Chapter 16

           Thedaywentquicklyandyetwasendless.Closingtimehadnorelationtoopeningtime,solongagoitwasthatIcouldhardlyrememberit.JoeycameinasIwasabouttoclosethefrontdoorsandwithoutaskinghimIpunchedabeercanandhandedittohim,andthenIopenedoneformyselfandIhaveneverdonethatbefore.ItriedtotellhimaboutMarulloandthestore,andfoundIcouldnot,noteventhestoryIhadacceptedinexchangeforthetruth.

           "Youlooktired,"hesaid.

           "IguessIam.Lookatthoseshelves—stripped.Theyboughtthingstheydidn’twantanddidn’tneed."Iunloadedthecashregisterintothegraycanvasbag,addedthemoneyMr.Bakerhadbrought,andontopIputthebellowsenvelopeandtiedupthebagwithapieceofstring.

           "Yououghtn’ttoleavethataround."

           "Maybenot.Ihideit.Wantanotherbeer?"

           "Sure."

           "Metoo."

           "You’retoogoodanaudience,"hesaid."Igettobelievingmyownstories."

           "Likewhat?"

           "Likemytriple-deckinstincts.Ihadonethismorning.Wokeupwithit.GuessIdreamedit,butitwasrealstrong,haironthebackofmyneckandeverything.Ididn’tthinkthebankwasgoingtogetstuckuptoday.Iknewit.Iknewit,lyinginbed.Wekeeplittlewedgesunderthefootalarmssowewon’ttrampthembymistake.FirstthingthismorningItookthemout.Iwasthatsureofit,bracedforit.Nowhowdoyouexplainthat?"

           "Maybesomebodyplanneditandyoureadhismindandhegaveitup."

           "Youmakeiteasyforaguytoguesswrongwithhonor."