I wished I’d had the nerve to do what you’re doing now. I even thought about it a few times.”
Andrew paused, letting his words sink in. “But when I was in Glenworth, I realized I was glad I hadn’t killed the bastard. Because he would be dead, and I would be paying for it for the rest of my life instead of just six years. Being locked up is no joke. Someone’s going to jail today, but let it be Sam. Trust me, convicts don’t like child molesters. He’ll get his—and fast. In fact, it might be better for him if you did shoot him. At least that would be quick.”
Andrew knew he had the kid thinking. “Your mom is worried about you, Ellis. She asked me not to hurt you. The reason I lowered my gun is because I can clearly see that Sam isn’t worth me shooting you just to save his life. Unfortunately, the dickhead has rights, and I have to protect them. So, what I need for you to do is to put the gun down and let me take Sam to jail.”
“He will get out and come back”
Andrew heard the boy’s voice tremble, almost like a sob. “Not if your mother presses charges...and I’m sure she will. Trust me—Sam is not worth it. Drop the gun and let us take it from here.”
Ellis met Andrew’s gaze, held it for a moment, and then he lowered his arm. Behind him Andrew heard Toni release a deep sigh of relief.
• • •
“What you told Ellis back there, was it true, Drew?”
Toni had to know. They had finally left the scene and were on their way back to headquarters. Officially, they were off work. When she returned to the office, she would gather up her notes and lock them in the desk drawer. A conscientious detective never left investigative information out for others to see. You never knew who might happen to be an acquaintance of one of the suspects.
Drew brought the car to a stop at a railroad crossing. As they waited for the train to cross, he glanced over at her. “Yes. I told you I’d served time in jail.”
“I’m talking about the other. About you wanting to kill your father.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute, then nodded. “It’s true.”
She knew she had no right to ask him anything personal, and a part of her knew that if he’d wanted her to know, he would have told her when they’d been together. But that didn’t keep her from asking, “Was he physically abusive to her?”
Drew shook his head. “No. He was mentally abusive, and in some situations, that can be just as bad or worse. As a kid, I watched how he treated her, how she worked while he stayed home, sitting on his ass. How she still kept the house clean and food on the table. He treated both me and Mom like shit. I could never figure out why she stayed with him. And having grown up with that example of wedded bliss, I was in no hurry to replicate it. Marriage and kids are fine...for other people.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute. “There was a time when I wanted to kill my father, too.”
He lifted a brow. “Why? Was he abusive to your mother?”
Toni shook her head. “No. He never lived with us, although he would visit. He had a wife and another daughter and son. I am the oldest. My mother had been his girlfriend in high school, but his family didn’t think she was good enough to marry their son. Dad convinced Mom he loved her and his engagement to another woman was one of convenience, done to fulfill his parents’ wishes. He promised her that after they were married, as soon as he could, he would get a divorce. I was born a week before his wedding to the other woman.”
Toni paused a minute. “Growing up, I adored my father, but as I got older and wiser and found out the truth, I started to resent his visits. Mom would be happy whenever he arrived, but then fall into a depression when he left.”
“How long did it last?”
“For nearly fifteen years.”
He didn’t say anything, and she broke eye contact with him. Just her luck—the train was a long one. She couldn’t even see the caboose yet.
“Tell me about it, Toni.”
She figured he had to be thinking that this conversation was coming a little late, considering they’d been apart