Harlan Coben - Play Dead

‘Really?’

Stan shrugged. ‘There’s not much for me in Michigan. I closed a deal there before I left so I have nothing that ties me there anymore. Plus I’m trying to line something up in Boston. You see, there’s a deal I’m hoping to raise some money for. A mall with a basketball theme or something. But more important than that…’ He stopped and looked up. ‘I hope I’m not being too forward.’

‘Not at all.’

‘Well, to be honest, the most important reason I want to stay is that I have no family in Michigan. And the way you and your family have treated me… I don’t know, maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I feel like I’m part of a family. I feel good when I’m with all of you.’

‘You are family, Stan.’

He took her hand. ‘Thank you. That’s very nice of you to say. It’s been so long since I had anybody close to me.’

She smiled sadly. ‘I still can’t believe David’s really gone. I keep expecting Earl and him to burst through that door in their sweat clothes, David spinning a ball on his finger and Earl doing all he can to distract him.’

Stan moved closer to her, his arm snaking around her shoulders. ‘You’ll get over him, Laura.’

The phone rang.

Laura pulled away and stood.

Shit! I had her. Damn that fuckin’ phone.

She picked up the extension in the kitchen. From his seat in the den, Stan could only hear murmurs. Three minutes later, she hung up.

‘That was Gloria. She’s coming to pick me up in about an hour.’

‘She’s a wonderful woman.’

‘Yes, she is.’

‘I like her very much.’

‘I’m glad.’

‘She seems to be a very interesting person. Had a lot of interesting experiences.’

‘And paid for them.’

‘Paid?’

‘Nothing, Stan. I shouldn’t have said anything.’

‘She told me she’s seeing a psychiatrist. She also told me that you saved her life.’

‘That’s being a bit dramatic.’

‘She’s really grateful to you.’

‘There’s no need for her to be.’

‘Was it very bad when she first came back? Oh God, I’m sorry. That’s none of my business. Please just forget I asked. I guess all this family talk clouded my judgment.’

Laura sat back on the couch. ‘No, Stan, like I said, you’re family. From the sound of it, Gloria doesn’t want to hide anything from you.’ She nervously played with her empty coffee cup. ‘It was very tough at first. She needed constant care. We hired full-time help.’

‘Was she institutionalized?’

Laura nodded. Despite her earlier words, she felt a pang of discomfort talking about her sister like this. ‘More of a dry-out farm.’

Stan understood from the tone of her voice that he better quit. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.’

‘No, it’s okay.’

Thick silence hung over them.

‘Well, I better be going.’

‘Thank you for visiting, Stan.’

They rose and walked to the door. She opened it. Stan bent down and lightly kissed her goodbye. When he turned around to leave, the doorway was blocked.

Stan smiled brightly. ‘Hello, T.C.’

T.C.’s eyes blazed with anger. ‘What the fuck -?’ He spotted Laura and closed his mouth.

Stan patted T.C.’s bulging stomach. ‘See you around, big guy.’

T.C. closed his eyes, wrestling with his temper to keep it in check. Stan made a hasty exit.

‘Are you all right, T.C.?’ Laura asked.

‘Fine.’

‘Come on in.’

‘Laura, has he been around a lot?’

‘Stan? He’s been very supportive.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘What’s the matter, T.C.?’

‘Just be careful with Stan Baskin.’

‘I can take care of myself. Besides, he’s been very kind.’

‘Right. He’s a real sweetheart.’

‘Stan already told me you two don’t get along.’

‘It’s nice to hear he’s not a complete liar.’

‘What happened between them, T.C.? What could separate brothers like that?’

‘Not my story to tell.’

‘Why not?’

‘It’s just not my place to talk about it, that’s all.’

‘Oh, I see,’ Laura said with obvious annoyance. ‘It’s just your place to smear a man and then not offer a shred of evidence to back up your accusations.’

‘I didn’t realize I was testifying in front of a judge.’

‘Listen, T.C., I don’t need that shit. Stan Baskin happens to be family – ’

‘He happens to be scum.’

‘I don’t want to hear that.’

‘Obviously.’

‘And I don’t believe it. When was the last time you spoke to the man?’

‘At your house after the funeral.’

‘You know what I mean. Before that.’

‘Laura…’

‘When?’

‘I don’t need to be subjected to your cross-examination. ’

‘When?’

‘During my sophomore year of college. Ten years ago. Happy?’

‘A man can change in ten years.’

‘Not him, Laura. He’s sick. He hated David.’

‘You’ve never been more wrong. He loved him so much it hurts.’

‘And you buy that crap?’

‘He’s his brother. Nothing he can do can change that.’

‘So what?’

‘So he’s changed. He regrets the past. He feels guilty about whatever happened between David and him.’

‘Christ, Laura, you sound like one of those pop psychologists who get murderers freed. How can you be so goddamn gullible?’

‘Fuck off, T.C.’

‘No, you fuck off.’

They both stopped, stared. He opened his mouth but before he could speak, she threw her arms around him. ‘I’m sorry,’ she began. ‘I didn’t mean…’

‘It was my fault.’

She felt the tears start to force their way into her eyes. ‘I know you’re just trying to help. I could never have survived all this without you.’

‘Forget it.’ He gently pulled her away. ‘Are you sure you want to go through the photo album now?’

She nodded. She had not had a chance to look at the photographs since they had taken them from the house. In truth, she was still not sure she possessed the strength to look at them by herself.

They carefully went through David’s photo album. T.C. observed Laura as they turned each page. He was confused by his own feelings of guilt and doing what was right to help Laura. He was surprised at how fast her tears had stopped, how none were present now as she went through the pictures. There was no emotion on her face, just a pale blank look as though the earlier outburst had drained her. The lack of emotion frightened T.C. more than her tears.

She paused on one page for several minutes. T.C. looked over her shoulder at the picture of David’s mother.

‘What was she like, T.C.?’

‘David’s mother? I never knew her when she was healthy. She learned about her cancer during our freshman year. I know that she and David were very close. And I know he was devastated when she died.’

Laura stared at the photograph for another minute. Then she turned to the next page. It was empty.

T.C.’s hand reached down to the blank page. ‘Was there a picture of…?’

She nodded. ‘David’s father.’

‘Jesus. Talk about eerie.’

‘I don’t get it, T.C. Why rip up a picture of a man who’s been dead for almost thirty years?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘It doesn’t make any sense.’

‘Was there anything else in the picture?’

‘I don’t think so. It was just one of those faculty pictures they used in a yearbook.’

‘Are you sure that’s the only picture missing?’

They skimmed through the rest of the album, but there were no other blank pages.

‘What could it be, T.C.?’

‘Give me a second, Laura. I’m not much of a quick thinker. More of a plodder.’ He took out a cigar. ‘Do you mind?’