Who wasnt shot.
The nightclerk.
He wasnt shot?
No sir.
What makes you say that?
You get the lab report and you'll see.
What are you sayin Ed Tom? That they drilled his brains out with a Black and Decker?
That's pretty close. I'll let you think about it.
Driving back to Sanderson it began to snow. He went to the courthouse and did some paperwork and left just before dark. When he pulled up in the driveway behind the house his wife was looking out from the kitchen window. She smiled at him. The falling snow drifted and turned in the warm yellow light.
They sat in the little diningroom and ate. She'd put on music, a violin concerto. The phone didnt ring.
Did you take it off the hook?
No, she said.
Wires must be down.
She smiled. I think it's just the snow. I think it makes people stop and think.
Bell nodded. I hope it comes a blizzard then.
Do you remember the last time it snowed here?
No, I cant say as I do. Do you?
Yes I do.
When was it.
It'll come to you.
Oh.
She smiled. They ate.
That's nice, Bell said.
What is?
The music. Supper. Bein home.
Do you think she was tellin the truth?
I do. Yes.
Do you think that boy is still alive?
I dont know. I hope he is.
You may never hear another word about any of this.
It's possible. That wouldnt be the end of it though, would it?
No, I guess it wouldnt.
You cant count on em to kill one another off like this on a regular basis. But I expect some cartel will take it over sooner or later and they'll wind up just dealin with the Mexican Government. There's too much money in it. They'll freeze out these country boys. It wont be long, neither.
How much money do you think he has?
The Moss boy?
Yes.
Hard to say. Could be in the millions. Well, not too many millions. He carried it out of there on foot.
Did you want some coffee?
Yes I would.
She rose and went to the sideboard and unplugged the percolator and brought it to the table and poured his cup and sat down again. Just dont come home dead some evenin, she said. I wont put up with it.
I better not do it then.
Do you think he'll send for her?
Bell stirred his coffee. He sat holding the steaming spoon above the cup, then he laid it in the saucer. I dont know, he said. I know he'd be a damn fool if he didnt.
The office was on the seventeenth floor with a view over the skyline of Houston and the open lowlands to the ship channel and the bayou beyond. Colonies of silver tanks. Gas flares, pale in the day. When Wells showed up the man told him to come in and told him to shut the door. He didnt even turn around. He could see Wells in the glass. Wells shut the door and stood with his hands crossed before him at the wrist. The way a funeral director might stand.
The man finally turned and looked at him. You know Anton Chigurh by sight, is that correct?
Yessir, that's correct.
When did you last see him?
November twenty-eighth of last year.
How do you happen to remember the date?
I dont happen to remember it. I remember dates. Numbers.
The man nodded. He was standing behind his desk. The desk was of polished stainless steel and walnut and there wasnt anything on it. Not a picture or a piece of paper. Nothing.
We got a loose cannon here. And we're missing product and we're out a bunch of money.
Yessir. I understand that.
You understand that.
Yessir.
That's good. I'm glad I've got your attention.
Yessir. You have my attention.
The man unlocked a drawer in the desk and took out a steel box and unlocked that and took out a card and closed the box and locked it and put it away again. He held up the card between two fingers and looked at Wells and Wells stepped forward and took it.
You pay your own expenses if I remember correctly.
Yessir.
This account will only give up twelve hundred dollars in any twenty-four hour period. That's up from a thousand.
Yessir.
How well do you know Chigurh.
Well enough.
That's not an answer.
What do you want to know?
The man tapped his knuckles on the desk. He looked up. I'd just like to know your opinion of him. In general. The invincible Mr Chigurh.
Nobody's invincible.
Somebody is.
Why do you say that?
Somewhere in the world is the most invincible man. Just as somewhere is the most vulnerable.
That's a belief that you have?