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“Oh, Jeez. I forgot.” Be
“You had a lot on your mind.”
“I have to take him out now.”
“Okay, relax. I’ll make sure you’re okay. Take the phone with you.”
Be
“Not at all. This is why I make the big bucks.”
“Wise ass.” She padded back into the living room and slipped into her shoes. Bear followed, realizing what was going on, and began to dance at her feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood. She went to the back of the door where his leash hung on the knob and slid it off, along with the pooper scooper from the entrance hall. “Hold on, David,” she said, putting the phone down while she leashed the excitable dog, since it couldn’t be accomplished with one hand, then retrieved the phone. “I’m back.”
“Okay, come on out.”
“Roger wilco.” Be
“He needs a father, obviously.”
Be
“I see you.”
“I don’t see you.”
“Damn, I’m good.”
“Gimme a clue. You in disguise? Got the red horns on?”
“Are you two finished yet? Ole Bear seems to be doing a lot of sniffing.”
“He’s stalling. He owes me number two.”
“Thanks for sharing.”
Be
“Don’t worry, I’m here.”
Be
“I just did.” His voice remained soft and calm, coming out of nowhere. If God talked on the cell, it would sound like this.
“Wait, we have ignition.” Bear did his business, and Be
“Head home now, keep walking. You’re almost at your next-door neighbor’s house, right?”
“Right.”
“There’s a trash bag there, a white Hefty kitchen bag, just like the kind you use. It looks like new. Do you see it?”
Be
“No, you did. Walk past it.”
“Okay,” Be
“The other night, remember? I noticed. Now go inside your house, get your trash, and come back out with Bear and switch bags.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s trash day. And that white bag has presents for you.”
“Presents?”
“Make the switch quickly. Pretend you forgot something you had to throw out. Can you do that?”
“Watch.” Be
“Very.”
“Can I handle a trash bag or what?” She picked up the new trash bag and set the old one down in its place, then hurried back inside with Bear, who began jumping up on her as soon as she locked the door. Whatever was in there, he wanted it. “What’s in this bag, David?”
“Open it.”
Be
“Dessert’s on the bottom.”
“Really?” She dug deeper to a cellophane pack of Oreos, a bag of Pepperidge Farm chocolate chips, a megasize Snickers bar, a half gallon of milk, and a few cans of Coke. It was Thanksgiving in a bag, and Be
“The deli, when you were inside St. Amien’s.”
“When did you put it outside?”
“I didn’t, I paid a little kid to do it. I’m taking no chances.”
“This is great!” Be
“There’s Milk-Bones for the boy, too. So. You got di
“Where will you be?”
“I’ll stay here awhile, and when I’m sure it’s okay, I’ll go home. I want you to eat well, go to sleep, safe until the morning. Call me when you get up, and we’ll start over.”
Be
“You’re going to get through this. We’re going to catch Alice. And it will all be over.”
“And then?”
“I’ll come over and you’ll make me coffee. And I’ll stay. If you want.”
Be
“Hold that thought. And tell me good night.”
“Good night, David,” Be
30
Be
She strode through the reception area in a crisp un-Be
“What’s up with you, girl?” Marshall asked with a smile, getting up slowly from behind the reception desk, in a bright yellow maternity dress. At her size, it looked roughly like the sun rising at dawn.
“Marshall, are you feeling okay?” she asked, vaguely alarmed. I mean, you’re a planet.
“I’m fine. The doctor says everything is okay, and I should keep coming to work, that the activity is good for me and the baby. Here’s your mail and a hand delivery from Sam.” Marshall handed Be
“It’s my disguise. I’m back in control of my life, Marshall. Ain’t nobody happy if Mama ain’t happy.”
“Huh?”
“You never heard that? I’m fighting back, and finally wi
“She thinks she’ll finish today, at the library in Washington. She’s coming home a day early, on an afternoon train.”