Keeper of the Flame. Jack Batten

Carnale says he changes his number a regular number of times, and that’s a person who don’t make jokes, man.”

      “Tell me, Jerome, does everybody in the music industry keep themselves as elusive as Roger does?”

      “I just know two things, man,” Jerome said. “Mr. Carnale pays everybody top dollar, me included, and he hasn’t ever stepped wrong these last few years in what’s called positioning Flame’s career.”

      “An unorthodox business model is what I would say, Jerome, but I gather it’s been smooth sailing, glitch free and all of that?”

      “Very steady as she goes, man.”

      “Except for the episode with the Reverend.”

      “Crazy thing like this never happened before. Nothing even close, and I ought to know. I been around Flame a long time, man.”

      “Just one more question, Jerome,” I said. “If I absolutely need to reach Roger, what’s my procedure?”

      “This is hypothetical, I’m assuming, man?”

      “Let’s say so.”

      “You call my line,” Jerome said. “Then I pass along the word to Mr. Carnale the next time he phones me.”

      “A stately process.”