77
A LIGHT SHONE in the kitchen as we walked up the path to the back door. Lloyd was seated at the table, a book propped in front of him. Line of fresh stitches across the bridge of his nose. Saw Blossom. Blushed. Kind of ducked his head, mumbled something that sounded like 'Hi.'
She gave him a dazzling smile I didn't know she had. 'You watching the kids?'
'Sure. They're in bed, fast asleep. I figured…maybe I'd better wait up till you all got back.'
Virgil nodded his approval.
'Any calls?' Rebecca asked.
'Just your friend Bette. Said she'd see you tomorrow.'
'Okay, honey. Thanks. You want some coffee— we're all having some.'
'If it won't…'
He didn't take his eyes off Blossom all the while we sat and talked. About nothing. Soft stuff. Virginia was getting to the age where she cared about the clothes she wore. Junior was starting first grade as soon as summer ended. Lloyd had cut the lawn without being asked.
The pistol felt heavy in my coat pocket. If I was back in New York, I wouldn't have noticed the weight.
78
IT WAS ALMOST one in the morning when I brought Blossom back to her house. I walked her to the door. Stood outside while she put the lights on. Lit a smoke.
She came back onto the front porch. The gull watched us from his cage, waiting his time. 'When do we start?' she asked me.
'Start?'
'Looking.'
'I've already started. I'll fill you in tomorrow night.'
'I told you…there's things I could do. With you. On this.'
'If it's still running when you quit your job, then we'll see.'
'No night work for me on this job?'
'Maybe. Not yet.'
'See you tomorrow night.' I turned to go.
'Burke…'
'What?'
'Don't be mad at Virgil. I knew your name wasn't Mitchell Sloane.'
'How?'
'Sherwood.'
'The man opened right up to you, didn't he?'
'Some men do.'
I tossed my cigarette away.
'Come here,' she said. Gentle.
She stood on her toes, kissed me lightly on the cheek. 'Thanks. I loved hearing your brother play.'
'See you tomorrow.'
'Okay.'
79
I STOPPED AT a pay phone. Dumped in handfuls of quarters.
Called the junkyard. When the phone was picked up, I said, 'Tell the Prof to find Vincenzo at the library tomorrow. Bring him over to Mama's. Have him wait between eight and nine. I'll call.' The phone went down.
80
THE NEXT MORNING, I started to look. The way it works, you draw a blank page in your mind. Fill in everything you know. See what's left. If there's too much left, too much white space, you make some guesses. Test them out.
I had plenty of white space. I slapped the black tiles down, moving them around. Not enough. I switched the tiles, part of my mind seeing the pattern they made.
Pattern.
I played with it.
81
LUNCHTIME, I WENT to the diner. Cyndi was happy to see me. Told me about a new guy she was dating. He worked at the plant.
'But he's going to college at night. Says he doesn't want his kids working in the mill.'
'He's got kids?'
'No.' She giggled. 'The kids he's
I saw the police cruiser roll up. Ford Crown Vic, cream-colored, dark brown fenders. Two cops got out. Came inside, stopped at the counter. Talked to Leon.
On the jukebox: Maxine Brown. 'It's All in My Mind.'
Blossom came up to my table, her canvas bag slung over one shoulder. She leaned over. 'Give it to me.'
'What?'
'What you picked up last night. Hurry!'
I slid the pistol into her bag. Went back to my tuna on rye. Shadow fell across my plate. Cops. Big heavy one, potbelly looming over his gun belt. Smaller one, narrow all the way up through his eyes.
'How you doing?' the big one asked.
'Just fine, Officer.'
'That's good,' his partner said.
'Anything I can do for you?'
'Could tell us what you're doing around here.'
'Working for Bart Bostick. The lawyer.'
'We know who he is. Heard about your little arrangement with him.'
'So?'
'So Sherwood don't run the department. Captain does, you understand?'
'Sure.'
'Good. This work you're doing for Counselor Bostick…it wouldn't involve carrying concealed weapons, would it?'
'Nope.'
'Mind if we take a look? With your consent, of course.'
'Look where? For what?'
'In your car. Maybe in your jacket. For a gun.'
'And if I don't consent?'
'Then we just…' the smaller one said. The other guy jumped on his lines. 'Then we just ask a judge for a search warrant. You understand, we got laws here. About ex-cons carrying firearms.'
'You gonna do this every day?'
'This isn't a roust, friend. You're clean now, we figure you're working clean, okay?'
I handed him the car keys. 'If the phone rings, take a message, will you?'
The smaller cop's face got tight. 'Think I'll just stay here. Keep you company.'
