Page 54 of A Rose of Steel
“Don’t answer that,” Mrs. Alvarez said, then looked up at me. “Can’t you find something other to do than egg my daughter on about murder mysteries? It isn’t proper to discuss things like that at a funeral.”
I would stop asking only her questions, I thought,if I could get you to talk.
I sat back to gather my thoughts. I had plenty more questions and if Piper was the only one I could get to answer them, then I was going to continue with her.
Then I spotted the best man. Chase Turner. I needed to talk to him, too, but the sight of him reminded me of something Auntie had said.
I leaned close to Piper and tried to lower my voice enough that her mother couldn’t hear me. “Why was Chase,” I pointed toward him, “Bumper’s best man? He didn’t play football with him.”
“I don’t know why he picked him,” Piper said. “None of us hardly know him.”
“He was a better choice than those two ruffians he was always running around with.” I looked over at Mrs. Alvarez who evidently didn’t approve of Boone Alouette or LaJay Reid enough that she thought it was okay to speak about Bumper’s choice of Chase at the funeral.
Piper shook her head as if to say don’t pay her mother’s comment any attention. “Boone told me yesterday that he hadn’t been sure if he’d be able to get here because he’d already committed to be here for homecoming. He didn’t know if he could afford to make two trips. His family doesn’t have a lot of money.”
“Neither does yours,” Mrs. Alvarez said. “But you or Jorianne can’t ever seem to realize that.”
Piper rolled her eyes and leaned in closer. “LaJay has a thing for Jorianne.” She grimaced. “Probably wouldn’t have been a good idea to make him best man.”
“He was still in the wedding, though,” I said.
“That’s because Bumper foolishly wouldn’t believe that his friend would try to take his girl,” Mrs. Alvarez said. “Now if the two of you could be quiet, they’re ready to start the service.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bumper Hackett was one of Roble’s own and the outpouring at the service proved it. Everyone, so went the testimonials, had his back when he suffered from his asthma attacks, cheered him on since he started in football in the peewee league, and waited anxiously to receive their wedding invitation. And from the stories told, it evidently hadn’t been unusual for his mother to pass out inhalers to anyone around.
That made it easy for the killer...
The mayor, his high school coach, the Roble Belles, and even the JOY Club had provided Resolutions that were read during the service. All of them claimed to have taken part in all his undertakings and had been filled with immeasurable pride following news about him as he fulfilled his dreams and upon getting recruited to the University of Southern California.
“Hello, I’m Boone Alouette.”
“And I’m LaJay Reid.”
The two athletes, per the program, were the last two to speak about their friend.
“I knew Bumper better than anyone,” Boone said. “We’d been friends since we were kids.”
“Yeah he did,” LaJay said, leaning into the mic, smiling at his friend. “He knew him longer, but we both loved him the same.” He turned and looked at Boone, who nodded in agreement.
Boone took center stage again. “It was just a few days ago that we were all laughing and talking together. I hadn’t even thought I’d make it home to the wedding.” He shook his head. “And now I am so glad I did so I could get to see my best friend one more time.”
“I miss him so much. But I’m sure everyone here who knew him will miss him too. And remember, Mrs. Hackett,” Boone said, looking over at her, “LaJay and I are still your sons, not by blood, but we are here anytime you need us.”
“We’ll always be here for you.” LaJay leaned into the mic. “Just like we were for Bumper.” The dreadlocked friend looked at the casket, tapped his heart twice with the side of his fist, and said. “We love you, man.”
Then together they said, “For the Gold, and for the Navy and White. Rah!”
Those were Roble High colors. The colors they’d worn on their football jerseys every Friday night when the lights went on. Each had gone away to college and wore different colors for their team now, but I assumed they were saying there would always be a bond between them. That brought a lot of tissues to eyes, their words had touched the hearts of the crowd.
During the next few songs, one courtesy of the JOY Club and their overzealous organist, my mind and eyes started to wander. That’s when I spotted the best man—Chase Turner. “There you are, I muttered. “I want to talk to you.”
“Excuse me,” I said sliding past Piper then Mrs. Alvarez. “Sorry.” I bumped into Piper’s knee. “I need to go to the ladies’ room.”
Piper gave me a polite smile, but Mrs. Alvarez seemed put out. She made a face and turned her legs to the side with ahmpf.
“Sorry,” I said again and scooted past her. My heart raced as I tried to push through the standing room only crowd to get to Chase.
