Street Legal by Rafi Zabor

Author:Rafi Zabor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIT Press
Published: 2022-11-26T19:55:08+00:00

*

Lina waited until nine AM to call Marcus Dobbs at his office, left a message and didn’t hear back from him until past ten, with the slow movement of Schubert’s String Quintet playing in the background that he switched off as soon as she said hello.

“I hope you didn’t mind waiting,” he said, “but I didn’t want to call you before I could get solid information from my friends at police HQ. First thing I should tell you is that your son is completely in the clear.”

Lina breathed out not just breath but the last cargo of her mortal tension. “You’re sure.”

“He gave a complete statement to the police that held up under hours of questioning, he was a good witness, and the most important thing as far as I’m concerned,” Marcus said, “is that there’s no sign of Kennis Pitcher trying to put anything on Eli. Because I wouldn’t put anything past that son of a bitch, excuse my language.”

“Is Pitcher under arrest?”

“I believe he’s still held for questioning, but from what I hear he’s unlikely to be charged. Eli’s statement confirms his claim of self-defense, and so from what I hear does evidence at the scene, and best of all, Mrs. Chase—”

“Lina,” she said almost helplessly, feeling that twang for him where it counted and shouldn’t be there right now in medias this.

“Best of all is that the extremely unreliable Mr. Pitcher has every reason to be grateful to Eli and make sure he comes to no harm.”

“Yes,” Lina said, feeling one notch more secure but Pitcher scaring her no matter what, that man ticking through the underbrush anywhere near me or any kin of mine like a bomb just waiting. “When are they going to let Pitcher out?”

“Probably later today, maybe tomorrow. They’ll take his gun away as evidence and suspend his permit, and I think he can expect to lose his job with Raleigh Tobacco if he ever really had one. My guess, unless the police want to keep him in town pending further investigation or unless, say, the DEA wants a word with him, is that Mr. Pitcher is not long for these shores.”

“May the devil let his servant depart in peace,” Lina said.

“Amen, sister. So, does that make you feel a little better this morning?”

“It does. Thank you. How are you, have you been well? Forgive me for not asking sooner, my manners today …”

“Completely understandable under the circumstances. In confidence, let me tell you that I have personal reasons to want to see the back of Kennis Pitcher.”

“Civic duty?”

“A friend of mine … an ex-girlfriend, someone I’m still fond of as a friend,” with an emphasis that seemed in part directed at Lina saying, yes, I am hot but unattached, people are so funny, “has been involved with him for the past few months and I’ve been concerned for her well-being.”

“I hope she’ll be all right,” said Lina, awkwardly, her voice bucked by misplaced sincerities.

“Oh I’m sure this will be the end of the affair … It’s hard to get unstuck from him but this should do it.

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