بخش 04 - فصل 02

2 In the parking lot, standing next to the used but serviceable

Jeep Wrangler his parents gave him as a seventeenth birthday present, Jerome tells Janey how good it was to meet her, and kisses her cheek. She looks surprised but pleased. Jerome turns to Hodges. “You all set, Bill? Need anything tomorrow?” “Just for you to look into that stuff we talked about so

you’ll be ready when we check out Olivia’s computer.” “I’m all over it.” “Good. And don’t forget to give my best to your dad and mom.” Jerome grins. “Tell you what, I’ll pass your best on to Dad. As for Mom . . .” Tyrone Feelgood Delight makes a brief cameo appearance. “I be

steppin round dat lady fo’ de nex’ week or so.” Hodges raises his eyebrows. “Are you in dutch with your mother? That doesn’t sound like you.” “Nah, she’s just grouchy. And I can relate.” Jerome snickers. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, man. There’s a concert at the MAC Thursday night. This dopey boy band called ‘Round Here. Barb and her friend Hilda and a couple of their other friends are insane to see them, although they’re as vanilla pudding as can be.” “How old’s your sister?” Janey asks. “Nine. Going on ten.”

“Vanilla pudding’s what girls that age like. Take it from a former eleven-year-old who was crazy about the Bay City Rollers.” Jerome looks puzzled, and she laughs. “If you knew who they were, I’d lose all respect for you.” “Anyway, none of them have ever been to a live show, right? I mean, other than Barney or Sesame Street on Ice or

something. So they pestered and pestered–they even pestered me–and finally the moms got together and decided that since it was an early show, the girls could go even if it was a school night, as long as one of them did the chaperone thing. They literally drew straws, and my mom lost.”

He shakes his head. His face is solemn but his eyes are sparkling. “My mom at the MAC with three or four thousand screaming girls between the ages of eight and fourteen. Do I have to explain any more about why I’m keeping out of her way?” “I bet she has a great time,” Janey says. “She probably

screamed for Marvin Gaye or Al Green not so long ago.” Jerome hops into his Wrangler, gives them a final wave, and pulls out onto Lowbriar. That leaves Hodges and Janey standing beside Hodges’s car, in an almostsummer night. A quarter moon has risen above the underpass that separates the more affluent part of the city from Lowtown.

“He’s a good guy,” Janey says. “You’re lucky to have him.” “Yeah,” Hodges says. “I am.” She takes the fedora off his head and puts it on her own, giving it a small but provocative tilt. “What’s next, Detective? Your place?” “Do you mean what I hope you mean?”

“I don’t want to sleep alone.” She stands on tiptoe to return his hat. “If I must surrender my body to make sure that doesn’t happen, I suppose I must.” Hodges pushes the button that unlocks his car and says, “Never let it be said I failed to take advantage of a lady in distress.”

“You are no gentleman, sir,” she says, then adds, “Thank God. Let’s go.”