Devil In A Blue Dress

As Easy drives, Jackson directs him to a liquor store run by Abe and Johnny, Polish Holocaust survivors. Abe hid Johnny, his brother-in-law, in the wall of their concentration camp dormitory for months prior to their liberation; the rest of their friends and relatives died. After the war, they emigrated to the United States and opened a liquor store. Implied to be the result of his wartime experiences, Johnny became “wild,” exhibiting unrestrained sexuality, among other behaviors.

Their story reminds Easy of a young, emaciated Jewish boy who bonded with one of Easy’s fellow soldiers following the boy’s evacuation from a concentration camp. The boy, nicknamed Tree Rat, died shortly thereafter since his stomach was unable to handle the sweets the soldier gave him (141).

At Abe’s, Easy places an order for two crates of whiskey. He also manages to learn when Frank’s next delivery is expected, but his interest further arouses Jackson’s suspicions.

Easy visits Joppy’s bar on his way home. When he voices his suspicion that Joppy was the one who gave Daphne his phone number, Joppy explains that he never intended for Easy to get so involved; instead, he recognized Daphne from the start and wanted to help Easy earn some quick cash. When Daphne called Joppy and asked for his help, Joppy simply referred her to Easy. At first upset, Easy accepts a drink as a peace offering.

As Easy arrives home, Frank, who is waiting for him, knocks him out. Easy regains consciousness on his couch. Dressed in dark clothing, Frank holds a knife to Easy’s throat, drawing blood, and asks why Easy is looking for him. When Easy mentions Daphne, Frank threatens to kill him. Mouse appears, aiming his gun at Frank. The phone rings, and Mouse tells the caller to call back. Under Mouse’s threats, Frank releases Easy, but he refuses to reveal Daphne’s whereabouts. Mouse attacks Frank, but Easy tells him to let Frank go. In the confusion, Frank escapes.

Mouse offers to help Easy with the case. Fearing more violence, Easy declines. When Easy explains his lingering guilt over Reese and Clifton’s deaths, Mouse promises to follow Easy’s lead.

Easy assigns Mouse to find and follow Frank. As they leave the house the next morning, Mason and Miller appear. Mouse gives them a fake name and address, and they let him go. Back inside the house, they question Easy about Richard’s death, which they connected to Coretta’s death when they found a paper with her name on it. From their questioning, Easy also learns that Teran was murdered. When Easy claims not to know anything, they take him to the station for further questioning and take his fingerprints. When his fingerprints fail to match those on the knife used to kill Richard, they reluctantly let him go.

Easy finds Mouse waiting for him outside in his own car.

Easy directs Mouse to Junior’s apartment. At first, Junior is reluctant to talk to Easy, but he invites them in when he sees Mouse. Easy shows Junior the cigarette butt he found at Richard’s house, which matches the cheap brand Junior smokes as well as his habit for dropping them on the floor. Easy asks Junior why he killed Richard.

Under pressure, Junior admits that he went to check on Richard at Hattie’s request after she denied Richard entry to John’s place. Richard offered him money to drive him home and give him information about Daphne. After Junior did so, giving him Coretta’s name, Richard asked Junior to give a message to Frank before he would give him the money. Junior refused and demanded immediate payment. When Richard left the room, Junior feared that he was going to get a gun, so Junior took a knife from the kitchen and killed him. He asks Easy not to tell the police. Mouse and Easy leave.

Next, Mouse and Easy visit Dupree, who is staying at his sister’s house. Easy sees that Dupree is bruised, presumably due to his police interrogation. They drink together until Dupree, who knows nothing more about Coretta’s death, passes out. Mouse, who is also drunk, pulls a gun on Easy and brags about his physical prowess; Easy talks him down by talking about himself in third person and suggesting that he “learned his lesson good enough. If you kill’im then he won’t have got it” (174). Mouse drops the gun and falls asleep.

Easy leaves, taking one of Mouse’s guns with him and leaving a note. As he arrives home, he receives a phone call from Daphne, who says she needs his help. Easy leaves to meet her at a motel on the south side of town. He leaves a note explaining his plans to Mouse.