6’I’ve got a problem,” Jeffrey said without even saying who he was. But
Randolph recognized his voice immediately. In a few simple sentences,
Jeffrey brought Randolph up to date. He left nothing out, including his striking Devlin with the briefcase in full view of a policeman and the subsequent chase through the airport terminal.
“My good God,” was all Randolph could say by the time Jeffrey had finished.
Then, almost angrily, he added, “You know, this is not going to help your appeal. And when it comes to sentencing, it is certainly going to have an influence.”
“I know,” Jeffrey said. “I could have guessed as much. But
1 didn’t call you to tell me I’m in trouble. I had that figured without benefit of counsel. I need to know what you can do to help.”
“Well, before I do anything, you have to turn yourself in.”
“But…”
“No buts. You’ve already put yourself in an extremely precarious position with regard to the court.”
“And if I do turn myself in, won’t the court be likely to deny bail entirely?”
“Jeffrey, you have no choice. In light of your attempt to flee the country, you haven’t exactly done much to encourage its trust. ”
Randolph started to say more, but Jeffrey cut him off. “I’m sorry, but I’m not prepared to go to jail. Under any circumstances. Please do whatever you can from your end. I’ll get back to you.” Jeffrey slammed the receiver down. He couldn’t blame Randolph for the advice he had given. In some respects it was just like medicine: sometimes the patient just didn’t want to hear the doctor’s proposed therapy.
With his hand still resting on the receiver, Jeffrey turned back into the reception area to see if anyone had overheard his conversation. The young miniskirted girl and her john had disappeared upstairs, and the clerk was again glued to his tiny TV set. Another man, who looked to be in his seventies, had appeared and was sitting on the tattered couch, thumbing through a magazine.
Dropping another coin into the phone, Jeffrey called home.
“Where are you?” Carol demanded as soon as Jeffrey muttered a dull hello.
“I’m in Boston,” he told her. He wasn’t about to tell her anything more specific, but he felt he owed her that much. He knew she would be furious that he had left without a word, but he wanted to warn her in case Devlin headed back. And he wanted her to pick up the car. Beyond that, he didn’t expect anything along the lines of sympathy. An earful of fury was what he got.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving the house?” Carol snarled. “Here
I’ve been patient, standing by you all these months, and this is the thanks
I get. I looked all over the house before I realized your car was gone.”
“It’s the car I need to talk to you about,” Jeffrey said.
“I’m not interested in your car,” Carol snapped.
“Carol, listen to me!” Jeffrey yelled. When he heard that she was going to give him a chance to speak, he lowered his voice,
cupping a hand around the receiver. “My car is at the airport at central parking. The ticket stub is in the ashtray.”
“Are you planning on forfeiting bail?” Carol asked incredulously. “We’ll lose the house! I signed that lien in good faith… 11
“There are some things more important than the house!” Jeffrey snapped in spite of himself. He lowered his voice again. “Besides, the house on the
Cape has no mortgage. You can have that if money’s your worry.”
“You still haven’t answered me,” Carol said. “Are you planning to forfeit the bail?”
“I don’t know,” Jeffrey sighed. He really didn’t. It was the truth. He still hadn’t had time to think things through. “Look, the car’s there on the second level. If you want it, fine. If not, that’s fine too.”
“I want to talk to you about our divorce,” Carol said. “It’s been on hold long enough. As much as I sympathize with your problems, and I do, I have to get on with my life.”
“I’ll have to get back to you,” Jeffrey said irritably. Then he hung up on her as well.