" Yeah, all right." " Get up." " I'm moving." "Lacks a little bit in here, huh." "Hey, take it easy." "All right." "Jesus." " Do you like to smoke, Mr. chase?" " Some." " I love to smoke." "It's one of life's singular pleasures." "But I'm gonna quit." "You know why?" " Because it's bad for you?" " Bingo." "When I find something's been bad for me," "I ask myself, is it worth it?" "Is it worth it to lose a day, a week, a month, or years off my life?" "And I've decided it isn't." "I wanna live a long time." "But you don't seem to share that desire." " I just need another week." " What good is that gonna do?" " A lot can happen in a week." " Not for a guy like you." "I deal with degenerate gamblers all the time in my line of work." "You know what I peg you for?" "A compulsive loser." "And I'd guess that just about sums you up." "What about her?" "The world's a funny place, isn't it?" "All kinds of people come into your life for the strangest of reasons." "Don't they?" "Today's your lucky day, Mr. chase." "You like cards?" " I'm more of a slots kind of guy." " That's pathetic." "Oh, you should not tell people that." " Okay." " High card wins." "You get it, and I'll cancel out your debt to me." "I get it, and you're gonna pay me double what you owe me." "But I'll give you an extra week." " Uh." " Who are you kidding?" "I know you're gonna do it, you know you're gonna do it." "Cut the cards." " Travis came lookin' for you." " And what did you say?" " What you think?" "Said I ain't seen you." "Said maybe you in big d or somethin'." " You know, you are a prince, Lazarus." " The prince of shreveport, that's me." "Welcome to my fuckin' kingdom." "What the hell are you doing here, Max?" "You owe the man money, and you a week late." " It's $3,000." "I can pull that together, that's no problem." " You ain't never had $3,000 at one time in your whole life." "You shouldn't have taken the bet, Max." " I know." "And we ain't even talkin' about your shitty goddamn luck, which most certainly is a thing." "This is the man." "Those cards were rigged." "The man don't play unless he know he's gonna win." " I know." "I know, all right." "I got it." "So, you know of anybody lookin' to crew up?" " I find anybody who's lookin' for a middle-aged thief who gets busted every time he goes out to rob a joint," "I'll give your ass a call." " Who's the redhead?" " You got some fucked up priorities, Max." "You need to be drivin' your ass outta town, not pickin' up women." " I have my priorities, you have yours." "Send over two more shots." " Dumbass." " You new in town?" " What makes you think that?" " Small town." " It's not that small." " It ain't big enough for me to miss a girl like you." "I'm Max." " One for Max, and one for the new girl in town." " Amber Ann." "I just moved here from longview." " Longview?" "Oh hell, this is a big city, isn't it?" " Wife or girlfriend?" " Not married, no girlfriend." "Sister." " Oh, she's cute." "Looks like you." " She's checkin' in in me." "She seems to be under the impression that I make bad life decisions." " Really?" " Aw hell yes, I'm a troublemaker." "My sister says so." "Now, let's talk about you, longview." " Hey." "I said, you're late." "Now, Mr. chase, if you don't take this serious," "I can bounce ya right back to caddo correctional." " Are you like mardi gras king or somethin'?" " I was on the court a few years back." " Is that like, an elected position?" " I don't see how that's any of your business." "Your guardian was supposed to be here today." " She's not my guardian, she's my sister." " She's your legal guardian until I say she ain't." "So where's she at?" " How the hell should I know?" " You're stayin' with her, ain't ya?" " That's what the judge said." " That's no kind of answer." " You know," "I really like this coat." "They let you keep that coat?" "Okay." "Guys." "Oh." "Oh, oh, that's a bad attitude." " Man, get your stupid ass back in the car." " You've reached assistant district attorney," "Isobel chase." "I'm not available at the moment, please leave a message." " Oh hi." "Remember me?" "Remember that meeting we had with my douche bag parole officer this morning?" "Oh no, you forgot, didn't you?" "That's all right." "I'll just sit there and get chewed out for an hour." "Oh, perfect." "You playin' hooky?" "Isobel?" "Iz?" "Iz?" " 911, what's your emergency?" " Counselor, this man is a career criminal and a drug addict with a history of violence." " I'm not a drug addict." " Shut up." "Your honor, he wants to make a clean start." "And I'm asking that you give him that chance." " I know your sister." "I respect her, and I consider her a friend." "I've never met you, but I've read your file." "And in my estimation, you're not worth a damn, and your sister will regret this day." "Let me be clear." "Anything happens to her while you are under her care," "I will lock you up and throw away the key." " That son of a bitch." "You touch her again, and I'm gonna kill you." "You hear me?" "She shows up with a bruise she can't explain," "I'm gonna show up at this door," "I'm gonna come into this pretty boy apartment, and I'm gonna kick the shit outta you." "Do you hear me?" " Shit!" "Wait a second." " What did you do the her, huh?" "Did you beat her up again?" "Isobel!" " I haven't seen her in weeks." "She spent the night at your place two nights ago." " No." " I live with her, I know she spent the night with you." " She left me." "She left me for another fuckin' guy, okay." " Who?" " Get off him." "Get off!" " All right, all right." "Take it easy, huh." " Don't move, asshole." "I'm callin' the cops." "Jo Jo, if he moves, shoot him." " Jo Jo, that your name?" " Jody." " Jody." "Is this guy your boyfriend, Jody?" "Because this guy is my kid sister's boyfriend." " Shut up." "Yeah, a guy just broke into my apartment and assaulted me." " He beat you up yet?" " He wouldn't do that." " You beat all hell outta me kid sister, didn't ya?" " Stop talking to her." " You can't trust this guy." "Were you with him two nights ago?" " Yeah." "No, I captured him." "7894 youree drive extension." " I've been with him every night this week." " You gotta get rid of this guy, Jody." "He's an asshole." " No, no, no." "Don't, don't." "Goddamnit, jojo." " That son of a bitch, I swear to god." " Don't do anything to him." " What do you care?" " 'Cause I don't wanna have to prepare a murder defense." "It's not my specialty." " Yeah, well, I want kill him." "That's all I'll say." " Don't hurt him." "You're on parole." "If you do anything..." " you know, I don't think you're done with this son of a bitch at all." "I think as soon as this heals, you'll be right over there to..." " I'm done." "It's just more complicated than that." " If you go back with this guy, he's gonna kill you." " Be dramatic, why don't you." " No, I'm serious, okay." "It won't be on purpose, it'll be an accident." "He'll get jealous or drunk." "But he will kill you." "And then I gotta kill him." "And you're dead, so I gotta find myself a real lawyer." "And you know I can't afford that shit." " Max, it's me." "Where are you?" "I need to," "I'm in some trouble, and I need you to..." " It's okay." " Hey there, boy-o." " Hey Travis." "Come on in, make yourself at home." " This is a real shit-hole you got here, you know that, Max?" " Yeah, I'm dealin' with some familial strife right now." " So it seems." "Got a temper, do you?" " I didn't do that." "Look, forget it." "Can I just get my phone back, please?" " Hmm, you know, I don't think this works." "I've been tryin' to call you for like a week." " Look, I'm sorry." "I just..." "Oh, goddamnit, you break my phone?" "All right, look," "I am dealing with a situation with my sister right now." "You okay?" " No, I'm not okay." "I'm not o fuckin' k, Max." "I have a bad tooth." "It hurts." " You should see a dentist." " Yeah, no shit." "This might come as a bit of a shock to you, but I don't need your dumb-ass medical advice." "And I don't need to hear about your family problems." "I want the money that you owe the man." "Now." " I don't have it." " What a fuckin' shock." "Of course you don't, that's why I'm here." "Well, now you know what happens." "Now I hurt you." " Wait, wait, I can get it." "I can get it." "Whoa, whoa." " You know, I was just gonna cut up your face real good so your dumb-ass friends could see what it was like when you owe money to the man." "But" "I don't like you, Max." " Well, maybe I could buy you a beer some time." " You're smug." "You think you're smarter than everybody else." "You're a wise-ass, and I don't like that." "I know, I cut up your face, you're gonna come back to the man again, you're gonna borrow money again, you're gonna lose it at the boats again, and we're gonna have to do this same dance all over." "So," "I think" "I'm gonna cut off your thumb." "Life's gonna be pretty difficult without thumbs." "You know, that's what separates us from the other animals." " I just need a little more time." "No, no!" "Don't do it, don't do it!" "I can get you the money!" " You ain't got it now, you ain't never gonna have it." "Three grand to you is like a million dollars." " From my sister." "My sister, man." "She's got money." "A lot of it." "She's a fuckin' lawyer." "If I can find her, she can square everything." " A lawyer, huh?" "Yeah." " Yeah." " Yeah, all right." "But that's an extra thousand." " What for?" " For keeping' your thumbs." "Off the books, for me." " Yeah, okay." " 24 hours." "You drop the cash off at the club." "Keep 'em separate, and that's just between us." "Do you hear me?" "Yeah." " This is it, Max." "You just cashed in your last chip." "You don't show, I'm gonna hunt you down, and I'm gonna gut you." " Max, it's me." "Where are you?" "I need to," "I'm in some trouble, and I need you to," "I don't know who else to call." "Where are you?" "You are unbelievable." " Sorry." " Sorry?" "What would you have done if I didn't know the arresting officer?" "You would be going back to jail." "Is that what you want?" " That's not what I want." " Oh, so you just wanna ruin my life." " All right, look, it wasn't even my fault, okay." " You were carrying drugs." " Not drugs, pot." "Jesus, what do you want from me?" "Thank you, I'm sorry." "I'd do the same for you, you know." " Would you, I wonder." " Oh, well, see, that's fucked." " I can't do this anymore." " Do what?" " Save you." " Then stop." "Just leave me in there to rot if that's what you wanna do." " We are all we've got." "You, me, and cotton." "And god knows you can't count him if you're in trouble." " Cotton." " You." "I hope you're not here lookin' for a handout." " I haven't asked you for money in 20 goddamn years." " Well, I don't got any." "And if I did, I wouldn't give it to you." "I ain't running' no charity business." " I don't want any money." " Yeah, well, it'd just be good money after bad at this point." " Will you just stop talking?" "Just shut up, okay." "I don't want anything from you." " I forgot, I'm sorry." "I'm father of the year." "That's why my lovely children are suddenly so concerned about me, hmm." "You and that other one showin' up outta the blue." "But you don't want nothin', no, no." " Wait, Isobel's been here?" "When?" "What did she say?" " Ya'll in a fight or somethin'?" " When was she here?" " Thought you two were thick as thieves." " Look, you want me to go, I wanna leave." "Just answer my question so I can get the hell outta here." " Ah, she came by last night." "10, 11 o'clock." " What did she want?" " To spend the night if you can believe that shit." " And you didn't let her?" " This look like a goddamn motel 6 to you?" " Your daughter drives all the way out here in the middle of the night to ask if she can stay with you in this shit-hole, and you don't ask her why?" " Didn't occur to me." " It didn't occur to you she might be in trouble?" "You turned her away the first time she asked for anything?" " I did not turn her away." "She got a call from her boyfriend." "Went to spend the night with him." "So, how's that, officer?" "Hmm?" " No." "No, no, I talked to the boyfriend." "She didn't stay with him." " Well, maybe you don't know her goddamn social calendar like you think you do, huh?" " Well, what does that mean?" "Did she say it was her boyfriend or didn't she?" " She didn't say." "I could tell." "She was all pissy mad when he called." "Mad 'cause he hadn't called earlier, huh." "Yeah, I've seen it all my life." "I know when a woman is nagging' on her man." "What did you do?" " Me?" " You remember that dog she found?" "The blue heeler?" "Mangy, all scarred up." "Some farmer shot it 'cause it was chasin' his cows." "What was she, five?" " She was eight." " Well, she brought it inside, and she fed it." "Tried to bandage it, got blood all over the goddamn place." " Yeah, I know this story." " So what happens?" " It bit her." "You killed it." "She cried for a week." " That dog, that's you." "Only I can't put you down like I did that dog." "You keep comin' back, wanting' to get bandaged, and she keeps gettin' bit." "If she's in trouble now, it's probably because of you." " Me?" "Not her deadbeat father, who turned her away the first time she asked for help?" " Get the hell outta my house, you worthless son of a bitch." " Always a pleasure seeing you, cotton." " Go to hell." " Hey." " Excuse me, sir, can I help you?" " Probably not." "You know where Isobel chase is?" " Miss chase is out of the office today." " Is this it?" "This is her office, right?" " Sir, excuse me." "You cannot be in here." " I don't suppose she spent the night at your place last night?" "Nah." "Your friend, you know who she's sleepin' with?" " Carla, call security." " All right, don't get hysterical." "I'm her brother, all right." "I'm just lookin' for her." " And how do I know you're her brother?" " Stephen, I got this." "Hello Max." "I'm Paul melancon." "Is Isobel feeling all right?" "She's never missed a day without calling." "She had a meeting scheduled and, is she all right?" " It's funny, she never talks about you." "That's weird, isn't it?" "The district attorney from all the TV commercials, and you never come up." "How long you been her boss, how many years?" " Four." " Four." "Four years workin' with somebody who, and excuse me for sayin' so, is a damn handsome man, but you're never mentioned." "You never come up in conversation." "It's almost like it's on purpose." " That is funny." "'Cause I know all about you, Max." "Grand Theft Auto, larceny." " I like it when you use the big words." " Your sister putting her career, in fact, this entire office, on the line by vouching for you." "Yeah, you've been discussed a great deal." " You know where my sister is?" " At home sick, isn't she?" " Did you call her last night?" " No." " Did you sleep at home last night?" " You know, I'm really not interested in being interrogated by you." " Yeah, I hate it too." "You sleeping' with my sister, counselor?" " This discussion is over." " Now look, Isobel is missing, all right." "I think she's in trouble, and I need to find her." "Soon." " What makes you think something's happened to her?" " She was scared." "Her place is wrecked." " Oh Jesus." " What do I need to know, counselor?" " She was, we're working on a big case." " Who you goin' after?" " John Mansfield." "You know who he is?" " Everybody knows the man." "You get my sister involved in this?" " It's her job." "She's workin' with the witness." " Okay." "Okay, I wanna talk to that witness." " You want me just to introduce you to the key witness against the city's most powerful crime boss?" "Doesn't work that way, son." " Look, you know the man." "You know what he's capable of." "If she's disappeared because of him, she's dead." "Or soon will be." "If you care about her at all, you gotta let me talk to that witness." " What if you work for the man?" "What if this whole thing about Isobel is a tactic to get my witness killed?" "No, I'll talk to my witness about this." "And then I'll get back with you when I find out something." "That's the best I can do." " What the hell is this?" " Just movin' you as a precaution." "This is a safe house the police use to protect witnesses sometimes." " Biggest case of your career, and you stick me in a crack house on skid row?" "Classy." " Well, look on the bright side, miss Barnes." "No one's gonna look for you here." " Step inside, miss Barnes." " I wanna know what's goin' on." "You know, you can't keep me locked up like this." " Yes, I can." "It's only 'til trial, miss Barnes." " And when the hell is that." " Thursday." " That's four days away." "You can't keep me in here." "I got shit I got to attend to." " Oh yeah, like what?" " Like none o' your business." " You know, you will testify." "Or I'll throw your ass in jail for drug trafficking." " I told you, I just delivered a package." " I'm sorry, miss Barnes, but I don't think a jury's gonna buy that." "If you pull any shit on that stand, you will go to prison." "I promise you that." " I ain't sharin' this room with them." " They'll be outside." "Oh." "One more thing." "Have you hear from Isobel?" " I've already gone over my testimony." "Again, and again, and again." " So you didn't work with her yesterday?" " No." "She didn't show up." "But I'm fine, I don't need to practice." " All right, just makin' sure you're ready." "All right." "Keep your eyes open." "One of my adas may or may not be missing." "It may be something, nothing, or someone's idea of a bad joke." "But I'm not taking any chances." "If the man's making a move, he wants this girl dead." "You understand what I'm saying?" "Keep her safe." " Hey." "Can I talk to you for a second?" "I think we can help each other." " I ain't a pro, asshole." " No, not like that." "Hold on a second, okay." "I need to ask you about Isobel chase." "You know her?" " Yeah, she's kinda my lawyer." "She okay?" " Why you ask that?" " The man don't understand," "I ain't sayin' nothin' to the feds." " I don't work for the man." "Whoa, Jesus." "Wait, wait." "I'm Isobel chase's brother, okay." "I'm lookin' to find her." "I'm not lookin' to hurt you." " You're Izzy's brother?" "Well, no shit." "You know, you look like her a little bit." " Huh." " There are certain people who would be very happy if I disappeared." "If the man was after you, you would swing first too." " When was the last time you saw her?" " Izzy?" "Two days ago." " And what'd you talk about?" " You know, my case." " So, come on, tell me." " I got busted with 40 grand." "The cops wanted to know where it came from." " Yeah, they're funny that way." "So where did it come from?" " You ever heard of central station?" " Uh, the gay club?" " The man runs his operation out of there." "Sometimes I'd make a delivery for some extra cash." "I didn't ask what was in the bags, and he didn't tell me." " And you get pinched on the way to the drop-off." "It's a dumb business to get involved in." " Some guys you don't say no to." " The man asked you to do it, directly?" "So you can testify to him actually commiting' a crime." " Pretty stupid, right?" " And then Isobel disappears." " You think they hurt her?" "Let go of me." " No." "You listen to me." "If the man does have Isobel, and you testify, they're gonna kill her and then you." "Is that what you want?" " Get your fuckin' hands off me." " Lazarus, so how's biz?" " Oh hell, I could complain, but nobody wanna hear that bullshit." "Can I get you a beer?" " Hell yeah." " You know, that cop was probably looking' for you in there." " They ain't even gonna know I'm gone until tomorrow." " You don't know that." "And what do you got?" "You don't got nothin'." "You don't got a car." "The man is after you, and tomorrow, shreveport pd." "Or you can get in my truck with me, and we can get outta here." " Well, ain't you the good samaritan." " Enough, it ain't charity." " So what do you want?" " All you gotta do is not testify." " The man already thinks I turned on him." " I'll clear it with him." "You gone clear it?" "With the man?" " Look, you let me worry about that, all right." "All you gotta do is keep your mouth shut, and I get my little sister back." "Look, that cop isn't gonna stay in there all night." " Fine." "Let's go." " All right." "We need a place for you to hide out." "My place is no good." " I got one." "Get on I-20." " Nice digs." "Whose place?" " Just some guy I used to know." " Can you trust him?" " He's gone." "Workin' in Dallas for the next few months." " That his truck, too?" " Don't worry, he ain't comin' back anytime soon." "No one'll find me here." " All right." "Well, I'll reach out to the man." "I'll tell him you are not testifying." "And try to get Isobel back." " How do I know you ain't gonna rat me out?" " I ain't." " So, what, I just trust you?" " You got any other options?" " Will you tell him I didn't mean nothin' by it?" "I wasn't gonna go through with it." " Yeah, I'll tell him." " You're reached assistant district attorney" "Isobel chase." "I'm not available, please leave a message." " Hey, it's Max." "Yeah, I know Travis is lookin' for me." "Look." "I need to see the man." "Tell him I got somethin' he wants." "Somethin' from New Orleans." "And I'm willin' to make a trade." " Are you happy with yourself?" " Don't talk to me like I'm a child." " Well, then stop acting like one." "You take advantage of people." "You lie and you steal." " What'd they ever do for me?" "Nothing." " What have they ever done to you?" " Plenty." " You." " What do you want from me?" " I want you to be the man I know you can be." "A good man." " Shit." "Hey Max, why don't ya come out into the middle of nowhere in the dead of night." "We'll have a meeting." "Fantastic, let's do it." "What could possibly go wrong?" "Idiot." " What's up, Max?" " What's up, Cade?" "Nice car." "Nice suit." " Drivin' for the man now." "Says he wants us to look presentable and shit." "I feel like a fuckin' banker." " Nah, you look good." " Yeah?" "Hell, I'll take it." "I gotta search you." "Nothin' personal." " Yep." "How's the family?" " Karen's bein' a pain in my ass." " How come?" " The hours." "She's thinks I'm fuckin' around and shit." " Are you?" " Not that she would know." " They got a sixth sense about that stuff, you know." " Yeah, I guess." "Are you goin' to the reunion?" " No." " You should go, man, everybody's gonna be there." "Karen really wants to go." "Tickets are 50 bucks." " What?" " Each." " Fuck that." " That's what I said." "But she really wants to go." "You should try and come." " When is it?" " Uh, October, I think." " It's a little dramatic, isn't it?" " The man's kind of dramatic." " October, huh?" "Tell you what, if I live through tonight, I'll see you there." " Yeah?" " Yeah." "It's 50 bucks, right?" "See you later, Cade." " See you around, Max." " Am I to assume you have my money?" "You could have given it to Travis, you know." "He was out lookin' for you all day." "It would have made him feel useful." " What I've got to say ain't about that." " Of course not." "It's about new Orleans, am I right?" " Nola Barnes." " Oh, I'd like to have a conversation with her." " What about my sister?" "Isobel chase." "Do you have her?" " You said on the phone you wanted to make a trade." "So where Nola Barnes?" "She's, the thing is that..." " where?" " She's gone, she left town." "She ain't testifying' to nobody about nothin'." "I promise you that, sir." " Let me tell you about Nola Barnes." "She would do anything, say anything, to survive." " Is my sister alive?" " How the fuck should I know?" "You know, it's funny." "I get accused of every crime that happens in the arklatex." "Travis." " Nothin' personal, Max." " I had to get out of my bed." " Yes, sir." " Come to the middle of nowhere." " Yes, sir." " And after all of that, where is Nola Barnes?" " I don't know, sir." " You don't know?" "Three days before she testifies, and you don't know?" "I am so disappointed in you, Travis." "Very disappointed." " Yes, sir." " Yeah, and we got Mr. honey slots, Mr. $3,000 and counting, he thinks she left town." " Well, you know," "I bet he's right." "She's too smart to testify against you." " I wish I had your confidence." " Get up, get up." " We're gonna need to take care of the da." "No way around it." "I'm gonna go home." "Finish a bottle of chardonnay." " Wait!" "Wait." " You wanted to be an option." "What little luck you had is used up." "House wins, always wins." " My sister." " I'm so sick of this guy." "His sister again." "His debt is not worth what it would cost to collect it." " Max?" "Max." "Max!" "They're gonna kill you!" " I wish shockley's was open." "They have the best catfish." " They ain't open." " I know." "I'm just sayin'." "Catfish." " Wakey, wakey, sweetheart." " Oh shit." "Okay, okay." "I think you broke my nose." " Does it hurt?" "Fuck you." " You told me I had 'til tomorrow to get your money, Travis." "You remember that conversation, like six hours ago?" " You had that time." "Had it." "This ain't about the money no more." " Yeah, you went over Travis's head." " Not cool." " You ask for a meeting with the man, and you don't think with me?" "That makes me look bad." "I don't like lookin' bad." " All right, this is just one big misunderstanding, boys." " Get his wallet." " $3." "That's not even gas money." " Dib." " Shut up." "All right, get him on his knees." " All right." "Wait, wait." "I told you, I told the man, my sister is missing, okay." "If she's in trouble and you kill me, nobody's gonna help her." " Well, she's dead." " What?" " You heard me." " You killed her?" "Why?" "She never did nothin'." " We had nothin' to do with it." " Who?" " Doesn't matter now." " Tell me." "Please." " Travis." "Go ahead and blast this fool away." " All right, look, look." "All right, you tell me who killed my sister," "I'll tell you where Nola Barnes is hiding' out." " I thought she skipped town." "Your sister had nothin' to do with us." "Oldest reason in the world to get clipped, run of the mill jealousy." "She just fucked the wrong person, that's all." "I'm sorry for your loss." "Now where's Nola Barnes?" " She's, uh, hiding' in a farmhouse outside of town." "On the Texas border." "I'll take you there." " No, no, no." "Now, that's not part of our deal." " I don't know her address, trav." "I've been there." "I can show you." " Get him in the car." " Shit." "Goin' to Texas, trav?" " Look, Travis, the man said bring him out here and kill him." "What are we goin' to Texas for?" " Shut your dumb-ass mouth, and get the fuckin' guy in the car." " Hey, hey, hey!" " Go get him." " I got a bad back, trav." "I can't roll down there." " Damn, Travis, why didn't you just kill him back here." " Split up, and get him." " I don't think we're gonna find him out here tonight, Travis." " We'll get him tomorrow, right, trav?" " Gonna go by his house." "He's gonna show up eventually." " Tonight?" "Tonight works for me." " Cancel some plans." "It's no big problem." " Deadbeats are deadbeats 'cause they're creatures of habit." "And he's got some bad habits." " What can I get you?" " Whiskey." "The bottle." " I can't sell you the bottle." " I'm just walkin'." "I wanna take it with me." " Look, I sure as hell can't sell it to go." "You okay, son?" " My sister's dead." "He killed her." "She's..." "She's dead." " You got money?" " I don't got nothin'." "Not anymore." " You didn't get it here." " I'm gonna kill him." "The guy that did it." "And anybody that helped." " Yes, sir." "That's the way we do it down here." " They killed her." "They ran her over." "They have to pay for what they did." " Ain't how the world works, Izzy." "Whoa, hey, hey, hey." " What are you doin' out here?" "You scared the hell outta me." " Funny." "You don't seem like the type that scares easy to me, Nola." " What happened?" " She's dead." " Why do you think that?" " Travis said he saw it." "It was that ex-boyfriend." "I knew it, too." "I knew it was that son of a bitch." " So what are you gonna do now?" " What am I gonna do?" "I'm gonna kill him." " You have to be sure." " I don't have to be anything." " You kill someone when you ain't 100%, you will wonder about it for the rest of your life." " It's not lookin' like that's gonna be a very long time." "What do I do?" " Ask him." " Oh, just ask him?" "Just ask him, just ask him." " Ask him hard." "Ask him 'til you believe him." "Then when you know he did it, then you kill him." "Come on." "Isobel is an amazing person." " Was." " She were nice to me." "Never acted above me." "She was good." " I know how she was." " You remember back when you were good, Max?" " No." " I remember when I was." "I was just a happy, dumb-ass little kid." "But someone took that from me." "He killed the innocent girl that I was." "And I lived with him for a long time." "Him walkin' around." "But I knew I'd get my chance." "I invited him somewhere secluded." "Asshole actually thought he was gonna get laid." "And I killed him." "But I made him know why first." "Before I blew his face off, he knew it was because of what he had taken from me." "You take him someplace quiet." "Somewhere not connected to you." "Might come in handy." " Where have you been?" " I took a beer." " Answer the question." "You've been gone for days." " Well, warden, if you must know," "I met a lovely girl at the tiki bar who has a house out on crossford." " 11 P.M." "That's the time you're supposed to be home every night." "11 P.M." " Will you dial it down a notch." "Jesus." " Fuck it." "Why don't you just ruin your life and mine." " Wait, wait, where you goin'." "Come back." "I'm sorry, okay." "Come on, have a beer with me." " You're drinking my last one." " I will give it to you." "Come on." "Sit down on this couch I get to sleep on, and hang out with me." " God, you're so annoying." "And you look like hell." " That is not the consensus at the tiki bar." "Apparently I've just gotten better-looking since high school." " I do not recall you looking so old in high school." " Yeah, who asked you?" "Give me that." "So, where's the shithead?" "I figured you'd over at his place tonight." " I told you," "I'm done with him." "I don't wanna talk" " you better be." " About my relationship status with you, you're such an asshole." " Okay, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry, wait." "I won't talk about the shithead anymore, okay." "Promise." "Come on, sit down with me." "Let's watch TV." "Oh." "I'll let you drive?" "Huh?" "Ah, that a girl." " You're so annoying." " You like it." "Come on." " You smell like cigarettes." " That's 'cause I had a lot of cigarettes." "Here, focus on what you're doin'." " I love you, big brother, you know that?" " Back at you, kid." "Hey." "Yeah, go ahead and scream." "Scream it up." "Nobody's gonna save you out here." " Please, don't kill me." " Now you're begging, that's nice." "I like that." "Did Isobel beg?" " I didn't do anything." "Please, Max." "Max." "Max, no, no, no." "What are you doing now?" "Max, please, stop it." "No." " I know it was you." "I wanna know why." "I wanna know why you killed my sister." " Killed her?" "I didn't, she's not dead." " You tell me right now!" "I know that you did it!" "Why?" " I wouldn't." "I love her." "I've always loved her, man." "She's not dead." " I have a witness that saw you kill her." " He said it was me, he's lying." "I haven't seen Isobel in weeks." " He said she was fucking the wrong guy." " I told you she left me for that..." " what, you tell me right now, left you for who?" " Her boss." "Man." "Her boss." "I caught her cheating on me." "That's why I did what I did." " You followed me." " I do understand." "Fuck all the guys you fucked." "That's why I hit her." "I went crazy." "No charges if I kept my mouth shut about the two of them." "He's runnin' for reelection, you know." "Asshole." "She didn't tell you that, did she?" "I love her, man." "I wouldn't kill her." "I wouldn't kill anybody." "Please." "Just let me go." " If you say anything to anyone." " I won't, I swear." "Hey Max." "Can you?" " That's it?" "That's all I get?" " Well, what do you want?" " I don't know, you ever put away any bad guys?" "Is it hard?" "What about the people you work with?" "What's it like workin' with lawyers all day?" "And the people, are they cool at all?" "And what about that guy on all the commercials, Mr. da?" "He's looks like a moron." "Is he a moron?" " Well, yes, yes, no, everyone I work with is nice, but none of them are cool, and he's not a moron, he's fine." " I don't understand you." "Why don't you tell me nothin'." "I'm your big brother." "I can't help you if I don't know what's goin' on." "See what I'm sayin'?" " I'm pickin' up what you're puttin' down." " Okay, so, how's your job?" " Well, my job is fan fuckin' tastic." "I love it more than I love gravy on biscuits." " You're makin' fun of me now?" " Yes, I am." " All right, college mouth." "That's right, that's right, you're better than me." "You know what, keep your big, stupid life a big, stupid secret." "See if I care." " My job's fine." "There's nothin' to talk about." " I need a gun, Lazarus." " For show or for use?" "Price goes up if it's for use." "I'm guessin' it's for use." "$500, and I can have somethin' for you tomorrow." " I don't have $500, and I don't need it tomorrow." "I need it tonight." " Do you think I get a fuckin' write-off on this shit?" " I'm tellin' you I need it because you owe me." "For that thing before." " That thing before was a long goddamn time ago." " I ain't ever traded on it." " The hell you haven't." " I need a gun, Lazarus." " Well, you better figure out another way to get one." "Evenin'." "Ya'll look like ya'll need a couple of shots on the house." " Travis was right, man." " Deadbeats are creatures of habit." "That's what he said." " Here you are, sure as shit." "Deadbeat, back in the same deadbeat bar you drink at every damn night." " Hey now." "Why don't ya'll take this shit outside." " Hey." "Why don't you pour them shots?" "And then go in the back and take a break, old man." " Get one for our friend, too." " Yeah, give old Max one, too." "Drink up, Max." " You caused us a lot of trouble last night." " Yeah, a whole lot of trouble." " We ain't been home." "We ain't slept, we ain't ate." "Wait a damn minute." " Will you get the hell outta the way." " No, no." " You and me is even now, Max." " Okay." " Don't ever come back." "And don't get pulled over." " Paul." "Paul, I think there's someone in the house." "Wait." " Look." "We don't have to do..." " I asked him hard, like you said." "I'm glad you said that." "I was wrong." "It wasn't the guy I thought it was." "Travis meant the other guy." "He meant the da." "And when I talked to him, I knew he was off." "But I didn't think he had it in him." " Is that his blood on you?" " No." "No, that's Jeff's." "Maybe Larry's." "But probably Jeff's." " Who are Larry and Jeff?" " The man sent them to kill me." "But I killed them." "I got a gun now." "I just don't know who to kill." " Why don't you know who to kill?" " The da's the man that Izzy was sleeping with." "That's who Travis said killed her." "I went there this mornin' to kill him." "But somebody beat me to it." "The da is dead." " Come on." "Take these off." " I have to kill them." " I know." "I know you do." " They killed her." "Somebody did." "Maybe it was the da who did it." "Why is he dead?" "Who killed him?" "They can't get away with it." "She was with best part of me." "You know what that's like?" "When somebody else is the best part of you?" " Yeah." "I do." "You have to sleep." " I'm super tired." " I know." "We're gonna get you cleaned up." "You're gonna sleep." "And when you wake up, we will take care of them." "Together." " Kill them." " Yes." " Breaking news this morning." "We can just confirmed that district attorney Paul melancon and his wife, Margaret melancon, were gunned down in their homes late last night." "Shreveport police are searching for this man, Max chase, in connection to those murders." " You're not gonna have much time." "Do you want vengeance for Isobel?" " Yes." " Then you're gonna have to make your moves quick." "You get in there, and you hit Travis first, 'cause he's the muscle." "The man, he ain't a fighter, he's a strategist." "You go in, pop 'em both, and get outta there." " You and I both know if I go in there, I ain't comin' out." " Make them pay, Max." " Travis, why are you calling me here?" " I think we might have a problem." " We don't talk about problems on the phone." " It's important." " Then speak carefully." " I haven't heard from my guys." "I think somethin' might have happened." " Nothin' personal." " Well, that sounds mysterious." "Why the fuck should I care?" " My guys were out taking care of that little problem from the other night." "I think he might be off the reservation." "If he is, he's gonna be pissed." "You need to watch out for yourself." " You better get down here, Travis." "You're gonna miss the party." " You ever killed anyone?" " What?" " You heard me." " You think I kill people?" " I have no idea what you do." "I know what you've been caught doing." "But I'm guessing that's just the tip of the iceberg." " So, what?" "Like a hitman for the mob or somethin'?" " I didn't say that." "I just asked you a simple, straightforward question." "Have you ever killed anyone?" " No, little sister, I have never killed anyone." " Would you tell me if you had?" " No." " But you haven't?" " Not that you know of." " I don't think you have." "You act all tough, but you're just a big softie underneath." " Well, everything's the situation." " What in the hell does that even mean?" " You are so dead." "No matter where you go, my people are gonna find you." " But I got questions, John, and I want answers." "Is it all right if I call you John?" "Callin' you the man these points your face, that just seems kind of stupid." " Fuck you." " Did you have Travis kill Isobel?" "Did she suffer?" "You're going to talk to me." " After all I've seen, and all I've survived, you think you're gonna put a scare on me?" "Don't let this gray hair fool you, no." " No, that's a good point." "Let's see." " Whoa, whoa, hold on." "No, wait, wait." "Put it down." "Put it down." "Get up." "Move forward." "Move, move, move." "Move." "Right there." "Get on your knees, trav." " Did you kill the boys?" " Yeah, it seemed like the thing to do at the time." "So now you tell me." " Your sister?" " My sister." " I told you I had nothin' to do with that." " You know, I was on my way to kill the da because of what you told me." "But you beat me to it, didn't ya?" " Well, he had it comin'." "Convenient, seein' as you were out breaking' parole and all." "But why'd you wanna kill him?" " You said Isobel was fucking the wrong guy." "He's the guy she was sleepin' with." " Now, I never said guy." "You ever ask your buddy, Nola?" "People got a habit of disappearing when they hang out with that one." " Nola Barnes, the man's errand girl." " Errand girl?" "Try button man." "Yeah, she told the cops she was just delivering when she got busted." "But no, that was her money." "She'd just earned it." " You're full of shit." " Ask the man." "Yeah, she'd get up nice and personal." "Spend the night or whatever." "They never saw it comin'." "And that's the truth." "She could make people disappear." "Yep." "I'd ask her if I were you." "Fuck." "I knew you were trouble the day I first laid eyes on you." " Say hey to Karen for me." "You really didn't kill her?" "You had nothing to do with it?" "Huh." " Max chase, suspect wanted in the murder of district attorney Paul melancon is now being sought in connection with the murder of keithville rancher, Patrick adamson." "Adamson has been missing since Tuesday, and when family members showed up to investigate, they found his body in the home." "Police believe that chase may have been hiding out in the home while planning the assassination of the district attorney." "If you have any information..." " nice digs." "Who's place?" " Just some guy I used to know." "Don't worry, he ain't comin' back anytime soon." "No one'll find me here." " What do I do?" " Ask him 'til you believe him." "Then you kill him." "Come on." "She talked about you some." " Yeah?" " She loved you very much." " What else did she say?" " She took me to this abandoned building." " What?" " Said you all used to hide there when you were kids." " She took you there?" "Why?" " She said if I ever needed to hide, the man was after me," "I should go there." "She'd meet me." " Oh Jesus." " Well, look at you, all not dead and stuff." "What happened the killin' the bad guys and goin' down in a Blaze of glory?" " The narrative took a twist." " They messed you up pretty good." " You should see the other guy." " What are you doin' here, Max?" " You told me to come, Nola." " Did I?" " Yeah." "You told me that Izzy brought you here." "Just like that." "Casual, like it's no big deal." "Why would she do that?" "Why would the two of you come here?" "Why would you throw it out like that?" "And why the hell wouldn't I question it at the time?" " Well, postcoital and all that." "I wouldn't be too hard on yourself." " I used to bring her here." "When we were kids." "I told her if she ever needed a place to hide out to come here, and I'd meet her." "Well, obviously she told you that." "That's a strange conversation for a lawyer and a witness to have." "Did you kill my baby sister?" " No." " You're a liar." " She's a liar!" "She never stopped fuckin' the da!" "She said she did." "She said she loved me." "She said she was done with him." "But then that fuckin' lawyer tells her what I did for the man, and she believes him." "And not me." "I was gonna change for her." "I was ready to leave it all behind." " So you sleep with me, why?" " Because you needed convincing." " To kill the man for you." "I didn't do it, by the way." " No?" "Why not?" " I figured if I don't kill you, he will." " Oh Max." "Oh maxie, maxie." "You are nothin' compared to your sister." "Do you realize that?" " I've known that my whole life." " It's funny." "You taste the same." " What did you do to her?" " Mmm, it is just eatin' you up, ain't it?" "Not knowin'." " Tell me!" " We argued." "And she left." "But later I called her." "And said I'm sorry, and I'm scared." "Travis is lookin' for me, and I need you." "She's a real softie, your sister." "Later I met her at her apartment." "And I took her." " What does that mean?" " Took her." " Get off of me!" "No, please." "Look at you." "You're just so upset, you don't know what to do." " How did you kill her, huh?" "How?" " I didn't." "I didn't kill her." "You think you need to save her?" "To protect her?" "I'll protect her!" "Me!" "Let's ask Izzy if she needs rescuing." " Oh shit." " Come on, Max." "Don't give up now." "You're almost there." " You know what, you son of a bitch." " Max." "Max, Max!" "Max!" "Max, Max!" "Max!" "What did you do to him?" "What did you do to him?" "He's hurt." "Please, he needs me." " I need you." " Let me go, you crazy bitch." " I know you're upset right now." "Don't be." "This is what I do." "I deal with problems." " Please, please, don't hurt him." " He's in the way." " No, no, no, he's not." " Baby." "This is for the best." " No." "Nola." "Nola." "Nola, don't you hurt him." "No, goddamnit, no!" "No!" " I will protect you now." " Please, no." " I'll get you far away from here." " What are we drinkin' to?" " Your impending incarceration." " Well, that is stinkin' thinkin'." " Is this funny to you, Max?" " You did the best you could." " That judge is an asshole." " Drink your drink." " I don't wanna drink my drink." " I am probably goin' away tomorrow for nine to 13 months." "Drink your fuckin' drink." "Yup." " Are you scared?" " Yep." " Come on, maxie." " What's your emergency?" " Hi, my brother's hurt." "Please hurry, please." "He's bleeding fast." "We're in downtown." "Hold on, maxie, help's on the way." " Don't call me that." " Are you okay?" " No." "I'm not okay." "I'm pretty goddamn far from okay." "Yeah." "No." "Are you okay?" "You look like shit." " You look really bad." " Scars are sexy, chicks dig scars." " You know, I knew you'd come." "They're here, I'm gonna..." " no, wait, no, no, no, don't." "Don't, don't go nowhere, wait." "Just shut up." "Just stay right there, okay?" "Okay?" " Okay." "Okay." "Okay, big brother." " That a girl."