“At the house.”
“For a long time, Doc. Then he drove away. I was freaked out, it was unreal. I called Hal but he didn’t answer. I was sure he was blowing me off. I had no idea.”
“No reason for you to.”
“You think so?”
“I know so, Cory.”
“F’you say so... I got outta there, drove back to Santa Barbara, couldn’t stop thinking about it. Figured my best shot was talking to her. Telling her what a dick she was married to. What he did to Mom, she was in danger.”
His laughter began as a light, not unpleasant sound, ended up acid running down a pane of glass. “That sure worked out well... I’m tired, Doc. I’m like, there’s nothing inside me, I’m real tired.”
Chapter 54
I pushed the call button and a cute nurse around Cory’s age came in and squirted something into his I.V. He was already out but the juice slowed his breathing.
She watched him for a second, touched his arm.
“He’s so brave, Doctor. A real hero.”
I went down to the hospital cafeteria. Milo was at a corner table eating a sandwich filled with some kind of meat and drinking a sweating glass of iced tea.
“How’s he doing?”
“Pretty well, considering.”
“Can you talk about it? He waive confidentiality?”
“He waived yesterday.” I recapped.
He said, “Braun thought he could just walk up to Mearsheim and tell him to do the right thing? What the hell was that, a death wish?”
“Hard to say.”
“Is it really, Alex? C’mon, it’s like those do-gooders who pack up and go to the Congo or Syria or wherever hell currently is and get their heads chopped off. I’m not saying their intentions are bad, but still.”
I said nothing.
He said, “Fine, be profoundly nonjudgmental.” He drank tea. Put the glass down. “I am not blaming the victim, but still, it’s a death wish, right? Maybe even a type of suicide.”
I got up, poured coffee from the doctor’s urn, and returned.
Milo said, “You look offended.”
“God forbid,” I said. “Just thinking.”
“About...?”
“You probably won’t like my answer.”
“What, Alex?”
“People vary. There are all types of stories.”
“Fine,” he said. “We won’t malign the dead. At least not the noble dead, like our man, Braun.” Under his breath: “Virtuous idiot.”
My cell chirped. I read the window, clicked in.
Felicia Corvin said, “Lieutenant Sturgis filled me in. I’m so glad it’s over.”
“He’s right here. We’re at the hospital.”
“With that poor boy.”
“Yes.”
“Please give him my best, Dr. Delaware. I contributed to his fund, he’s been through so much — if you were a girl, I’d say give him a kiss for me.”
“I’ll pass along the message.”
“Good...”
Silence.
“What’s up, Felice?”
“This might be awkward but I’m calling about my boy. Bretty’s started having problems. I knew it would happen, he’s been too unemotional about... Chet... losing his dad. He was the one who really loved Chet. Chet cared about him... as much as he could anyone... anyway, Brett’s having problems.”
“Hold on,” I said. “I’ll go somewhere private.”
“Not necessary, Dr. Delaware. Lieutenant Sturgis already knows more about my family than anyone, right?”
I walked away, anyway. “What kind of problems?”
“Like I told you, he cried a bit at first but then stopped. Now it’s all the time. Sobbing. He thinks he’s hiding it from me but I hear it. Loud sobs. When he’s alone. After he’s gone to bed. In the morning, he’s been looking ghostly, has no appetite. His schoolwork was never great but it’s gone totally to pot, he won’t even pretend. And sports, his favorite thing? Forget that, no interest — he’s getting gaunt, Doctor. He doesn’t even torment Chelsea anymore. She’s being nicer to him but that’s not it, he ignores her. Ignores me. It’s like he’s become this sad, old, diminished man.”
She sniffled. Said, “Sorry,” and began sobbing. When she spoke again her voice was a burning pile of twigs.
“So anyway, Dr. Delaware, that’s the story with my Bretty. Would there be any way for you to see him? I’ve had so much bad luck with therapists and you know the situation. I know I wasn’t gracious when Chet tried to get you—”
“Let’s set up an appointment.”
“Oh. Great.” Sighing. “When?”
“Sooner’s better than later,” I said.
“Thank you, Doctor. I can’t tell you what it means to me. Is there any chance even today?”
I checked my calendar. “I can make it at six.”
“We’ll be there. Thank you, thank you.”
I notated the appointment. Returned to Milo.
He said, “People to do, places to meet?”
“You know me, Big Guy. Popular.”
“Bet you actually were in high school. What, a custody case?”
I said, “Another story.”