A time to kill

She slept with her mother, who held her firmly for hours until the demons faded into the night and she drifted away. At first, Gwen had trouble with the lights, but after five weeks she napped periodically through the night. The small body next to her wiggled and jerked even while it slept.

Willie said good night to the boys and kissed Tonya. He showed her his gun and promised to stay awake on the couch. He walked through the house and checked the closets. When Tonya was satisfied, she lay next to her mother and stared at the ceiling. She cried softly.

Around midnight, Willie took off his boots and relaxed on the couch. He removed his holster and placed the gun on the floor. He was almost asleep when he heard the scream. It was the horrible, high-pitched cry of a child being tortured. He grabbed his gun and ran to the bedroom. Tonya was sitting on the bed, facing the wall, screaming and shaking. She had seen them in the window, waiting for her. Gwen hugged her. The three boys ran to the foot of the bed and watched helplessly. Carl Lee, Jr., went to the window and saw nothing. They had been through it many times in five weeks, and knew there was little they could do.

Gwen soothed her and laid her head gently on the pillow. "It's okay, baby, Momma's here and Uncle Willie's here. Nobody's gonna get you. It's okay, baby."

She wanted Uncle Willie to sit under the window with his gun and the boys to sleep on the floor around the bed. They took their positions. She moaned pitifully for a few moments, then grew quiet and still.

Willie sat on the floor by the window until they were all asleep. He carried the boys one at a time to their beds and tucked them in. He sat under her window and waited for the morning sun.

Jake and Atcavage met for lunch at Claude's on Friday. They ordered ribs and slaw. The place was packed as usual, and for the first time in four weeks there were no strange faces. The regulars talked and gossiped like old times. Claude was in fine form-ranting and scolding and cursing his loyal customers. Claude was one of those rare people who could curse a man and make him enjoy it.

Atcavage had watched the venue hearing, and would have testified had he been needed. The bank had discouraged his testifying, and Jake did not want to cause trouble. Bankers have an innate fear of courtrooms, and Jake admired his friend for overcoming this paranoia and attending the hearing. In doing so, he became the first banker in the history of Ford County to voluntarily appear in a courtroom without a subpoena while court was in session. Jake was proud of him.

Claude raced by and told them they had ten minutes, so shut up and eat. Jake finished a rib and mopped his face. "Say, Stan, speaking of loans, I need to borrow five thousand for ninety days, unsecured."

"Who said anything about loans?"

"You said something about banks."

"I thought we were condemning Buckley. I was enjoying it."

"You shouldn't criticize, Stan. It's an easy habit to acquire and an impossible one to break. It robs your soul of . character."

"I'm terribly sorry. How can you ever forgive me?"

"About the loan?"

"Okay. Why do you need it?"

"Why is that relevant?"

"What do you mean, 'Why is that relevant?' "

"Look Stan, all you should worry about is whether or not I can repay the money in .ninety days."

"Okay. Can you repay the money in ninety days?"

"Good question. Of course I can."

The banker smiled. "Hailey's got you bogged down, huh?"

The lawyer smiled. "Yeah," he admitted. "It's hard to

concentrate on anything else. The trial is three weeks from Monday, and until then I won't concentrate on anything else."

"How much will you make off this case?"

"Nine hundred minus ten thousand."

"Nine hundred dollars!"

"Yeah, he couldn't borrow on his land, remember?"

"Cheap shot."

"Of course, if you'd loan Carl Lee the money on his land, then I wouldn't have to borrow any."

"I prefer to loan it to you."

"Great. When can I get a check?"

"You sound desperate."

"I know how long you guys take, with your loan committees and auditors and vice-presidents here and vice-presidents there, and maybe a vice-president will finally approve my loan in a month or so, if the manual says he can and if the home office is in the right mood. I know how you operate."

Atcavage looked at his watch. "Three o'clock soon enough?"

"I guess."

"Unsecured?"

Jake wiped his mouth and leaned across the table. He spoke quietly. "My house is a landmark with landmark mortgages, and you've got the lien on my car, remember? I'll give you the first mortgage on my daughter, but if you try to foreclose I'll kill you. Now what security do you have in mind?"

"Sorry I asked."

"When can I get the check?"

"Three P.M."

Claude appeared and refilled the tea glasses. "You got five minutes," he said loudly.

"Eight," replied Jake.

"Listen Mr. Big Shot," Claude said with a grin. "This ain't no courtroom, and your picture in the paper ain't worth two cents in here. I said five minutes."

"Just as well. My ribs were tough anyway."

"I notice you didn't leave any."