Chapter 2

           "Thatwon’thappen."

           "HowinGod’snamecanyoubesosure?"Deanasked.

           Ididn’tanswer.Ididn’tknowjusthowtobegin.Ihadknownthiswouldcomeup,ofcourseIhad,butIstilldidn’tknowhowtostarttellingthemwhatwasinmyheadandheart.Brutalhelped.

           "Youdon’tthinkhedidit,doyou,Paul?"Helookedincredulous."Youthinkthatbiglugisinnocent."

           "I’mpositivehe’sinnocent,"Isaid.

           "Howcanyoube?"

           "Therearetwothings,"Isaid."Oneofthemismyshoe."

           "Yourshoe?"Brutalexclaimed."WhathasyourshoegottodowithwhetherornotJohnCoffeykilledthosetwolittlegirls?"

           "Itookoffoneofmyshoesandgaveittohimlastnight,"Isaid."Aftertheexecution,thiswas,whenthingshadsettledbackdownalittle.Ipusheditthroughthebars,andhepickeditupinthosebighandsofhis.Itoldhimtotieit.Ihadtomakesure,yousee,becauseallourproblemchildrennormallywearisslippers—amanwhoreallywantstocommitsuicidecandoitwithshoelaces,ifhe’sdedicated.That’ssomethingallofusknow."

           Theywerenodding.

           "Heputitonhislapandgottheendsofthelacescrossedoverallright,butthenhewasstuck.Hesaidhewasprettysuresomeonehadshowedhimhowtodoitwhenhewasalad—maybehisfatherormaybeoneoftheboyfriendshismotherhadafterthefatherwasgone—buthe’dforgottheknack.