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“She paid it so I can get you out of here, and I need your help to do that. So did you recognize the car?”
“No, Mr. Lee, I ain’t never seen it before,” replied Jerome, sitting up straighter.
“What kind of car was it?”
“Little blue thing. Got the top that comes down.”
“A convertible?” said Jack.
“Yeah.”
“You see the license plate?” asked Jack. “Virginia or out-of-state?”
“I think Virginia, by the color, but I can’t swear to it,” replied Jerome.
“But the car was gone when you went to the house around six?”
“Yes sir, it was,” replied Jerome firmly.
“Do you know the Randolphs’ children by sight?”
“I know Miss Christine. She come by right often. And Mr. Sam, he come by a couple times. But he ain’t been by for a long time now, least not when I been there.”
Jack glanced at Jerome’s head. “How do you feel?”
“Better.” He had placed the ice packs under his shirt and the hot water bottle against his lower back. “Thank you for gettin’ the doc back in here.”
“I’ll be meeting with Pearl again. Anything you want me to tell her?”
“Just that my head don’t hurt no more and... that...” He faltered.
“You love her and the kids?” Jack quietly suggested.
Jerome glanced up at him, seeming to take all of Jack in for the first time. “Yes sir, Mr. Lee. I do. But don’t tell her this.”
“What?”
“That... that I be scared. Like bein’ in ’Nam, but I ain’t got nothin’ to fight with.”
“Well, Jerome, for what it’s worth, you have me.”
But I’m not sure I’m enough, thought Jack.
CHAPTER 19
FRANK LEE SLOWED HIS TRUCK as he turned onto Tuxedo Boulevard.
The same large man was sitting alone on the porch next to Miss Jessup’s place.
What was the name again? Frank thought. Right, Daniel.
There were lights on in Miss Jessup’s house. The humidity was dense enough to make Frank take extra breaths with his Camel-infused lungs.
Daniel lifted his can of beer in Frank’s direction as he got out of his truck.
“Come to see your lady again?” said Daniel.
“Just come to talk to Miss Jessup.”
