Chapter 16Racket, chatter, beer, laughter, smoke: Billy Bristol was having his second party in six days.
As always, the trailer was packed wall-to-wall with Wild West cronies and affiliates, the usual suspects. As always, a keg of beer was posted in the bathtub, continuously employed. As always, a jubilant ruckus pervaded the place, a celebratory hymn of youth.
As always, Dave Heinrich was obsessed with Larry Smith.
"So, what do you think of him?" he asked Ernie Dumbrowski. "What's your impression of him?" It was an hour into the party, and Dave had managed to corner Ernie in the trailer's hallway. For the moment, Larry was in the kitchen, so Dave was free to question his comrade without worrying that Larry would overhear.
"Well," said the tall, stocky guy, leaning against the pa
