Harlan Coben - Play Dead

Stan nodded to his mother. But in truth, he did not understand. Why should David be the one to worry about? He had never even known their father. David had never played catch with their dad. He had never gone fishing or to museums or to ball parks or to movies or even to the dentist with him. Fact is, David wouldn’t even remember Sinclair Baskin.

Grace Baskin did not see it that way. Never did. She decided to put all her energies into raising her precious David. She chose to be two parents for her youngest child, even if it left none for her oldest.

But Stan didn’t care. Who needed her anyway? For that matter, who needed women? As he eventually learned, women are basically worthless and cruel. They could all be lumped into two basic groups; parasites who wanted to suck you dry, or ball-breaking bitches who used words like love and togetherness when all they wanted to do was possess and control and destroy.

Therein lies the beauty of Stan’s livelihood (or scams, as those who did not understand liked to call it). He simply turned the tables on the female sex. He used women the same way they used men. And for that people wanted him to go to jail? How goddamn ridiculous! You talk about being equal and fair – why not arrest every gold-digging bitch who pretended she cared about a guy just to get his dough? Shit, there would be scarce few broads around then.

Yes, Stan had seen first hand the damage that a woman could do. He had learned from them. When he was just sixteen, he was seduced by a thirty-year-old divorcee named Concetta Caletti. Stan was convinced that Concetta was the smartest, most beautiful and sophisticated woman in the whole world. Young Stan Baskin was even foolish enough to think he was in love. He even went so far as to quit school and tell Concetta Caletti that he wanted to marry her. But Concetta laughed at his offer.

‘You are only a boy,’ the dark-skinned beauty said.

‘I love you,’ the sixteen-year-old Stan insisted.

‘Love?’ she said, her eyes scalding his heart. ‘Who taught you that word? You don’t even know what love is.’

‘Then show me,’ he pleaded.

‘There is no such thing,’ she flared. ‘Love is a word people toss around to fool themselves into believing that they are not alone in the world. It’s a lie.’

‘But I love you, Concetta. I know I do.’

‘Get out of here, Stan. You’re just a kid. When you start making some real money, then we’ll talk about love.’ The sound of the doorbell jarred away the image of Concetta’s angry face and left Stan standing alone in the present. He glanced at the clock. Still only three o’clock. Maybe Gloria had come home early from work.

Stan crossed the room and opened the door. His eyes widened when he saw who was standing in his doorway. ‘Well, well, isn’t this a nice surprise?’

Laura said nothing.

‘Your sister isn’t here, Laura. She’s at the office.’

‘I know that. I came to talk to you.’

‘How nice.’ Stan stepped back. ‘Do come in.’

‘I feel safer out in the hallway.’

‘No trust?’

‘None.’

‘Well then, Laura, you can stand out there with the door closed in your pretty face. If you want to speak with me, you’ll have to come in.’

Laura glared at him and then, hesitantly, she entered. Stan closed the door behind her. ‘Would you like to sit down?’ he asked.

‘No.’

‘Something to drink perhaps?’

‘No, Stan,’ she said impatiently.

‘Fine. Then why don’t we just get to the point? What can I do for you?’

‘I want you to leave my sister alone.’

‘I’m shocked,’ Stan said sarcastically. ‘Why on earth would you want to break up such a happy couple?’

‘Stop playing games, Stan,’ Laura snapped. ‘Gloria is vulnerable. If you have a problem with me, fine, let’s settle it. But leave my sister out of it.’

Stan smiled and moved closer to her. ‘Do I detect a note of jealousy on your part, Laura?’

She stepped back. ‘More like repulsion,’ she replied.

‘Quick, very quick. I like that. I really do. But your sister and I are in love now, Laura. Can someone place a value on that?’

‘I’m sure you can,’ Laura said wearily. ‘How much?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘How much do you want?’

‘I’m astonished, Laura, truly I am. Are you trying to bribe me?’

‘Last time I ask: how much?’

‘Oh no, Laura, it’s not that easy. I want more than money this time.’

‘Oh?’

‘I can get all the money I need now. Your sister has plenty of dough. And now that Gloria and I are so close, I just know I can depend on my sweet sister-in-law to loan me a few bucks when I’m in need.’

‘Why should I?’

Stan shrugged. ‘Because I’m sure you want me to treat your sister kindly. You wouldn’t want me to make her feel like a piece of shit. Or beat her. Or get her hooked on drugs again. I can do any of those things, Laura, and you know it. So I’ll tell you to pay up and you’ll do it.’

Laura looked at him. ‘I don’t get it, Stan. What do you want?’

‘I just told you.’

‘But I already offered you money. You can just take it and run. That’s always been your style in the past. Why are you taking the chance of hanging around?’

Stan felt rage course through him. His face reddened. ‘Don’t tempt me into doing something you may regret, Laura. Suppose I did just take off right now. Have you really thought that through? Have you really considered the consequences? What would it do to Gloria? What do you think it would do to her fragile emotional stability?’

Laura locked her eyes onto his. Frightening as it sounded, Stan was right. If he did run away, Gloria would suffer severe, maybe irreparable, emotional damage. But why would he care? Since when did Stan Baskin worry about someone else? No, there had to be another angle she wasn’t seeing. Perhaps Stan figured that if he stayed around he could get money whenever he wanted. As long as he held Gloria hostage, so to speak, he could extort money. Weeks, months, whatever. But somehow that did not seem to fit. According to T.C., Stan usually liked to get the money up-front and screw what might be down the line.

‘So what do you want, Stan?’ Laura demanded. ‘What is it going to take to get rid of you?’

Stan’s eyes did not waver under her glare. ‘You’re so sure getting rid of me is the answer, aren’t you, Laura? It must be wonderful to always know what to do, to always know what’s right. Christ, suppose I told Gloria about our little conversation? How would you like that?’

‘You wouldn’t dare.’

‘I wouldn’t?’

‘No, Stan, you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t risk losing your best money supply.’

Stan shook his head slowly. ‘You’re such a ball-buster, Laura. I sometimes wonder if David didn’t take his last swim to get away from you for a little while.’

Laura’s eyes blazed in a wrath of fury. ‘You son of a bitch!’

‘Temper, Laura, temper.’

‘You listen to me, Stan, and you listen good. I’ll go along with your sick little mind games because I happen to love my sister. I’ll do what you say to protect her from your demented desires. But you leave David out of this, do you understand?’

He paused. ‘Okay, fair enough. You see, Laura, I’m not unreasonable.’

She pushed her hair back off her face. ‘I see, Stan. I see that you’re a pig.’

Stan smiled. ‘I understand how you feel, Laura, but remember: there’s a fine line between love and hate. Between loathing and lust. Someday, you’re going to have to stop denying yourself. Someday, you’re going to have to face up to your true desires. And then I may not be around anymore. How will you feel then?’