“We’ve got time, Easy. Let’s just get some sleep tonight.”
I WAS RUNNING HARD with wild dogs on my trail. I hit the forest under a moonlit, cloudless sky and ran deeper and deeper into the thickening gloom of branches. My progress was slowed by the trees but the hacking breath of dogs seemed to be further behind. Soon I was crawling through pitch black, pushing hard against the wall of snapping sticks. Finally I was flat on my stomach.
I heard a whisper, “Shh,” and then I was asleep.
I WOKE UP ALONE in the bed, fully rested. It was early but Bonnie and the kids were already gone. I remembered Feather’s laugh, a growl too near my ear, and a “shush,” and then a kiss on my cheek.
The note, resting in hard sun on the kitchen table, said:
Easy,
Feather and Jesus are off to school. I’m going down to the airline to pick up my check and cash it. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you.
Yours,
Bonnie
There was a big kiss at the bottom of the page. I looked at the note wondering at how wrong I could be and still survive.
JEWELLE WAS HAPPY with Jackson Blue.
“He knows so much,” she said to me over the phone.
“I don’t know about that, JJ,” I said.
“What you mean?” she asked. “He knows math and electronics and all about the history of the world.”
“But he don’t know how to survive, honey,” I said. “If you put him outta that house he’d be dead ’fore the sun went down.”
Jewelle didn’t have anything to say to that. She was a smart girl. Smart in every subject but men.
“What time is it?” Jackson asked me when he got on the line.
“’Bout eight-thirty.”
“Shit.”
“Jackson,” I said, “you remember what we talked about?”
“Bout Stetz?”
“Yeah.”
“Go on.”
“I want you to find out where he is and how I can get in touch with him.”
“What for?”
“I’m going to tell him that I know how to get my hands on the final shipment of aitch that Roman Gasteau was supposed to have for Joey Beam.”
“How much?”
“I already told you, three pounds,” I said.
“Naw, man,” Jackson complained. “How much we gonna charge?”
“Ain’t no how, Jackson. I’ma tell’im that you gonna quit bein’ his competition and that I’ll give him the drugs back for his friend.”
“But don’t you think we better ask for some money, man? I mean he ain’t gonna believe that you in it for your health.”
“You want money, Jackson?” I asked.
“I need it, man.”
“Well then,” I said. “Think about your life like it was a wad’a cash. An’ try not and spend it all in one place next time.”
“You passin’ up a golden opportunity right here, Easy.”
“All I want from you is to find out how I can get in touch with Philly Stetz.”
“Shit, man, I already know where that motherfucker is hid.” Jackson was beginning to sound like his old self. The presence of a woman will do that to a man—for better or worse.
“How you know that?”
“Well, you know.”
“No. I don’t know at all, Jackson.”
“Ortiz. Ortiz found out but … but well, you know.”
“Ortiz was going to shoot Stetz,” I declared.
“It was just insurance, Easy. Best to be prepared.”
“Prepared,” I repeated. “Jackson, you ain’t prepared for shit.”
When he didn’t say anything I added, “One mo’ thing, Jackson.”
“Yeah?”
