* * *
? ? ?
To be in medias res, thought Billy, there should be just as many important things that have happened as important things that haven’t happened yet. For Emmett, that meant that he should already have been to Seward to watch the fireworks; and their mother should already have followed the Lincoln Highway to San Francisco; and Emmett should already have stopped working on the farm in order to become a carpenter; and he should already have purchased the Studebaker with his savings; and he should already have grown angry at the fair and punched Jimmy Snyder in the nose and been sent to Salina and learned his lesson.
But the arrival of Duchess and Woolly in Nebraska, and the train ride to New York, and the search for the Studebaker, and the reunion with Sally, and the journey they were about to take from Times Square to the Palace of the Legion of Honor in order to find their mother on the Fourth of July, all of these things shouldn’t have happened yet.
That’s why Billy decided, as he leaned over chapter twenty-five with his pencil in hand, that the perfect place to start the story of Emmett’s adventures was when he was driving home from Salina in the front seat of the warden’s car.
ONE
Emmett
At nine in the morning, Emmett was walking alone from the train station at 125th Street into west Harlem.
Two hours earlier, Sally had come downstairs into the Whitneys’ kitchen with the report that Billy was sound asleep.
—He’s probably exhausted, said Emmett.
—I should think so, said Sally.
For a moment, Emmett thought Sally’s remark was directed at him—a jab for exposing Billy to so many trials over the preceding days. But after looking at her expression, he could see that she was simply echoing his own sentiments: Billy was worn out.
So the two decided to let him sleep.
—Besides, said Sally. I’ll need some time to wash the sheets and make the other beds.
In the meantime, Emmett would take the train to Harlem in order to pick up the Studebaker. Since Billy was set on beginning their journey in Times Square, Emmett suggested the three of them meet there at 10:30.
—All right, said Sally. But how will we find each other?
—Whoever gets there first can wait under the Canadian Club sign.
—And where might that be?
—Trust me, said Emmett. You won’t have any trouble finding it.
* * *
? ? ?
When Emmett arrived at the body shop, Townhouse was waiting on the street.
—Your car’s ready, he said after they’d shaken hands. You get your envelope back?
—I did.
—Good. Now you and Billy can head out to California. And not a moment too soon. . . .
Emmett looked at his friend.
—The cops came back last night, Townhouse continued. Only, it wasn’t the patrolmen, it was two detectives. They asked me the same questions about Duchess, but this time they also asked about you. And they made it clear were I to hear from you or Duchess and not let them know, I’d be buying myself a heap of trouble. Because a car matching the description of your Studebaker was seen near the home of Old Testament Ackerly—on the same afternoon that someone put him in the hospital.
—The hospital?
Townhouse nodded.
—It seems a person or persons unknown went into Ackerly’s house in Indiana and hit him on the head with a blunt object. They think he’s going to be all right, but he hasn’t come to yet. In the meantime, the boys in blue paid a visit to Duchess’s old man at some flophouse downtown. He wasn’t there, but Duchess had been. With another white youth and a light-blue car.
Emmett passed a hand over his mouth.
—Jesus.
—You said it. Look, as far as I’m concerned, whatever that motherfucker Ackerly got, he deserved. But for the time being, you should probably gain some distance from the city of New York. And while you’re at it, gain some distance from Duchess too. Come on. The twins are inside.
Leading the way, Townhouse took Emmett through the repair bays to where the Gonzalez brothers and the one called Otis were waiting. With the Studebaker back under its tarp, Paco and Pico were wearing their big white smiles—two craftsmen eager to reveal their handiwork.
—All set? Townhouse asked.
—All set, said Paco.
—Then let’s to it.
When the brothers pulled back the tarp, Townhouse, Emmett, and Otis were silent for a moment. Then Otis began shaking with laughter.
—Yellow? asked Emmett in disbelief.
The brothers looked from Emmett to each other, then back again.
—What’s wrong with yellow? asked Paco, defensively.