Seconds Away

CHAPTER 25

As you can imagine, I got the first, second, third, and fourth degree from Myron. Despite Angelica Wyatt’s pleading, I still didn’t trust him. I knew that maybe I should. I knew that when the chips were down, I had indeed called him for help. But both Bat Lady and Shaved Head had warned me not to say anything to Myron.

Still, there was a moment I weakened and almost said something. But then Myron inadvertently gave me another reason to keep him in the dark.

“Your father went into that house when he was a kid,” Myron reminded me. “He never told me what he saw.”

Good point-and if my dad chose never to tell Uncle Myron, I figured, well, neither should I.

At some point, Myron threw up his hands and moved back into the den. I debated what to do at this point. I couldn’t just let it go completely, because the truth was, I did need something from him. I approached the den and sat down on the couch. Myron had bought his childhood home from my grandparents a few years back. That meant that he and my dad grew up right here, and, yeah, that was kind of weird. The two brothers had spent hours in here watching television. It was strange to picture it, my dad as a kid, hanging in this room with Uncle Myron.

I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject, so I started with familiar territory I knew would interest him. “Tryouts went well today,” I said.

“Yeah?” As I predicted, this subject captured his interest. “Did you work out with the JV?”

I nodded. “But Coach Grady said he wants to see me tomorrow.”

Myron grinned at that. “You think he wants to move you up?”

“I don’t know,” I said, though I suspected just that. So did Myron.

“But you played well?”

“I thought so, yeah.”

“That’s great.”

Silence. Okay, enough with the warm-up.

“I have to ask you a favor,” I said. “I know this will sound insane, but I need you to trust me on this.”

Myron sat up and leaned forward. “What’s up?”

“I want… I want to exhume my father’s body.”

My words hit him like a wet slap. “What?”

I started to backpedal. Man, I should have thought this out better. “I want his body moved out here,” I lied. “So he can be buried closer to us.”

Myron just looked at me. “For real?”

“Yes, of course.”

“What else, Mickey?”

“Nothing.”

Myron’s voice was firmer. “What else, Mickey?”

How to put this…? “I never saw him,” I said slowly. “I… I need to know it’s him in that box.”

Myron took a second now. When he spoke again, his voice was softer. “You mean, like, you need closure?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Closure.”

“I don’t think seeing his body now will help.”

“Myron, listen to me, okay? Just… just listen.”

Myron waited.

“I need to know that it’s Dad in that coffin.”

He looked confused. “What do you mean?”

I closed my eyes. “I asked you to just trust me on this. Please.”

Myron studied my face for a few moments. I stared right back at him, my eyes unwavering. I expected more questions, but instead he surprised me.

“Okay,” Myron said. “I’ll look into the legal protocol tomorrow.”