Page 108 of Never Flinch

Jerome fills him in, thinkingThree hundred each for four hours’ work. Seems almost too easy.

As it turns out, he doesn’t know the half of it.

4

Kate comes onstage that Tuesday night wearing a Chicago Cubs cap and a White Sox jersey with her name on the back. The crowd loves her for that, and for every word out of her mouth. Holly has seen it all before, and she knows that in deep blue Chicago Kate is preaching to the choir (only a small contingent of boo-birds), but her eloquence is still mesmerizing. Back and forth she goes, exhorting, pleading, joking, angry, heartfelt, outraged, hopeful. Holly has discovered Kate can be petty and insecure. That night in Chicago it doesn’t matter. That night she gives a performance for the ages.

“I want to close tonight by asking you to remember the words of John the Apostle. He said, ‘If any man loves the world, the love of God the Father is not in him.’ But theology as practiced by Christian fundamentalists isall aboutthe world. Mixing religion with politics is dangerous. Not the road to Calvary but the one that leads to fascism.”

From the audience, someone screams, “YOU LIE!”

“Check your Bible,” Kate says. “First John, chapter 2, verse 15.”

“HELL AWAITS THE LIAR!” the screamer responds. Ushers are moving toward him, but he’s standing on a walker and they are reluctant to approach, lest they be accused of manhandling a disabled person.

“I will take my chances on hell,” Kate says, “but Chicago has been heaven for this woman. You’ve been a wonderful audience. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

She is called back three times by a seemingly endless wave of applause and comes offstage crackling with energy. She sweeps Holly into a hug. Holly, who often shrinks from physical contact, hugs her back.

“It was good tonight, wasn’t it?” Kate murmurs.

“Better than good,” Holly says, and a cold thought—This woman is begging to be assassinated—makes her hug Kate tighter. “It wasgreat.”

5

Holly is up early on Wednesday morning for the four-hour drive from Chicago to Toledo. She gets out of the shower to find texts from John Ackerly and Jerome.

John:I may have seen your boy Trig, but I think he looked different and was going under a different name. Wish I could remember.

Holly:Try.

John:Trying.

Jerome:I have gotten my own bodyguard gig. Sista Bessie, Friday night. She’s singing the N’tl Anthem at Dingley. Barbara recommended me.

Holly:Good luck. I know you’ll do a great job. I find bodyguarding rather unpleasant. Your opinion may differ.

Jerome:I have tix to Sista Bessie’s concert on Sat. nite. Can U come? Watch Barb onstage?

Holly:I would love to but we are moving on to Cincinnati. Send vid. Come to hotel if you can. Garden City Plaza.

Jerome:Roger that.

Marching dots suggest Jerome has something more to say, but Holly can’t wait for it. She’s about to turn off her phone and toss her suitcase in the Chrysler when it comes.

Jerome:Hollyberry. And I still have one left.

This is followed by a laughing-to-tears emoji. Holly has to laugh herself.

6

The trip to Toledo is uneventful and by mid-afternoon, Holly is once more spotting her client in another hotel pool. Back and forth Kate goes, churning and burning in her red suit. Corrie comes down at quarter to three and tells Kate she might want to get out of the water. Bad news, she says.

“Just tell me,” Kate says. Gasps, really. “I want to get in four more laps.”

“I don’t think you’ll want to hear this while you’re swimming.”

Kate leg-kicks to the edge of the pool and puts her arms on the curbing. Her hair is plastered to the sides of her face. “Spill it.”

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