want to act?'
'I don't think so.'
'Stay here and grow nuts? Grow, not go, but you can do both.'
'I want to get the place in shape, hire a family to work it and take care of Lydell. I'm thinking of the Raincrows, make Preston the working partner. I thought of that driving over here.'
There was a silence and Denise said, 'I have a confession to make.'
Ben had told her, while they put their clothes back on and went out to the kitchen, the situation with the Grooms.
Forty-eight hours to get out, and he didn't think they'd budge.
'I know those people,' Denise said. 'I wrote the lease.'
'That's your confession? If you hadn't,' Ben said, 'I doubt we'd be sitting here. Look at it that way.'
'But now Hazen says he wants to buy your place, and he's using me to get you two together. You know he's a criminal, or was?'
'I think still,' Ben said, 'the whole family. Preston looked them up.'
'Hazen wants to kill you, doesn't he?' her voice quiet as she said it.
'Any one of them,' Ben said. 'And if they do and you know about it and can put them away for life...'
Ben watched her cross her legs as she thought about it and reach over to pick up her can of beer from the coffee table. Now she was looking at him again.
'I've been ready for Hazen since the first time I met him. He comes here with intentions of doing us harm I'll shoot him. My dad gave me a gun a long time ago, and I'm licensed to carry it. But you know what? You better move your car from the drive. Park it in town somewhere.'
'It won't be here,' Ben said. 'I'm meeting Preston later on.
He's looking into the Grooms, see if he can find out, as he says, what kind of criminal enterprise they're in. I always like talking to Preston.'
'So you can stay a while?'
'I'm not in any hurry.'
'Tell me some Hollywood stuff.'
'Jack Nicholson always carries an ashtray in his pocket.'
'What about - like I heard some stars actually do it in their love scenes?'
'I wouldn't be surprised, but I've never been needed on that kind of set. What else you want to know?'
'Ben, have you really been thinking about me?'
V.
Preston Raincrow got home and threw a football around with his two boys, went in the house and kissed Ophelia and his little girl, smelled what was cooking and poured himself two ounces of Jim Beam. He sipped on the drink thinking of Avery Grooms and his two white trash boys, thinking if Avery was picked up on the detainer and held for Arkansas, it could cause his boys to act stupid and become nasty and they could be picked up, too. Preston had one more drink for the pleasure of it - he didn't need courage - and phoned the young sheriff of Okmulgee County, a reasonable-enough Caucasian boy Preston had played football with this time, and told about the detainer. 'Avery Grooms, done most of ninety months, come out and must've blew his parole.' He said, 'You know the Webster place. That's where he's at.' Preston suggested the young sheriff bring some backup along, the man had his two sons with him and they weren't likely to sit still, watch their old dad taken away cuffed. He listened and said, 'Anytime. I'm always glad to help you out.'
The Raincrows were finishing their supper when the phone rang. Preston listened to the young sheriff say it was on for tonight and he could come if he wanted. Preston sat at the table again and ate the rest of his rice pudding before calling Eddie Chocote.
Hazen put aside the early part of the evening to check motels, see where a Ben Webster was registered, came to the Shawnee Inn and the desk clerk said, 'Yes sir, he sure is,' but wouldn't give up the room number till Hazen flashed a federal badge and ID he'd bought in Biloxi, Mississippi, and used from time to time and was told, 'Room two-twenty, overlooking the patio and the swimming pool.' The clerk wanted to know if Mr. Webster was in some kind of trouble and was told, 'He sure is, partner.'
Hazen returned to his favorite bar, the dark, smoky one at the Best Western, and drank Margaritas while he thought about what to do with Denise. If she'd have come across once or twice he'd feel better about her. As cold sexu'lly as the woman was he believed he could set her afire and bring her to her... get her to come. Hazen thinking now that if Brother took care of the movie star that'd be out of the way and he'd have had nothing to do with it. He could stay around and take his time with the real estate lady. If it ever came to putting a pistol on her, like a last resort... Hell, he didn't even know where he'd aim.
His cell phone made its noise. It was Brother trying to keep his voice low. 'They come and put handcuffs on Daddy, saying he's going back to Arkansas.'
The Margaritas worked to Hazen's favor, allowing him to believe he was cool. He asked Brother, 'You say anything stupid to 'em?'
'They want to know who I was, see my driver's license. Asked could they look around. Daddy told 'em they could go fuck theirselves.'
Hazen said, 'Shit.' That kind of talk could bring 'em back with warrants. 'They still there?'
'Yeah, they's still here. Jesus Christ, you coming?'
'A bunch of 'em?'
'Three Crown Vics, 'Sheriff' on the doors big. A Taurus with 'Muskogee Nation Lighthorseman' on it. They got their headlight beams on the house, lightnin' it up. The deputies are wearing vests and carrying shotguns, like they expect we's armed. Daddy's saying, 'I never detained nobody. The hell you talking about.' '
'Don't even know he's wanted. Been for five years.'
'Hazen, you coming?'
'For what, kiss him goodbye?'
'They's putting him in the car, pushing his head inside. You don't get over here they gonna be gone.'
Hazen said, 'I got no business with those people. Soon as they leave, come on meet me here at the bar. I found out where Mr. Webster's staying.'
It quieted Brother. He said, 'Yeah?' interested.
'They come with warrants, we don't want to be anywhere near the place. But I don't want to leave till you take care of Mr. Webster.'
'Why you saying me?'
'You're the one has the score to settle. Look at your goddamn nose. Do what Daddy said, shoot him in the head.'
'What're you gonna do?'
'Don't fuck up and I won't have to do nothing.'
Preston was with Eddie Chocote, the Lighthorseman, the last one out, trailing the taillights of the sheriff's cars but not all the way. Eddie killed his lights and turned from the farm road into the grove of pecan trees, creeping now in the dark, not too far... 'Right here,' Preston said. Next thing, turn the car around and watch for headlights: going out would be Brother, coming in, most likely Hazen. The plan: if Brother leaves, Eddie follows him to see where he goes. Preston would stay here and look in the barns. Maybe even the house.
Eddie said, 'Looking for what?'
'I don't know - whatever I find.'
Eddie said, 'You have your sidearm?'
Preston, getting out of the car, said, 'I don't need it. I gave it to Ben.'
Driving back to the Shawnee Inn he didn't think of the Grooms once. It was all Denise, her scent on him, her
