فصل 13 - بخش 10

13

Although they returned to the house only fifteen minutes or so after Lovie had taken her leave, they could already hear rough snores coming from her bedroom. Yune filled the sink with suds, rolled up his sleeves, and began to wash the few things they had used. Ralph dried; Holly put away. The evening light was still strong, and Claude was out back with Howie and Alec, touring the property and looking for any signs of the previous night’s intruder … if there had been one.

‘I’d’ve been all right even if I’d left my sidearm home,’ Yune said. ‘I had to go through Mrs Bolton’s bedroom to get into her bathroom where she keeps her oxygen, and she’s well gunned up. Got a Ruger American ten-plus-one on the dresser, extra clip right beside it, and a Remington twelve-gauge leaning in the corner, right next to her Electrolux. Don’t know what old Claudie’s got, but I’m sure he’s got something.’

‘Isn’t he a convicted felon?’ Holly asked.

‘He is,’ Ralph agreed, ‘but this is Texas. And he seems rehabilitated to me.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘He does, doesn’t he?’

‘I think so, too,’ Yune said. ‘Seems like he’s turned his life around. I’ve seen it before when people get into AA or NA. When it works, it’s like a miracle. Still, this outsider couldn’t have picked a better face to hide behind, wouldn’t you say? Given his history of drug sales and service, not to mention a gang background with Satan’s Seven, who’d believe him if he said he was being framed for something?’

‘No one believed Terry Maitland,’ Ralph said heavily, ‘and Terry was immaculate.’