Nothing But The Truth

When Hardy had read what he’d written, though, it didn’t strike him as nearly enough. The note was brief and specific, telling Fra

Ron sat on the edge of the bed and spoke with a desperate calm. ‘My understanding from the television – am I right? – is that poor Fra

Hardy nodded. ‘That’s how it looks, but-’

Palm out, Ron stopped him. ‘Please. May I? So my hope is that I won’t have to do all this again – move my family, start over. I’ve already done it once, as you know. But the idea of doing it again…’ He drew in a breath. ‘I’d rather avoid that, and maybe I can.’

‘How’s that?’

‘If they find who did it.’

This was what Fra

‘Then on Tuesday, the kids and I, we go. And Fra

‘She can tell the grand jury you’ve kidnapped your kids?’

‘I don’t see it that way, but yes.’

‘Put the FBI on your ass?’

A weak smile. ‘They’ve been there before. They won’t find me.’

‘And Fra

‘Yes. You have my word. Meanwhile, if Bree’s killer is found’ – he indicated the kids’ bedroom – ‘those guys maybe get to go back to a normal life. That’s all I want, really.’

And here was Fra

But no.

Again, it was Ron. His kids.

Hardy knew nothing of the truth about Ron and Fra

Which he wasn’t.

He couldn’t use his cop friends, his lawyer co

Help the man? Hardy still didn’t feel as if he’d completely ruled out killing him.

Hardy glanced at the note a last time, folded it over, and jammed it into his pocket.

Ron, seeing this, picked a bad moment to comment. ‘We can do this,’ he said, all sincerity.

And Hardy suddenly lost all his patience, slapping a palm loudly on the table in front of him, raising his voice in a rage. ‘What is this “we” shit? There’s no “we” here. There’s me and what I need to do for my family. Then there’s you. And don’t kid yourself – they’re nothing like the same thing!’

Not trusting himself to keep his anger checked any further – he might pull that gun out after all – he got up and abruptly strode across to the door.

‘You’re not leaving?’

This wasn’t Ron’s voice and Hardy’s surprise at the sound of it whirled him around. It was Cassandra, standing in the doorway to the suite. It was obvious that she had been crying, though now she had gotten herself back under control. ‘Please, Mr Hardy, you can’t leave.’ At her father. ‘We do need help, Daddy. He can help us. Rebecca says that’s really what he does. That’s why he can almost never be home, because he’s helping other people.’

The i

There was a tentative knock from the children’s door and now Max stuck his head through the crack. ‘I’m sorry. I covered my head with the pillow, but I still couldn’t help hearing you yelling.’ He looked from Hardy to Ron. ‘Are you all mad at each other?’

Cassandra reached back and put her arm around her brother. ‘We’re scared, Daddy. What’s going to happen?’

‘It’s all right, hon, there’s nothing to be scared of. Daddy’s right here.’

Ron cast a glance at Hardy and went to stand up, but his daughter had advanced a step into the room, trailed by Max who now held on to her hand. The little girl’s face was set with determination. Another step and she spoke right to Hardy. ‘Mr Hardy, didn’t you come here to try to help us? Is that true?’

Hardy stammered. ‘Well, I…’

‘Because we can’t go back to Dawn. They can’t make us do that. Even Max remembers…’ The tears had begun again. ‘We just want to stay with Daddy and have everything be like it was again.’

Max piped in through his own tears. ‘And Bree back, too, please. I want Bree back.’

‘Oh, guys…’ Ron went to stand up. But Cassandra didn’t move toward him. She had her eyes on Hardy. ‘Do you have to be our lawyer to help us? Is that how it works? How do you become our lawyer?’

Hardy crossed over near her, went down to one knee, and tried a tired smile. ‘It’s not that. It’s that I don’t know what I can do, Cassandra. It’s complicated. Rebecca’s mother’s in a lot of trouble, too, and I’ve got to help her. She’s got to be my first priority. You can understand that.’

But the girl was persistent. ‘Maybe you could do both, though? And Daddy isn’t sure what to do right now.’

Ron reached out to her. ‘Oh, sweetie, come here. Both of you guys.’ Ron was holding out his hands and the kids went to him. He enveloped them both in his arms, in a strong and soothing fatherhood. ‘Come on, now, come on. There’s nothing to be scared of. Let’s say goodnight to Mr Hardy and go back to bed. It’ll all look better in the morning.’

But Cassandra turned. ‘Please, Mr Hardy, if you can.’

12

It was Monday, October 5, less than a week after Bree Beaumont’s death. In fact, it was the day she was to be buried. Baxter Thorne, a portly man with a gray goatee, a soft-spoken ma