“Did I show you the latch?” Charlie asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“And you thought no more of it?”
“We’ve made inquiries into Mr. Jarrett’s business dealings.”
“Any horse’s ass can get the key to the city.”
“We’re still checking, sir.”
“I want him arrested,” Charlie said, the idea sounding ridiculous and hollow coming from his own mouth. “Or questioned, or whatever the federal police do.”
“We don’t have anything.”
“How did those men know to find me on the back porch?”
“Perhaps the light was on.”
“They had no hesitation,” he said. “Jarrett unlocked the screen during our game. They had arrived from the front. I never leave the back door unlatched.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You think I’ve gone off my rocker?”
“No, sir.”
“Timing.”
The men didn’t speak for a while. Colvin found a chair close to Charlie and asked if it was all right to take a seat.
“Sir, I’d like to take Miss Betty for a soda tomorrow evening after supper,” he said, face half shadowed, swatting away a bug that had flown through a crack. “But only if you and Miss Berenice approve.”
“Of course,” Charlie said, smashing his cigar in an empty coffee cup.
“Agent Jones is very good,” Colvin said. “He thinks the Kellys may have returned to Texas.”
“That would be foolish.”
“Kelly’s wife has people there.”
“I bet they’re halfway to South America, laughing at us all.”
“I don’t think they’re laughing.”
“You play cards, Agent Colvin?”
“I do.”
“Bridge?”
“No, sir.”
“Jarrett cheats.”
Colvin nodded.
“He hesitates before pulling a card.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Let’s say the player on your right leads with a queen of hearts. And then when it comes to your turn, you have a king, and you’re pretty damn sure your partner has the ace. You might hesitate, and toss out a three instead of a king. That way, your partner knows he can take the trick with the ace and lead a low heart back to your king. Does that make sense?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Jarrett hesitates like a son of a bitch,” he said. “He knew I’d spotted him, yet he continued.”
“He didn’t change his game?”
“No.”
“So what do you do?”
“Confront him.”
“So he won’t cheat again?”
“Exactly,” Charlie said. “A liar must be confronted or he’ll continue to rub your nose in his stink.”
“Sir?”
“I’ve invited the Jarretts over Saturday night to play a few rubbers,” Charlie said. “I’d like you to be my partner.”
28
Shackled at the hands and feet, Harvey wasn’t too pleased when Deputy Tom Manion punched the STOP button on the elevator somewhere between the third and fourth floors. He’d grown used to being left alone on the tenth floor, learning he’d been moved to the death cell on account of Special Agent Gus Jones witnessing that little buck-dancing party and complaining to Sheriff Smoot. Stopping partway up on the ride wasn’t a good sign. The manacles kept Harvey from even being able to adjust his balls, let alone defend himself. He looked over at Manion and asked, “You forget your blackjack?”
“If you’re lying to me, I won’t need no rubber hose, fella,” Manion said in that countrified, hoarse voice. “What you said the other night, about the money, is it true?”
“Sure, it’s true.”
“Ten thousand.”
“That’s what I said.”
“How can you get it to me?”
“I can get two grand to you by tomorrow,” Harvey said. “The rest will come once I’m freed.”
Manion licked his lips and hitched up his pants, using his fancy silver belt buckle.
“This ain’t gonna be no cakewalk.”
“Didn’t expect it to be.”
“And if you don’t pay up what you owe, so help me Jesus, I’ll track you to the corners of this here earth.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less, Tom.”
“You’re gonna be in the death cell,” Manion said, biting a cheek, shaking his head. “That’s the durned part of all of it.”
“Can you move me back downstairs?”
“I’m the one who suggested it.”
“It’s like a tiger’s cage,” Bailey said. “Houdini couldn’t break out.”
“There’s a ledge.”
“With a barred window.”
“And if you get out of that there window, you can shimmy out to the ledge and get to the stairs on the roof.”
“You got a blowtorch?”
“I’ll get you a file,” Manion said, not looking at Harvey, keeping his eyes on the numbers, the stagnant dial marking the floors. “You worry about that money.”
“I’ll have to make some calls.”
Manion nodded. “Figured you wouldn’t pull it out your ass.”
“The rest of it when I’m free of this shithole.”
“This is a brand-new jail.”
“And soon it will be your kingdom.”
“You really think I could be sheriff?”
“Sheriff?” Harvey said, catching Manion’s eye and winking. “Thought you had your sights on the governor’s mansion.”
“I always ride just one horse at a time.”
