Split Image

"I know," Jesse said. "Good for you."

"She's a good shrink," Su

"Gotta have both," Jesse said. "Good shrink, good patient."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"How are you doing with the double murder," Su

"Good news/bad news," Jesse said. "I'm pretty sure how most of it went down, and I can't prove any of it."

"Knowing is good," Su

"Proving is better."

He told her what he knew.

"And not a fact to take to the DA," Su

"No," Jesse said. "But I do have two dangerous men circling the scene, looking for revenge."

"You think they're serious."

"Absolutely," Jesse said. "And worse than that, they're probably pretty good at it."

"You're pretty good, too," Su

Jesse shrugged.

"I misjudged those two women completely," he said. "They were beautiful, poised, completely devoted to their husbands. Hell, I was half in love with them myself."

"Things are not always what they seem," Su

"God, you sound like Dix," Jesse said.

"That was shrinky," Su

"It was."

"Have you talked with Dix," Su

"I have," Jesse said.

"You want to share?" Su

Jesse nodded.

"Yes," he said. "But I need to take some time with it."

"Later?"

"When I've got my murder case cleared," Jesse said.

"I look forward," Su

He finished his beer and put the bottle down. They sat for a while and listened to the silence.

"I gotta ask you something," Jesse said.

"Of course," Su

She put her empty wineglass on the table beside his empty beer bottle.

"Your psychological breakthrough," Jesse said. "Do you suppose it will affect our relationship?"

"Why, Jesse," Su

"I do," Jesse said.

"I'm teasing," Su

"So?" Jesse said. "Effect?"

"I should think it would have a good effect," Su

"I know," Jesse said.

"What effect do you think it will have?" Su

"Don't know yet," Jesse said. "But I'm hopeful. If it helps you move on from Richie…"

"It will," Su

"I think so, don't you?"

"I think so, but I'd still like to know what Dix thinks about you and the Bang Bang Twins."

"I need to get it organized in my own head," Jesse said. "Is sexual intercourse acceptable in the meantime?"

"It is," Su

"Oh, good," Jesse said.

Su

"Enough with the love talk," she said. "Off with the clothes."

53

DRIVING BACK TO BOSTON, Su

She had crossed the General Edwards Bridge and was approaching Wonderland when her cell phone rang.

"Su

"Why?"

"Cheryl is here," Spike said. "There's something a little wrong at the Bond of the Renewal."

"I'm in Revere," Su

"Turn around," Spike said.

"Cheryl all right?"

"She's with me," Spike said. "She's starting to calm down."

"So, what is it?" Su

"Sex," Spike said. "I think. She's a little incoherent."

"Okay," Su

She had reached Bell Circle, and turned back.

THE GRAY GULL didn't open until noon, and when Su

"What's up," Su

Cheryl started to cry.

"Perhaps I should rephrase," Su

Cheryl shook her head and kept crying.

"What's going to happen to me," she said. "Where can I go?"

"You don't have to go anywhere," Spike said. "You can stay right here."

"I can't…" Cheryl paused and cried harder, and got it a little under control and tried again. "I can't go home. I can't stay in the Renewal House."

"Why?" Su

"They want me to fuck a bunch of old guys," Cheryl said.

"All at once?" Su

"No."

"When you say they want you to," Su

"They say I have to."

"And 'they' are who?" Su

"The Patriarch and the Seniors."

"Seniors?"

"The, like, discipline board, you know?" Cheryl said. "Like, the oldest people in the Bond."

"And why do they want you to fuck a bunch of old guys?" Su

"It's, like, a reward," Cheryl said. "They have a big party and the old guys give money to the Bond, and the Bond gives them a girl."

"A goddamned fund-raiser?" Su

Spike nodded.

"Did you know about this when I brought you back?" Su

"I knew that sometimes they had these parties and some of the girls went with some of the men," Cheryl said. "But I thought it was because they wanted to."

"But it was forced?" Su

"They said if I didn't, I'd be booted out of the Bond."

"Are other girls in the same boat?" Su

"Yes," Cheryl said.

"Probably used the ones who had no other options," Spike said.

Su

"So, did you do it?" Su

"Yes," Cheryl said. "I mean, it's not like I'm a virgin, but an old fat guy I never even met before?"

"You had sex with this guy at the Renewal House?" Su

Cheryl nodded.

"And as soon as it was over," she said, "I just put my clothes on and ran out of the house and ran here."

"You did the right thing," Su

"But where can I go?" Cheryl said.

"Here," Spike said. "You can stay with me while we work things out."

"You?" Cheryl said.

"I won't molest you," Spike said. "I'm gayer than a French polka."

"I guess so," Cheryl said.

"We'll figure something out," Su

"You won't tell them where I am," Cheryl said.

"No, but even if I did, Spike won't let anyone bother you," Su

"Even if there was a lot of them?"

"Even if the whole board of Seniors came," Spike said.

"You may recall Spike in action," Su

Cheryl looked at Spike.

"I think you beat up about three or four people," she said. "It's kind of hard to remember."

"Three," Spike said. "Piece of cake."

Su

"What are you going to do?" Cheryl said.

"I'm not sure yet," Su

"Weren't you consulting with him last night?" Spike said.

"I was," Su

"Probably good I didn't call till this morning," Spike said.