We came face to face. Instead c
dropped to the ground, folded hil
position, and stroked his beard.
“I don’t see pockets in the outfi
I said. “No place to hold a substa
327
any direction and
😮 a hilly sp°t, sat
Ched ,slowly and
s if Searching :for
f greeting me, he
resell into a loreS
t you re wearing,
nt wad. Of cash.
I hope that doesn’t mean you didn’t take me
seriously.”
He ignored me and stared off into space. I tolerated
it for a few minutes then made a show of
losing my patience.
“Cut the holy-man crap, Matthews. It’s time to
talk business.”
A fly settled on’his forehead, walked nimbly along .
the edge of the crater-scar. It didn’t seem to’bother
him.
“State your business,” he said softly.
“I thought I ‘vas pretty clear over the phone.”
He picked a stalk of clover and twirled it in his
long fingers.
“About certain things, yes. You confessed to trespassing,
assault on Brother Baron, and burglary
What remains unclear is why there shbuld be any–
business for you and me to conduct.”
“And yet you’re here. Listening.”
He smiled.
“I pride myself on maintaining an open mind.”
“iste ”
‘
‘
“‘
L n, I smd, turning to go. Ive had a rough
couple of days and my tolerance for bullshitis at an
all time low. What I’ve got will keep. You want to
think about it, go’ ahead. Just add a thousand aday
in late fees.”
“Sit down,” he said.
I settled opposite him, crossing my legs and tuck-lng
them under me. The ground was as hot as a
waffle iron. The itch in my chest and belly had
intensified. Off in the distance the cultists bowed
and scraped.
His hand left his beard and stroked the grass
idly.
BL(D-TEST 329
You menuoned a substanta sum of money over
the phone,” he said.
“A hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Three
installments of fifty thousand each. The firgt to-
&y, the following two at six-month intervals.”
He worked hard at looking amused.
“Why. in the world would I pay you that kind of
money ?”
“For you it’s petty cash. if the party I Saw a
couple of nights ago is typical, you and your zombies
shovel that much up your noses in a week.”
“Are you implying.that we use ilhcit drugs?” he
aSked, mockingly.
“Perish-the thought. No doubt you’ve removed
the stash, stowed it somewhere else, and would
Welcome a police search with open arms. Just like
you did the first time I was here. But I’ve got
Polaroids from the party that would make great
porno for the geriatric set. All thoseworn-out bodies
grinding away. Bowls of’snow and straws up
noses. Not to mention a couple of clear s hots of the
cache under your bookcase.”
‘-‘Photographs of consenting adults having sex,”
he recited, sounding suddenly like an attorney
“bowls on a table containing an unknown substance.
Plastic bags. It doesn’t add up to much. Certainly
not a hundred and fifty thousand.” –
“How much is avoiding a murder rap worth?”
His eyes narrowed and his face changed into something
lupine and predatory. He tried to stare me
down but it was no contest. The itch had grown
nearly unbearable and gazing back at the brutal
mask was a welcome distraction.
“Go on,” he said.
‘q made three copies of the file, added a page of
‘
” 0 ]onathan’ Kellemn
interpretation to each one, and put them in-sepa-rate
safe places. Along with the pictures and instructions
.to several attorneys in the event of my
untimely demise., Before I copied I read through it
several times. Fascinating,”
He looked comPOSed but his right hand gave. him
away. The bony white fingers had clawed the ground
and ripped out a handful of grass.
“Generalities are worthless,” he whispered harshly.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“All right,” I said. “Let’s flash back a little over
twenty years ago. Long before you discovered the
guru scare. You’re sitting in your office on Camden-
Drive. A’ mousy little woman named Emma is on
the other side’of the desk. She’s traveled all the
way from a hick town called La Vista to BeVerly