Letters From the Grave

later, sounded a little stoned and just wanted to talk. So we talked about his mother and my abandonment – heavy topics for a new beginning. I just wanted to fix him, Jake. Can you understand?”

  Jake looked suspicious. “So far, I’m with you, BJ. But how does this get to betraying me?”

  He answered, “That’s the hard part. I guess it started innocently enough talking about our lives. I started talking about my friend, Jake Ramsey. I probably told him more than I should about you, and how we had some similar experiences and regrets. Both single ... you get it?

  “Anyway, he said he had an aircraft mechanic certificate from the Coast Guard, and I talked to Alex Davis and got him an interview. Will stayed with me for a few days while I got him prepped to talk to Alex. I guess I wanted too hard to have him as a son, and he asked a lot about you. I can’t remember when it all got out, but I think I gave him all the background that he used to steal your gold. Honestly, Jake, I didn’t know how the kid’s mind worked.

  “Alex didn’t have any jobs at the time, but Will kept on him and finally he got hired.”

  “What about Callie?” Jake used a dry tone, figuring that BJ had been part of her deception before she even arrived.

  BJ looked away. “Jake, I swear I didn’t know about her or that he was planning to take your gold. He only brought me into it all when I asked about your accident. I swear I was ready to kill him all over again. That’s when he told me the whole story. Jake, I would never have allowed him or anyone to hurt you or steal from you, never.”

  Jake continued looking down, “Go on, BJ. I want to know about the girl. How did she get involved?”

  “He was living with her, Jake. He took her off the streets in Oklahoma and cared for her. She was a prostitute. When she inherited her mother’s trailer in Abilene, Will went with her. I learned later that he might have killed her mother to get the trailer. Anyway, he had built up some kind of control over the girl, maybe he terrorized her. I really don’t know. All I know is that she did whatever he asked.”

  Jake said, “So, he was behind it all, not Callie.”

  BJ knew Jake’s feelings for Callie and wasn’t going to lie. “Jake, she was completely innocent. Oh, she’s technically guilty of stealing your collection too, but he was controlling her.” He paused for a moment then continued. “Jake, I think her feelings for you were genuine. I think she meant to get caught with Will in Georgia and have your coins returned. It’s the only way she could maneuver Will back into jail. I bet she was going to tell what she knew about the murders in Texas. Will was cooked with her, and she was willing to do it to keep you safe.”

  Jake felt uneasy again. “BJ, you don’t have to sugar coat it. She was guilty in this, too.”

  “Yeah, I know, Jake, but she had the right heart. She wanted to get this murderer and thief away from you for good and was willing to give up her freedom to do it. Instead, she gave up her life.”

  Jake had heard about all he could stomach and stood, pacing slowly at a distance from BJ. “Okay, BJ. If I’m gonna believe all this, where’s the other half of my coins?”

  BJ had an ironic smile. “That’s the cool part, Jake. I’ve got it.”

  “What! You pretend to be my friend!”

  “Jake, I am your friend. I didn’t want it. Will said I deserved it for helping him. I didn’t want it! He just wanted to be sure I was an accessory and couldn’t talk.”

  “Then why take it?”

  “I don’t know. Call it the final temptation. When he gave it to me, I had second thoughts. But what could I do? I couldn’t say anything to you or the police. Will had implicated me, just like he got Callie into it.”

  Jake looked at him and the gun, taking a deep breath, “So, where’s it now.”

  “You’re gonna laugh.”

  “Try me.”

  “It’s back out on Ocean Victory. I put it all behind the big generator.”

  “Why out there?”

  “Well. I thought it was one place no one would search, especially Will. Even if someone went on the old rig, no one would look behind the generator. I guess I had this thought about someday trapping Will out there where he couldn’t escape.”

  BJ rested the gun again in his lap.

  Jake asked, “So what now, BJ? What should I do?”

  “Nothing, Jake. There’s no more to this story.” He smiled and placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

  “No! No!” Jake raced for his friend as his body teetered on the rail. Before he could reach him, BJ’s limp mass collapsed on the deck, instead of falling over the side as he probably wished.

  Jake cupped his head, crying. “BJ! You damn fool. BJ, don’t go!” But the bullet did its work. BJ died instantly with a small smile on his face, and his eyes open. He had cleared his conscience.

  Proposal

  Jake radioed CHI about what had occurred on the platform. A New Orleans police helicopter was dispatched, and Jake flew off the platform as they approached to make room for landing. It took a couple days of investigation and reporting before BJ’s body was released for burial.

  All of CHI turned out for his funeral, but there were no other friends or neighbors. His life had revolved around the company, and he would be missed by all. Jake felt a special loss. Julie drove down to be with him. He was deeply depressed about BJ’s death, but even more so about being betrayed. He’d never dealt with losing his co-pilot decades earlier until meeting Julie. Now she would help him get over losing his best friend.

  She stayed with him for the next week. He tried not to be glum, but she encouraged him to open up with her. He cried more than once. His tears weren’t only about BJ. He’d ratified his feelings about Callie. Julie joined him in vindicating her memory.

  Will wasn’t a villain according to BJ, but there are no villains if circumstances of chance are allowed to enter the assessment. Will had been abused and neglected, ultimately abandoned, but so had Callie. She didn’t become an evil monster. Jake would not forgive Will. Maybe that was BJ’s intent – maybe not. Will was as purely evil as any man could be, plain and simple.

  After a few days moping around the area, Jake and Julie drove to Biloxi for some recreation at the floating casinos. They laughed and gambled. They went to the beach two mornings at dawn, walking in the shallow warm water. Fish swam between their legs and Jake dove in a few feet of water to chase a ray gliding in front of them. Tragedy had once again evolved into joy and happiness between them. It further solidified his intentions. Oddly, he was scared to take the next logical action.

  Their last night in Biloxi, they ate alfresco on the beach. He wore white slacks and a loose Hawaiian shirt. She wore a light summer dress and a wide hat to protect against the late afternoon sun. Both wore sandals. Afterwards dinner and some wine, they walked barefoot in the wet sand, hand in hand.

  They were both mellow and didn’t want to rush the evening. At one point, he dropped her hand and put his arm around her waist, walking beside her in synchronized harmony. She was the first to speak. “Jake, it’s so nice down here on the Gulf Coast. I can’t believe I never came here before meeting you. You’ve been spoiled.”

  He smiled. “You know, you can live in paradise and never realize it. It took you to show it to me.”

  They walked a bit farther, watching the sky turn crimson in the west, then Jake said, “What would you think about spending all your time down here?”

  She smiled lightly, but didn’t answer immediately. “What do you mean?”

  “Look Julie, I hope that I’m clear about this. I’ve never done it before.”

  “Done what?” She was torturing him and loving it.

  “Don’t you know?”

  “Jake, if you’re asking me to go steady, we’re a little old.”

  He said, “Can I ask you a very personal question?”

  “Maybe.”

  “How did your husband propose???
?

  “Nope. That’s off limits. You’ve got to find your own way, pal.” She smiled again, looking away so he wouldn’t see.

  They kept walking and he said, “We’re not kids anymore, but I feel pretty awkward. How ... what if I wanted to propose?” His face almost froze with tension saying it.

  She stopped and looked at him, “Well, here’s a secret -- you just do it.”

  He looked at her with fearful eyes. “Do I need to get down on one knee?”

  “Um. It might help.”

  He knelt down just as the tidal surge swept past them, but he didn’t notice. “Julie, will you marry me?”

  She looked down at him. “Hum. This could be complicated.”

  “Does that mean ‘no’?”

  “It means YES, but with qualifications.” She bent over, holding his head, and they kissed passionately.

  When they surfaced, Jake asked, “What qualifications?”

  “Well, we have two houses, two jobs, two investment portfolios, and we live four hundred miles apart.”

  He smiled. “How about I cash in and come live with you? I could be a Greeter at Wal-Mart, just for something to do.”

  They started walking again. She said, “Yeah. That would be a good job for you. We could put a rocking chair out on the patio when you’re not working. Or, I’ve got an idea.”

  He squeezed her hand as they continued walking into the sunset. “Okay, what?”

  She smiled watching their feet piercing the water surging around their ankles. “I can retire from teaching with my full pension and benefits. I could sell