“No,” Leonard said. “Because it’s logical.”
“Another thing,” I said, “Bert tried to blackmail Kincaid. Kincaid admitted that. I think Bert was guessing Kincaid had Mini and Mrs. Christopher’s boy killed. He may not have seemed smart, but when it got right down to it, he could have had things figured out. Kincaid may have had him whacked. He knows the right people, and he makes millions for them on their taxes and accounts. He might be able to have them to do him a favor. Or pay them for one.
“Actually, it’s all guesswork for right now, but it’s all we got. Frankly, I haven’t ruled out June either. She had money too, and she didn’t like Mini, and how much she liked her brother is up for debate. She struck me as a hard ass in a soft-ass body.”
“But you have no proof that anyone did anything?” Marvin said.
“We do have something that might give us some proof by way of our new BFF, Cason.”
We filled Marvin in on all that had gone on. Told him about how Cason got the disc with the names on it.
When we finished, he said, “Cason got two pieces of ass in as many days?”
“Gets two this coming weekend as well,” I said.
“I knew I hated that guy,” Marvin said.
“You’re married, and I might as well be,” I said, “so it’s of no interest to us.”
“Okay, we’re married, but damn, I’m jealous.”
“All right,” I said. “Me too. And Leonard here, I think he was hoping him and Cason might play a little grab- ass.”
“It was merely an affectionate hug between comrades,” Leonard said.
“About the case?” Marvin said.
“Cason is having the disc checked,” I said, “and we’ll get back to you.”
Marvin said, “You know, guys, I don’t want to be paranoid here, but I’m starting to look over my shoulder.”
“You think we’re in danger?” I said.
“I don’t know,” Marvin said. “But if Kincaid is responsible for Bert’s death, it doesn’t take much to piss him off. Why would he bother? It’s just one more death that might tie itself to him. He could have let it go and probably been better off.”
“That may not be his way,” I said. “He strikes me as a man that likes to win at whatever game he’s playing, and from the looks of his office digs, he has the money to make the kind of arrangements he wants for most anything next to a body transplant.”
Marvin got up and poured himself a cup of coffee, came and sat back down.
“So, how do we play it?” he said.
“I’m not one for quitting,” Leonard said.
“Here’s my thought,” I said. “Best thing for us to do is to keep poking our noses in other people’s business and find out if someone will come out and play.”
43
I was lying in bed with Brett, and I had told her about our day and the day before. Leonard was downstairs sleeping on the couch. From where I lay I could see the window and the night sky. It was a velvet-soft night. No rain.
“How are things between Leonard and John?” she asked.
“John’s being taught that his sense of future direction ought to include deep desire for a woman’s vagina.”
“Who’s teaching him?”
“His brother.”
Brett shook her head. “Families can be a mess.”
I reached over and took her hand. “I’m gonna change the subject a little.”
“That sounded ominous.”
“I know you have a child, a grown child,” I said, “but have you ever thought about starting a family with someone else?”
“Someone else?”
“Yes.”
“Who would that someone else be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Someone off the street. Someone about my height and weight and general disposition.”
“You’re serious?”
“I guess I am.”
Brett lay without speaking for a long time. “I have thought about it, Hap. I’ve told you how much I love you, and how I stand by you. But… if we had a kid, there’s no way you could do what you do.”
“I could quit. Though I’m not sure what I’m quitting, since I don’t know what my job is.”
“You know exactly what I mean, Hap. Don’t act coy.”
“I think I could actually finish college.”
“You tried last year and quit.”
“I wasn’t motivated enough.”
“Now you are?”
“I could try. Unlike just about everyone else, I really had a good family. I know how to be a father. I would be good at it.”
“Your lifestyle isn’t exactly conducive to tricycles and soccer games and PTA meetings. You’d do all right for a while, and then you’d be… you know, back out there with Leonard. I don’t know if I could manage it. I have a grown child that drives me crazy. I don’t even know if I could have another one. I’m probably too old.”
“We could find out,” I said.
She reached out and patted my cheek gently. “I don’t think so, baby. I love you. I do. But, Hap… I don’t think so.”
44
Morning came, and downstairs I found Brett making coffee. I said, “Where’s Leonard?”
“I sent him to his place.”
“Sent him?”
“To get his stuff. His rent plays out in the next couple of days. He doesn’t need to be staying in some rat hole, and besides, I like having him around.”
“I like having him around too… but not that much.”
“It’s temporary. Me and him talked.”
“He has enough money right now to rent or put down dough on a good place, he just hasn’t done it. He’s cheap.”
“He’s not ready for that. Not with the way things are with John.”
“And things may never get better,” I said. “But they might. And if they don’t, he’ll move on. Leonard’s a survivor.”
“He is at that.”
“What we talked about last night,” she said. “I been thinking.”
“That’s all right,” I said. “I was having a sentimental moment.”
She put her arms around me. My hands cupped her buttocks.
“How long before he gets back?” I asked.
