Dead Peasants (11 page)

36

The next day Jack and Colby played tourist. They started with breakfast at Brennan’s even though they had reservations there that night. They walked the French Quarter, stopping in antique shops and art galleries. Colby insisted on going into a voodoo shop where she bought a doll, wrote “Gators” on it and, with a gleam in her eye, drove a hat pin through the belly. At five o’clock that evening, Johnson was waiting at the hotel with the back door of the limousine open. In honor of his guests he was wearing a purple TCU baseball cap. When they arrived at the Superdome, Johnson dropped them in a passenger zone, and said he was going to drive a few blocks away to watch the game on the television in the back seat. He would return toward the end of the fourth quarter.

TCU fans had gathered at the side of the stadium, using the back of a pickup for a podium. When Jack and Colby got close, they could hear someone introduce Bob Lilly, the TCU All-American from the fifties and later all pro lineman for the Dallas Cowboys. He talked about the history of Frog football, starting with the golden years of Sammy Baugh and later Davey O’Brien. He played in the era of the Southwest Conference when Coach Abe Martin usually won the conference and a Cotton Bowl berth about every four years. Then came the dry years and the Frogs wandered through the backwaters of major college football until Gary Patton became head coach. He got a commitment from the school administration to turn TCU into a major power and rewarded their decision with a dozen years of steady progress toward the top of Division I. The pep rally ended with the TCU fight song.

After pre-game festivities, the game started promptly at six o’clock, the time dictated by the network. It was a high scoring, offensive battle. Fortunately, on this night Samuel had a hot hand. In the second quarter, TCU was on its forty. In the huddle J.D. said, “Samuel, they’re laying back on me. I’m going to drop back like I’m going to block for you. Then, I’ll drift over to the right flat. If I’m right, there won’t be any defender within twenty yards.”

Samuel nodded and broke the huddle. When he took the snap, he dropped back two steps and intentionally looked to his left. Just as a defender was about to hit him, he turned to his right and tossed the ball to J.D. Samuel sidestepped the tackler and did the unexpected. As J.D. caught the ball, he ran into the defense and led J.D. up the field. When he laid the safety on his ass, the purple crowd cheered as J.D. flew down the sideline to the goal. At halftime Coach Patton chewed out his quarterback.

“Dammit, Samuel. You scared the piss out of me. I have ten guys that can block, but only one that can throw.”

Samuel nodded solemnly and broke into a grin as he walked to the bench where J.D. was sitting and high-fived him. He threw five touchdown passes, one more to J.D. in the second half. The game ended with a Horned Frogs victory, 48-38. Jack and Colby were so hoarse afterwards that they could barely speak. They found Johnson in the passenger loading zone and told him to wait while they made their way through the crowd to the TCU dressing room.

A throng of people were waiting for the players to exit. Other fans shook Jack’s hand and patted him on the back. He declined an interview by a reporter, saying that he was only J.D.’s father. Jack spotted Tanya, J.D.’s girlfriend. Tanya was a sophomore computer major, five feet, ten inches tall with flowing blond hair and the figure of the varsity volleyball player that she was. She was with Samuel’s girlfriend, Trish, an equally beautiful African American. Jack waved them over and hugs were exchanged.

After an hour the players started filtering out, greeted by cheers from their fans. The biggest cheers came as J.D. and Samuel appeared together. The media surrounded them, insisting on comments. J.D. had also learned how to play this media game. He sung the praises of the offensive line and his quarterback. He touted Samuel for All-American next year, saying that his job was pretty easy. He just had to run the route and he knew the ball was going to be there. Finally, they motioned with their hands that interviews were over and made their way to Jack and the others. Jack gave his son a hug and congratulations. J.D. kissed Tanya and hugged Colby. Samuel accepted congratulations, and they walked to the limo. When they got there, they introduced Johnson who insisted that both players sign his hat.

J.D. took in the interior of the limo and said, “Nice ride, Dad. After this season if I pull a four point next spring, can I have one of these? We’ll just move Johnson to Fort Worth.”

“Nice try, kid. Your pickup ought to last another three years and then I suspect you can afford to buy about any ride you choose.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Bryant, is it okay if I call my parents while we’re driving?” Samuel asked. Samuel’s parents lived in the northeast and couldn’t make it down for the game. They actually couldn’t afford the airfare and jacked-up hotel prices, but Samuel told everyone that they didn’t want to fight the crowds.

“Sure, Samuel. Tell them we’re proud of you.”

After dinner, Jack told Johnson to take his guests back to their hotels while he and Colby walked Bourbon Street back to the Royale Sonesta. Jack gave his son one more hug and waved as the limo pulled into the traffic.

Jack and Colby flowed with the crowd. Of course, they didn’t have any choice as Bourbon Street was wall to wall with revelers, most of them drunk or close to it.

“Wow,” Colby said, “you’d think this was Mardi Gras.”

“New Orleans doesn’t need much of an excuse for a party. The Sugar Bowl is second only to Mardi Gras, except for the year the Saints won the Super Bowl.”

They paused at a balcony where a crowd had assembled. The men were shouting, “Show us your titties,” and tossing beads up to two co-eds leaning over the balcony. Finally, the two girls looked at each other and pulled their sweaters up. The crowd cheered like TCU had just scored a touchdown.

As they neared the hotel, Jack noticed Colby was glancing over her shoulder. “What are you looking at?”

“There’s a man who has been about ten feet behind us ever since we left the restaurant. When we stop, he stops.”

Jack turned and looked, spotting a large man with long brown hair and beard. He was wearing glasses. When he saw Jack, he turned to look in the door of a topless bar. “It’s just a coincidence,” Jack said.

“Still, he gives me the creeps. Let’s get to the hotel.”

They picked up their pace, dodging between revelers until they reached the Royale Sonesta. Colby breathed a sigh of relief as he doorman greeted them with a smile as he opened the hotel door.

37

They ordered room service for breakfast the next day and discussed what to do before they caught the late afternoon flight back to Fort Worth.

“I know,” Colby said. “Let’s take a ride on the Natchez.”

The Natchez was the steam-powered paddle boat that docked at Jackson Square. It went out several times a day to take tourists along the Mississippi River to the South and back up the river for a two hour ride. Jack nodded his agreement and called the concierge to reserve two tickets for the eleven o’clock departure.

When they arrived at Jackson Square, they found a crowd along with street vendors and performers. They paused to watch a mime go through his routine, bringing laughter to adults and children alike. Jack glanced at his watch and motioned toward the Natchez. They joined a large group who were walking on the levy along the Mississippi until Colby walked to the edge where there was no barricade to block her view and marveled at the vastness of the river as the crowd passed behind them.

Jack pointed down. “Look at how swift the current is. It must pick up speed as it approaches the Gulf.”

They heard a noise behind them and someone saying, “Watch it, buddy.” Then Colby felt a shove in the back, and she went flying over the levy down to the river thirty feet below. “Oh my God!” someone screamed.

Jack saw Colby hit the water head first and instantly knew that the force of the impact may have knocked her out. He kicked off his shoes and jumped in after her, waving his arms and trying to maintain his balance to hit the water feet first. Even feet first, the blow took his breath away as he descended somewhere between ten and fifteen feet. He looked through the murky water for Colby, not even noticing how cold it was. When he thought his lungs were going to rupture, he had no choice but to rise to the surface where he gulped a breath and looked around to see if Colby had surfaced. She hadn’t.

He took another breath and dived under again, this time swimming with the current. He saw an object in the distance and swam as fast as he could toward it. When he got close, he recognized it was Colby, face down and obviously unconscious. He swam to her, put his arm around her chest and kicked for the surface.
Come on, baby. Hang in there.
He broke the surface and gulped air again. The crowd on the levy cheered. Jack looked at Colby. She didn’t appear to be breathing. The current had carried them toward the Natchez, and Jack kicked his legs, using his left arm to side stroke toward it. When they got close, one crew member tossed Jack a buoy while another lowered a rope ladder. Jack grabbed the buoy and the crew member quickly pulled them to the side of the boat. The other had stepped down the ladder and extended his hand.

“Give her to me.”

Jack pushed Colby to him. He grabbed Colby around the chest and pulled while Jack pushed on her butt. As soon as she cleared the edge of the boat Jack clambered up the ladder. The crew members were putting her on her stomach until Jack interrupted.

“No. Do it this way. He flipped her to her back and alternated between mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions. “Come on Colby, breathe. Breathe, dammit!”

It seemed like minutes went by but it was only seconds when Colby coughed. Jack turned her head to the side and she vomited, then coughed again.

“Go ahead. Get it all out.”

Colby blinked open her eyes and looked at Jack. She managed a smile. Between coughs she said, “Were you the one who pulled me out of the river?”

“At your service, ma’am.”

A crowd had gathered as the boat was filling with tourists. Naturally, they all wanted to see what happened to the woman who fell in the river. The crew kept them back a safe distance until an older man broke to the front.

“Stop, sir.”

He was waving Jack’s shoes and cane.

“Let him through,” Jack said.

The man was breathing hard and red-faced. Jack wondered if he was about to have a heart attack. He handed Jack his shoes and cane and bent over at the knees. When he straightened up, he was breathing more slowly. “I saw what happened. I saw him.”

“Go on,” Jack said.

“This guy was stumbling around and bumping through the crowd carrying a half full Hurricane glass, acting like he was drunk. When he saw your wife, he moved toward her and pretended to lurch against her.” The man’s eyes narrowed. “He was just faking everything. That wasn’t no accident. As soon as she went over the edge, he turned and hurried back through the crowd, only this time he didn’t appear to be drunk. I think he did it on purpose.”

Jack had raised Colby to a sitting position and was supporting her back. She asked, “You get a look at him?”

“Yes, ma’am. Big guy, long brown hair, beard, wearing glasses, jeans and a Saints T-shirt. Looked like he might be a body builder.”

Two EMTs broke through the crowd. “Ma’am, my name’s Andrew. First here’s a blanket for each of you.” He wrapped a silver thermal blanket around Colby and handed one to Jack. “I need to check you over.”

Colby nodded as he kneeled beside her and pressed his stethoscope on the front of her chest and then the back. Then he took her pulse while he checked his watch. He flashed a light into her eyes and ears. “Can you understand what I’m saying?”

“It would be better if you spoke English instead of Chinese,” Colby said. “I’m just kidding.”

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Three, and I don’t see a wedding ring on that left ring finger. Why’s a cute guy like you wandering around New Orleans still single?”

Andrew looked at Jack. “I heard what you did. That was both brave and foolish. We could just have easily been dredging the river, looking for both your bodies. There are some undertows out there that can suck you clean to the bottom and not spit you out until the river hits the Gulf.”

“Sometimes you just do what you gotta do.” Jack shrugged.

“We’re going to take her to the hospital. She should be fine, but we need to keep her overnight just for observation.”

“I’m not spending the night in any damn hospital,” Colby said as firmly as she could.

Jack looked at the determination in her eyes. “Tell you what. You guys take us in your ambulance back to the Royal Sonesta. We were going back to Fort Worth today, but we’ll stay the night. I’ll be with her the whole time. I had a little medical training in the army. If I see any problem, I’ll call the emergency room.”

Colby nodded her agreement.

Andrew shook his head. “That’s not our protocol, but I can’t make anyone go to the hospital.”

Jack was already helping Colby to her feet. The crowd started applauding and then erupted into cheers as they passed. Andrew helped Colby into the back of the ambulance where she insisted on sitting rather than lying on the gurney. Jack sat beside her with Andrew facing them. Two minutes later they stopped in front of the hotel. Jack thanked the two EMTs. Andrew gave him a card and asked Jack to call if he could do anything.

As Jack turned away, Andrew called, “Oh, Mr. Bryant, after what that tourist said, I’m reporting this to the police. I’ve got his cell number. You’ll get a call this afternoon. I’ll ask them to wait a few hours to give you two a chance to rest. That guy is long gone by now anyway.”

Jack nodded. The doorman took one look at the ambulance and the condition of his two guests and called for a wheelchair. When a bellman pushed it out the door, Colby shook her head. “I think I can stand in the elevator just fine, thank you very much.”

Colby took Jack’s hand and they walked through the lobby. The concierge nodded to a bellman who called housekeeping to mop up behind them. When they got to their suite, Colby collapsed on her bed.

“Not so fast,” Jack said. “We have to get you out of those wet clothes. When you wake up, maybe you’ll feel like a shower.”

Jack allowed Colby to sit on the edge of the bed while he took off her shoes, pants and blouse. When nothing remained but her bra and panties, he pulled her to her feet and dried her with a towel. Jack was contemplating what to do next when Colby smiled and said, “Turn around and don’t peek.”

Colby stripped off her bra and panties and crawled under the covers. Instantly, she was asleep. Jack pulled a chair up beside the bed so he could watch her. He didn’t read. He didn’t turn on the television. He didn’t move except to strip off his own wet clothing and put on a hotel robe. Three hours later Colby stirred, then opened her eyes. “Hi, handsome. How’s my hero?”

“The question is how are you?”

“Considering all I’ve been through, I’d say I’m doing pretty damn good.”

Colby started to push herself to a sitting position. Jack grabbed several pillows to place behind her back.

“Tell me what happened,” Colby said.

Jack explained the events of the morning, including the tourist’s description of the man who bumped into her. Colby’s eyes got big.

“Jack, that’s the man I saw last night, the one I said was following us.” She paused and stared at the opposite wall. “He was trying to kill me.” Colby’s voice quivered as she finished. “Why? Why would anyone want me dead?”

“Let’s don’t jump to conclusions.”

“I’m not jumping to any conclusions. That’s the only one we can draw. The question is why?”

Jack shook his head. “I’m still not sure. The police are supposed to be calling any time now. I’ll report what happened, but don’t expect a miracle.” Jack handed Colby a robe and helped her to the shower, returning to the bedroom as the phone rang. Colby completed her shower and came out with a towel around her head. “Okay, I’m going to live. Amazing what a hot shower can do.

“Officer Edwards with the New Orleans police called. He’s downstairs. I wanted to wait until you got out of the shower before I went down to meet him.”

Jack went to his room, slipped out of his robe and put on shorts, a T-shirt and sandals. When he started to leave, Colby said, “When you get back, I think it’s time for us to have a talk.”

An hour later Jack returned to the room and found Colby still in her bathrobe, sitting on the couch and staring at the wall. “Is he going to be any help?” she asked.

“I doubt it. He’ll file a report. He’s already talked to that tourist and is going to have him meet with a sketch artist. It’ll stop there.”

“Jack, I’m scared. I’ve been racking my brain. I’ve never harmed anyone.”

“Maybe it was a case of mistaken identity. Maybe the guy was after his ex-wife and mistook you for her.”

“I suppose that’s possible, only it doesn’t give me much comfort. I know I’ve got to stay here and not fly until tomorrow, but I’m not setting foot out of this room until Johnson has the limo at the front door.” Colby patted the sofa beside her. “Sit here. There is something about me you don’t know. You just saved my life. It’s time you heard my whole story.”

Jack sat beside her. Colby took his hand.

“This is going to be difficult. I haven’t talked about it in years. When I get through, if you decide we won’t be seeing each other any more, I’ll understand.”

Jack shifted around on the couch so he could face her. “Go on.”

“I’m married.” She sighed. “There, I’ve said it.”

Jack’s faced changed, but he tried not to let on what he already knew.

“Please don’t say anything. Let me keep going. My husband, Rob is his name, was the general manager of Allison Southwest’s largest Ford dealership. We got married when I was twenty-five. Life was really good. We both had good jobs. We traveled a lot, took vacations in exotic places. On top of that we really were in love. I was getting close to thirty, and we decided it was time to start a family. I, I came home after work one day and found him lying on the floor in the living room.” Colby’s voice choked as she re-lived the memory.

Jack went to the bathroom and came back with a box of tissues. “You want to stop, maybe continue this conversation after we order room service?’

Colby shook her head. “No, I want to get it all out now. I called 911 and they rushed him to the hospital. Jack, he never woke up, not to this day.”

Jack pulled her close and hugged her while she composed herself.

“An aneurysm had ruptured in his brain. By the time they got him to surgery, it was too late. I had to put him in a nursing home, well several over the years. He’s still in one today, out in Ridglea. I see him about twice a week. He doesn’t even know I’m there, but I talk to him, tell him what’s going on in my life. It’s probably more for my benefit than his.”

Jack stood and walked around the room, obviously thinking. “You still love him?”

Colby rose to face Jack. “I do. I took a vow to be with him until death do us part. I won’t break that vow.”

Jack still kept what he had learned about Rob to himself. This was neither the time nor the place to reveal that he had followed her. “I understand all you’re saying. Can I ask a question?”

Colby nodded.

“Why don’t you talk about him? You could have told me this right from the start. It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

“I was under the care of a psychiatrist for depression for two years after this happened. He encouraged me to talk about Rob as a part of my healing process. I couldn’t take it. Every time someone asked about him, I was in agony. Finally I quit my job to get away from a place where everyone knew about Rob and me and became a realtor. Since then I‘ve put on a happy face and gone to work every day. Then, I go home at night and read or watch television. My old friends finally quit calling. Hardly anyone even asks me about Rob any more, and that’s what I want. It may sound strange, but that’s how I’ve chosen to deal with it.”

“You could have told me,” Jack said.

Colby shook her head. “With you it was different. You and I have a special bond. I, I’m not ready to call it love. I wanted to tell just you, but I was worried that if I did, you’d be out of my life.” Colby tried to remain calm as she said, “Now you know the whole story. If you choose, we can fly back to Fort Worth and go our separate ways. I’ll understand.”

Jack drew Colby to him and hugged her. “I’m not going anywhere. You need a friend, and that’s me. I can’t promise I’ll be there for you forever. Then again, I might. We’ll just see what tomorrow brings.”