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A handful of hours later the Corvette streaked into the driveway. Shirley got out, popped the trunk, and tugged out multiple shopping bags and a long garment holder.
The other car door opened and DuBose climbed out. Gone was the tight bun when her hair was up, and the demure locks when it was down. Her hair was shorter on the sides where it curved around her ears, with considerable volume on top. Though he knew little to nothing of women’s hairstyles, the waves, dips, and intricate patterns DuBose’s hair now possessed struck Jack as meaningfully artistic.
DuBose approached them, self-consciously swiping at her hair. She smiled in an embarrassed fashion. “Shopping with Shirl is... an experience.”
Jack said, “You look... great, Desiree.”
Shirley came up to them. “It was all there. It was like she was holdin’ her breath all that time. And then finally she just let it blow.” She handed the bags to Jack. “My work here is done. I’ve got to get home to feed my hungry man and my ornery father.”
She kissed DuBose on the cheek and gave her a hug. “Good luck, girl. I know you are gonna kick some ass.” In a far less strident voice that only DuBose could hear she added, “I walk and talk big, Desiree, because that’s the only way some people will ever notice me. I married a good man and I built up a nice business after workin’ my tail off for years. None of that would be possible without people like you. Not one damn bit of it. So... thank you.”
DuBose saw tears sliding down the other woman’s cheeks before she quickly climbed into the Corvette and kicked up gravel making her exit.
Jack pointed behind him at their garage office. “Ready to get to work at the law firm of DuBose and Lee?” he said nervously.
CHAPTER 61
LATER THAT NIGHT, JEFF WALKED through the dining room and found his father sitting at the table looking pensive.
“You okay, Pop?” asked Jeff.
“Take a seat, son, and let’s talk for a spell.”
Frank drew a paper from his pocket. “Your letter.”
“You never wrote me back,” said Jeff.
“Because when I read it I didn’t agree with any of it. So I put it in my toolbox and mostly forgot about it. Until now.”
“You wore the uniform, Pop. You did what you had to do. That was why I felt I needed to explain my actions.”
“But it was a different time and a different war. We knew what we were fightin’ for. And we were attacked.”
“Did you arrive at that conclusion readin’ my letter a second time?” asked Jeff.
“It helped me clarify things. Clarify. I never had no cause to ever use that word before now.” He tapped the table with his knuckles. “So what I mean to do is apologize to you, Jeff. It’s damn hard to fight in a war. But it’s a lot harder to walk away from a fight that ain’t the good fight, or the right one.” Frank put out his hand. “Won’t blame you if you don’t want to shake your old man’s hand, but I just wanted you to know how I felt.”
Jeff clenched his father’s hand. “You still got a strong grip for an old man.”
Frank smiled.
“I’m real sorry about Lucy, Pop. I know Momma’s takin’ it bad.”
“Your momma has dealt with a lot in her life, son. But this truly might be the hardest.”
“Well, that’s why she has you. You got her back, right?”
“Right, son. I do.”
And the way he said it, it seemed that Frank Lee actually believed his answer.
* * *
Jack stood in front of the chalkboard. He had diagrammed out the commonwealth’s case, and he and DuBose were looking over it to see the gaps.
DuBose said, “Okay, they have the victims, the opportunity, and the motive, but they don’t have a murder weapon.”
“We can hit them on motive by showing that Sam Randolph also had plenty of incentive to kill his parents and then lie about what he told Battle.”
