“You didn’t know this was going to happen. No way you could have. It doesn’t matter. You didn’t do it on purpose.”
“On purpose or not, this monster might have shown up here. I don’t like to think about that. Seems you and me get together there’s always trouble.”
“You and anybody get together it’s trouble,” Leonard said.
“Jesus, poor Charlie,” Brett said. “He was such a nice guy.”
“That’s right,” I said, “he was.”
“And you didn’t tell the cops about what happened in Mexico?” Brett asked.
“I didn’t.”
“That means you plan to settle it, doesn’t it?”
“I plan to try.”
“Which means, of course, that Leonard will try with you.”
“I’ve dragged Leonard into enough shit.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up,” Leonard said.
“You’re the one complains,” I said.
“Yeah, I complain. But you know well as I do, they’re doin’ it to you, they’re doin’ it to me, brother.”
“But they’re not doing it to me,” John said. “I don’t like the idea of you doing this, Leonard. You said you were backing off doing things with Hap.”
“I tried,” Leonard said. “I can’t help myself. It’s like we’re Siamese twins or something.”
“I don’t want you to do it,” John said.
“I love you,” Leonard said. “But Hap’s family.”
“What the hell am I?”
“Family. But Hap and I had a relationship first. Do I chuck that out now just because I love you? What’s that say about me? About my feelings toward Hap?”
“I don’t know, Leonard,” John said. “What does it say?”
“It says I’ve got to take care of my brother. That’s what it says.”
“But he isn’t your brother. If you haven’t noticed, he’s not as dark as you are.”
“I don’t tan well,” I said.
“Look, John,” Leonard said. “It hasn’t got a damn thing to do with genetics. It’s got to do with spirit.”
“Spirit. That’s rich.”
“I’m closer to Hap than I am my own kin. He’s done more for me than any relative. He’s been there when I needed him. He’s stood by me through thick and thin. I can’t just throw that out.”
“I appreciate it,” I said. “But you know what? Things do have to change. You’ve talked about it more than once. We’re not getting any younger. It’s time we settled down. It’s time you settled down right now. Maybe,” and I looked at Brett, “when this is all over, I can do the same.”
“I understand,” Brett said. “You do what you got to do, Hap.”
“I don’t see how you can say that, Brett,” John said.
“Hap’s done for me what no one would. I wanted something from him that was dangerous, and he did it without question… I fear for him, John. But I stand by him. I want to help too.”
John sighed loudly. He got up and went to the bathroom.
I said, “Leonard. I know you’ll do what it takes, my friend. But John, you don’t want to lose him. I’ve never seen you happier. And I’m a goddamn jinx.”
“Yes you are,” Leonard said. “Shit, man. What a fucked-up thing. Charlie, he was all right.”
John came out of the bathroom. He went over and sat on the couch. He said, “Leonard. I love you. I don’t want you to do this. I’m afraid you’ll be hurt. But… I love you no matter what. You do this thing, I’ll be waiting when you get back. But I can’t do it with you. I’m not like Brett. I can’t help. I can’t break the law. I can’t do anything like that. It just isn’t in me.”
“I understand that,” Leonard said. “Never expected you to. I don’t like it either. But it’s got to happen.”
“No it doesn’t. You could still tell the police.”
“And we might,” I said. “I just want to look into it a little first. Find out what I can. It looks to be something I think the police can solve, or will solve, then I’ll tell them what I know.”
“Why wouldn’t they solve it?” John said. “I don’t get it.”
“First off, it’s personal,” I said. “I like to take care of my own problems. Especially when it involves some asshole trying to kill me. Second, Mexico didn’t solve their case. In the future, they may, or may not, figure out and punish whoever killed Beatrice. But I wouldn’t count on it. Mexico is known for its corruption. It’s become a lifestyle in Mexican government, especially the police force. How do I know whoever murdered Beatrice didn’t pay someone off? How do I know it wasn’t someone involved with the police to begin with? Hell, police officers tried to rob me and Leonard, and they cut Leonard. Hadn’t been for Beatrice’s old man, they would have killed us both.
“And if this monster came here to kill me, thinks he has, has gone home, and I tell our cops, can they get him out of Mexico? It might require a lot more than they can manage. Extradition can be a bitch.”
“Christ,” John said. “For the first time in my life I got a real relationship. I don’t want to lose that.”
“You won’t,” Leonard said. “I’m indestructible.”
“Yeah,” John said. “What about that knife wound?”
“I had an off day. Hey, even monkeys fall out of trees.”
“Leonard. Please don’t fall. Promise me.”
“I promise,” Leonard said. “Hap will be my support line.”
“Shit,” Brett said. “Let’s find the sonofabitch killed Charlie, cut his nuts off, and feed them to a German shepherd. Or better yet, one of those little bitty dogs without hair.”
23
Two days later we had Charlie’s funeral. It was a simple one. No church or preacher was involved. He wouldn’t have liked that. His body was cremated and services were held at a community center. It was packed. Friends. Relatives and cops. Mostly cops. Jake was among them. He said to me, “I got a feeling more and more that I don’t know all I know about this thing. Get me?”
“I haven’t a clue what you mean.”
“Hap, don’t get caught. Whatever you’re doin’, don’t get caught. Whoever did this to Charlie, if you’re after the sonofabitch, I hope you succeed. But you break a law and I know about it, you know what I got to do.”
“I do. But I don’t intend to break any laws. I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, right,” Jake said.
One at a time, people got up and told things about Charlie. Stories. Incidents. Or just expressed their feelings. I was included. I said: “Charlie was a good friend. He died badly, but I know he died as bravely as is humanly possible. His killer will be found.”
I didn’t go as far as to say how he would be found. That was still a card to play, and only Leonard, Brett, and John had seen it.
Jim Bob Luke showed for the funeral. He got up and said a few words. Then Leonard.
Hanson was last, and the best. He had known Charlie the longest, had worked with him closely when they were both on the police department.
Hanson was in his motorized wheelchair. He rode it to a place beside the podium where everyone else had stood and talked. Charlie’s porkpie hat was in his lap. Hanson’s wife, Rachel, a striking black woman in a purple dress, took the microphone off the podium and gave it to him.
Hanson held the microphone for a while, as if he might not actually speak. Then he said, “Charlie Blank was the friend everyone wanted, and if he was your friend, you were proud of it. He made you proud of yourself. Figured a guy like Charlie liked you, you had to be all right. He was a simple guy. Loved his friends. Was a wonderful cop. He loved the smell of a woman’s hair. Told me that many times. He liked dogs and hated cats. In many ways, he saved my life. He made me know it was worth living after my accident. He’s helped me with my physical therapy, and he listened to me whine about how life wasn’t worth living, and he convinced me it was worth living. I thank him for
