A corner of her puffy mouth lifted. “Why stop now?” she said. “One more won’t hurt you. Not much, anyhow.”
Chapter Forty-five
With three fresh Bloody Marys on the tray, Pete stepped outside. Sherry and Jeff were both staring at the radio. Pete said nothing as he approached. He walked carefully, worried he might stumble but more worried that his trunks might suddenly drop around his ankles.
Through the sounds of the wind, he could hear a female voice. But he couldn’t make out what she was saying. Her words were like bits of nonsense.
Sherry and Jeff quit listening at the same moment. Their heads turned toward Pete.
“You just missed it,” Jeff said.
“The news?”
“Yeah, man. It was the top story.”
Pete held the tray toward Sherry. “Thanks,” she said, and lifted her glass.
With the other two drinks still in place, he eased the tray down on the table. Then he hitched up his drooping trunks, took his glass off the tray and stepped over to his chair. As he sat down, he said, “So what’s going on?”
“Well,” Jeff said, “looks like Sherry’s friend is doing okay so far. He’s off the cridigle list.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Sherry nodded, her eyes glistening.
“Other two, still dead.”
“That’s not very funny,” Pete said.
“Ah, I know.” Jeff lifted his glass off the tray and took a sip. “Mmmm, good.”
“What about Toby?” Pete asked.
“They didn’t mention him,” Sherry answered. “I don’t think they know anything about him. How would they? I’m the only one who…” She frowned. “Actually, Jim probably knows his name.” She took a sip of her Bloody Mary. “Maybe he hasn’t been able to talk yet.”
“Jim knows the last name?” Jeff asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I think so.”
“What was it again?”
“Trying to trick me, Jeffrey?”
“Moi?”
“I’m not going to tell.”
“I’d tell you.”
“But I already know,” Sherry pointed out.
“If I did know ’n’ you didn’t, I’d tell. You bet I would. Wouldn’t I, Petie?”
“Sure.”
Jeff took a couple of swallows, leaned toward Sherry and said, “What do you wanta know? You ask, I’ll tell.”
Looking him in the eyes, Sherry asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Sure do.”
“What’s her name?”
“Mary Jane Thatcher.”
Pete had never heard of Mary Jane Thatcher. He supposed Jeff must’ve pulled the name out of nowhere, just for an answer.
“Now my turn to question you,” Jeff said. “What’s Toby’s name?”
“Toby.”
“Toby what?”
“Give it up,” Pete told him.
“I wanta know.”
“I don’t want you to know,” Sherry said.
“Why not?”
“Come on, Jeff, leave her alone.”
“If you know who he is,” Sherry explained, “you might try to find him.”
“Durn tootin’,” Jeff said.
“Yeah,” Pete said. “I wouldn’t mind that, myself.”
“This isn’t a game, guys.”
“We know that,” Pete said. “Look what he did to you.”
“You want to get revenge on him for that, don’t you?”
“Sure do,” Pete said.
“Fuckin’-A.”
“I could use a little vengeance, myself,” Sherry said.
“We’ll take care of it for you,” Pete offered.
“No, you won’t. You might end up like Jim. Or worse. I’ve already gotten two people killed. So far. That I know of. Maybe there’re even more by now. I don’t want you guys added to the list.”
“We’d wipe up the floor with him,” Jeff said.
“You won’t get the chance. What I’ll have to do…I guess I’ll call the cops and tell them everything. Give them his last name.”
“What is it again?” Jeff asked.
“Very funny.”
“Not really,” Pete said.
“If you call the cops,” Jeff explained, “they’re gonna show up and haul you off to the hospital. That what y’want?”
“Not much.”
“Know what else? They’re gonna know we all been drinkin’. Me and Pete’ll be up the ol’ Shit Creek without the ol’ paddle.”
Pete muttered, “Oh, man. If my parents find out…”
“They’ll find out, all right. They’ll have to bail your ass outa jail.”
“Nobody’s going to jail,” Sherry said. “And nobody has to find out you’ve been drinking. I can hold off on making the call.”
“Good idea,” Pete said.
“I’m all for that,” Jeff said. “Let’s wait till tomorrow.”
“Afraid not,” Sherry said. “But I can wait a couple of hours. Why don’t we all have a bite to eat and then take a nap? An hour or two of sleep, we’ll probably all be good and sober.”
“You saying we oughta sleep together?” Jeff asked.
“Cut it out,” Pete told him.
“Chill, man. I’m just kidding around.” Grinning at Sherry, he said, “It’s da booze talkin’.”
“I know what it is. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not such a bad guy, you get to know me.”
“You’re a fine guy. You’re both fine guys. I’m really lucky I was found by a couple of