Blount trembled as he cowered from the angry voice. “Mr. Greene, is that you? My lord, that is you! Did I do somethin’ bad that I don’t remember?”
“It’s not what you did,” Payne interjected, “it’s what you didn’t do. You failed to tell Levon the things that he wanted to know during your earlier conversation.”
Blount glanced at Payne and frowned. “Do I knows ya, sir? I don’t mean to be rude none, but ya don’t looks like someone I knows.”
“My name’s Jonathon Payne, and we talked on the phone a few minutes ago.” He pointed to Jones before continuing. “And that over there is David Jones.”
Blount instinctively massaged the top of his sore scalp. “Oh, yes, I knows him. We’s already been introduced.”
Payne tried not to laugh as he pictured Jones using Blount’s hair as a leash. “Bennie, as I mentioned, the reason that Mr. Greene is angry with you is because of your behavior earlier today at the Fishing Hole.”
“But I didn’t do nothin’ wrong! I didn’t drinks too much or cause no problems! Mr. Murray warns me about touching the gals, and I swears I didn’t do none of that today! I swears!”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. Mr. Greene is upset because you weren’t willing to answer his questions about the man with the tattoo. He asked you some simple questions, and you refused to answer.”
Blount glanced at Greene and shivered slightly. “Is that why you’s mad at me, Mr. Greene? ’Cause I wasn’t in a talkin’ mood?”
“I gave you an autograph, Bennie, and you weren’t willing to give me any information. That was kind of disappointing.”
“More like rude,” Jones chimed in. “You should be ashamed, Bennie.”
“Real ashamed,” Payne added.
As Blount considered his actions and studied the men that surrounded him, guilt flooded his face. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Greene! I didn’t know that it meant that much to ya! If I’d known things was that important, I’d’ve told ya everything I known. I promise I woulda!”
Grinning, Payne slowly reached out his hand and placed it on Blount’s rail-thin shoulder. “Well, Bennie, maybe it’s not too late to make amends. If you act nicely, I bet Mr. Greene would give you a second chance. In fact, I know he would.”
“Does ya think so, Mr. Payne?”
“I know so, Bennie.” Payne stepped aside, allowing Blount to get a full view of Greene. “Go ahead, Bennie. Apologize to my friend.”
Blount lowered his head in shame and looked at Greene’s feet as he spoke. “Mr. Greene, I swears I didn’t do nothin’ wrong on purpose. If you gives me one mo’ chance, I promise I make things up to ya!”
Greene sighed deeply, as if he actually had to weigh the consequences of Blount’s apology. “All right, kid. I’ll let this one slide. But you better tell us everything that we want to know, or I’ll never forgive you. Ever!”
Blount’s face erupted into a wide smile. “Anything, Mr. Greene. Just ask it and I’ll tells ya. I promise, Mr. Greene. I don’t wants ya to be mad at me. Really I don’t!”
Greene grinned with satisfaction, enjoying every moment of this mini drama. “I’m glad, Bennie. That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
“Me, too,” Payne interjected. He led Blount to the metal bleachers and asked him to sit down. “I’ve got a number of questions that I’d like to ask you, Bennie, and some of them might seem a little bit strange. But trust me, each of them is really important to me and my friends.”
“Okay,” he mumbled, slightly confused.
“First of all, what can you tell me about your friend with the tattoo? How do you know him?”
“Ya mean the P tattoo? I met him at work, Mr. Payne. Most of the people have it.”
“And where do you work, Bennie?”
Blount paused for a second, not sure if he should answer the question.
“Come on, Bennie,” Greene urged. “You promised you’d help us.”
“That’s true, I did. But it’s not as easy as that, sir. Ya see, I promised other peoples that I wouldn’t talk about this none.”
Greene moved forward on the bleachers, flexing his massive arms as he did. “But those other people can’t hurt you right now, can they?”
Blount gulped. “I guess you’s right. The place is called the Plantation.”
The word piqued the interest of all three men, yet Greene was the first to speak. “The Plantation? What exactly is the Plantation?”
Blount gazed at Greene. It was obvious that the Plantation was one of the things