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“Either youdo or you don’t, Mr. Baron,” interjected Jamison.
He looked at her and smiled disarmingly. “My dear Alex, normally I would answer such a question without hesitation, but at the time it was asked by your colleague here, I had imbibed quite a bit of alcohol. In other words, I was drunk. I should have walked home. As it was, I nearly drove my truck into the river. But may I say your querywas exceptionally well phrased and spot-on with its content?”
Jamison looked taken aback. “Oh, okay.”
Baron turned back to Decker. “Now that I’m reasonably sober, shall we try again?”
Decker once more told him the names, leaving out the now identified DEA agents.
“Well, I’ve lived in Baronville really my whole life, other than a truncated stint in college.I suppose if these people lived here their whole lives I could have met them, or run into them, or known them in some way without actually remembering precise details.”
“Joyce Tanner lived here for over forty years. She was about your age. Swanson lived here his whole life but he was in his thirties. Costa and Babbot were more recent arrivals.”
“I can’t say that any of themring a bell.”
“We found a photo of you and a Little League team. The kids were holding a championship banner. It was dated from last year.”
Baron smiled. “That’s because we won the state championship last year.”
“Congratulations. The bank sponsored your team. Costa was an SVP there. He had the photo in his home.”
“Did he? I wonder why?” Baron turned to Jamison.“I played baseball in college, on scholarship. I was actually drafted by the Braves my freshman year.”
“Impressive,” Jamison said.
“I was a pitcher. Had a good, live arm. And I could hit too. Good wheels.”
“So what happened?”
Baron once more smiled disarmingly. “It’s otherwise known as life.” He looked at Decker. “I coached the Little League teams here forabout ten years. But my last was the year we won the championship.”
“Why your last year? They don’t like winning here?”
“People said I was too controversial. Translation: I was too Baron for them.”
“So why did they allow you to coach for a decade?” asked Decker. “Were you less Baron back then?”
“I’m not sure. You’d have to take that up with the good peopleof the town. It might be because they got to order me around and scream at me if we did poorly. So, to play that theory out to its logical conclusion, maybe they were pissed off that I coached a state championship team and that’s why when I showed up for the season’s spring training this year I was politely told that my services would no longer be required.”
“Who told you that?”
“I don’t remember the gentleman’s name. Just that his tone was…gleeful.”
“Why do you stay, Mr. Baron?” asked Decker. “Why stay and take all this crap every day?”
Baron took his feet off his desk and sat forward. Though his look was more serious, there was amusement still in his light blue eyes. “It may sound a bit masochistic, but I’ve come to enjoy the duel. And if Ileave, that means they’ve won. And besides, where else would I go?”
“Hell of a way to live your life.”
“Isn’t it, though? Still, it is my humble life after all.”
“So you still say you don’t know Bradley Costa?”
“Can’t say that I do. I just coached the kids. The bank paid for the uniforms, baseballs, and juice boxes.” He abruptly stood. “I’d show you aroundthe house, but you might need a tetanus booster first. How about I take you both on a tour of the grounds? They’re not nearly as grand as they used to be, but it might provide a diversion from life in Baronville for about a half hour. And there is a lovely if rather ghoulish walk to the family crypt.”
Before they could answer he simply walked from the room.
Jamison looked overat Decker. “Wow, just walking out like that. Who does that remind you of?”
He looked at her. “Who?”
Her only response was an exaggerated eye roll.
