10. Show Time

In the morning, Mickey went to Elise's gym. He at least knew where that was, although he could not help feeling stupid at all that he didn't know. The gym manager had no idea what fights Mickey was talking about. A hundred bucks got him investigating, however. Mickey waited while he made calls to the gym's two sister locations, one in Chinatown. At the end of his calls, he propositioned Mickey: "Make it two hundred and I'll get you in as her cornerman."

"Fine," Mickey said and peeled off bills. He'd come prepared for that.

"You meet with Coco at this address at 4:00 and ride with him in the van. He's taking a group of the guys from the dojo; a couple are fighting. Coco didn't know anything about Elise, however. Only girl's name he remembers reading about was Suzy the Slayer and somebody the Killer. I can't see Elise going by those names in a million years or see her fighting in the middle of crazy folks like that. She's way too classy."

"What does Coco look like?"

"You'll know when you see him. He looks like his name."

Mickey nodded, despite having little clue what the manager meant about Coco.

Mickey returned home to assemble a trainer's bag. He used a Company issued bag with a fake bottom and concealed side sections. In these he placed several well-padded guns. Next, Mickey called McCall with an update.

"I'm good to go. That flyer, you didn't see Elise's name on it, did you?"

"No."

"Anything on it about Suzy the Slayer or someone the killer?"

"No, there's only a small line about champion ladies' karate."

"There must be multiple flyers floating out there."

"Perhaps. On this one, the men's bouts do list ridiculous names like that, far worse even. The event sounds more like a wrestling match than a karate contest."

"I don't think this is a true karate contest. I think it's something new called Ultimate Fighting."

"That sounds nasty."

"It is. It takes several forms of fighting and combines them in a near free for all."

"Please tell me that the women are not engaging in this so-called sport."

"I hope not."

"The flyer is clearly advertising karate matches. Vincent left me a complete translation."

"What's advertised and what happens may not match up, McCall."

"The fighters may not even know, is that what you are telling me?"

"I'm just speculating that this whole evening may be designed around a lot of blood and guts, not high fallutin' honorable karate contests."

"Repulsive."

"Hey, it'll remind you of Angola, minus the guns and machetes, that is."

"As I said, repulsive."

"Any word about Elise?"

"Sadly, I hold out little hope of locating her before match time. Nor have I heard further from Mrs. Bonnano."

"She's not gonna turn on the snitch, McCall."

"I guess that it is a bit much to expect one to do to save one's daughter's life. I shall see you this evening, Mickey. Please be careful."

"Right."

At 4:00 p.m., Mickey met with Coco, whose dark round face with a shock of bleached white hair resembled an inside out coconut.

"Jojo tells me you are Elise's personal trainer. He say you a good cut man, too."

"That's right," Mickey said. After all, he'd paid Jojo well to say it.

"You better bring lots of butterflies! Gonna be a crazy night. More fun to watch than to work, though. Now that you here, Sam plans to take the night off so you do all his job. He say thank you. Hey Sam, say thank you."

"Tank yu," said Sam, a scrawny sixty year old who retained only a few teeth.

Mickey joined them in the van. As they drove, they spoke mostly in Chinese, leaving Mickey out of their conversation. Nearly an hour later, the van arrived at the back entrance of a warehouse. Bags and bodies were searched, bodies better than bags, but none the way Mickey would have done it.

Mickey and the entourage were escorted into a hallway that branched off in a tee soon after they entered. They took a right. Mickey knew the layout generally from the prior evening's meeting. The building was often used as a wedding hall, with multiple events going on in several rooms simultaneously. Soundproofing panels helped keep the distinct parties separate, although loud music often bled from one hall to another. Each hall had its own bathroom facilities so parties stayed contained. Mickey counted doors as they walked to establish his position and also tried to see what lay in rooms they passed.

Mickey momentarily stopped to peer inside one room that was being set up: a very dim room with floor panels zigzagging through the room. Dark towels were piled high off to the left side of the room. An escort pushed Mickey along, but not before Coco, who also peeked in, whispered to Mickey.

"Pussy room. Gonna get me some if I win big."

The escort warned them, "You keep to your own business." The escort opened the door to a large hall with two fight rings set up. A couple of fighters were loosening up and sparring. "You stay here only," he warned, before he pulled Coco aside. "Why white guy here?"

"Sam not have stamina he used to. We borrow cut man from our Manhattan gym. Problem?"

"No problem."

The escort left. Coco's boys geared up in training helmets and pads to preserve their bodies for later. Coco stole a minute alone with Mickey. "Hey, big boy. I vouch for you. You give me cash now for pussy later."

Mickey reached in his pocket and discreetly pulled out most of his cash. "Enjoy, friend," he said with a fake smile. Mickey, with little to do during warm up, surveyed the room. The door he entered was guarded as were the front doors. Exiting before match time could be a problem. Next, Mickey looked for the Bureau's cameras. It wasn't long until he found one up high. Nothing too obvious, he thought, and quickly turned his attention elsewhere. He went to chat up one of the other trainers to learn more.

"Where are the girls who are fighting?"

"In another room."

"Why?"

"Don't know. I guess maybe a different crowd like that sort of thing. Me, I don't like to see girls hurt and bleed."

Mickey sagged on learning that he would never see Elise in this room. He went to the guard at the door. "My gym, we do training and cut work for one of the girls too. Can I check on her?"

"No."

"Then may I talk to whomever is in charge, because this is my job, and one of them is my responsibility?"

"Later. Boss man come through soon."

As Mickey listened to the guard's Charlie Chan English, he felt as if he'd been dropped into a bad forties movie. He checked his watch: 5:45. It was still early; the first fights didn't begin until seven. Mickey decided it best to wait for the "Boss Man" instead of pestering the guard further. Soon a fighter's strained hamstring claimed Mickey's attention anyway. Fortunately, Mickey had spent enough time on the other end of a trainer's attention so that he could fake it.

At 6:30, men swooped in to set up folding chairs in rows and adjust the lighting. Mickey took a guess at who the "Boss Man" was and approached him. "Girl from my gym is in the other room. I'm her trainer. Can I check on her?"

"If she needs you, we'll send for you. Otherwise, no. The help stays where assigned."

Mickey laid back a few seconds, thinking of a persuasive argument to give the Boss Man. The man beat Mickey to the punch.

"Hey, boy, is it the white girl? She's hot mama even if she over thirty."

Mickey nodded and smiled in agreement.

"She not bleed a lot?"

Mickey hesitated momentarily, uncertain what answer would help most.

"You answer me. She a big bleeder?"

"Around the eyes, sometimes."

"I let you in for her bout. Bad for business if she bleed out early from cuts. Keep it quiet, but I have money on her to go the distance. She like giant white racehorse. I like very much to see that one in bed."

"What time do the ladies fight?"

"Nine or later, during break in action here. Give folks in here time to get drinks, play tables, get head or suck pussy, whatever. Some from here will go over there, men who like tough women."

Mickey nodded politely before he excused himself, his business concluded. He wandered around the room some, observing the posters -- all in Chinese -- that he presumed advertised the evening fights. "Hey, Sam, what do these posters say about the ladies' fights?"

Sam translated for him. This one only say: "Special: Champion Women's Martial Arts Fights. This one more exciting." Mickey guessed it might be from the drawing of a Barbie-like figure doing a kick on the side of the poster. "Suzy 'the Slayer' Wang, Martial Arts Champion of East Coast, vs. Sami 'Kick Ass' Fong, Champion Kick boxer. Elly 'the Killer' Cantrell, West Coast Karate Champion vs. Cindy 'Hit Woman' Lo, East Coast Kung Fu Champion. Single Elimination Championship."

"Who's your money on, Sam?"

"I seen only three of these girls before."

"Which ones?"

I meet Elly when she visit our gym when Manhattan gym have water leak. She not want to miss practice. She spar very well, very disciplined. She ask me about local fights for money. She tell me that she need money bad. I tell her about fights like this, but I never think she kind of girl who really do it. Suzy Wang known well around here. She have accurate stage name. Kick Ass Fong will get her ass kicked. Kickboxing joke next to real martial arts."

"So where do I put my cash?"

"Keep in your pocket or spend in pussy room like me. Fights sure to be rigged."

"If they weren't, who would you bet on?"

"If clean, rules all enforced, if Elly really West Coast Champion, she win. Suzy Wang never play clean though," Sam smiled.

A few minutes later, customers began to wander in. The preliminary fights started on time to a less than full house. By eight, the room had filled up. Mickey spotted McCall's group among the recent arrivals.

After a few rounds, McCall lost interest in the fighting, which indeed had degraded into Ultimate Fighting. McCall moved to the back of the room to take stock of the land and the people. Mickey -- his gym's fighters not in the ring then -- paced behind the left ring. At one point, he caught McCall's eyes. Mickey flashed both his hands, with a thumb curled under, to signal McCall that the ladies' action began at 9:00 and then flicked a hand left to indicate the location of it. McCall nodded in acknowledgment and then exited.

McCall found the room to the left closed and the door blocked by two men. "Not open yet. Come back later after announcement." Stymied, McCall headed to the gambling room. McCall had difficulty navigating through the smaller guests who packed the room to the gills. Moreover, the dim light choked with cigarette smoke made identifying anyone more than ten feet away improbable. McCall saw a smattering of other Caucasians in the room, but no large groups or entourages as he would expect if Bonnano came. A lovely young Asian girl reached out from his side and took his hand in hers. McCall, curious, followed along as she pulled him out of the room down the hall. She pointed inside a dark room, divided by silk panels.

"Come. I make you feel special."

McCall gently backed away. "Sorry, not tonight. Though you are very youthful and lovely," he added politely.

McCall returned to the gambling room from the opposite side door this time, but again could not even approach a table, so deep were the bodies and thick was the smoke. As he surveyed the hall, he spotted a contingent of eight or so Caucasians just entering from the door on the other side. McCall moved forward to get a closer view but met too many obstacles. He exited and went to the door the others had entered, but by that time, they had disappeared entirely in the crowd. McCall resigned himself to return to the fighting room for a while.

The beatings continued inside the fighting room. In ring one, Mickey attended to a bloody and battered fighter slumped over in a corner. The opponent had disappeared, leading McCall to wonder if this sad sack was the victor or loser. In ring two, another fight proceeded. The bell rang, and money changed hands. One more round and that match ended. More money changed hands. The man Mickey knew only as "Boss Man" climbed in the ring. He made an announcement, first in Chinese, then in English.

"Final men's rounds at 10:30. We invite you to drink, play or pleasure yourself now. Ladies' karate will commence in next hall, out the left side, in fifteen minutes. A very special, one of a kind treat for our friends. Please come see and bet! You like very much."

Mickey tried to follow "Boss Man" out the back door. The posted guard stopped him. "Hey, Boss Man, you said I could come see my fighter over there!" Mickey hollered. Boss Man nodded and Mickey was permitted to cross the hall. He and the Boss Man entered the hall through the back door.

McCall's party also headed across the hall, except they entered through the main door. They marked out seats toward the back so they could watch arrivals. McCall sat in his seat, but Ginger and Jimmy left. McCall dispatched them to maneuver their considerably slimmer bodies through the gambling room to look at the group that worried McCall.

As guests wandered into the hall, got drinks and took seats, McCall saw no sign of the female fighters. Pretty Asian girls in red silk dresses wandered around the aisles handing out cards and placing them on empty seats. Mickey, waiting behind the ring with bag in hand, saw McCall read the card. His face showed distaste for what he'd read. Mickey set the bag down by the ring. He wandered over to an empty seat in the first row where he picked up a card. He scanned the few bits of English on it quickly enough to ascertain there would be three fights, each three rounds, three minutes each round. Elise the Killer Cantrell's prelim fight was second. As Mickey turned to go back behind the ring, the guard from behind the ring met him.

"You stay back behind ring or else," he said as he patted a bulge under his jacket.

Mickey said nothing and did as ordered.

The room continued to fill. The buzz felt different from in the other room. "Boss Man" -- who had been working the room since he and Mickey came in -- climbed into the ring. Again he made a speech, first in Chinese, then in broken English. "We have very special treat for you tonight. Ladies' mixed martial arts, single elimination championship. You enjoy betting and watching. Girls as much fun as boys, you see!"

An announcer stepped in the ring as "Boss Man" exited. Mickey caught only the fighters' names as everything else he said was in Chinese only. Suzy the Slayer entered on cue. She looked downright thug-like, unlike Sami Fong, who had a lean, muscular body and an attractive face. Several minutes later, late in round two, Sami "Kick Ass" Fong had her ass kicked. The Boss Man didn't seem pleased that it had happened so fast. Mickey wasn't too happy about the mauling either. He'd seen Suzy use her fingernails and teeth as weapons during the fight. She definitely went for a hair grab at one point. All had been done with the same amount of referee interference in the men's fights: virtually none. He couldn't visualize Elise doing this; nor did he want to see it.

As the ring was cleared and mopped by the referee, the crowd mingled and got drinks refreshed. A few minutes later, the back door opened. The referee announced the fighters entry into the ring. Elise "Killer" Cantrell bore little resemblance to the woman Mickey knew. Her hair was cut short and died flame red. She wore daggers tattooed on her forearms (temporary, Mickey hoped) and dressed in not much, a boxer's tank bra and hipster shorts. Bright lights focussed directly on her as she climbed in the ring kept Elise from seeing Mickey off to the side. On the other side of the ring, Cindy Lo climbed in, followed by her trainer. Mickey moved up to climb in behind Elise, slightly concerned about surprising her.

"You look different," Mickey whispered from behind her.

"And you don't sound like Sam," Elise said coldly, without turning. "I asked you to stay away."

"I had something important to tell you." Mickey massaged her upper body as he whispered. "Mrs. Bonnano agreed to call off the dogs."

"Good. You can leave now."

"McCall is concerned about some wild cards."

"I have back up."

"Not inside, you don't, not for this kind of trouble."

Further conversation ended as the referee came to Elise's corner to call her to meet her opponent. They bowed. The bell rang and the match begin.

Elise seemed distracted at first, for which Mickey took the blame. Soon, however, Cindy Lo got in a punch that garnered Elise's full attention. The two women fought cleanly through the first round. Neither did much harm. Elise moved back to her corner and drank some water as Mickey rubbed her down. Elise was silent between rounds.

"You're mad," Mickey said.

"Don't worry. I'll take it out on her."

"You want to talk about it?"

"No."

Elise shut down conversation until the bell rang again. In the second round, Elise took a blow to the midsection that made her reel backwards and down on the mat. Mickey rushed to her. She writhed in pain for a few seconds. Mickey came in closer. "It's fake, you turkey." The referee came over. She got up as the ref three counted. She and Cindy Lo continued with Elise appearing as though she might fall over any second. Elise managed to stay out of the way of any major hits until the last second of round two when Cindy Lo scored a hit to Elise's belly that looked to all as if Elise couldn't come back. As the bell rang, Mickey helped her up to the corner seat. Out the side of his eye, Mickey saw cash changing hands throughout the room.

Mickey iced her midriff and hovered over her. "That one fake too?" he whispered.

"Mostly," Elise said.

"Good, cause I've got money on you."

"Liar."

"Not me, not ever."

"You know, don't you?"

"A good bit, yes."

"You should be running in the opposite direction."

"Don't want to."

"You're dumber than you look then. What's the wild card?"

"Your mother only thinks she's in control."

"God, you do know."

"And let me tell you, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Elise had no time for a response, had she one, before the third round began. She dogged it at the beginning, sure to be declared the loser if she kept it up. With thirty seconds to go, after being pushed back on the ropes by a blow to the shoulder, Elise unleashed a combination series of punches and kicks that knocked Cindy Lo back. Elise finished the "Hit Woman" off with a leaping kick to the midriff from which Cindy Lo did not get back up. With five seconds to go, the ref called the fight. Elise had her arm held up in victory before she feigned collapse in the corner stool.

"Nice move. Never shown me that one before."

"Wouldn't use that on you."

"Glad to hear that."

"Any sign of trouble?"

"Not that I know of. McCall and friends are roaming."

The announcer cut off their conversation. "Champion fight in five minutes. Refresh your drinks, place your bets and enjoy a great show."

Mickey saw Ginger and Jimmy enter through the front of the hall. They made a bee line to McCall. McCall looked at Mickey before McCall stood and headed toward the bar.

"Something's up. I'll be right back," Mickey told Elise. Mickey took the ice pail in hand. As he proceeded, one of the Boss Man's underlings shadowed him.

"Where you think you going trainer man?"

"To get more ice for her and a drink for me. You got a problem with that?"

"No problem. I just watch you like a hawk."

Mickey walked straight to the side of the bar. "I need to fill this with ice and I'd like a glass of club soda." The bartender ignored him, so Mickey helped himself to the ice and left without the soda. McCall had moved in nearby.

"I don't think that filly of yours has a chance in hell, mate," McCall said. "The Slayer will mop the floor with her."

Mickey gave McCall a look, maybe a slight head nod.

"No, I don't see any way out for your girl, young man. None at all, short of a fire alarm!" McCall chuckled.

Mickey headed back to the ring. He iced Elise's belly more, though there was really nothing much there. The ice produced the impression of an injury for the audience.

"I think trouble is brewing. We may need to cut and run."

"Exactly how do we do that?"

"Head for the ladies' room. There should be a small bag in there with a change of clothes. Then head for the front door."

Elise nodded. She climbed out the ring only to be met by the goon who'd trailed Mickey before. He cuffed his hand around her arm.

"You, back in the ring."

"I just need to go to the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute." Elise said and stepped forward.

"I'll take you to the back," the thug said, refusing to release her arm.

"What's the fuss?" Elise asked.

"That one's for customers only. Workers in back."

Elise looked up at Mickey. He gave her a look that said not to go. "Never mind. I guess I'll have to finish Suzy off fast," Elise joked and climbed back in the ring.

"That didn't go well," she whispered to Mickey.

"No. I don't think the back way is a good option."

"I agree."

"I could tell Mr. ref that you're too hurt to go on."

"I don't think that'll get me a pass out the front door either."

"I know."

"And the boss man won't be very happy with the take if I quit now."

"There is that. Guess you'll be safer in front of the crowd until McCall's diversion."

Moments later, the referee and the announcer both returned to the ring. The announcer gave a Chinese introduction and then a briefer English one. "Ladies and Gentleman, and now for our ladies' championship. Welcome back to the ring Suzy the Slayer Wang as she takes on Elise Killer Cantrell."

Mickey's attention was pulled in two directions at once. From the back of the room, he observed "Boss Man" escorting a group of Caucasians to the front of the aisle. Meanwhile, Suzy the Slayer stepped in the ring, walked a loop with her arms in the air, then settled on a stool in her corner. Her trainer handed her a full water bottle from which she sipped before she dropped it on the mat. Mickey thought it looked intentional. The referee signaled the fighters to step out of the ring so the trainers could clean it up, which they did. Mickey and Suzy's trainer mopped the spill with towels. Mickey glanced up as he mopped. He disliked what he saw.

Boss Man signaled his fighters to come forward. Mickey recognized the face of the well-dressed man next to Boss Man: Joey Bonnano. As Elise approached, Joey inclined his head toward the Boss Man. The Boss Man moved toward Elise, put his hand on her arm and brought her directly in front of Joey Bonnano. Meanwhile, from the rear of the hall, Ginger walked up the aisle to get as close to the Bonnano party as she could.

Though "Boss Man" wore an air of restrained tension, Joey Bonnano appeared perfectly composed, delighted even. Mickey guessed he was gloating over outing Elise Cantrell. Joey Bonnano extended his hand to shake Elise's. As he looked directly at her, his face froze for a second. Even Mickey from his position in the ring understood what it meant: recognition.

Ginger overheard some of the brief conversation that ensued. She didn't know most of what they said, as it was all Italian. "Tu?" "Si." "Como?" she got, but the rest was too quietly uttered or beyond her fifty travelers' words of Italian.

Moments later, Joey leaned in and gave Elise a kiss on the cheek. He whispered something in her ear afterward. Joey then briefly acknowledged the competitor with a kiss to her hand. The referee announced that the ring was ready. "Boss Man" directed the women back into the ring. Joey Bonnano's party headed to the exit. Ginger went to report to McCall.

Elise seemed a little shell shocked as she reentered the ring. Mickey got behind her and massaged her shoulders gently.

"What just happened?" Mickey whispered in her ear.

"Boss Man" exited through the back door as they spoke. Goons with arms entered and blocked that door afterward.

"Get out anyway you can. This op is down the toilet thanks to me."

"I'm not leaving without you."

"Unlikely."

"That was the Kiss of Death he gave you, wasn't it?"

"No, well yes, but that's not what he intended."

"What did he say to you?"

"He didn't know it was me until after he'd blown my cover. I explained that I had never come after his family, nor would I have. He told me that his informant said otherwise and it looked like a good business opportunity. He apologized."

"Then he gave you the kiss."

"He wished me good luck afterward."

"Ah, that was generous of him," Mickey grumbled insincerely. Mickey started another sentence as the ref motioned for Elise to come forward. Mickey held her back, feigning working on her arm. "I say we make a break for it."

Elise looked around. She saw the guards in front of the ring, behind the ring and at the front doors that Mickey had already observed. "I like my chances against Suzy better," she said and pulled away.

Elise moved forward to the ref. Suzy the Slayer bounced up and down in her corner, not responding to the ref's calls to center. Something about that girl just wasn't right. Nor were other things. Still more guards with bulging jackets took up positions in front of the exit doors.

McCall had noticed the increasing number of guards too. He got up and walked to the doors to exit. He was refused. "What do you mean, I can't go out? Why the hell not?"

"Please stay and enjoy the fight, sir. A difficulty outside requires that we keep you in here for now."

"I must insist."

"Sit down. I can help you do that if necessary." The bouncer flashed his holstered gun.

McCall headed back to his seat. He spoke to Ginger. "Find a way out of here now." He handed her a number on a piece of paper. "Call this man and tell him that he shall have a blood bath on his hands if he doesn't torpedo this operation." Next he turned to Jimmy, "Jimmy, get in position to pull a fire alarm, preferably before the end of the second round."

Ginger had Mr. Wu escort her to the door. Along the way and once there, she coughed and complained loudly that the smoke made her not be able to breathe and she had to leave. Her cough morphed into a wheeze, then into a veritable asthma attack in process. "If . . . I . . . don't get . . . inhaler . . . die . . ." she gasped. Mr. Wu translated. When they began to draw the attention of the attendees, the guard relented and let Ginger and Mr. Wu out.

Meanwhile, in the ring, round one began. It consisted of mostly exploratory fighting, a jab here, a kick there. Elise moved and parried effectively. She tried only for worthwhile blows. However, Suzy the Slayer seemed extra juiced and bounced away from hits that might have been expected to hurt more. Elise was sure Suzy was hopped up on something. Towards the end of the first round, Elise managed to get in a kick to Suzy's jaw that staggered her. The bell saved Suzy.

Mickey tended to Elise. "I know all bets are off now, but who was supposed to win this one?"

"Boss Man has the hots for me," Elise mocked.

"I know how he feels. You be careful out there. Hopefully we'll get our sign soon."

"Yeah, well, you keep your eyes open for it. I'm busy with Suzy."

Round two began. Suzy the Slayer had recovered and sought vengeance. She took a forbidden shot at Elise's breasts that glanced off to the side, but did damage. Elise opened up a bit in reaction and Suzy moved inside with a punch to the face that grazed Elise. Elise backed up a moment, recovered and went after Suzy with a kick, punch, kick combo. She caught Suzy's side on the last kick. Suzy fell forward to the mat. Elise eased up for a second. As the referee checked on Suzy, Suzy rolled over groaning and then slammed a kick into Elise's gut. Elise reeled back. The ref "warned" Suzy, but Elise knew he didn't mean it. Elise backed up a bit further, bounced forward off the rope and flew at Suzy, taking Suzy to the mat in a whole body press. As they rolled on the mat, Suzy used her nails to carve stripes in Elise's back. Elise grabbed Suzy's ponytail and pulled. They kneed each other, rolled apart, and stood back up. The crowd hooted and hollered at the cat fight. The bell rang, giving both a needed break.

"How ya doing?" Mickey said as he put ointment on Elise's back.


"I don't think she's feeling what I land."

"Shit, no. Look," Mickey said as he watched Suzy's trainer hold snuff up to her nose, except both he and Elise knew it was coke. "Hang in there. Hopefully, this will end soon." Mickey glanced around the room worried. He spied Jimmy trying to maneuver in near a fire alarm, but goons had backed him off. Jimmy then retreated toward the restroom. Mickey hoped there was a fire alarm near there or that Ginger would come through.

"No matter what happens to me, I want you out of here," Elise said.

Mickey held ice on her chin. "Don't be ridiculous."

"You don't need to suffer for my mistakes."

"That's my choice, don't you think?" Mickey whispered. Mickey looked around again for Jimmy and McCall. McCall hadn't moved from his seat. Jimmy stood in a line outside the bathroom, trying to push his way through bodies, but meeting resistance.

"Final round" was announced. Money switched hands openly. Elise rose. Suzy sprang up. Elise began the round by trying to stay clear of Suzy, whose erratic movements made it a challenge. She kept coming at Elise no matter what Elise threw at her. Suzy's strikes missed wildly for the most part, but a few connected and wore Elise down. Elise shortened her strides and mixed up her combinations to less traditional ones to try to trip up Suzy. Elise began to connect, after which she would quickly feint to evade Suzy's fast return blows. Elise gained control of the fight until Suzy maneuvered her into a corner. Suzy hurled herself at Elise like a t.v. wrestler. Elise ducked, using her shoulder to deflect the blow before she pushed her way out of the corner. Elise then delivered a roundhouse kick to Suzy's midsection. Suzy fell to the mat, writhing. The ref motioned Elise to her corner. The ref bent over Suzy and assisted her up as he ostensibly assessed her ability to continue.

"She's done," Mickey said with a smile.

"Swear to me that you didn't bet on this."

"It was either that or save it for the pussy room," Mickey said with a wince of disgust.

The referee's three count ended. To both Elise and Mickey's surprise, Suzy was good to go again. Elise came back out to the center of the ring. Suzy and Elise circled each other. Elise's sole aim was to stay out of trouble for the last minute. As they continued to circle, the crowd clamored "fight, fight, fight." The sound of a klaxon rose up over the chants. The crowd quieted to hear it. Someone yelled "fire." The crowd's attention left the ring. People rose en masse to head for the doors.

Elise had stopped in her tracks at the call of fire, looking back to Mickey. Mickey had taken the moment to evaluate their escape route. He expected it to be easy in the chaos that followed the alarm. However, while the guards in the front of the hall had relented to allow customers to exit, the guards in the front of the ring and at the back door hadn't budged. Mickey didn't like it. As he turned back toward Elise, he glanced Suzy rushing toward Elise. Something was in Suzy's hand. Mickey yelled out to Elise, "Behind you!"

As Elise turned towards Suzy, Suzy thrust her hand into Elise's torso. Mickey didn't wait to see what Suzy had or did next. He grabbed Suzy's free arm and twisted it back as he stuck a revolver in Suzy's back. "Drop it or I drop you."