"YOU GUYS READY?" Dale asks.
"Aw, man, I don't know," Doc says. This isn't the fifth time he's said it, maybe not even the fifteenth. He's pale, almost hyperventilating. The four of them are in a Winnebago — kind of a rolling green room — that has been set up on the edge of La Follette Park. Nearby is the podium on which they'll stand (always assuming Doc can keep his legs under him) and deliver their carefully crafted answers. On the slope running down to the broad river are gathered nearly four hundred newspeople, plus camera crews from six American networks and God knows how many foreign stations. The gentlemen of the press aren't in the world's best mood, because the prime space in front of the podium has been reserved for a representative sampling (drawn by lottery) of French Landing's residents. This was Dale's one ironclad demand for the press conference.
The idea for the press conference itself came from Jack Sawyer.
"Mellow out, Doc," Beezer says. He looks bigger than ever in his gray linen slacks and open-collared white shirt — almost like a bear in a tuxedo. He has even made an effort to comb his acres of hair. "And if you really think you're going to do one of the Three P's — piss, puke, or pass out — stay here."
"Nah," Doc says miserably. "In for a penny, in for a f**kin' pound. If we're gonna give it a try, let's give it a try."
Dale, resplendent in his dress uniform, looks at Jack. The latter is if anything more resplendent in his gray summerweight suit and dark blue silk tie. A matching blue handkerchief pokes from the breast pocket of his coat. "You sure this is the right thing?"
Jack is completely sure. It's not a matter of refusing to allow Sarah Gilbertson's Color Posse to steal the limelight; it's a matter of making certain that his old friend is in an unassailable position. He can do this by telling a very simple story, which the three other men will back up. Ty will do the same, Jack is confident. The story is this: Jack's other old friend, the late Henry Leyden, figured out the Fisherman's identity from the 911 tape. This tape was supplied by Dale, his nephew. The Fisherman killed Henry, but not before the heroic Mr. Leyden had mortally wounded him and passed his name to the police. ( Jack's other interest in this press conference, understood perfectly and supported completely by Dale, is to make sure Henry gets the credit he deserves.) An examination of French Landing property records and plats uncovered the fact that Charles Burnside owned a house on Highway 35, not far out of town. Dale deputized Jack and two widebodies who just happened to be in the vicinity (that would be Messrs. Amberson and St. Pierre), and they went on out there.
"From that point on," Jack told his friends repeatedly in the days leading up to the press conference, "it's vital that you remember the three little words that lead to most acquittals in criminal trials. And what are those words?"
" ‘I can't remember,' " Dale said.
Jack nodded. "Right. If you don't have a story to remember, the bastards can never trip you up. There was something in the air inside that place — "
"No lie," Beezer rumbled, and grimaced.
" — and it messed us up. What we do remember is this:Ty Marshall was in the backyard, handcuffed to the clothesline whirligig." Before Beezer St. Pierre and Jack Sawyer slipped through the police barricades and vaporized Black House with plastic explosive, one reporter got out there and took numerous pictures. We know which reporter it was, of course; Wendell Green has finally realized his dreams of fame and fortune.
"And Burnside was dead at his feet," Beezer said.
"Right. With the key to the handcuffs in his pocket. Dale, you found that and released the boy. There were a few other kids in the backyard, but as to how many — "
"We don't remember," Doc said.
"As to their sexes — "
"A few boys, a few girls," Dale said. "We don't remember exactly how many of each."
"And as for Ty, how he was taken, what happened to him — "
"He said he didn't remember," Dale said, smiling.
"We left. We think we called to the other kids — "
"But don't exactly remember — " the Beez chips in.
"Right, and in any case they seemed safe enough where they were for the time being. It was when we were putting Ty into the cruiser that we saw them all streaming out."
"And called the Wisconsin State Police for backup," Dale said. "I do remember that."
"Of course you do," Jack said benevolently.
"But we have no idea how that darn place got blasted all to hell, and we don't know who did it."
"Some people," Jack said, "are all too eager to take justice into their own hands."