Page 58 of A Rose of Steel
“We’re doing a tribute at Homecoming to Bumper,” LaJay said “We’re hoping Boone can get back for it.”
“I’m gonna try,” Boone said. “I wasn’t sure I could do it and the wedding, so I picked the wedding, but now...” he shook his head. “I’on know, man. This is so messed up.”
“Yeah, it is,” LaJay said.
“Yes, I heard you weren’t even sure at first if you could come,” I said. “Is that why you weren’t the best man?”
Boone nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “Bumper didn’t know if he could count on me to be here.”
“Where do you two know Chase Turner from?” I said. “The one who was the best man.”
“We don’t really know him,” LaJay said and shrugged.
“He was a friend of Bumper’s from California. They met on campus, I think,” Boone said. “I don’t know how good of friends they were, though.”
“Must be pretty good buddies if Bumper asked him to do it,” I said.
“It’s a shame,” Piper said, chiming in. “Come all the way here to be in wedding for a guy you hardly know and he dies on you.”
“Right?” LaJay said, agreeing.
“I mean, I just can’t believe what happened,” Boone said, pushing a finger into his still red eye. “And it’s even harder to believe someone did it to him on purpose. I just knew he was having an asthma attack.”
“Yeah,” LaJay said. “And I didn’t think asthma was going to do it, his mother made sure we protected him.”
“With all the inhalers?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Boone said. It was the first time I’d seen his face brighten. “She used to make us take one whenever we went out to play when we were little. And then she used to hide ’em in places she knew we went to play. There’re probably still some out and around that we never found.”
“Yeah, I remember Bumper telling me about that,” LaJay said.
“Yeah, and Bumper hated it, too,” Boone said. “He did not want to ever be sick.” Boone shook his head. “He’d say I know what makes me sick, and you know so we can take care of everything without her. I’m not a baby.” Boone made a face like he was pouting as he relayed his story.
“That’s funny,” LaJay said. Then looked around the group. “Oh! Not funny that it made him die, funny how Mrs. Hackett acted.”
“Asthma didn’t kill him,” Piper said. “And it seems like it might take a while for us to find out what did.” She gave me a look.
“It’s alright, ma’am,” LaJay said, directing his eyes toward me. “We understand you can’t tell us. I was just saying, you know, why? Why would someone want to kill Bumper?” He shook his head. “Who would do it?”
“My mother might,” Piper said. “I heard her tell my father she wanted Bumper out of Jorianne’s life.”
“She said that?” LaJay said, his eyes wide, seemingly excited about that possibility.
“That’s not nice to go blaming your mother,” Boone said. “This is serious, isn’t it Dr. Romaine?”
I’d never heard anyone call me that. I thought it was cute, but it didn’t distract me from Piper’s comment. That had given me pause. I remembered something about Bonnie Alvarez wielding a “shotgun” to force them get married.
“I heard she brought a gun to the wedding,” I said. God I hated gossip, but it sure was coming in handy at the moment.
“My mother carries a gun everywhere she goes. She loves that little snub-nose Smith & Wesson. You must not be from Texas,” Piper said and looked at me. “Everyone carries a gun. Anyway, Jorianne was just wanting to show off, as usual, when she said our momma had lit a fire under Bumper. He wanted to marry her. He didn’t need a gun to make him.”
“But your mother didn’t want Jorianne to marry Bumper?” I asked.
“Nope. Said she could take care of the baby, she and my daddy, Jorianne didn’t need no husband. I just think she didn’t want Jorianne to move to California.”
“She can stay in Texas,” LaJay said. “She’ll have all the help she needs.”
“Man,” Boone said and lightly punched his friend, “what I tell you about trying to hit on Jori?” He shook his head. “You’re such a rat.”
