8 6
S E A C H A N G E
“Yes.”
“Are you wondering what help I’m bringing?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you are certainly calm about it.”
“I try,” Jesse said.
“What was that sports jacket you were wearing on the boat?”
“Paradise Twi-league,” Jesse said. “Softball.”
“What’s your position?”
“Shortstop.”
“Are you good?”
“Yes.”
“Very good?”
“Yes.”
“You look like you’d be very good,” Blondie said. “If you’re so good, why aren’t you playing someplace instead of being Chief Yokel?”
“Hurt my shoulder,” Jesse said. “Can’t throw much anymore.”
“But you’re still playing.”
“I can throw enough for the Paradise Twi-league,” Jesse said. “Not for the Show.”
“Show?”
“Big leagues,” Jesse said.
“Were you good enough for the, ah, Show, before you got hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Bummer,” Blondie said.
8 7
R O B E R T B . P A R K E R
Jesse waited. She drank more coffee. She couldn’t smoke.
He wasn’t serving cocktails. Any stimulant in a pinch.
“At least two people on the
“Happens a lot,” Jesse said.
“Harrison knew those two guys in the pictures you showed us.”
Jesse waited.
“They crewed for him last year. I was on the boat with him a few times last year. I recognized them both.”
“Anyone else that should have recognized them?” Jesse said.
“No, just Harrison and me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me on the boat?”
“Didn’t want Harrison getting mad. I’m a long way from home and he’s my ride back.”
“Where’s home?”
“Palm Beach. Harrison picked me up there and we came on up for Race Week.”
“You with him?” Jesse said.
“Sort of, I guess,” Blondie said. “Got to be with somebody.”
8 8
19
J esse was at his desk, checking overtime slips and drinking coffee, when Molly stuck her head in.
“Wait’ll you get a load of this,” she said.
Jesse looked up.
“More sex tapes?”
“Live action,” Molly said. “The sisters Plum.”
“Florence Horvath’s sisters?”
“In the, ah, flesh,” Molly said.
Jesse put the neat pile of overtime slips aside.
