Page 120 of Nuts

“Is he a veteran? A real Marine?”

“Yep.”

“He’s telling the truth.”

“Would you bet your life on it?”

“I have, and I will.”

“What percentage of the time?”

“From a Marine vet? 100%, why?”

“I’m asking the questions, not you,” I said. “That’s all I got. Bye.”

I hung up and turned to Joey. “He says we’re golden.”

“Let him go.”

“Just like that?”

She nodded. “Just like that.”

“You think I should trust him?”

“I think we both need to learn to trust. If this goes the way I think it will, it’ll do us both a lot of good. If it doesn’t, I’ll be your alibi.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll be your alibi. Whatever he says you did, I’ll say he’s a liar, and that you were with me. I’m pretty sure we can get Josh to agree to give the same testimony, considering how afraid of you he is. All we need to do it get rid of this trailer.”

“Container.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“You want to tell him, or you want me to?”

“You can. He’s probably got an attachment to you.”

“Motherfucker better not.”

She laughed. “Come on.”

As the sun began to lower itself behind the distant mountains, we walked around the trailer and stepped inside.

“Well, we did rock, paper, scissors, and I won,” I said. “She wanted to put a bullet in your head, and I wanted to believe you. So, tomorrow, after you and I agree on some terms, I’m going to let you go.”

I expected him to cheer, start crying, or somehow show the joy that I was sure that he felt. Instead, he simply sat and stared.

“What you got nothing to say?”

“You said not to say anything unless I was asked.”

“Speak free or whatever you said earlier.”

He took a drink of water, looked at Joey, and nodded. “Thank you.”

“For fucking what?” I asked. “She wanted to kill you.”