moving to another
country where our laws can’t find you is the answer, but it’s not. You’d never
be able to come back here. You’d always be looking over your shoulder for Lance
or a cop. You ’d be on the run for the rest of your
lives.” I soften my voice. “That’s no way to live, Travis. But listen, I swear on my life that I’m
doing this for both of you. I’m doing what’s best for you , not what’s best for me .” I feel a stab of emotion cut through my
gut. “Do you think it was easy for
me to see them haul your sister away in handcuffs? For me to go
see her in an interrogation room? Do you think it’s easy for me to picture her in a cold, empty cell, all
alone?” The words, the images make
my chest so tight that I have to stand up in order that my diaphragm can work
and get me some air. I run my hands
through my hair. “God, I’d give
anything for things to be different. But they aren’t. So I’m doing the best thing I know to do
for you and Tommi.”
“Tia,” he corrects glumly.
“Tia.” I walk to
Travis, gently laying my hand on his shoulder to turn him toward me. “Look, bud, I know you’re mad. I know
you’re scared. You’re probably even a little hurt. And I get that. I get all that. You should be. You wouldn’t be human if you
weren’t. But I’m gonna ask you to do something
that’s gonna feel even worse. Something you don’t
want to do and probably think you shouldn’t do. I’m asking you to trust
me.” Travis is standing in front of
me with his head bowed, chewing on his lip like his sister does sometimes. I peel off his hood and bend until I can
see into his eyes. “I care about
you both. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t
be here, fighting for you. I’d just let the chips fall where they may. But I didn’t. I’m not. Because
I’m on your side. I swear it.” His emerald green eyes, also so much like his sister’s, bore into
mine. I let him look, let him
think. Finally, he nods. Just once. Almost imperceptibly. And probably because
he doesn’t have much choice. At the moment, I’m all he’s got.
That thought hits me right in the heart. What will happen to this kid if I can’t
make the DA see things my way? He’ll have lost everything. His parents, his siblings, his childhood. His innocence.
The thought has the same effect as subjecting iron to
fire. It steels me, hardens my
determination to a level that is absolutely impenetrable.
“Listen, Dorothy is gonna need to
talk to you here shortly with a detective present. That has
to happen before they can let you see Tommi. I have an errand to run. It’s important. But when I’m done, I’ll come back, take
you to see Tommi and then I’ll take you home, okay? We’ll get your mom taken care of and
then maybe do some gaming. Sound
like a plan? I think blowing shit
up on TV might do both of us some good tonight.”
I see one corner of his mouth curve a little. I take that as a good sign and decide
that it’s better not to push my luck any more at the moment. I go back out and get Dorothy.
“He’s all yours. I’ll be back in an hour or so to take him to see his sister and then get
him back home.”
She nods. “I
think we can manage to have him ready for you by then.”
As I’m walking out of the building, the first person I call
is my dad.
********
Less than an hour later, I’m walking up the curved front
porch steps to Bill Lemmon’s house. He’s the DA. He’s worked with my father for
years and I’ve met him several times. I would never have called Dad and asked him for a favor if this weren’t so
important. But here I am, on a Sunday night, paying a visit to maybe the only
other person who needs to believe Tommi as much as I do.
He meets me at the door, opening it before I can even raise
my hand toward the bell. “Nice to
see you again, Mr. Locke,” he
country where our laws can’t find you is the answer, but it’s not. You’d never
be able to come back here. You’d always be looking over your shoulder for Lance
or a cop. You ’d be on the run for the rest of your
lives.” I soften my voice. “That’s no way to live, Travis. But listen, I swear on my life that I’m
doing this for both of you. I’m doing what’s best for you , not what’s best for me .” I feel a stab of emotion cut through my
gut. “Do you think it was easy for
me to see them haul your sister away in handcuffs? For me to go
see her in an interrogation room? Do you think it’s easy for me to picture her in a cold, empty cell, all
alone?” The words, the images make
my chest so tight that I have to stand up in order that my diaphragm can work
and get me some air. I run my hands
through my hair. “God, I’d give
anything for things to be different. But they aren’t. So I’m doing the best thing I know to do
for you and Tommi.”
“Tia,” he corrects glumly.
“Tia.” I walk to
Travis, gently laying my hand on his shoulder to turn him toward me. “Look, bud, I know you’re mad. I know
you’re scared. You’re probably even a little hurt. And I get that. I get all that. You should be. You wouldn’t be human if you
weren’t. But I’m gonna ask you to do something
that’s gonna feel even worse. Something you don’t
want to do and probably think you shouldn’t do. I’m asking you to trust
me.” Travis is standing in front of
me with his head bowed, chewing on his lip like his sister does sometimes. I peel off his hood and bend until I can
see into his eyes. “I care about
you both. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t
be here, fighting for you. I’d just let the chips fall where they may. But I didn’t. I’m not. Because
I’m on your side. I swear it.” His emerald green eyes, also so much like his sister’s, bore into
mine. I let him look, let him
think. Finally, he nods. Just once. Almost imperceptibly. And probably because
he doesn’t have much choice. At the moment, I’m all he’s got.
That thought hits me right in the heart. What will happen to this kid if I can’t
make the DA see things my way? He’ll have lost everything. His parents, his siblings, his childhood. His innocence.
The thought has the same effect as subjecting iron to
fire. It steels me, hardens my
determination to a level that is absolutely impenetrable.
“Listen, Dorothy is gonna need to
talk to you here shortly with a detective present. That has
to happen before they can let you see Tommi. I have an errand to run. It’s important. But when I’m done, I’ll come back, take
you to see Tommi and then I’ll take you home, okay? We’ll get your mom taken care of and
then maybe do some gaming. Sound
like a plan? I think blowing shit
up on TV might do both of us some good tonight.”
I see one corner of his mouth curve a little. I take that as a good sign and decide
that it’s better not to push my luck any more at the moment. I go back out and get Dorothy.
“He’s all yours. I’ll be back in an hour or so to take him to see his sister and then get
him back home.”
She nods. “I
think we can manage to have him ready for you by then.”
As I’m walking out of the building, the first person I call
is my dad.
********
Less than an hour later, I’m walking up the curved front
porch steps to Bill Lemmon’s house. He’s the DA. He’s worked with my father for
years and I’ve met him several times. I would never have called Dad and asked him for a favor if this weren’t so
important. But here I am, on a Sunday night, paying a visit to maybe the only
other person who needs to believe Tommi as much as I do.
He meets me at the door, opening it before I can even raise
my hand toward the bell. “Nice to
see you again, Mr. Locke,” he
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