Camouflage

28

JAKE RUNYON AND BRYN DARBY

“Jake, what will happen to Gwen Whalen?”

“If the public defender she draws is any good, he’ll plead diminished capacity and she’ll end up in a psychiatric facility.”

“I don’t suppose she’ll ever lead a normal life again.”

“There’s always a chance. But she’s been emotionally unstable all her life, and killing her sister put her over the line. I doubt she’ll ever come back, no matter how much therapy she gets.”

“That’s awful. I’ve never seen the woman and I feel so sorry for her.”

“So do I.”

“Francine did so much damage to so many people… I won’t pretend I’m not glad she’s dead.”

“No need to. You’re entitled.”

“If only she’d showed her vicious side to Robert the way she did to Bobby and her sister. We might all have been spared.”

“Too calculating and manipulative to allow that to happen before they were married. But she wouldn’t’ve been able to control herself indefinitely. She’d’ve gone off on him sooner or later.”

“Well, he must know by now what she was underneath that sweet facade. But will he admit it?”

“He’d be a fool not to. Overwhelming evidence now.”

“Yes, but he’s such a cold, inflexible son of a bitch… I can’t believe I didn’t see his true nature before I married him. But he could be so sweet and charming when it suited him…”

“Camouflage, like the kind Francine wore.”

“He’ll try to take away what little time I have with Bobby, out of spite. I know he will.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“How can I stop him? I told you how he manipulated the judge at the custody hearing; he’ll do the same thing again-”

“His influence in the legal community isn’t as strong as you think. Dragovich knows a family law attorney with a much better rep who owes him a favor.”

“I can’t afford another expensive attorney. I’ll have to mortgage the house, take on a lot more design work, to pay my legal bills as it is…”

“We’ve been over that. Money’s not an issue-we’ll work it out.”

“Jake-”

“No, listen to me. Dragovich spoke to the family law guy, Jeb Murphy, and outlined your situation to him. Murphy will stop Robert from denying you visitation. And he thinks there’s a good chance he can get the original custody decision reversed.”

“… Oh, Lord, could he really do that?”

“If he’s as good as Dragovich says he is. Bobby doesn’t want to keep on living with his father-too many ugly memories associated with the abuse and Francine’s death. He wants to live with you. He told me so, and running away, coming here the way he did, proves it. He’s old enough for his wishes to carry weight with any reasonable judge.”

“I can’t tell you what having him with me again would mean.”

“Don’t try. I think I know.”

“I wish he were here now; I wish I could hold him, comfort him, tell him how much I love him.”

“You’ll have the chance soon.”

“How soon?”

“As fast as the lawyers can make it happen. Murphy will contact you tomorrow morning.”

“You arranged all of this? When?”

“I had a talk with Dragovich before I came over here. He’s the one doing the arranging.”

“But it was your idea.”

“Call it a mutual resolution.”

“You’re such a good man. And I’m such a fool for not trusting you, lying to you the way I did.”

“Let’s not get into that again. You did what you felt you had to do.”

“But I caused you so much trouble…”

“Trouble’s my business.”

“Don’t joke-please. I’m serious.”

“So am I. Helping people in trouble is what I do, you know that. Helping people I care about makes it twice as rewarding.”

“… Will you do one more thing for me?”

“If I can.”

“Stay with me tonight.”

“You don’t need to show me gratitude, Bryn.”

“It’s not that. No, really, it’s not. I don’t want to be alone tonight. You’re the only person besides my son who makes me feel needed and I want to be close to you. You feel the same way, don’t you? At least a little?”

“More than a little.”

“Then you’ll stay?”

“You know I will.”

“And not just while it’s dark. Until morning. From now on, every night we’re together-until morning.”