'Sure, and the whole thing about the horse shootings and Clive being shot is just another coincidence.'
'Or Clive caught the horse shooter in the act and got shot instead,' Becker said.
'Which happened two days after he found out about his son?'
'It had to happen on some day,' Becker said.
'Well, aren't you helpful,' I said.
'I like your theory,' Becker said. 'But you know and I know that's all it is, a theory. You can't arrest anybody on it, and if you could, their defense lawyer would chew up our prosecutor and spit him into the street.'
'Well, yeah,' I said.
'So you need some goddamned evidence,' Becker said. 'Something for the DA to hold up in court and wave at a jury and say look at this. You know? Evidence.'
'That's why I want to see that will.'
'I'll get you a copy,' Becker said. 'It'll give me something to do.'
'Here's something else you can do,' I said. 'I want to go out to the Clive house and rattle the cages, and I'd rather they weren't expecting me.'
'I'm pretty sure I spotted several violations of the motor vehicle code on that car that's tailing you.'
'Kid's name is Herb. If I was a fox I'd want him to guard the chicken coop.'
'I can keep him busy for a while,' Becker said. 'Be kind of fun, almost like being a cop. Maybe I'll bully him a little.'
The waitress put the check on the table. I paid it.
'You think this can be construed as a bribe?' Becker said.
'Sure.'
'You want a receipt?'
'It'll be our secret,' I said.
FORTY-SEVEN
AS I PULLED out of the hotel parking lot I could see Becker swaggering over to Herb's car, looking very much like one of those small-town southern sheriffs we fellow-traveling northerners learned to loathe during the civil rights sixties-except that he was black. I smiled at the image and then it disappeared from my rearview mirror and I was out on the highway alone in the Georgia morning, heading for town.
I found Pud and Cord eating a late breakfast together in the coffee shop downstairs from their apartment.
'I'm going out and talk to your wives,' I said. 'Either of you care to join me?'
'They won't let you in,' Cord said.
'Security South?'
'Yes.'
'I'm a little tired of Security South,' I said. 'I think I'll go in anyway.'
Pud was wiping up his eggs with a piece of toast. He stuffed the toast in his mouth and smiled while he chewed and swallowed. His complexion was more tanned than I remembered it. His eyes were clearer.
'You going in either way?' he said.
'Yep.'
'Want company?'
'You want to see your wife?'
'Yep.'
'You quit drinking?' I said.
'Pretty much,' Pud said. 'Got a job too. Limo driver.'
'Okay with me,' I said. 'You care to join us, Cord?'
Cord shook his head. 'I don't want trouble,' he said.
'Okay.'
'When will you be back, Pud?'
'In a while,' Pud said. 'You'll be all right.'
'What if there's trouble and something happens? What if they come looking for me?'
'If you'd feel better,' I said, 'go down to the Bath House Bar and Grill and tell Tedy Sapp I sent you.'
'I know Tedy.'
'I know you do. When we're through we'll meet you there,' I said.
'Is that place open this early?' Pud said.
