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I watched her walk into her room and close the door behind her. I could use a drink, but I really didn’t need one. I went to the bedroom next to Wanda’s. Kicked off my shoes and laid down on the bed. I had talked out the whole story and I still didn’t get it. I thought about what Wanda told me. I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. But I couldn’t. Everything kept rolling around in my mind. I just kept thinking about Chilly. And Camille. And Bobby. And Gee. Nothing is as it seems.
And then it all came together.
I put my shoes on and left.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-four
"Hello, Gee."
"Nick!"
"Surprised to see me?"
"Yes."
"I just bet you are. Mind if I come in?"
"I’m sorry, Nick, come in please."
"Thank you." I stepped inside the house. Mrs. Childers was dressed to kill as usual. "You look very nice today. Were you on your way somewhere?"
"No, I just got back. Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?"
"Thank you."
"Johnnie Walker Black, straight up, right?"
"You remembered. I can not help but be touched."
"When did you get out?"
"Yesterday."
"Well, what happened?"
"I’m out on bail." She returned with my drink. "What about you? How are you doin’?"
"I’m okay."
"You should be happy. The nightmare is over. Chilly’s dead. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?" When she didn’t answer, I finished my liquor and said, "Now that it’s over, don’t you want to tell me what really happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I didn’t stutter, what the fuck really happened?" She just sat there and looked at me with those eyes. Those eyes that got me into this mess in the first place. "Look, Mrs. Childers, I mean, Gee, I killed Chilly, he’s dead. It’s over. So, why don’t you tell me the truth?"
"Nick, I don’t know what to say. I —"
"You knew where Jake was all along, didn’t you? You knew all about this synthetic crack shit."
"Yes."
"That seems like a good enough place to start."
Gee fumbled around for a second or two, and then she got up and poured herself a drink. "Chilly wasn’t there the night Jake came looking for him," she said as she poured. "I asked him what he wanted to see Chilly about."
Wednesday June 30: 9:15 PM