Chapter 23

Deacon washed his hands in the kitchen sink, then asked Max, “Do you want me to set the table?”

“Sure. I think you know where everything is by now.” As Deacon did, Max realized he was also watching him with apparent concern. “I’m doing okay, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Max told him.

“It is. At least Jack and I get to be around people. You’re cooped up here by yourself. That gives your imagination free rein to come up with possible scenarios for what Tony might try next.”

“Yeah. But I did my best to concentrate on what I was doing.” Max chuckled. “I only jumped three times, and one of them was when the postman put the mail through the letter slot. The other two were hearing car doors slam, until I decided that’s the last thing Tony would do, if he did get up the guts to try something during the day.”

“None of the letters was from him?”

“Damn, Deacon, I’d have told you if they were.”