Robert B. Parker’s Fallout

Eighty-Four

In the late afternoon, Jesse met Crow at O’Hara Field, where there was a Babe Ruth League game going on. Twelve-year-olds and up. Jesse remembered what it was like when he was that age, the first year he got to play on the big field.

But then he remembered just about all of it.

“Game goes faster when kids are playing it,” Crow said.

“No shit,” Jesse said.

The game was in the second inning when they got there, tied 2−2. It looked to Jesse like the happiest place in the world.

“You think Hillary More might have been in on more than she let on?” Crow said. “And was just lying that tight ass of hers off?”

“Bet your ass.”

“So she gets away with it.”

“Think about what her life is going to be like going forward,” Jesse said. “And then tell me just exactly what she got away with.”

“You think Tony took out Marin for himself, or for you?”

“I keep asking myself the same question about Kevin shooting his father.”

“Only difference,” Crow says, “is that Tony gets away with murder all the time.”

Jesse turned as he heard the crack of the aluminum bat, knowing before he picked up the flight of the ball that it was going to be splitting the outfielders. It wasn’t the same sweet sound as wood. But he still knew what a solid hit sounded like.

They watched in silence for a full inning. It was the beauty of bringing Crow to a game. He didn’t think he was there to provide commentary.

Eventually, eyes on the action in front of them, Crow said, “Fixing to head back to the Cape tonight.”

“Figured, now that your work here’s done,” Jesse said. “You tell Molly?”

“She bravely hid her disappointment,” Crow said.

He turned to face Jesse. “You break it off with Nellie like you told me you were going to?”

“I let her think it was her idea,” Jesse said. “And she’s probably on her way to The New York Times or The Washington Post after her big scoop.”

Jesse grinned. “She was too old for me, anyway.”

The blue team finally beat the red team, 6−4. The kids in blue celebrated on the field as if they were the ones who’d now won the championship of the world.

Jesse and Crow started walking back toward town.

As they did, Jesse felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. He took it out and looked at the screen: