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?“Don’t worry, I think we’ve got you covered,” Louie said, and then his face grew serious. “By the way, did you say something to the police, anytime they questioned you?”
?“Nothing important that I can think of,” I said.
?“Well, the prosecutor made a Seven-Ten-Thirty-A notice. Which means what you told them is going to be used it court. Did you confess to something?”
?“N-nothing comes to mind.”
?“Well, think about it,” Louie said, his jaw moving quickly on his gum. “I need you to get me your passport by Monday, okay?”
?I nodded.
?We were soon in an office, filled out the necessary paperwork, and I was released.
?I walked out puzzled, since I hadn’t made any financial arrangements. Sheryl walked up holding a manila envelope and gave me a hug.
?She took a step back and crinkled her nose. “My, that is quite a smell you have on you.”
?“Yeah,” I snickered, “there is nothing like the stink of prison.” I turned to Louie. “How did my bail get covered?”
?Louie glanced sidelong to Sheryl. “Ask her. In the meantime, I got other clients. She’s got your stuff. We’ll talk.”
?And with a wave, he was gone.
?Sheryl handed me the envelope and I extracted my wallet, watch, phone, and even the pipe I’d been given yesterday.
?“Your house keys are there too,” she said quietly. “I threw them in there.”
?“What happened to the bag of tobacco?” I wondered.
?“That was in my purse, remember?” Sheryl said. “I left it at your place.”
?“Good plan,” I said with a nod, and moved the items to my sports coat pockets. The pipe went in my outer right one.
?“You look terrible.”
?I paused and looked over this beautiful woman in front of me. “And you look like a dream.”
?She smiled, and her eyes lowered to slits as if my statement had sent a shiver down her spine. “My place isn’t far from here. How about you come have a shower and some breakfast?”
?“I cannot agree fast enough,” I complied.
?We walked down the long court staircase to the street to catch a cab, and I asked, “How did my bail get paid?”
?“I covered it,” she explained, her head down. “Uncle Louie knows a bail bondsman. We set it all up this morning.”
?I stopped. “You did?”
?“Mark, you got pulled into this because of me. I felt I owed you, and I don’t think you’re going to skip town.” Her eyes twinkled as she looked at me. “Besides, I believe I know who did it!”
22. Backlist
Sheryl Homes
?Mark stopped and stared at me as I flagged down a cab. “Who?”
?“Not here,” I confided as we got in the cab.
?The yellow taxi was driven by a man whose body odor easily overpowered even Mark’s prison smell, and after I gave him the address, he drove north toward Greenwich Village.
