He Sees You When You're Sleeping

He closed his eyes and addressed the Heavenly Council. Would you please deliver me to wherever the Badgett brothers are at the moment?

When Sterling opened his eyes, he found himself inside a large, bustling, noisy restaurant on the water.

Unless the brothers are traveling, I guess that’s Long Island Sound, he thought. He looked over at a woman studying the menu. The cover read SAL’S ON THE SOUND.

It was a steak-and-seafood place. People with bibs were happily breaking lobster claws; sirloin steak on sizzling platters was obviously popular. And, he noticed, many diners had chosen his favorite appetizer, crabmeat cocktail.

But where were Junior and Eddie? He was on his second tour of the tables when he noticed a secluded semicircular corner booth with a prime water view. Upon closer inspection he saw the three occupants were none other than Junior, Eddie, and a scantily clad Jewel.

Junior and Eddie had just had one of their telephone visits with Mama Heddy-Anna, and as usual both of them were in a tailspin worrying about her. Jewel had suggested they’d all feel much, much better if they went out for a nice, relaxing dinner.

They were already sipping cocktails, and the waiter was in the process of collecting the menus.

Sterling took a seat on the windowsill at a right angle to them. I wonder what they ordered? he thought.

“I don’t think I can eat a bite,” Eddie lamented. “When I think of how sick Mama is, I’m crying inside.”

“You’ve been crying outside too, Eddie,” Jewel said. “Your nose is all red.” She patted Junior’s hand. “Yours is red too, lambie.”

Junior pushed her hand away. “I have a cold.”

Jewel realized her mistake. “And your allergies, honey. The allergy season is terrible right now. This is the worst it’s been in years.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Junior picked up his glass.

“She fell again,” Eddie mourned. “Our poor mama’s foot gave way again, and on top of that, her gums are swollen. She can hardly chew.”

I guess she didn’t use that one last time, Sterling thought.

“And her friends keep begging her to eat. Nothing tastes good to her anymore.”

“She’s been saying that ever since I met you guys three years ago,” Jewel said earnestly. “She must be eating something.”

Beef stew, Sterling thought. Lots of beef stew.

“She hasn’t fallen since January,” Eddie continued. “I was hoping her legs were getting better.” He turned to Junior. “We gotta go see our mama. I’m telling you we gotta go see her.”

“We can’t and you know it,” Junior snapped. “We sent her some nice new clothes to cheer her up.”

“She’s gonna love them,” Jewel enthused. “I picked them out special. Two pairs of satin lounging pajamas, a cocktail dress, and a hat with lots of flowers to wear to church on Easter Sunday.”

Eddie’s expression soured. “Mama says the clothes we send her stink.”

“That hurts my feelings,” Jewel said, pouting. “If I met her, I’d be able to shop for her better. Every woman has figure problems. I mean it could be her hips, it could be her waist, her behind might have a funny shape-”

“Shut up, Jewel,” Junior thundered. “I don’t want no more anatomy lessons.”

I was enjoying it, Sterling thought.

Obviously offended, Jewel got up. “Please, excuse me,” she said with exaggerated emphasis.

“Where yuh goin’?” Eddie asked.

“To the lala.” She flounced away.

“Is she mad because I said Mama don’t like the clothes she picked out?”

“Forget the clothes,” Junior barked. “Listen, I got a call when you were in the lala.”

“When was I in the lala?”

“You’re always in the lala.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. Every time I go look for you, you’re in the lala. Now listen to me. Our guys can’t track down Nor Kelly and Billy Campbell.”

“They’re a bunch of dopes,” Eddie said.

“It takes one to know one. Keep your mouth shut and listen to me. The whole case against us falls apart if Kelly and Campbell don’t take the stand. We gotta get rid of them.”

“It’s a big country. How do we get rid of them when we can’t find them?”

“We gotta find them. I took the next step. I called a certain hit man.”

Eddie looked at Junior. “Not Igor?”

“Yes, Igor,” Junior said. “He’s very good at what he does. I told him the only lead we have so far is that they’re somewhere out West.”

“Here I am,” Jewel chirped as she slid into the banquette and kissed Junior’s cheek. “I’ve forgiven you both for not appreciating all I do to make Mama Heddy-Anna happy and comfortable, and I have to tell you something. I think you should figure out a way to go visit your mama in person, and you should do it before it’s too late.”

Junior glared at her. “Drop it.”

The waiter appeared with a tray of appetizers.

I’ve learned what I needed to know, Sterling thought. The Badgett brothers are determined to track down Nor and Billy and make sure they don’t live to testify against them.

Sterling decided to take a long walk before he made a request to be transported somewhere else. An hour later, he had made his decision. He closed his eyes and whispered, I’d like it to be midsummer, and may I please get together with Nor and Billy?

Surely they’re not staying here, Sterling thought, dismayed. He was standing on the second-floor balcony of a rundown motel directly off a busy highway. Although it was blazing hot, the area was beautiful. Like Mama Heddy-Anna’s village, the landscape boasted magnificent mountain views.

Of the six vehicles parked outside the motel, four had Colorado plates.

He noticed a heavyset man with dark glasses sitting in an SUV. It seemed to Sterling that the man was staring at his rearview mirror, watching the door directly behind him.

Sterling turned and peeked in the window. Billy was standing inside the shabby room, hands in pockets. He was looking at Nor, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, a phone in her hand.

They looked different. Nor’s blond hair was medium brown, and she wore it in a prim knot at the nape of her neck. Billy had a beard, and his dark hair was cut much shorter.

Maybe this is where they make their calls home, Sterling thought. If they’re in the Witness Protection Program, they can only phone from secured lines. They both look worried sick.

He went inside, and taking off his homburg, put his ear to the receiver. I’m getting good at eavesdropping, he thought. He heard a familiar voice at the other end of the line and realized that Nor was talking to Dennis.

“Nor, I don’t have to tell you that this place is all about you,” Dennis was saying. “Sure, I can do drinks, and the guys are good waiters, and Al is the best chef we’ve ever had, but that’s not good enough. When the customers come in, they want to see you at your table.”

“I know. How big a loss this month?”

“Very big. We’re not a quarter full for dinners, even on Saturdays.”

“Which means, of course, that the waiters’ tips are way down,” Nor said, “Look, Dennis, this can’t last much longer. The minute the trial is over and the Badgetts are in prison, we’ll be able to come home.