Ray

XVII

LOOK here, you were involved in one murder, says the voice over the phone, so here’s another. I called you because you’ve got experience. Maybe he was a bum, but he was a good bum, and I know who did it.

I was not involved in any damned murder, I say.

Well, there’s a corpse out in Capitol Park, name of Buster Lewis. He’s been around a long time. Friendliest, wisest drunk in town. In fact, I’ll say it, he was my uncle. I’ll meet you there. A teenager did it. If you don’t come see me, I’m going now to kill the kid with my thirty-eight. Then there’ll be two, and I’m on my way to Mexico.

Why me, fellow? There’s the police, you know.

Yes, there’s the police, but you’re cute. Besides, I was a corpsman in the Marines. You get the picture?

Are you a nigger? I say.

Could be, the voice says.

I’ll be there, I say.

My Corvette wouldn’t start. So I jumped in Westy’s Toyota. Edward, Edward, Edward, here I come in this here Jap econo-car! Just hang on.