chapter 40
SEBASTIAN CALLED WALTER on his cell phone, insisting that they meet that night. It was almost ten, and Walter could hear the intensity in his voice. Something either really good or really bad was about to happen.
Lucille sat in Walter’s recliner, occasionally glancing at Law & Order while trying to guess what Sebastian was so worked up about. She was concerned about her granddaughter and berated Walter for not asking Sebastian any questions. His explanation that cell-phone communications were not secure and shouldn’t be trusted didn’t do much to mollify her. Only the fact that she had talked to Bailey just a few minutes prior and knew she was driving back to spend the night reduced her stress level somewhat.
When the knock came at the door, Walter immediately looked out his peephole and then opened the door. Sebastian allowed Bailey to enter first, and Bernard followed her.
“Got any coffee?” Sebastian asked.
“Sure,” Walter answered as he shuffled toward the kitchen. “So, what’s up?”
“Oh, we just had a little run-in with Bailey’s ex-boyfriend Woody,” Sebastian replied as he watched her hugging Lucille. “We thought it best if she stayed here for a while.”
Walter poured coffee and asked, “Then I’m guessing he’s still alive?”
“He’s breathin’.”
Walter looked at Sebastian and Bernard and then at Bailey, who was standing by a small suitcase that looked thirty years old and a grocery bag full of something.
“Okay. What happened?” he finally asked, since no one was volunteering information.
“We watched him follow her from the store after work, so we discreetly tailed him.”
“We got lost twice,” Bernard offered, holding up two fingers for emphasis.
Sebastian sighed. “We couldn’t keep up, but I figured I knew where they were going.”
“He drives like Grandma Moses,” Bernard added with a grin.
“Anyway, as I was saying, by the time we got there, he had kicked in the door and had knocked her around some.”
Everyone turned to look at Bailey. Lucille made her stand by the floor lamp, and they could see that she was going to have a black eye. Aged tempers rose.
“I had a good talk with the little shit, and since we couldn’t lock up Bailey’s apartment, I insisted that she come and stay here. I knew that’s what Lucille would want.”
“I’m glad you did,” Lucille said, and she stroked Bailey’s hair as only a grandmother can do.
Walter unwrapped a cigar and stuck it in the corner of his mouth while he thought. “Anything else? What about the store?”
“The owner was there when we drove back by a little while ago,” Bernard said.
“Is that normal, Bailey?” Walter asked.
“No sir. I don’t think so. But they coulda just been gettin’ back from their trip.”
Walter sucked on his cigar and looked around at the group. Sebastian gulped his coffee, and Bernard was scrounging for cookies. Bailey looked shell-shocked, and Lucille looked concerned.
“We still goin’ in tomorrow night?” Sebastian asked.
“It’s pointless until we know the code to the safe,” Walter said, staring out a window at the red flashing light on the town’s only microwave tower.
“Anything else?”
“Nope.” Sebastian didn’t want to discuss his idea in front of Bailey.
“What took y’all so long to get here? The store closes at six.”
“Oh, we took her out to eat, to cheer her up,” Bernard said.
Walter realized everybody was spending the stolen money like drunken sailors on leave and sighed deeply.
“We used some of our emergency-expense-account money you gave us,” Bernard added quickly.
“Well, if that’s it, I’m taking this baby to my room for a good night’s sleep. Walter, you see? She needs our help.”
“I do.” Walter was unfortunately aware that most abuse cases start with a few punches to the gut and then slowly escalate. But when a man hits a woman in the face, it’s real rage, and the severity of the abuse progresses quickly. That’s what had happened to his daughter, and he had failed to recognize the signs. It haunted him daily.
Lucille and Bailey walked for the door. Sebastian opened it for them.
“Y’all call us if you need anything during the night. Anything at all,” Walter said. The other men voiced like sentiments.
“Oh, Bailey—you work tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, sir. Levi and I almost always work Saturdays.”
“I need to see you before you go in. It’s important. I’ll explain to everybody in the morning. Seven thirty.”
When the door shut, Sebastian set his coffee cup down and pulled off his overcoat. He rubbed his hands and stood up like a Baptist minister about to preach in front of his own momma.
Walter was a bit taken aback.
“I got an idea.”
“Yeah, I figured something was up. What is it?” Walter asked.
“Look, I know we all wanna kill the little prick, but he ain’t worth goin’ to prison over,” Sebastian said.
“Yeah, so what are you thinkin’?” Walter prodded impatiently.
“When we steal the money from the gold store, we frame that little peckerhead for it.”
Walter let a smile creep across his lips. He picked up his cigar and pointed it at Sebastian and Bernard. “Gentlemen, that’s a damn fine idea.”
“I’m bettin’ Moon Pie will get to him, and presto, he’s outta her hair,” Sebastian said. Then he added, “And hopefully the gene pool.”
“Bailey said that he and the owner guy don’t get along anyway,” Bernard said, wanting to contribute.
“It’s just brilliant,” Walter said.
“But how do we frame him, specifically?” Bernard asked.
Sebastian laughed, and all eyes turned to him. He carefully retrieved something from his handkerchief. “With this?” He proudly held up the smokeless-tobacco can, making sure he didn’t add his fingerprints to it.
“A lot of people dip, dude,” Bernard said sarcastically.
Walter looked at the can in Sebastian’s hand, studying the unusual top. “What’s this jerk’s name again?”
“Woody Walker,” Sebastian said with a chuckle.
Walter said excitedly, “Bernard, my friend, lots of folks indulge in the pleasures of smokeless tobacco or, as you refer to it, dip, but how many have a sterling-silver lid with a gold-plated W?”
“I thought you’d like that,” Sebastian said, watching Walter’s eyes and seeing his mind race.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Bernard said to no one in particular.
“Does he know you have it?” Walter asked excitedly.
“Nope, and by now, he’s probably missing it. But he doesn’t have a clue that I’ve got it.”
“It’s just perfect! This just might work. Good thinkin’,” Walter said as he patted Sebastian on the back.