Free One of the Wicked: A Mick Callahan Novel by Harry Shannon Page A

shouldn't even have it."
    I looked back at her. From a distance, she seemed genuinely angry. "To be honest, I'm a little confused. Bud asked me to call you, Brandi. He wanted me to see if there was anything I could do."
    "About what?"
    "I guess there's been some trouble."
    "Is he okay?"
    "As far as I know."
    "Then I don't know what Bud led you to believe about me, but it's over. Bud and me, we're finished."
    "I understand that part. Look, can you spare me just a few minutes?"
    "I don't even know you."
    "I'm harmless, I promise. I often walk old ladies across the street. Dogs never bark. Cats love me and generally purr."
    I looked up, watched her sit back, saw her smile. "Why should I meet you?"
    "You can help me understand. Maybe I got fed a line of crap. I'd like to sit down with you, and tell you what Bud said. About the trouble."
    "Well . . ."
    I took a risk. "I'm in Beverly Hills right now, about to go down Santa Monica. Can I ask where you are?"
    She pondered. "Oh, I'm down around the Beverly Center. Why?"
    "I can be there in no time. Just let me meet you, somewhere very public is fine. I'll buy you a coffee since I'm sober. I'll fill you in, and then you can tell me your side of the story."
    "I'm sober, too." Brandi turned in circles for a minute. She told me where she was and that she could only spare a few minutes. "Okay, how will I know you?"
    "Like I said, my name is Mick Callahan. I'm the radio guy. Or maybe you caught my television show?" Oh, for Christ's sake, Callahan, that sounded pretty arrogant.
    "Actually, no. Never heard of you."
    That'll teach ya . I described myself and told Brandi that Bud had shown me a photograph. Then I killed a few minutes looking at puppies in a pet store. Maybe fifteen minutes later, I walked right by Lopez, who was waiting outside, but didn't acknowledge him. I opened the door and strolled into the restaurant. Brandi was worrying the hell out of a paper napkin. My size threw her for a second, and she edged back. I sat down across from her, leaned my elbows on the round glass table and shook her hand. Her palm felt damp.
    "Hi, I'm Mick."
    "Brandi. Can we make this fast?"
    "What's the story with Bud? You sounded pretty upset that he had your number. I got the impression you were on good terms. Was I wrong?"
    She sighed. "It's not that I hate him or anything, okay? Bud keeps trying to get back with me, and I'm not into the married man thing anymore. Never again. I'm not sure what that was about, except maybe I was looking for a dad or something."
    Since Bud Stone was only a couple of years older than me, maybe forty, I winced. Better start getting used to it . "He told me you guys were an item but called it off. I'm not here to bother you."
    She leaned closer. "You said he was in trouble. What kind of trouble?"
    I told her some of it, but watered things down a lot. Bone owed people money, and was worried they might hassle her to get back at him.
    "What are you, some kind of bodyguard?"
    "Not at all. When I'm not on the radio, I'm a shrink."
    "Bullshit." She laughed. "You look like a boxer. How many times have you broken that nose?"
    Charmed another one. "I lost count." I tend to lose control of the conversation when it comes to pretty women. Well, when I'm not working. I covered by sipping some water. Meanwhile, Brandi looked at me like someone studying a math problem.
    "I guess it was nice of him to think about me."
    She didn't blink. I didn't, either. "I thought so."
    Brandi came to a decision. She got up so abruptly a glass of water started to tip. I grabbed and straightened it. "Nice reflexes, Mr. Boxer."
    "Gee, thanks. And it's Callahan."
    Brandi leaned over the table. I enjoyed her perfume. "Callahan. Okay, I'll just try to keep an open mind. Any woman who says she doesn't like handsome men worrying about her safety is a liar. But I can take care of myself."
    "Somehow I believe you."
    "Leave me your number if you want. I'll call if I need something, but you're in for a long