Chapter 17
Crime and Courtship
By the time Arty and Bea were getting close to Newark, Bea was sick with worry. Although she was angry and sad that Buster had attacked Gracie, she couldn't bear the thought of what a New Jersey body removal service might do to his body. It was true that Buster wouldn't feel anything, but she would always know that she handed him over to somebody who was either going to throw him into a pile of cement or into a freezer, or Lord knows what. Her imagination punished her during the entire trip.
On several occasions, she had to ask Arty to stop awhile so she could get out and walk around. During one stop, she vomited. Each time she returned to the car, he reached across the seat and gently rubbed her hand or shoulders to soothe her. “I'm just so glad you were
