“Damned right, you’re old enough, and that means you have certain responsibilities …”
His voice grew more distant, until we could no longer hear the words.I assumed he and Benjie had moved into the back hall, and I felt immeasurably relieved.
“Nothing like being forced into eavesdropping,” I whispered to Peter, who looked as though he knew what I meant.
“Do they always fight?”
“Usually.I don’t understand Benjie.Cooper’s been so good to him over the years without asking a thing in return.You’d think Benjie wouldwantto do something.You’d think he’d be concerned about what’s going on.But he couldn’t care less.”
Peter’s voice stayed as low as mine.“Maybe he doesn’t know what’s at stake.”
“He knows.He was here with us right after the arraignment.He knows Cooper could end up in jail.”
“Does he think Cooper’s guilty?”
“He says Cooper was framed, but the way he says it is incredible.Pure fact.He knows the answer—a frame—that’s all there is to it.And when he’s done saying that, it’s like he has nothing more to say.The discussion’s over.He washes his hands of the whole thing.”I gave a low grunt.“Much as I love Cooper, Benjie isn’t one of my favorite people.”
“I get the impression you’re not alone,” Peter said.“To a man, the people we’ve spoken with have had good things to say about Cooper, but what about Benjie?No one ever grouped them together.No one ever volunteered information about Benjie.When you stop to think of it, they were very happy to skip over him as though he didn’t exist.”
“That was generous of them,” I decided.“Benjie’s been in and out of trouble for years.More than one of those people have been at the butt of his pranks.Forget pranks—he’s beenknown to shoplift.Can you believe that?In a town this size, where everyone knows everyone else, he shoplifts.”
“Maybe that’s why he does it, because he knows his victims.He knows they like Cooper.He counts on Cooper getting him off the hook.”
“Which is exactly what Cooper does.The two of them disagree on most everything, but Cooper’s nearly always the one to give in.”
“I’m surprised they work together.”
“Cooper insists on it.”
“I’d think Benjie would object.”
“Are you kidding?He may be just this side of juvenile delinquency, but he’s not dumb.He knows a good thing when he sees it.”
“Does he work?”
“In his fashion.I’d say he’s with the boat on maybe seven out of ten trips, and even then I doubt he works as hard as the rest of the crew.What other job could he have where he’s paid well and can do most anything without risk of being fired?”
“Cooper has his hands full.”
“I’ll say.Benjie is gorgeous, and he knows it.He can also be a charmer when he sets his mind to it.It’s a dangerous combination.”As always when I thought about Benjie, my heart went out to Cooper.I was angry on his behalf, angry at Benjie.
Being able to sound off like this was a luxury.“He has a mean side, Benjie does.”I sent Peter a reproachful look.“He’s the type to feed fire-crackersto a duck.He’s the type to take joy in eating bacon from a pet pig.If he were a little older, a little smarter, a little more traveled, I’d be looking closely athisbank account.He’d be just the type to stash diamonds in his brother’s cabin and then keep his mouth shut when the trouble started.In any case, you can bet he’s not sorry theFree Reignis impounded.That means Cooper can’t make him work.”
“If he doesn’t work, he doesn’t make money.So how does he support trips to New York and cute little numbers from Bangor—or shouldn’t I ask?”
“You shouldn’t ask.”
Peter looked mildly dismayed.“Cooper seems like such a down-to-earth, straight-thinking sort.Doesn’t he know that he’s not doing the kid any favors by covering for him that way?”
“I’m not sure whether he does or doesn’t.You have to understand Cooper.When he feels strongly about something—one way or another—he feelsstronglyabout it.He doesn’t do things in half measures.His loyalty to me is a prime example.So’s his indulgence of Benjie.The kid is his little brother.He adores him.He can be firm, but only to a point.When push comes to shove, he gives in.”
“It didn’t sound like Cooper was giving in just now.”
“Just wait.He’ll be back without Benjie.”
Sure enough, several minutes later, Cooper returned alone.“He’s gone to Bangor,” he saidtightly.He ran a hand through his hair, and for a minute I thought he was going to say more on the subject of Benjie.But he simply dropped his hand, turned toward the door and said, “Let’s go.”
We drove several towns over to a restaurant that was owned and run by friends of mine, a pair of displaced Baltimorians who offered the closest thing to nouvelle cuisine to be found in these parts.Cooper hated the menu, I could tell.He was a meat-and-potatoes man, and though I was usually partial to similar simplicity, I found the variety of offerings welcome.
