"They're going bust me tomorrow, Audrey."
"You keep saying that."
"No bullshit," said Jeremiah.
"Bullshit!"
"This time I'm sure of it. When I saw Tomo Oteas talking with that undercover cop—" Jeremiah frowned. "We weren't supposed to see them together. I saw it in his eyes. Tomo's helping them."
"Jeremiah, how did you know that man was a cop? Who told you?"
Jeremiah warned her, "Don't poke fun of me, Audrey."
"Seriously. If he was undercover, how did you know it?"
He quoted the Old Testmant, saying, "For among my people are found wicked men: They lay wait as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men."
"Jeremiah," she said absently.
"Audrey—"
"You just knew it, was that it?" Audrey was suddenly very angry. "How many nights are you going to sit around in the dark waiting, waiting, waiting—"
"They're coming tomorrow morning," Jeremiah Quint insisted.
Audrey backed off, calmer. "Did you call the lawyer?"
Jeremiah looked up. "Yes. Anything else?"
Audrey hesitated. "Is the money safe?"
Jeremiah said, "Safe enough. " He promised her, "They won't find it."
"Why did you move out your guns?"
"They weren't all registered," said Jeremiah.
Audrey hugged herself as if suddenly cold. Then she slapped the piano with both hands very loudly to get her husband's undivided attention. Jeremiah stopped playing the piano.
Audrey was angry. "When does this all stop? All this bullshit and deceit and fear. I want to be honest again."
"Poor but honest?"
"Yes!" Audrey became more excited. "I never want to be this scared ever again!
Jeremiah had resumed playing the piano, but Audrey slammed her hands down on the piano top again. She was outraged.
"You shit you shit you shit! I got little babies asleep upstairs, and the Sheriff's Strike Force is going to bust us in the morning!"
Jeremiah Quint kept playing his piano. "Go to your sister's house."
Audrey considered it. "Maybe I should. Why should I watch you get busted?"
"I don't want you to stay," said Jeremiah.
"Will you come with me?"
Jeremiah Quint was determined. "No."
"About Jimmy—"
"Stay out of it, Audrey!"
Audrey stared at her husband as she made up her mind. "I'm going to bed now."
"Goodnight, honey," said Jeremiah.
"Come to bed soon. We've got a busy day tomorrow."
"Okay, honey," said Jeremiah.
They kissed good night.
Audrey left Jeremiah playing the piano alone.
He quoted the Old Testament again, this time saying, "Her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones until the morrow."
He leaned back, closed his eyes, and played his piano for God alone.
Up on a ridge in the foothills Mad Dog sat in his underpants by his truck, drinking bourbon by the glow of his portable television set. He watched as headlights drove up towards him. Mad Dog took up his shotgun and holstered .357 pistol and waited. Tomo parked a stolen truck and stormed across the ridge to Mad Dog. Seeing Tomo, Mad Dog relaxed.
But Tomo was pissed off. "You, mother-fucker, you!"
Mad Dog was lost. "Hey, Tomo, what for?"
"My farm got busted, my grandfather got busted, and there's a warrant out for me!" Tomo jabbed a finger at Mad Dog. "Because of you, you mother-fucker you, I can't go home again!"
Mad Dog got as mad. "Okay, Tomo, so what the hell you gonna do next?"
Tomo mourned. "What the hell am I gonna do?"
Mad Dog passed him the bourbon. They passed the bottle back and forth often, drinking deeply, getting intoxicated.
Mad Dog said, "Maybe somebody snitched on us."
Tomo stiffened. "You think so?"