Rene Gutteridge - Listen

Kay glanced at Jenna, then at Hunter, who both looked equally perplexed.

“Is it about Frank?” Hunter asked.

Damien shook his head. “I’ve become a person of interest in the Web site case. They think I’m doing it.”

“What?” Kay gasped, though her hand hit her mouth trying to stop it. “What in the world? Why would they think that?”

Damien didn’t answer at first. It looked like he was overcome by emotion but trying to hide it. “I made a bad judgment call.”

“Damien, you’re not involved in this, are you?”

“No, I’m not. And neither was Frank; I can assure you.” He took a score pad nearby and a pencil. He doodled around the edges.

“Then what are you talking about, ‘judgment call’?” Kay asked.

“I received a note at the office, a sort of encrypted crossword deal that I believe was sent to me by the person doing it. The mistake I made was that I didn’t tell anybody. When the Web site stopped after Frank died, I decided to send an encoded message in the crossword puzzle in the paper. I just wanted to get whoever was doing it to start again so Frank’s name would be cleared. Unfortunately, Captain Grayson is a crossword fanatic. He saw the clues a mile away and knew I’d put them there.”

“So? Show him the crossword that was sent to you,” Kay said. “Then he’ll know.”

Damien stared at the Monopoly board. “It’s gone.”

“Gone?” Kay asked.

“I had it in my briefcase. It’s not there anymore. That’s all I know. It makes no sense to me.” Damien finally looked up. “The good news is that I haven’t been charged with anything. They don’t really have any proof, but I’m their best lead right now.”

“That Web site has brought nothing but trouble!” Hunter suddenly yelled.

Damien said, “Calm down, Hunter. Please. We can’t afford to get hysterical about this. Besides, as much as I hated it at first, I actually think it has done some good. I hear it in the break room. People are starting to talk about the power of words. People are listening more than they’re talking.” He broke the tip of the pencil and grabbed another one out of the game box. “Our dark and dirty secret has been exposed, and maybe we’re better for it. I don’t know. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, if you give the tongue all the power, I guess.”

“Well, we’ll prove your innocence,” Kay said, her hands spread wide like a cat’s paws on the table. “We won’t stop until we do.”

“It’ll work itself out in time. I’m not really worried. I know I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t even know how to do it. Someone out there is the right person, and eventually he’ll be exposed.” Damien scribbled something on the pad of paper in front of him.

Kay leaned in. “What are you writing?”

Damien shrugged. “Just something I wrote yesterday. I planned on writing another op-ed. Seems ridiculous now, you know? I can’t say another thing about it.”

Kay turned the pad to read it. Listen to all that is said from everyone you know. Listen hard and you will have understanding beyond the words. “That’s beautiful,” she said, touching his arm.

Hunter stood, slapped his dad’s shoulder, then hugged him from behind. “It’s going to be okay. I promise. You’re going to be fine.”

Damien squeezed his hand. “Thanks, buddy. I know. It’s all good. I have my family and that’s what matters to me.” He looked at him. “You got homework?”

“Yeah.”

“Better get it done. The show must go on.”

“What exactly can get me out of homework?” Hunter groaned as he trotted upstairs.

“Baby,” Kay said, “let me get you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry. Ate a big lunch,” Damien said, that smile emerging that was always supposed to try to put her at ease. “I think I’ll go shower, relax, maybe read.”

Kay watched him leave the room. The table was silent; then Jenna said, “I miss Frank.”

“Me too.”

“Frank was really brave. I mean, I always just saw him as Uncle Frank, but he didn’t back down from a fight. He thought Angela was in danger and he didn’t even pause. He just went right over there.”

Kay nodded. “Yeah, Frank was brave. And honest. A good guy all around.”

“He had good character.”

Kay nodded again, eyeing Jenna. She wasn’t one to normally wax so philosophical. But then again, she’d been through a lot, and that kind of pain can change a person.

Jenna looked at Kay. “I think I’m brave too.”

Kay smiled, tears brimming her eyes. She touched Jenna’s cheek. For once she didn’t pull away. “Of course you’re brave.”

“Yeah, I am. I never thought of myself that way, but I am.” She pushed her money to the center of the table. “I guess the game’s over.” She stood.

Kay stood also, embracing her.

“Dad prayed for me last night,” Jenna said as she turned toward the stairs.

“Oh?”

“That’s a good dad who will pray for his kid, right?”

“Yes.”

“I think prayer works.” She grinned, and light danced in her eyes. “See you in the morning.”

Kay gathered the Monopoly pieces and put the game back in the box. She hadn’t even talked about her day or what had happened at the jail. She knew Damien would not have approved of her going, and she would’ve heard about it for at least a few days.

Obviously he had enough on his mind.

But Kay knew she’d done the right thing. They had demonstrated strength in numbers, and as they had walked out of that jail, Jill started laughing. It was the first time she had ever heard the woman laugh. Kay knew Jill felt free, felt strong. Before they’d gotten into the car, Jill took her arm. “Thank you. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“You’re not alone anymore,” Kay said, hugging her. “We’re friends. I’m here to help you.”

Kay loaded the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher and turned out the lights downstairs. As she climbed to the second floor, she had an overwhelming sense that everything was going to be okay.

Damien bristled against the cold north wind that snapped and snaked around the complex of condos. Even though his hands were shoved far into his pockets, he still couldn’t find a warm spot for them.

He leaned against his car, hoping to block some of the wind, and waited. The individual condos boasted a variety of Christmas decorations, from out-of-sync blinking Christmas lights to oddly decorated palm trees on the balconies. Even with all the lights and decorations, it didn’t feel like Christmas this year. Eight days away. Usually he’d be attending parties and buying gifts. But he couldn’t get his mind or heart wrapped around the festivities this year.

He definitely wouldn’t be hanging out in the cold, waiting for someone he had to confront in this way because the guy wouldn’t talk to him otherwise.

He heard the opening of a door and stood upright, tugging at the bottom of his coat as he watched unit 105.

Soon enough, Gavin Jenkins rounded the sidewalk, adjusting his belt and holster and everything else that hung off him. He was so distracted by it that he didn’t bother to look up.

“Gavin.”

His head snapped up. He couldn’t have hidden his shock any less had Damien been America’s Most Wanted.

“I just need to talk to you,” Damien said, holding out his hands for no apparent reason except it seemed like the appropriate thing to do in front of someone with quick access to a gun.

Judging by Gavin’s expression, if he weren’t wearing a certain badge of courage, he might’ve bolted. Damien could only guess that what kept him standing there was the uniform.

And it wasn’t for fear for his life, either. Gavin knew good and well why Damien stood there waiting for him.