Part 27 (1/2)

'You know Carla?'

'Everyone knows Carla. Heard you had a meeting with her at Padre's last night.'

'We met. We didn't have a meeting.'

'You sure beat up those roughnecks for her.'

'They were rude.'

'They're roughnecks. So what'd you think of their boss?'

'He's a mouth-breathing creep,' Nadine said through her pizza.

'Says he's got sinus problems. And gals tend to think he's a little creepy, but, h.e.l.l, he's an Aggie.' The mayor chuckled. 'Look, I've known Billy Bob since he moved to town. I've seen him sober and I've seen him drunk-don't invite him to your Christmas party, by the way. He's a skirt-chasing fool, but he ain't a killer.'

He held up the letter.

'This is pretty serious stuff.'

'Enough to get Nathan Jones killed?'

'Sheriff ruled it an accident, boy driving too fast. You met him, Brady. He seem like he knows what he's doing?'

'He did.'

'He does. If Brady Munn says it was an accident, it was an accident. Case closed. Folks don't murder each other in Marfa.'

The mayor downed his iced tea like a drunk downing his last shot of whiskey and stood as if to leave. But he hesitated; he had one more question for Book.

'Why do you care so much about Nathan Jones?'

'He was my student. I owe it to him to learn the truth.'

'The truth?' The mayor seemed amused. 'I've lived sixty years now, Professor, and I've learned there's no such thing as truth. There's just points of view.' He paused a moment, as if contemplating his own words, then said, 'Speaking of students, don't you still have cla.s.ses to teach in Austin?'

The mayor walked away. They watched him glad-hand a few folks on their lunch break, then exit the establishment. Book turned to his intern.

'You get the feeling people want us to leave town?'

'I know I do.'

Chapter 16.

'Henry, thanks for calling me back.'

'Just updating my resume. How's Marfa?'

'Different.'

Book sat on Rock Hudson's rooftop patio. The sky was blue, and the afternoon warm. He had called Henry Lawson at the law school for legal advice. He often consulted Henry because he had worked in the real world. He had dealt with the reality of the law and not just the theory. He provided an objective view of the world. And he was smart.

'What are you doing in Marfa? You left kind of fast.'

'A former intern named Nathan Jones wrote me a letter-'

'Uh-oh, another letter.'

'-said he was now a lawyer here in Marfa representing an oil and gas client involved in fracking. Said his client was contaminating the groundwater. Said he had proof.'

'So what'd he have to say?'

'Nothing. He's dead. Died in a car accident, same day he mailed the letter to me.'

'Odd timing.'

'I thought so.'

'You suspect foul play?'

'I do.'

'Another quest for justice?'

'I'm afraid so.'

'Why do you care so much about Nathan Jones?'

'He saved my life.'

'He was the one? Down in South Texas?'

'He was. His wife's pregnant, due in a few weeks.'

'd.a.m.n. So you're playing detective again?'

'I talked to the sheriff-'

'What did he have to say?'

'Accident.'

'He got a stake in the game?'

'No.'

'Go on.'