Free Hook and Shoot by Jeremy Brown Page A

shoulder. He glanced at it and kept coming, flicking a jab out like a snake’s tongue.
    He closed the distance, jab-jab-jab.
    When he was close enough I threw the left hook. Gil calls it The Dumpster Filler because of all the equipment I’ve busted with it. Burch pulled both gloves in to take the blow. My fist crushed his gloves against his head, split them, and drove through to meet his temple. His legs gave out on the first impact. The second sent him tumbling sideways until he hit the fence and dropped onto the canvas like a sack of gravel. He didn’t move. Then he started snoring.
    Eddie spoke into his phone. “Can I call you back?”
    Vanessa knelt next to Burch with her eyebrows pulled together, looking from him to me and back like I’d shat on her birthday cake. Eddie stared at Burch through the cage, possibly trying not to smile.
    Me, I was grinning like I was getting paid by the tooth.
    â€œI think he’s peeing,” Vanessa said.
    Eddie ducked and looked between the cage frame and canvas, made a face. “Get him outta there. We need some bleach.”
    â€œWell?” Vanessa stood and waited for me to do whatever I was supposed to do.
    I raised my hand in victory.
    â€œAsshole. He’s hurt.”
    â€œHe’s fine,” I said. I kicked Burch’s foot to prove it.
    â€œStop. Eddie?”
    â€œWoody, just pick him up. Make sure he isn’t choking on his tongue or anything.”
    Vanessa kept the sour face going and moved so I could tug Burch away from the fence and roll him onto his back. He was made of rubber. I took my gloves off and pulled his mouthguard out, a string of drool chasing until it broke and fell on his chin. I slipped his headgear off and set his head on the canvas.
    â€œBurch.” I slapped him for a while.
    Vanessa said, “Isn’t there another way to wake him up?”
    â€œPlenty.”
    Burch’s eyes opened. He looked at the ceiling, the windows, me. “What happened?”
    â€œWe sparred.”
    â€œYou look okay.”
    â€œThanks.”
    He squinted and smacked his lips, saw Eddie through the fence. “Hey, boss.”
    â€œWhat day is it?” Eddie said.
    â€œHold on. Ash Wednesday? That’s the only one I can think of.”
    Eddie glared at me. “Goddamn it.”
    â€œMy bollocks are wet.”
    â€œWe’re gonna sit now. Ready?” I pulled him up and spun him so he could sit back against the fence. He enjoyed it.
    Vanessa said, “He needs a hospital.”
    â€œThis happens all the time at Gil’s. Get him some ice and water. He’s good as new.”
    â€œYou’re a moron,” Eddie said. “I told you not to fuck each other up. Now we need a doctor to come here, and who can I trust?”
    â€œI’m a doctor,” Burch said and kept a straight face. “Of love.”
    I stood. “This is my favorite version of Burch so far. I vote we keep him this way.”
    Eddie said, “Fix him.”
    â€œIt looks hard to be serious in a bathrobe. Is it? Okay, Burch, ready to stand up? Here we go.”
    He wobbled a bit but stayed on his feet. I removedhis gloves.
    â€œMy mobile’s ringing,” he said.
    â€œTake it easy. Deep breaths.”
    â€œWait.” Vanessa turned her head. “I hear it too. Where’s his phone?” She ran out of the cage and dug into Burch’s shoulder bag on a chair just inside the door. She took his gun out and set it on the next chair over without a second glance, then came out with his cell phone. It chirped while she looked at the screen. “Complete Secure Storage. Should I answer?”
    Eddie shrugged, frowned at me.
    I recognized the name. There was a dead guy in a freezer on their property. “Last night.”
    Eddie touched his throat and turned gray. “Answer it.”
    â€œHello? … Yes, this is Mr. Sheridan’s number, but he’s in a meeting right