Spencerville

Please respect that, Keith.”
    “All right. But if you ever need help, give a holler.”
    “Okay.”
    Jeffrey got up and stirred the two pots. “Soup’s ready.”
    They had the soup, then a vegetable curry, and were working on the last bottle of wine.
    Keith made coffee and Gail unveiled a carrot cake. Over cake and coffee, Jeffrey said, “Hey, I almost forgot.” He put his hand in his pocket and came out with a bank envelope. “There’s a thousand.”
    “Thanks.” Keith took a check from his wallet and gave it to Jeffrey, who glanced at it and said, “This is for two thousand.”
    “That’s a contribution to the cause. I never gave money to pinkos before.”
    Gail smiled. “We can’t accept that, Keith.”
    “Yeah, you can. I don’t need the money, and I want to do something.”
    “You can help us by joining us.”
    “I could, and I would. But I’m leaving.”
    Neither of them spoke.
    Keith said, “Look, guys, I trust you, and I like you. Also, I may need your help. Ready for a long story?”
    They nodded.
    “Okay, I returned to Spencerville to go back to the starting line and see if I could run the race over again. Well, you can’t do that. The race is over, but you can run a new race. Yeah, I’m beating around the bush. Okay, I’m in love with Annie, and—”
    Gail slapped the table. “I knew it! See, Jeffrey, I
told
you.”
    “I told
you.
”
    “May I? This isn’t easy. Anyway, we’ve been writing for twenty years—”
    “I love this. Go on. Does she love you?”
    Jeffrey said, “Gail, keep quiet.”
    “So, anyway, yes, she does, and we’re running off. End of story.”
    “Like hell it is,” said Gail. “Have you done it yet?”
    “That’s not relevant… No, we haven’t—”
    “Liar. I knew it. See? That’s why she was floating on clouds. She asked if we’d spoken to you in the last few days. This is terrific. That pig deserves what he gets. Oh, Keith, I’m so happy for you.” She stood and kissed him, which he figured was coming, and Jeffrey followed suit with a handshake.
    Keith felt a little impatient and said, “Okay, so that answers a lot of questions for you, and I thought I owed you an explanation of why I couldn’t commit to—”
    “Hey,” Jeffrey said, “you’re doing your part by stealing his wife.”
    “I’m not actually stealing—”
    “I always knew you two would get back together,” Jeffrey said. “When are you leaving?”
    “I can’t say. But soon.”
    “How can we help?”
    “Well, for starters, don’t say a thing over the phone if we speak. I’m concerned that your phone or mine could be tapped.”
    “Yeah, they could be. What else?”
    “Well, you brought the money, looks like enough food left for a few more days, and maybe Gail could keep her eyes and ears open around city hall.”
    “I always do. And I have a cop who’s a source.”
    “Good. But don’t trust him, either.”
    “When it comes to revolution, we don’t trust too many people.”
    Keith nodded. “You know the game.”
    Jeffrey said, “So you’re laying low until you… do you call it elopement if she’s married?”
    “For want of a better word, yes. I’ll give you a key to the house, and I’d like you to look after it.”
    “No problem.”
    Gail asked, “Where did you do it? How many times? How did you get away with it?”
    “We’re old pros from high school days.” Keith changed the subject and said, “Her husband is generally suspicious, and specifically pissed off at me for coming back here. He came out here last week, and we had some words. But he doesn’t really know anything. He did give me a week to get out of town, and that time ends on Friday, but I won’t be gone by then. He may come around again, and I’ll ask for a few days’ extension, because that’s less complicated than killing him, which I promised not to do.”
    They seemed stunned by that remark, and Keith looked at them. “This is serious business. Not a game. He’s borderline psychotic. You watch yourselves. The offer of the gun stands.”
    They stayed silent awhile, then Jeffrey said, “Hey, this is heavy stuff. Mind if I smoke?”
    “Go right ahead.”
    Jeffrey took a pouch and papers out of his shirt pocket and rolled one. He lit it with a match and offered it to Keith, who declined, then to Gail, who also declined. He shrugged, sat back, and smoked.
    Gail asked, “Do you think Annie is safe?”
    “I think so. But I’m getting these vibrations, if I can use