“You want to sit down?” He waved me to the chair facing him.

“No thanks. I’m only staying a few minutes, so I ain’t going to beat around the bush. I need money. Willie Frank’s uncle Lamar paid Sheriff Potts to drop the charge and turn us loose. Now we need money to pay him back.”

“So, I heard. Milton told me when he came by here a little while ago. Four hundred dollars is a heap of money.”

Four hundred dollars? Milton had lied to me again. He was planning on getting a extra hundred for hisself. Well, two could play the same game. No matter how much I got from Odell today, the most I’d admit to Milton was twenty dollars. “I’m sure Milton told you we got until the end of the month to scrape up that money we owe Lamar. In the meantime, we need a few bucks to tide us over. How much can you give me today?”

“I don’t know. I been trying to hold on to my money. Me and Joyce got to buy a lot of Christmas gifts next month. Not to mention all my regular expenses,” he grumbled.

“Regular expenses? You mean like Betty Jean and them kids?”

His face tightened. “That ain’t none of your damn business, so don’t you be bringing them up.” He blew out a loud breath and glared at me like I was a roach. “The most I can give you today is twenty or thirty dollars.”

“Is that all?”

He leaned forward and dipped his head, still glaring at me. “W-what did you have in mind?”

“At least a hundred.”

Odell groaned and shook his head. “Look, woman. I ain’t made out of money. I’m just a working soul, like you and Milton. I’m practically broke now until I get paid again.”

“Puh-leeze.” I rolled my neck and swirled my finger in the air. “Don’t lie to me.”

“What makes you think I’m lying?”

“Pffft. You can get money at all times from more than one source. On top of pilfering from them cash registers, you can borrow from Joyce and her mama and daddy.”

Odell gasped. “Woman, you must be crazy. Do you seriously expect me to steal or borrow money to give y’all?”

“Ha! If you can do it for Betty Jean, why not us?”

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told that fool husband of yours: Y’all done pushed me close to the edge with all this blackmail mess.” Odell was talking so fast he choked on some air. After he cleared his throat, he stood up and pulled out his wallet. “All I can spare today is fifty.” He pulled out two twenties and a ten and handed them to me.

“When can I get the other fifty?” I stuffed the money down in my brassiere.