“Okay, so think about that. If he was lying in the ICU, and a doctor told you he could save his life for one million dollars, would you pay it?” Lincoln turns to me with his eyebrows raised.

I don’t answer.

“’Course you would. Even if he only had another few months to live, you’d pay it. What’s six months with your father worth? His last six months on earth? But that’s not even the bottom question. The bottom question is, what would those months be like with him behind bars? And how many months would he lose by being there? I watched Junius Jelks get old in jail, and it happens fast. He was in and out several times, but he aged three years for every year he spent inside.”

“I know what prison does to people. I’ve put enough people there.”

“I guess you have, at that.”

“Do you have any other tapes?”

“I told you that was a copy.”

“No, I’m talking about videotapes.”

Lincoln looks puzzled. “Ain’t no other tapes, man. Big Daddy had the one Mama made Sexton in that Texas Ranger’s van. He erased it. And he fried the other one in that MRI machine. The one they found in the Dumpster.” Lincoln laughs softly. “I never said he was stupid.”

The truck suddenly veers right and stops beside the curb on Main Street.

“Why are you dropping me here? I need to get back to City Hall.”

Lincoln smiles. “This is your bank, isn’t it?”

“Jesus. I need to talk to Quentin first. And to Dad.”

“You don’t have time for that. This is one of those decisions you make yourself. Don’t call my cell, because I won’t answer. Don’t try to discuss this in person or via any type of media. There won’t be any sting operation. This conversation never happened, and we’re never discussing it again. Either the money is there in an hour, or it’s not. After that, I destroy the original and we all take our chances with the jury.”

I look at my watch. “A million dollars in an hour? That’s impossible.”

“For you, maybe. Not for you and your mama. Tell her to crack open that retirement account.”

You son of a bitch, I curse silently.

I open the door and slide one foot down to the concrete. “If you get your money, how soon will that audiotape be miraculously discovered?”

“Immediately. I’ll take it to Shad myself and tell him I just found it hidden in Mama’s house.” Lincoln’s eyes glint with a con man’s infectious excitement. “Reasonable doubt on a silver platter, my brother.”

“Shad won’t thank you for it.”

Lincoln’s expression goes sour. “Fuck that negro. Now get out of my truck.”