and it would have been too late. Wasn't for her, I'd be dead right now."

Beano said nothing as he looked down at Dakota.

"What you need is somebody like that… and under it all, she wants to settle down."