Valediction Part 22

"And Paultz didn't know anything about her?"

"No reason he should," I said. "And a lot of reason, once Winston was backing away from the church, that he shouldn't. Maybe Winston always knew he might need a straw. Maybe he kept her relationship with him secret so he could use her when he needed her."

"How about Banks," Rita said. "What made him suspicious all of a sudden?"

"Jealousy. He may have known her better than he could admit. He may have always known she was b.i.t.c.hier than she acted. But until he lost her and couldn't get her back, he didn't care. I think he started following her simply for a way to keep in contact. Knowledge is power, you know, and if he could spy her out and follow her around and know what she was doing . . . It was like he still had some control. I don't think he was suspicious about the heroin deal. I think he just stumbled on it and decided to use it as a way to get her back. It's all he ever really wanted. To have her and control her and, you know, own her."

"Ain't love grand," Rita said.

"So what happens to the Bullies?"

"Norfolk County doesn't care," Rita said. "Unless they get back in the skag business again. They got a nice trust fund, I understand, and doubtless a new and charismatic leader will emerge to help them spend it."

"Ah, Rita, so young, so cynical," I said.

"But literate," she said. "And s.e.xy."

"Perhaps," I said, "when I get out of here I should buy you a drink and discuss books with you."

"Good thought," she said. "Keep in mind, too, when you get out of here, that Joe Broz will not be among your boosters. He wanted Winston's source and he got nothing. It will annoy him."

"A day is not wasted if you've annoyed Joe Broz," I said.

"Well, be a little careful," she said. "At least until we've had our drink."

"And had a literate discussion," I said.

"Literate and s.e.xy," she said.

"Yes."

CHAPTER 48.

It was nearly ten at night in Boston when I called Susan in San Francisco.

"How are you," she said. Her voice still small with pain. "Paul said you were out of town."

"I'm good," I said. "How are you?"

"I'm . . . I'm not good," she said. "I'm in therapy."

"That should help," I said. "In a while at least."

"Yes," she said. The pause seemed longer on the open phone line. "I . . . how bad has it been about my friend?" she said.

"Worst thing that ever happened to me," I said.

"How do you stand it?"

"Tough kid," I said. "Always been a tough kid."

Again the silence stretching across the darkening land.

"He's gone," Susan said.

It was like not drowning. I took a breath. Steady.

"He's gone back to his wife," she said.

"He's got a wife?"

"Yes." Susan's voice was tiny.

"Jesus Christ," I said.

And then her voice wasn't small. "I will not leave you," she said.

"In a manner of speaking."

I could hear the smile in her voice. "In a manner of speaking."

"He wanted to move in?" I said.

"He wanted to divorce his wife and marry me."

"And you wouldn't."

Again the strength. "I will not leave you," she said.

"Nor I you," I said.

"Do you suppose you could get away for a little while?" Susan said.

"In two weeks I can get away for as long as I want to."

"Would you come to San Francisco and visit me?"

"Yes."

"In two weeks?"

"Yes."

"It makes me feel less scared," Susan said.

"Me too," I said. "It makes me want to sing 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco.'"

"It does?"

"Yeah," I said. "Want to hear me sing a couple choruses in perfect imitation of Tony Bennett?"

"No," Susan said, "not ever." And she laughed. And I laughed. And the two of us sat alone and far, and laughed carefully together at the verge of different oceans.

CHAPTER 25.

I left Sherry with the confession and picture, back in the envelope. I took the other envelope and drove down to Quincy to visit Mickey. This time when I went in the two sluggers were there along with Paultz.

I tossed the manila envelope on the desk. The squinty-eyed one was chewing a toothpick. n.o.body spoke. Paultz picked up the envelope and looked at the contents. He read my notes of Winston's spilled beans. Then he put the picture and the notes back into the envelope and put the envelope on the table next to a dirty white coffee mug that said Can.o.bie Lake Park on it in red letters.

"This is going to get you killed, pal," Paultz said to me.

"Yeah, but only once," I said.

"You got copies of this s.h.i.t," Paultz said. I didn't comment.

"But that's all you got," he said. "And when Winston's dead you'll have even less."

I waited.

Paultz sucked a little on his lower lip. "And when you're dead you'll have nothing at all."

"Be restful though," I said.

"You're going after a very big fish with a very G.o.dd.a.m.ned small piece of bait. It doesn't make sense."

Paultz took his rimless gla.s.ses off, and plucked a Kleenex from a blue flowered box on the table and polished the gla.s.ses and put them back on.

"I'm missing something," he said. "What do you want?"

"I want a trust fund," I said. "One million dollars."

"Too bad," Paultz said. "I heard you were different. That you weren't a chiseler." He shrugged.

"It's for the church."

"Winston's church?"

"Yes."

"There ain't a million in my whole operation."

"Then I take you down too," I said.

Paultz smiled faintly. "You think you can do that? You think anyone can find any evidence around here of anything but the construction business?"

"I have Winston's confession."

Paultz nodded at the table where the envelope was.

"That won't stand in court, you know G.o.dd.a.m.ned well it won't. And Winston will be dead, so he can't testify."

"And some of your customers will talk," I said.

"Who?"

"People you wholesale to."

"Name one."

I shook my head.

"And what happens to them when they testify?"

"They get immunity from prosecution," I said, "and you go away and they take over the company."

Paultz looked at the ceiling. He sucked his lower lip again.

"Could be Marcus. The big n.i.g.g.e.r with you today could be from Marcus."

I didn't say anything.

"And you could be full of s.h.i.t," he said. Which was getting rather close to home. I had no idea if Broz would let anyone testify with or without immunity. I had no idea if anyone would give anyone immunity.

"And if I go for the trust?" Paultz said.

"I leave you in place."

"You don't care if I push junk on helpless children," Paultz said.

"Someone will," I said. "You're no worse than the next piece of dog s.h.i.t that would run your business."

The squinty-eyed slugger said, "Your mouth gonna get you hurt bad pretty soon."