Raylan_ A Novel - Elmore Leonard [47]
This was when Dewey Crowe came out of the school lighting a cigarette.
Chapter Twenty
Raylan walked up to him saying, “Dewey, I saw you in there during the meeting, but couldn’t make up my mind what side you’re on.” He didn’t appear to know what Raylan meant—for the mine company or against it—so Raylan said, “I saw you hangin out with Pervis, the old man treating you kindly, putting his hand on your shoulder?”
“Pervis says I’m like his son,” Dewey said.
“Which one, Dickie or Coover?”
“Neither. He said I’m like a son he never had.”
“You seemed close, Pervis smiling, and he isn’t known to smile much.”
“He’s got a kin now,” Dewey said, “to look out for his property when he’s gone.”
Raylan said, “Who’s the kin?”
“Me,” Dewey said. Got his voice normal again and said, “I’m his heir when he passes. Me and some colored girl he uses for his wants but no kin to him. I’m his only relation he knows of.”
“Both of you Crowes,” Raylan said, but at some distance from each other. “Where’s old Pervis? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“He took my car and went home. Actually,” Dewey said, “I offered it to him, Pervis wantin to get away from people botherin him about property I’m due to inherit.”
“You’re telling me,” Raylan said, “he’s leaving you Big Black when he’s gone?”
Dewey grinned. “I didn’t say it, you did.”
“I get it,” Raylan said. “Pervis doesn’t want you to tell anybody.”
“Not till he passes. I’m not to dare think of sellin it either.”
“Trusting you with his mountain.”
“En-trusting me.”
“Well, hell,” Raylan said, “you need to get home, don’t you? Ask Casper to give you a lift, or Ms. Conlan. They both have limos, plenty of room.”
“I don’t know either one to speak to.”
“Tell ’em you’re Pervis’s kin,” Raylan said. “That ought to get you a ride.”
He watched Dewey approach Casper’s car and knock on the window. Raylan heard him say he was looking for a ride back to Harlan.
Heard him say he was Dewey Crowe.
Heard him say Pervis was his uncle.
“Pervis Crowe, same as mine. The one owns Black Mountain.”
It got the limo door to open, Casper stepping out with a gesture, please, for Dewey to join them.
They had him sit next to Carol in the dark, Casper taking a seat he flipped open to face them. Carol saying, “Dewey, really, Pervis Crowe’s your uncle?”
“He is,” Dewey said, “and I’m the only kin he’s got. I come out of Florida—he knows they’s Crowes down there, see, but never heard from any of ’em. I come up here and introduce myself, I see the old man’s eyes fill up as he takes me to his bosom and hugs me. He said, ‘You have come at a time in my life when I most need a kin.’ ”
“Why is that?” Carol said.
“I took it to mean his end is near, his tired old heart telling him he’s a goner fore too long. You know Pervis has this colored girl worked for him years? He’ll leave her something, any trinkets he has from the time he was married.”
“But he’s surprised,” Carol said, “an honest-to-God kin has shown up? Why does he believe you?”
Dewey said, “Why wouldn’ he?” not liking her tone of voice. “We both Crowes. He knows some of his people live in Florida. I come here wearin gator teeth, he knows I’m a Crowe from down there.”
“And proud of it,” Carol said. “Let’s say he believes you. If he’s giving trinkets to his former cleaning woman, what’s he giving you?”
“None of your business.”
She smelled good, but Dewey did not like her tone.
Carol said, “Casper, how much have you made selling your mountains?”
Casper said, “How many million? You ought to know. M-T Minin checks pay all my bills. Bought me a house, this car.” Casper said, “You ever hear of a limo can go a hundred and forty miles an hour? Get out on the highway, anywhere you go, it’s a trip.”
“What engine you got in her?”
“I think they just did a job on the one’s in it.”
“I got a ’87 Hornet,” Dewey said. “Leaks oil.”
Carol said, “What’s Pervis drive?”
“An old Ford with a blower.”
Carol said,