“What about school searche
s?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s the ‘immediate reach’ concept. Who was Schneckloth?”
“Hell, I don’t know.”
“Schneckloth versus Bustamonte.”
“Is it the reasonable expectation of privacy?”
“Boo to you. Expectation of privacy is the Katz principle. Schneckloth is consent to search. I can see we’ve got to jam on the books, my girl. I’ve got the notes.”
“Not tonight.”
“No. But tomorrow you’ll wake up with your mind fertile and ignorant, and then we’ll begin to plant the harvest for Friday. Starling, Brigham said—he’s not supposed to tell, so I promised—he said you’ll beat the hearing. He thinks that signifying son of a bitch Krendler won’t remember you two days from now. Your grades are good, we’ll knock this stuff out easy.” Mapp studied Starling’s tired face. “You did the best anybody could for that poor soul, Starling. You stuck your neck out for her and you got your butt kicked for her and you moved things along. You deserve a chance yourself. Why don’t you go ahead and crash? I’m fixing to shut this down myself.”
“Ardelia. Thanks.”
And after the lights were out.
“Starling?”
“Yeah?”
“Who do you think’s prettiest, Brigham or Hot Bobby Lowrance?”
“That’s a hard one.”
“Brigham’s got a tattoo on his shoulder, I could see it through his shirt. What does it say?”
“I wouldn’t have any idea.”
“Will you let me know soon as you find out?”
“Probably not.”
“I told you about Hot Bobby’s python briefs.”
“You just saw ’em through the window when he was lifting weights.”
“Did Gracie tell you that? That girl’s mouth is gonna—”
Starling was asleep.
CHAPTER 45
Shortly before 3:00 A.M., Crawford, dozing beside his wife, came awake. There was a catch in Bella’s breathing and she had stirred on her bed. He sat up and took her hand.
“Bella?”
She took a deep breath and let it out. Her eyes were open for the first time in days. Crawford put his face close before hers, but he didn’t think she could see him.
“Bella, I love you, kid,” he said in case she could hear.
Fear brushed the walls of his chest, circling inside him like a bat in a house. Then he got hold of it.