“Yes. Sykes was the mastermind. Although none of us knew it at first,” Martin said. “We thought he was just another victim, like us. It was the perfect cover.”
“When did you find out otherwise?”
“Sykes came to my house a few weeks ago, and told me to pay the Sokolovs off. That’s when it dawned on me what was going on.”
“He went to the homes of the other victims as well. Didn’t he?”
“Yes. He told them to pay, or else.”
“Dr. Matoff showed us a text where Sykes threatened him. Were you threatened?”
Martin was drawing into himself, and no longer making eye contact. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair and did not reply.
“Please answer the question. Did he threaten you? We found bloody tissues in the house.”
“Yes. He became violent, and hit me in the face and bloodied my nose, so I threw him out,” Martin said. “That night, he texted me, and said that if I didn’t play ball, he’d drive down to Fort Lauderdale and kidnap my granddaughter. I believed him. I told him I’d pay, but I wanted something in return.”
“Which was to disappear.”
“That’s right. I couldn’t live with myself anymore.”
“So you took off, and Sykes staged your suicide. Do you know where Sykes went?”
“He has a place outside of Cabo San Lucas. Probably there.”
The sun came out from behind the clouds, and the air turned hot. Martin closed his eyes and shuddered as if he’d caught a chill. Tears were running down his cheeks, his conscience tearing him apart. “Do you know what the worst kind of lie is, Jon? It’s the one that we tell ourselves. That was what my relationship with Katya was. A bright, shining lie. She was young enough to be my granddaughter, yet I allowed myself to fall in love with her, and let my feelings poison my thinking. I didn’t care if my behavior hurt my family, or my friends. Or if it would destroy my reputation. All that I cared about was being with her. I even kept seeing her when the extortion started. That’s how far gone I was.”
“We all make mistakes, Martin.”
He slowly opened his eyes. “Thank you for saying that. The problem is, I kept making the same mistakes, and dug myself a hole I couldn’t get out of. The inability to learn from one’s mistakes is a neurological problem that is treatable, yet I refused to correct my own problem. I failed myself. And I have no one but myself to blame for what happened. It’s all on me.” He kicked the empty can sitting next to his chair, and sent it clattering across the backyard. “May I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you going to arrest me?”
“I’m no longer a policeman. I can’t arrest you.”
“Did you bring a cop with you to do the job? Maybe out on the street in a car?”
“I came alone. I just wanted to talk to you.”
“And talk we did. You’re a good man. I can see why Beth’s attracted to you.”
“I appreciate that, Martin.”
Martin came out of his chair and got his paddleboard and oar. Without a word, he walked down the driveway to the cracked sidewalk in front of the house, took a left turn, and headed down the street, with Lancaster trailing a few steps behind. They walked to a vacant lot, which had a cutoff that took them down to a deserted beach.
The beaches of Key West were small and filled with sharp rocks that would cut your feet, and Martin carefully maneuvered his way to the shore. Once there, he kicked off his sandals and peeled off his shirt. His body was bronzed and trim, and as he waded out into the surf, Lancaster realized what was happening. Martin was going to paddle out a ways, pick a tranquil spot, and dive in. He would go down to the bottom and stay there for a while, beholding the colored fish and coral reefs, and when his lungs felt ready to burst, he’d open up his mouth and be done with it. The final journey.
Lancaster tossed his watch and cell phone on the sand, then waded out as well. By now, Martin was waist deep in the water, and preparing to climb upon his board. He shot Lancaster a disapproving look that said, That’s far enough.
“Please don’t do this.”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
Lancaster could think of many reasons. Beth and Melanie were at the top of the list. And of course Nicki. And all the friends in Saint Augustine who cared deeply about him. Those were good reasons, yet they weren’t good enough. Martin was so ashamed that he’d convinced himself that only by ending his life could he erase that shame.
But what exactly had Martin done? Although stupid and vain, it wasn’t a crime to have a relationship with a younger woman, or to continue to love her, even when she didn’t love you. Nor was it a crime to fall prey to a ruthless extortionist, or to protect a loved one from the same extortionist’s threats. Martin’s only crime was that he’d betrayed himself, and couldn’t live with his conscience.
Lancaster took a chance, and waded closer. When they were nearly touching, he put his hand on Martin’s shoulder. Martin looked at his hand, and then at him.
“Say it,” the older man said.
“You did nothing wrong,” Lancaster said.
Martin started to protest. Lancaster cut him off.
“I looked at the evidence. You were the victim, which makes the things you did excusable. The sheriff in Saint Augustine isn’t going to arrest Dr. Matoff, and he won’t arrest you. It’s Sykes he wants.”
“But I did so many bad things...”
“For a reason.”
“But I hate myself. That’s why I came here, and created a new identity. I can’t stand to look at myself in the mirror in the morning. Do you know how that feels?”
“Your heart betrayed you. It happens to the best of us.”
A school of fish swam between their legs. Then, in a flash, they were gone.
“What are you saying? That I can just start over?”
“Yes. It’s like running a race. You take one step at a time.”
Martin shook his head. “It’s not that easy.”
“I didn’t say that it was.”
Lancaster reached for the board. He took it as a good sign when Martin didn’t resist. They waded back to shore, and he retrieved his cell phone and pulled up Beth’s number. He handed the cell phone to Martin, who stared painfully at the screen.
“You want me to call my daughter.”
“That’s right. She’s suffered terribly, so you should start there.”
“What should I say? That I’m sorry for being such a horrible father?”
“Tell her you love her. That’s your first step.”
“Do you think she can ever forgive me?”
“Yes, Martin, I do.”
They stood there for a while. So long that the sky changed color, and the temperature dropped. Martin took several deep breaths and shuddered, like an animal shedding its skin. Then, with his eyes fixed on the horizon, he pressed the “Call” button, and lifted the cell phone to his face.