PART II
April 26
5:05 p.m.
When I called Erlene Barlowe and told her I was in, she asked me to meet her in the parking lot behind her club. I’d never been in the place, but I’d driven by it dozens of times. I got there a little after five and backed into a spot next to a black BMW. It had been a beautiful afternoon, clear and in the low seventies. The sun was starting to drop in the western sky, but as I looked to the northeast, I could see a massive dark thundercloud rolling across the tops of the mountains. I put the window down and could smell rain.
About five minutes later, I saw Erlene come out of the back door of the club carrying a gym bag. She had changed into a zebra-striped jumpsuit that was so tight I could see every crevice in her body. She walked carefully in her heels across the gravel lot, glancing from left to right, and stopped at the window. She leaned over and dropped the gym bag in my lap.
”Everything all right?” I said. ”You look a little nervous.”
”Those TBI men have been following me around for a week. Makes me kind of jumpy. Your money’s in the bag, sugar. How’s Angel?”
”Scared.”
”Poor thing. I hate the thought of her being locked up in that terrible place. You have to promise me you’ll get her out of this.”
”I’ll do everything I can.”
”It would probably be best if you leave now. You need to get that money someplace safe. We’ll talk more later.”
She blew me a kiss and I pulled out. As I drove down the road, I started thinking about what I was carrying. I’d taken some big cash fees from people accused of dealing drugs in the past, but never anything near a quarter of a million. I kept looking in the rearview mirror to make sure nobody was following me. If Landers had any idea what was going on, it would be just like him to make up a reason to stop me, search my truck, and seize the money.
About a mile from my house, I pulled into the parking lot of a small shopping strip, locked up the truck, and went into a liquor store to buy a bottle of good champagne. I didn’t take my eyes off of the truck the entire time I was in the store. After I finished I drove towards home and pulled onto a dirt road that led into the woods just across the street from my house. I wanted to count the money, and I knew if I pulled in the driveway Rio would make such a racket that Caroline was likely to come out.
With the light just beginning to fade, I started to count-fifty bundles of hundred-dollar bills, fifty in each bundle. It took me almost an hour, and it was all there. I couldn’t believe it. I stuffed the cash in my own gym bag and headed for the house.
I found Caroline in the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher. I walked up behind her and kissed her on the ear.
”Hi, baby,” she said. ”Did Rio pee on your shoe?”
”I was too quick for him today.”
”I haven’t heard from you all afternoon. How did it go with Ms. Barlowe?”
Caroline had called, but I hadn’t returned the call.
At first I wasn’t sure I was going to take Angel’s case, and later I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to resist spilling the beans. I set the bottle of champagne down on the counter.
”Where’s Lilly?” I said.
Caroline looked at me slyly. ”At rehearsal. Mother’s going to pick her up and take her out to eat. She won’t be back for a couple of hours.”
”Sarah?”
”A friend of hers took her to an NA meeting.”
”Good. At least she’s trying.”
Caroline looked over at the champagne. ”What’s the occasion?”
”Let’s go out to the deck. We need to talk.”
”Be there in a second.”
I took a couple of champagne glasses out of the cabinet, opened the bottle, and walked out onto the deck. I put the bottle and glasses on the table and stuck the gym bag underneath. The storm was moving closer and the wind had freshened, but we still had some time. It was just getting dark. The Big Dipper was creeping over the horizon to the northeast.
The moon hadn’t quite cleared the large hill to the northwest, and the reflection of running lights twinkled off the lake like fireflies as pontoon and bass boats made their way up and down the channel.
I lit the two oil lamps that flanked the deck and sat down just as Caroline came out. She sat across from me. I poured the champagne and looked intently at her.
”What?” she said.
”I was just lusting,” I said. ”Can’t help it.”
”I’m sure you can’t.” The dimple high in her right cheek showed only when she smiled a certain way.
She was smiling that way now.
”So it went okay,” I said, ”with Ms. Barlowe.”
”I saw the girl’s picture on television. She sure is pretty.”
”She’s also very nice. And there’s a very strong possibility that she’s innocent. I talked to her today.”
Caroline gasped. ”You
”I don’t think I have much choice.”
Caroline’s eyes lit up. I knew exactly what she was thinking.
”How much?” she said.
”What do you think a first-degree murder, maybe a death penalty case, probably my last case, is worth?”
”I don’t
”Guess.”
”Fifty?”
”Higher.”
”Eeeeeh,” she said. ”Sixty?”
”You’re way low. Jack it on up.”
”Oh, my God, Joe. Seventy-five? No, you look smug. I don’t even know if I can say it. A hundred?”
”You’re almost halfway.”
Her jaw dropped. ”You’re not serious,” she said.
I don’t think she knew it, but she was bouncing in her chair like a schoolgirl.
”Dead serious.”
”T-t-two twenty?”
”Almost there. Add thirty more.”
”Two fifty?” She said the words as though she were dreaming.
”Bingo! And what do we have for the lady who guessed a quarter of a million dollars, Don Pardo?”
I reached down, grabbed the bag, and slammed it on the table. Champagne spewed from Caroline’s mouth.
”Is that what I think it …? No, it couldn’t possibly. .” She reached out and opened the bag.
”Joe! Is this real?”
”Scout’s honor,” I said, holding my hand across my heart.
She began jumping around the deck like a cheerleader. She ran around the table and grabbed me by the neck. She hugged me so hard I almost choked.
”Damn, Caroline. Ease up a little. I’d like to live to spend it.”
She stopped in her tracks, walked back to her seat, and took a deep breath.
