he’s still got some powerful friends. They’ll find something wrong on
the record. Besides, the country might agree on convicting the
scurnball.
But I’m not sure the United States could actually execute some guy they
elected to the presidency. Doesn’t look real good from aglobal
perspective either. Makes me feel kind of queasy too, although the
asshole deserves it.”
Jack scooped up handfuls of water and let the warm liquid run down his
arms. He stared off into the night.
Frank looked keenly at Jack. “Not that some positives haven’t come out
of all this. Hell, Fairfax wants to make yours truly a division head.
I’ve gotten offers from about a dozen cities to be their chief of
police. The lead prosecutor on the Richmond case, they say, is a shoo-in
for the AG slot next election.”
The detective took a sip of beer. “What about you, Jack?
You were the one who brought the guy down. Setting up Burton and the
President was your idea. Man, when I found my line was tapped, I thought
my head was gonna explode.
You were right though. So what do you get out of all this?”
Jack looked at his friend and said simply, “I’m alive. I’m not
practicing rich-man law at Patton, Shaw and I’m not marrying Jennifer
Baldwin. That’s more than enough.”
Frank studied the blue veins on his legs. “You heard from Kate?”
Jack took another swallow of beer before answering.
“She’s in Atlanta. At least she was last time she wrote.”
“She gonna stick there?”
Jack shrugged. “She’s not sure. Her letter wasn’t all that clear.” Jack
paused. “Luther left her his house in his will.”
“I’m surprised she’d take it. I’ll-gotten gains and all that.”
“Luther’s father left it to him, bought and paid for. Luther knew his
daughter. I think he wanted her to have … something. A home’s not a
bad place to start.”
“Yeah? A home takes two if you ask me. And then some dirty diapers and
infant formula to make it complete. Hell, Jack, you two were meant to be
together. I’m telling you.”
“I’m not sure that matters, Seth.” He wiped off the thick droplets of
water from his arms. “She’s been through a lot.
Maybe too much. I’m kind of connected to all the bad stuff. I really
can’t blame her for wanting to get away from it all.
Wipe the slate clean.”
“You weren’t the problem, Jack. From what I saw everything else was.”
Jack looked across at a helicopter. roaring its way across the sky. “I’m
a little tired of always being the one to make the first step, Seth, you
know what I’m saying?”
141 guess.)P
Frank looked at his watch., Jack caught the movement.
“Got somewhere to go?”
“I was just thinking we need something a lot stronger than beer. I know
this nice little place out by Dulles. Rack of ribs long as my arm,
two-pound comon-the-cobs and tequila till the sun comes up. And some
not-so-bad-looking waitresses if you’re so inclined, although being
married I will only watch from a respectful distance while you make a
complete fool of yourself We take a cab home because we’ll both be
shit-faced and you crash at my place. What do you say?”
Jack grinned. “Can I get a rain check on that? It sounds good though.”
“You sure?”
:’I’m sure, Seth, thanks.”
‘You got it.” Frank stood up, rolled down his pants and flopped across
to put on his shoes and socks.
“Hey, how about Saturday you come out to my place?
We’re grilling, burgers, fries and dogs. Got tickets to Camden Yard
too.”
“You got a deal on that one.”
Frank stood up and headed to the door. He looked back.
“Hey, Jack, don’t think too much, okay? Sometimes that’s not real
healthy.” ‘
Jack held up his can. “Thanks for the beer.”
After Frank left, Jack. lay back on the cement and stared at a sky that
seemed filled with more stars than there were numbers. Sometimes he
would awaken from a deep sleep and realize that he’d been dreaming about
the most bizarre stuff. But what he’d been dreaming about had actually
happened to him. It was not a pleasant feeling. And it only added to