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“Yeah, yeah, I know that place,” Baptiste said. “Thibodaux.”
“That’s the one,” Bruno said. “Are you anywhere near here?”
Baptiste laughed. “I try to avoid Thibodaux where possible.”
“How long would it take you to get here?” Bruno asked.
“Couple of hours,” Baptiste said. “I’ve got a meeting in New Iberia that I’m a little late for.”
“Oh.”
Baptiste could hear the disappointment in Bruno’s voice. “Hey, sorry, man, maybe I can rush it along a bit and get there sooner if it’s urgent.”
Bruno was quiet, trying to think of what to say.
Baptiste felt like there was something wrong, so he said, “Hey, is everything OK?”
“Yeah, sure, why?”
“You don’t sound like you’re OK.”
“No, no…I’m good,” Bruno said. “Just wanted to catch up with you and thought this was a good opportunity.”
Baptiste couldn’t help but think that any other day and any other place would have been a better opportunity, so why there and why now? “Listen, man, I’ll do what I can. I’ll get to the meeting as quick as possible, keep it short and double back.” He knew he couldn’t get back in an hour, but surely Bruno could stay there longer if it was just a meet-up for a meal.
“Thanks, man,” Bruno said. “Don’t sweat it if you can’t make it. Gator’s on his way. I’m just not sure when I’ll get another chance…”
“Sure…I’ll see ya when I can,” Baptiste said and he started his engine and hot-tailed it to New Iberia, hoping to start the meeting earlier and get done and back to Thibodaux in time to catch Bruno and Gator.
Before Bruno ended the call, he said, “There was one thing I wanted to tell you.”
“Yeah…”
“The guys Marvin was mixed up with.” Baptiste waited, wondering why this was important now. “None of them know or suspect Sylvie or Gator were involved in anything.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“No reason…just need them to be sure they know and don’t go digging for stuff that’s buried. I know I can trust you to look out for them.”
“Bruno, man…I’m canceling the meeting,” he said, worried about his friend.
“No way. It’s just a catch-up. I’ll see ya if I see ya. Gotta go.”
As Baptiste sped down the highway, he couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong and the words “not sure when I’ll get another chance” kept playing in his head.What the hell does that mean? I need to cancel this meeting.He decided to pull over to the side of the road and see if he could postpone it to another date but was unable to get through to his contact. With no options other than to make the meeting, he drove as fast as he could with every intention of cutting short the meeting and racing back to his friend.
Fifty minutes after he had called Gator, Bruno was pleased to see his friend pulling into the parking lot outside the Rusty Spoon on his Harley.
Gator immediately recognized Bruno’s black Dodge Charger by the distinctive dent running down its side. It reminded him to ask his friend how that had happened.
Inside the diner, Bruno declined a drink, citing his work as the reason and the need for a clear head. Gator, not much of a drinker himself, opted for water as well. He ordered a special sandwich and fries. Bruno appeared nervous, and Gator couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
As Gator ate, and Bruno picked at the fries that Gator had pushed to the center of the table, they reminisced about their school days, and Bruno commented on Gator’s good fortune in reuniting with Sylvie. Gator assured him he’d find someone special too, but Bruno seemed less optimistic. He reiterated that Gator and Sylvie were safe from any fallout related to Marvin’s criminal dealings several times, having done all that was necessary to protect them.
Gator breathed a sigh of relief, but when he asked if there was anything else Bruno wanted to say, his friend’s response caught him off guard.
“You were like a brother to me, Gator. The best man I’ve ever known in my life, and you deserve all the best in your life,” Bruno said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Gator furrowed his brow. “It sounds like you’re going away, and I’m not going to see you again.”
