Page 107

“Of course, what?”

“How is everybody feeling inside?” I asked.

“We’re doing okay. I guess.”

“How about your aunt? She couldn’t come to the phone.”

Willie got a squirrelly look on his face. “You’re right. She’s been feeling a mite poorly. But I’ve been giving her cough medicine and making sure that she drinks water and stuff. That’s what the old bat next door said to do. Bitch can’t mind her own business. God, she doesn’t see my aunt for five days, and she’s up in my grill.”

“Willie. Can I call you Willie?”

“Sure can, Marcus.”

“Is there anybody else besides you and your aunt in the trailer?”

He looked at me, then his eyes shifted to the left. “Nope, just me and Aunt Via. Why?”

“Well, you’re looking a bit peeked. And your aunt isn’t feeling well. If there was someone else, I would just wonder about her or his state of health. It might be the reason for all the gas. You could have a gas leak under the trailer. It would spew just a little amount inside, so that it would make you sick.” I paused as I saw his eyes get wide. “You don’t smoke, do you?”

“Nah, just chew. And Via makes Arth⁠—”

“Who?”

“Never mind.”

“Well okay. I’m kind of worried. I think I should send out a real technician who can check under the trailer. In the meantime, I’m going to shut off the gas and suggest you get your aunt out of the trailer immediately. This is serious business.”

I went over to the valve and shut it off.

Willie hot-footed back into the trailer. Almost as soon as he went in, dear old dad came rushing out. Beau was on him in an instant. Hell, I hadn’t even seen him nearby.

“Kai, get the hell off me,” Dad whined.

Beau picked Dad up by the back of his neck, cocked back with his right hand, and let loose. Dad was on the ground. Out cold.

“Well, fuck,” Beau said disgustedly. He looked over at me. “Go in there and get some water. I’m not done with him.”

I shrugged and looked over at the entrance. Willie was standing there, his head turning between Beau and me and back again.

“Get a pan of water,” Beau yelled. He just stood there.

“Willie. Get a pan of water. Right fucking now,” Beau yelled louder.

Willie darted back into the trailer. I went over to stand over Dad. I prodded him with the toe of my boot. Nope, he wasn’t playing possum. Beau and I waited.

“Here.”

Beau took the pan and poured it slowly over Dad’s face. Dad started to moan.

“Get up, old man. I’m not done with you.”

Dad got up on one elbow and squinted up. “Kai?”

“No, it’s Grady. Now get your worthless ass up.”

Dad slumped back onto the ground. Beau hauled him up onto his feet and punched him in the ribs. I remembered what Doc Evans had said about Arthur having broken Beau’s ribs. I watched Beau whale on Arthur. Punch after punch, Dad groaned and begged him to stop.

“You want in on this?” Beau asked me.