“How much deeper?” Cole asked.

“Another foot,” I said.

“I need a break.” He tossed down the shovel, climbed out.

“Hurry up. Sooner we finish, sooner we’re outta here.”

“Poor Lou,” he said.

“He shouldnt’ve messed with Tony’s wife.”

“Loraine,” he breathed.

“She’s trouble—a tease. Why Tony keeps her, I dunno. But you don’t mess with Tony’s wife.”

“Was he mad about Lou?”

I laughed. “Tony don’t get mad. He just said, ‘Get rid of him.’ Tony’s all business.”

“Poor Lou.”

“Just finish digging, willya? Sun’s about up.”

“It’s already big enough,” he whined.

I relented. At the car we wrestled Lou from the trunk, each grabbed a foot, and dragged him out to the pit.

Lou’s not the only guy out here in the Nevada sand. Tony spoils her, Loraine shafts him, I get a bonus. I’ve lost count.

Cole started shoveling.

“Check his pockets for cash.”

He brightened, jumping in.

“Hey Cole. Think Loraine’s pretty?”

“Loraine,” he crowed.

I pointed my handgun at his wide eyes.

“Tony says, ’Don’t mess with my wife.’”