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It ended the way it started.
“Turn on your TV, Alex.”
I’d been sitting at the dining room window, watching the sun set over the Glen. Reading Twain. Then poetry- Whitman, Robert Pe
“Is it important, Milo?”
“Quick, or you’ll miss it.”
I got up and switched on the tube.
Six o’clock news.
Tape of Lieutenant Frisk at a podium; below him, a microphone audience. Fawn-colored suit. Cream shirt, green tie.
Gri
Using the word hero. Looking as if he had to force his lips around it. Holding out a hand.
Milo stepped up to the podium.
Frisk shook his hand, handed Milo a piece of paper.
Milo took it, looked at it, gave the camera a Hi, mom! smile. Pocketed the commendation.
Frisk stood away from him. Stood back, waiting for him to leave the stage.
Milo stayed there, still smiling. Frisk looked puzzled.
Milo mugged for the camera again, turned and faced Frisk. Drew back his arm and hit Frisk, hard, in the face.
Jonathan Kellerman is one of the world's most popular authors. He has brought his expertise as a child psychologist to numerous bestselling tales of suspense (which have been translated into two dozen languages), including thirteen previous Alex Delaware novels; The Butcher's Theater, a story of serial killing in Jerusalem; and Billy Straight, featuring Hollywood homicide detective Petra Co