Chapter 26

Walking from room to room of the apartment, he opened every interior door and adjusted the blinds for maximum light. As he moved, his thoughts raced. What's goin' on with Arceneaux? What's her game? Has she really been seein' Landry? Why should I care? Hell, I don't care. I've tried to keep her at a distance. Tried to help with her career. She's so damn aggressive. Why is she aiming her love light at me? I don't need this crap! Why does she pursue men old enough to be her daddy? Moving to the lavatory, he wiped his face and neck with a cold washcloth. He studied his reflection in the mirror. You ole scoundrel, he thought. Who're you tryin' to fool? She's young and beautiful, no doubt about that. You're susceptible --- don't deny it. While you're at it, why haven't you called Annie since you've been here? All the resolutions made on the balcony of the old house, was all that so meaningless? What's goin' on in you're own head, Sport? I've got to get out of this place. I'm goin' nuts. I need to be here if Flint calls. Emrick may need me. He brushed his hair and quickly left the apartment. Standing in place at the corner, he panned the left, front, and right of him. Two men stood together at the corner across the street and boulevard from him. They made no effort to conceal grim stares directed at him. He set out walking at a brisk pace. They did not follow. He didn't know how long he'd been walking nor was he entirely sure the route which he had taken. He stopped in a K&B drug store for directions to the racetrack and, while there, purchased the weakest pair of reading glasses he could find. It galled him that he could read the test message so much clearer with the glasses.

Leaving the drug store, he looked in all directions. The men he noticed at his apartment were nowhere to be seen. He reached the racetrack entrance, and decided to go to the park and try to find Emrick. Bowman knew about where he would be, if he was there. He heard the harmonica wail long before he located Emrick. Not one of his "hot" numbers, but the sound carries well over the open field. Surely Em's "Strange Dude" should have heard something as distinctive as that music. Maybe he's deaf. That's probably it. He stood in the shade of a large tree, watching Emrick from a distance and scoped the surroundings with his eyes. Emrick spotted him and waved his arms. Bowman returned the wave and walked over to the tree where Emrick was playing. "Hey Boss!"

"Hi Em. Have you seen your friend today?"

"Naw, I've been lookin' fah 'im hard, but I ain't seen hide or hair."

"It's just as well. Why don't you come on down and we'll walk over and get somethin' to drink. I need to give you some money anyway."

Emrick swung down from a limb of a tree and lighted alongside Bowman, his wonderful grin working overtime. As they walked away, Emrick boasted: "I done good at that joint las' night. Everbody jus' went on an' on about how good I wuz. Bigges' trouble I had was knowin' when to come in for solos and how long to play. Ole fellow who played a trombone started pointin' when I wus 'posed to go an' stop. Went pretty good after dat." "Can I come listen to you now?" "No, I gotta get a whole bunch better'n dat fo' den."

The sounds of the street traffic below filled the apartment and dominated his hearing. The glow of the streetlights cast shadows throughout the room. Another Friday night alone. He considered walking to a phone booth and calling Annie in Baltimore. He knew he should. They had not talked since he left Woodville. He knew that she would be concerned about him. He wasn't pressed or concentrating on his work. He knew that if he called, he would probably end up flying up there for the weekend. He also knew he would likely look for no new direction of inquiry before Monday. He told himself that he was responsible for Emrick and should be available if he was needed. He didn't buy the argument, but neither did he make the call.

He looked out the window of his apartment and spotted the same two men on the corner watching the front of the apartment building. He turned off all lights in the apartment and stood back to be certain he could not be seen. After about ten minutes, the men walked to a dark sedan and rode off together. He was able to identify a Louisiana tag on the car, but he could distinguish none of the numbers. He made a conscious decision not to tell Flint. Those guys are too amateurish to be a threat.