"We're going to persuade that bastard to never set foot in town again.'"
"We ought to kill the bastard.'"
"We oughta,' the old man said. 'But then, we'd be the criminals.'"
"Listen to me. I'm going to talk to a friend about this. If everything goes right, tomorrow night Manson gets a lesson he'll never forget. I don't want you going nowhere. Hang around the house. You understand?'"
"Yeah,' I told the old man."
"Good,' he patted my back. 'It's your duty to help someone when they can't help themselves. Listen to me boy, and you'll make me proud.'"
"James, I understood what was going to happen. That night, a friend of the old man, who happens to be one of Beyford's finest, paid us a visit. In the kitchen, the old man and his friend, I'll call him Mr. Smith, told me to sit down."
"Mrs. Ortolan took Shannie out of town for a few days. By the time they come home, that bastard will be gone. The way I figure it, tomorrow night the three of us will pay Manson a visit. I don't know if he locks his doors our keeps a gun in the house. That's were you come in,' he said to Smith."
"I know a way in,' I spoke up." The old man raised an eyebrow. 'I can get in without ever being found out,' I said."
Count interrupted his story, "James, you know what I'm talking about don't you?" he asked.
"Yeah. Under the front porch, lift the lattice, slide under the porch, slide the plywood from the window and you're in the room with the oil tank. From there, it's into the basement."
"Very good James," he said before returning to his story.
"If we can get to him while he's on the first floor we won't have to worry about a gun. I doubt if he carries in his own house. It's where he feels safest. He'll be unsuspecting. But, if he is, we get our asses out of there. How well do you know his house Junior?'"
"Like the back of my hand.'"
"Good. If he locks his door, we won't have to jimmy the lock. Junior sneaks in and opens it from the inside. One other thing," Mr. Smith said as he reached into his wallet. He produced tickets for tomorrow night's Flyer's game. "If he should sing, it's his word against ours. As far as anybody is concerned, we are at a hockey game. Junior, tomorrow in school, let it be known that you have tickets for the game. Understand?'"