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JIM SAID GOODBYE TO THE Barkleys that evening. Mother gave him a big hug and said: “You hurry home now! You don’t come back and I’ll go looking for you.”
He didn’t expect so much emotion from Mike. Tears came to his eyes and for a few moments he couldn’t talk. Jim was moved by the big man’s emotional state and finally Mike was able to say: “Hurry back,” as he walked away. Jim didn’t look back as he walked up the stairs to the apartment. As the door closed he checked the refrigerator and cupboard for food. For the next two days he must remain hidden from the Barkleys, as they expected him to leave on the Thursday morning bus and he couldn’t afford for them to think otherwise.
Thursday he slept late, made coffee and ate doughnuts for breakfast and waited until the Barkleys left for lunch before he took a shower. He dressed and left the apartment by the rear path and stayed on the north side of town until they would go home in the late afternoon.
As 4:30 p.m. approached, he found a location where he could see them depart the post office. As soon as they were gone he moved to the loading ramp at the back of the post office and knew it was time for Joe O’Neal to return from delivering mail to Route 1 customers.
As Joe drove up, he jumped to his feet. Joe, surprised to see him, asked: “What’s up?”
“Hi, Joe. I wanted to ask you a question.”
“Shoot!”
“Mike was talking to me about taking the postal test. Before I did I thought I would talk to some of you old employees that have done it a while.”
“Go ahead and say old timers!”
“No disrespect. Is it a good career?”
“I’ve been doing it for 30 years and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Can I help you carry some of that stuff in?”
“That would be great.”
He quickly grabbed Joe’s mail tray, walked to the rear door and visually checked the contents along the way. It was outgoing mail Joe had picked up on his route, the right outgoing mail because as he entered the post office and tossed the contents in the air, some the letters in the tray dislodged just enough to see what he was looking for. Then he placed the tray on the separating table.
Before Joe got inside, Jim sat the tray on the counter, took out the priority mailer box, then quickly took off his jacket carefully wrapped the jacket around the box and placed it on a nearby chair. He then went outside and helped Joe finish unloading the truck.
“Thanks, Joe, for the information. I think this could be a career I could like.”
“It is for me. Thanks for the help.”
He was getting hungry but couldn’t go out to eat. The risk of being seen by someone he knew was too great. He fixed a makeshift sandwich and a big salad with everything that was left in the fridge. He even found some of Mother’s turkey and stuffing. At first he started to eat it then thought that it might be bad. He knew this was no time to get food poisoning.
He finally got around to checking the contents of the priority mailer box and was pleasantly surprised to find that Mr. Bob had followed his instructions to the letter. Most of the bills were $50s and they all looked used and unmarked. Inside was a note:
Here is your blood money. Now return Billy Bob’s notebook.
Bob Foster
Still trying to get in the last word, huh asshole? Good try, but no way, Jim thought. That night he hung the extra blanket he had hoping it would help to cover the sound of the coming rifle shot. He placed the rifle on the shooting bench and began to scope the house. Then without warning the front door opened and there stood Craig. He quickly put the crosshairs on his chest. The sheriff’s badge shined from the outside light. Jim centered the crosshairs on the sheriff’s star. If the weapon had not been empty he could’ve completed his mission right then. As tempting as it was, he didn’t do more than line up his scope. His escape plan would only work tomorrow ? not tonight. He felt like he had just had a dress rehearsal for the shot he would make the next evening. When Craig answered the door, and he knew Craig would, he would make the shot. Now all that was left to do was wait and delight in a plan well thought out and keep out of sight.
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