“Homer?” repeated Billy Trout. “Is this really Homer Gibbon?”
“In the flesh. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your little speeches on the radio coupla hours ago. Really exciting stuff.”
“How … how…?”
“You gonna finish that sentence?”
“How are you with Goat? Is he okay? Did you hurt him? Christ, you’d better not have touched him, you sick fuck.”
“Hey, mind your manners,” warned Homer, “or I will do some particular damage to your friend.”
“No, don’t!”
“I ain’t done shit to him so far, but that could change right quick, so make sure you keep a civil tongue in your head.”
“Yes, yes, okay. I’m sorry. I’m just concerned for my friend. May I speak with him, please?”
Homer pulled onto the shoulder, put his hand over the mouthpiece, and turned to Goat. “This thing have a speaker?”
“Yes,” said Goat and when Homer held out the device, he flicked the switch. Homer leaned close and very quietly said, “You don’t speak unless I give the nod.”
“Yes. No problem.”
“And if you say the wrong thing, you know what I’ll do to make you sorry about it.”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Homer held the sat phone up between them. “We got this on speaker, so Mr. Goat can hear you, too.”
“Thank you,” said Trout. “Goat … you okay there, buddy?”
Goat looked for approval and got a nod. “I’m okay, Billy. He hasn’t hurt me.”
“Thank God. Can you tell me where you are?”
Homer shook his head.
“No,” said Goat. “I can’t do that.”
“Can you tell me what you’re doing?”
Homer thought about it, then nodded.
“Mr. Gibbon wants me to tell his side of the story. The whole story. About the Black Eye and the Red Mouth. You remember those from the trial, Billy?”
“Sure.”
“That was only part of the story. A small part.” Goat saw Homer give him a small nod of approval and decided to take that script and run with it. “There’s so much more to the story, Billy. I know you’d really appreciate it. It’s the greatest story anyone’s ever told. It’s so … deep. So big.”
Homer looked pleased, but Goat was afraid of overdoing it, so he closed with that.
“I … see,” said Trout. “Sounds like something I definitely want to hear.”
“You really do.” An idea occurred to Goat and he hoped Trout would be sharp enough to catch the ball and run with it. “It’s like you always told me, Billy. There are layers and layers to Homer Gibbon. No one really knows him. The stuff at the trial was all bullshit. No one ever asked him the right questions. No one ever really wanted to know what he saw and why he does what he does. It’s like people didn’t think the Red Mouth or the Black Eye were real. You always said there was more to the story. You always said that it was a crime that no one ever let Mr. Gibbon speak to the jury, speak from his heart, and tell the whole truth. You were right, Billy. Absolutely right.”
There was only a half beat before Trout said, “Nice to know you were paying attention, Goat. And I’m jealous that you’re there to get that story. Will we ever get to hear it?”
Goat waited for Homer to give another nod.