The Wrong Side (Bocephus Haynes) by Robert Bailey

Author:Robert Bailey [Bailey, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2021-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

40

Three hours later, Bo sat at the kitchen table of the Crutcher home. A chicken salad sandwich on wheat had been placed in front of him, even though he’d begged off lunch. Theresa stood by the refrigerator dressed in a green bathrobe. Glasses covered her face, her hair pulled up in a bun. She wore no makeup, and her eyes were red from crying or lack of sleep or both. To say that Bo felt guilty for being here, dredging up more memories of this woman’s pain, was an understatement. His face burned with shame, but if he were going to get involved in this case, he had to know the answers to certain questions. And he figured Theresa would be the most reliable source.

“I’m sorry to impose like this,” Bo said, gazing up at her as she stared down at the tile floor. “You didn’t have to make me lunch.” Theresa had started preparing the meal once Bo was seated and had set it in front of him before he could protest.

“Please eat it,” Theresa croaked. Her voice sounded as tired as she looked. “People from church have brought so much food—there’s barely room in the fridge to hold it all. I’m going to have to start throwing it out soon.” She snickered. “So funny how all anybody knows what to do is to bring food. I got chicken salad. Fried chicken. Six different kinds of mac and cheese. All sorts of pies and cakes.” She choked back a sob. “I got everything but Brittany. Ain’t no amount of food or crying or talk is going to bring my baby back.”

Bo forced himself to take a bite of the sandwich and washed it down with a sip of sweet tea. “It’s good. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome,” Theresa said, plopping down on the seat beside him. “You know, you’re the first guest we’ve had other than the visitation. People leave food on the steps, but they don’t come in. We’re pariahs now. People say they’re sorry, and I’m sure they are. But they don’t want to get too close. They don’t want what happened to us to happen to them.”

“They probably aren’t sure what to do.”

“Maybe.” She squinted at him. “So why’re you here? I was surprised to see you last night, and now here you are again.”

“I was paying my respects last night like everyone else. But Israel told me something that kinda bothered me.”

She gazed at him with dull eyes. “That when he took you to his office?”

Bo nodded. “He wanted to know if I thought the sheriff’s office would give Brittany justice.” Bo chose his words carefully. “And he was upset that the death penalty probably wasn’t going to be an option.”

“What does that even mean? Justice goin’ dig my baby out of the ground and breathe life into her? And if they put Odell to death, is that going to bring her back?”

Bo pulled back from the table. “Theresa, don’t you want your daughter’s killer to be found and punished?”

“They found him,” Theresa said.

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