chapter 93
IT HAD BEEN a long Sunday for Levi, hanging out at the Gold Mine, waiting. Since he and Moon Pie had exchanged clothes, the local cop watching the store had him pinned down until Levi was sure that Moon Pie was safely out of the state. He was growing more concerned about the Tennessee Mexicans finding him or mistaking him for Moon Pie. Levi finally called a friend to give him a ride to Moon Pie’s trailer. As expected, the police officer followed, and when Levi got out at the trailer park, he waved the police car over.
When the police officer pulled up and rolled down his window, Levi leaned in and asked, “Afternoon, Officer. Is there anythin’ I can do for ya?”
The confused policeman stared at Levi for a few seconds, processing the incongruity of the person asking the question wearing Moon Pie’s clothes. He grunted and drove off.
Once inside Moon Pie’s trailer, Levi grabbed a cold beer from the refrigerator and started to look around. The place appeared to be messier than when he had left. The first thing Levi thought was that the Mexicans had found the place and trashed it, looking for their money. Levi quickly glanced into his small bedroom. Since it looked exactly as he had left it, he assumed that Moon Pie must have left in a hurry. Levi changed out of Moon Pie’s clothes into his own, packed a bag, and left to go find Bailey, driving an old, uninsured pickup truck that Levi hated.
When Bailey wasn’t at her apartment, Levi went straight to the Henry Clay Hotel and found himself standing out front, waving at her grandmother inside.
Lucille didn’t really like that Walter and Sebastian were so anxious to talk to Levi, but she too wanted to know about Bailey, so she motioned for him to come inside.
After Lucille made the initial introductions, she offered Levi a seat at the table. She smiled at him as he sat down. “Levi, have you heard from Bailey?”
“No, ma’am. That’s why I came by here. I was hopin’ to find her.”
“When’s the last time you talked to her?” Sebastian asked.
“Late Saturday night, or actually Sunday morning when I dropped her off here. Wait a minute—so y’all don’t know where she’s at either?” Levi asked.
“No, we don’t. We thought you might.”
Levi quickly stood, almost knocking over his chair. The expression on his face was one of anger mixed with concern. He yelled, “Woody!”
Lucille quickly glanced at the old men, who shrugged, and then at Levi and said, “I doubt it. She hasn’t mentioned him in a few days.”
“We have to find out. He ain’t no good, Miss Lucille.”
Walter looked at Sebastian. They hadn’t considered Woody, since they assumed that they had scared him sufficiently enough to stay clear of Bailey. It was possible that she had reached out to him; if so, that would be enough encouragement for him to ignore Sebastian’s .357 Magnum warning. They now had to consider that Bailey, with or without help from Woody, had stolen the money and that they had run off together.
Bernard noticed the silent exchange between Walter and Sebastian, and wanting to participate, he said, “Never trust a guy who has a monogrammed can of tobacco.”
Sebastian and Walter looked nervously at each other. They did not want Bernard talking.
Levi didn’t respond. Yes! That’s it. It was a W and not an M. Woody stole the money, he thought.
Everyone noticed Levi’s eyes light up. Walter asked, “Levi? Levi? Levi, what’s wrong? What are you thinkin’?”
Levi didn’t respond. He quickly pulled out his cell phone as he headed for the door. The third “Levi” finally broke through, and he said, “I gotta find Woody.”
“I’m goin’ with ya,” Sebastian said as he began to rise from his chair.
“No, sir! I gotta do this alone.”
Levi was out the door and in his truck before Sebastian was fully standing.