The woman was awake when Cassidy got there, shivering and sobbing.
Alfie sat a little away from her, smoking a happy joint. Cassidy got
the information from the woman. Harlan was alive although might die
-overnight. He glared at Alfie as he slit the girl's throat.
+overnight. He glared at Alfie.
-"Yer not doin' so good, Alfie. Two tries and you miss both times."
+"Yer not doin' so good. Two tries and you miss both times."
Alfie got to his feet. "I didn't miss him. I shot him." He motioned at
-the bloody corpse. "You heard what she said. He's expected to die
+the terrified woman. "You heard what she said. He's expected to die
tonight."
"Yeah. I heard what she said." said Cassidy. "He's alive." He leaned
forward and grabbed Alfie's lapels. "I want you to rectify that
condition."
-He turned and started back toward the city, talking over his shoulder.
-"You hear me, Alfie? Last chance. Make him dead by midnight."
+He stood up and threw the woman over his shoulder. He started back
+toward the city, talking around his captive. "You hear me, Alfie? Last
+chance. Make him dead by midnight."
+
+Alfie yelled "Whatcha gonna do with that woman?"
+
+"I'm going to take her to her home and dump her outside. She'll be
+able to get out of her ties in a while."
+
+"You ain't gonna kill her?"
+
+Exasperated, Cassidy turned around. "No. I'm not going to kill her and
+I'm not leaving her here with you either. You'd just slit her throat."
+
+"But she's seen us. She heard what we said. She needs to be dead."
+
+Cassidy stared at the thug for a minute. "Perhaps you're right. But I
+am not going to kill some innocent woman just because she was in the
+wrong place at the wrong time."
+
+Alfie sputtered. "But..but you'll order a hit on Harlan? He's a nice
+guy."
+
+Cassidy sighed "I am not going to stand here and debate philosophy
+with you. Suffice it to say that I think Harlan is a spy working for
+the cops. He's a traitor. He's not an innocent. Now goodnight."
+
+Alfie stared after him, speechless.
==== Mellie: Detective ====