“Maybe?” Speed shot back loudly.
“Where have you been hiding since Miami?” Francis was testing him so Speed grunted like it wasn’t a big deal.
“Same place since before Miami. I told you, I’m staying just outside of Chicago.” He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed Francis was just looking at cell towers and area codes. Speed didn’t want Francis looking too closely atwherehe was or asking around.
“I remember you saying that. It’s been a while since I was out that way.”
“You’re not missing much. The city looks newer but it still stinks,” Speed muttered because it would never compare to New York City.
“It’s Chicago, though. How is it you haven’t heard shit about Mickey?”
“All I can do is make phone calls and throw money at people, Francis. I’ve been pinned down here and the guys who usually run their mouths are keeping their traps shut for once. What do you want me to do? Start running the streets? I just got out of a fucking sling and can dress myself again.”
“Just seems like you would have done more by now.”
“Look. I know you’re frustrated,” Speed started and paused when Francis laughed.
“Frustrated? Is that how you think I feel?”
“Why are you pulling this shit with me? You think I’m not hurting too? You think I don’t want to find the motherfucker who did this to us?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore, Speed. There was a day when you would have been by my side and we wouldn’t have stopped until we got what we wanted.”
“You’re right…” Speed agreed with a nostalgic hum. “But we were twenty back then, you lousy prick, and I wasn’t recovering from a gunshot wound. What the fuck are you talking about, Francis?”
“Why were you so quick to get out of Miami?”
“Why do you think? Someone killed Mickey and they tried to kill me too. I didn’t know who I could trust so I ran.”
“You could have waited for me and we could have run together.”
“Are you listening to yourself? I had to pay a surgeon to operate on me in the air. How were you going to run withmeand a goddamn medical team slowing you down?”
“But we could have figured this out together.”
“I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. I didn’t know if they were after me and I didn’t want to draw them right back to you,” Speed argued. “I wish like hell that I was there now because it sounds like you’re falling apart. The last thing we want to do is turn against each other. That’s exactly what the Feds want. It’s like Mickey and Jimmy all over again and you see how that went.”
“Maybe that was their plan. Get Mickey out of the way and get one of us to turn on the other.”
“Seriously. You’ve got to get a grip or you’ll play right into their hands. The last thing I’d do is sell you out to the Feds.” Even though that was exactly what Speed had done. “I don’t need their protection and flipping on you wouldn’t be enough if they decide to prosecute me. You don’t know what I’ve done and who I work for. If anything, they’d be offering you a deal.”
“No. That doesn’t make much sense so it’s gotta be something else,” Francis said woodenly.
“We’ll figure it out. How are you holding up?” Speed asked and received a hard snort in return.
“About as well as you’d expect, considering Mickey’s been murdered and I got hung out to dry.”
“Fuck, I know and I’m so sorry, Francis. I promise, I haven’t forgotten and I won’t rest until we get answers. I’m so fucking sorry and I wish I had more.”
“I know you are.” But Francis still sounded bitter.
The line was quiet for a few moments so Speed sighed heavily. “I’ve been really worried about you and I was thinking I’d come and see you since I can travel again.”
“I’m not sure that that’s a good idea,” Francis replied.
“Why not?” Speed let his voice rise defensively. “I can get around without help now.”
“That’s great but it’s me,” Francis said, surprising Speed. He couldn’t remember Francis ever telling himnotto come and he’d just chewed Speed out for leaving him in Miami.