He asked Poole to look up the Faberge Eggs, spelling it twice, and as Poole pulled up the pictures and glanced at the encyclopedia articles, Hatchet told him he had one of the things in his possession and that it appeared in the bank deposit bag with all the money just wrapped in bubble wrap like any wine glass boxed up in a Ryder truck. Hatchet admitted his doubts about its authenticity. He asked Poole what it would mean if it were a fake. Poole told him he was shooting in the dark. Hatchet concluded that a fake could only further complicate the matter. Poole didn’t venture a response. Hatchet explained that he had looked them up before he lost service and knew of the dozens made for the Russian Royal family and that the Communists confiscated most of them after the revolution. They were worth millions. Poole asked him to describe it and he did.
So what’s your plan? Poole asked him. I don’t have a plan; I can’t make a plan until I know what I’m dealing with, what I actually have in my possession. So what are you asking me to do? I need you to call in a favor, pull some strings. I haven’t been near any kind of fence since before my marriage, Hatchet, besides that, this isn’t something you can walk into a pawnshop and just--
I know that.
—and just..., pawn...
But you know somebody or somebody who knows somebody; you’ve done favors for shady mutherfuckers. I’m gonna need a picture of it. I knew you would come through for me. Hatchet, I am getting you a fuckin phone number at the most. Fair enough.
How’s Jane? She’s not cool. I didn’t figure she would be. You shouldn’t even have to ask. I asked so you could tell her I asked. Uh-huh.
Hatchet gave him the address of the post office at the Panther Junction headquarters so he could ship him the Bluetooth device and they traded awkward farewells. Poole would curse him again when he realized Mexico was Hatchet’s final destination. Hatchet hated asking Poole for help but he saw no other way to start pushing this rock up the hill. Poole had never failed to offer Hatchet assistance of any kind. This seemed like the perfect time and opportunity to call in all he had and he could stay in debt to Poole for the rest of their lives. He didn’t tell Poole about the Dog Boys. Hatchet considered them his problem and his problem alone, the only witnesses who could get pinched for anything routine and would waste no time trading testimony for freedom. Once again, they were the errant pieces of his busted ship, beating it into oblivion.
So what’s your plan? Poole asked him. I don’t have a plan; I can’t make a plan until I know what I’m dealing with, what I actually have in my possession. So what are you asking me to do? I need you to call in a favor, pull some strings. I haven’t been near any kind of fence since before my marriage, Hatchet, besides that, this isn’t something you can walk into a pawnshop and just--
I know that.
—and just..., pawn...
But you know somebody or somebody who knows somebody; you’ve done favors for shady mutherfuckers. I’m gonna need a picture of it. I knew you would come through for me. Hatchet, I am getting you a fuckin phone number at the most. Fair enough.
How’s Jane? She’s not cool. I didn’t figure she would be. You shouldn’t even have to ask. I asked so you could tell her I asked. Uh-huh.
Hatchet gave him the address of the post office at the Panther Junction headquarters so he could ship him the Bluetooth device and they traded awkward farewells. Poole would curse him again when he realized Mexico was Hatchet’s final destination. Hatchet hated asking Poole for help but he saw no other way to start pushing this rock up the hill. Poole had never failed to offer Hatchet assistance of any kind. This seemed like the perfect time and opportunity to call in all he had and he could stay in debt to Poole for the rest of their lives. He didn’t tell Poole about the Dog Boys. Hatchet considered them his problem and his problem alone, the only witnesses who could get pinched for anything routine and would waste no time trading testimony for freedom. Once again, they were the errant pieces of his busted ship, beating it into oblivion.
Edit 11.22.2018