Страница 22 из 36
42
SPIKE WAS DRIVING. Su
"Mrs. Markham? This is Su
She ended the call, turned the cell phone off, and turned sideways in her seat so she could see Cheryl.
"Golf," Su
"He plays golf every Saturday morning with people from work."
"How exciting for him," Spike said.
"I think it's icky and boring," Cheryl said.
"Ever play?" Su
"No."
"Hard to be so sure," Su
"What if we go there and they grab me?" Cheryl said.
"We grab you back," Su
"You and Spike," Cheryl said.
"Yep."
"What if they call the cops?" Cheryl said.
"They won't," Su
"How can you be sure?"
"Do you think your parents want to be publicly involved in a case where they arranged the kidnapping of their own daughter?"
Cheryl thought about it.
"That would be bad for him at work, wouldn't it," Cheryl said.
"Not so good for either of them," Su
"And you'd really tell?" Cheryl said.
"I'd do what I thought was in your best interest," Su
Cheryl nodded.
"They care a ton about what people think," she said.
"Everybody cares some," Su
"Except me," Spike said.
"Sure," Su
"That's different," Spike said. "They're really cute."
"The trick is," Su
"You care what people think?" Cheryl said.
"Yes," Su
"You ever do things that are bad for you?"
"Yes," Su
She smiled at Cheryl.
"Being an adult," Su
"You don't talk much like an adult," Cheryl said.
"I'll get better as I get older," Su
Spike pulled the Navigator up in front of the Markham house.
Su
"Here we go," Su
43
ELSA MARKHAM OPENED the front door.
"Cheryl," Elsa said. "What on earth are you doing with these people?"
Cheryl shrugged.
Behind his wife, John Markham looked past his daughter at Spike.
"Who is this?" Markham said to Su
"My walker," Su
"How y'all doin'?" Spike said, and smiled widely.
"Are you pla
"May we come in?" Su
"We can talk here," Markham said.
"No," Su
"About what?" Elsa said.
"Your daughter's well-being, kidnapping, stuff like that," Su
"What on earth are you talking about?" Elsa said.
"Oh, for crissake," Markham said. "Let them in, Elsa."
She hesitated.
"Goddamn it, Elsa," Markham said.
Elsa almost jumped back, and Su
"Now," Markham said. "What's all this about?"
"Just so we don't waste time," Su
Elsa said, "I simply don't know what you're talking about." Markham said, "Elsa, be quiet. Not another word. I'm calling a lawyer."
"Egad," Spike said. "A lawyer!"
"I'm not the police, Mr. Markham," Su
Markham picked a cell phone up from the top of the coffee table.
"You won't need to talk unless you wish to," Su
Markham held the cell phone, but he didn't dial.
"You arranged to kidnap your daughter and, as you can probably tell, I can prove it," Su
Markham was silent. Su
"What has she been telling you?" Elsa said.
No one paid her any attention.
"You'd testify against your own parents?" Markham said to Cheryl.
Cheryl nodded.
"She'd testify," Su
"What if I asked you to leave?"
"We'd go."
"What if I asked you to leave Cheryl with us."
"She's free to stay if she wishes," Su
Cheryl said, "No."
"Which apparently she does not," Su
"And if I tried to prevent her from leaving, would he intercede?" Markham said.
"Oh, sure," Spike said.
Markham nodded. He put down the cell phone.
"What do you want?" he said.
Su
"I want you to let your daughter lead her life," Su
"You think we are not loving parents?" Elsa said.
"I'm convinced that you're not," Su
Without looking at his wife, Markham said, "Shut up, Elsa."
To Su
"We'll work out the amounts and the means of conveyance," Su
"E-mail me the amount," Markham said, handing her a card.
"She may or may not stay in touch with you; that's up to her," Su
"Yes," Elsa said.
"She had a physical this morning at Mass General, and except for some traces of tranquilizer still lingering in her system, she's healthy. Couple more days and the tranq will have dissipated and she'll be fine."
Elsa nodded.
Su
"No," Cheryl said.
"All we tried to do for you," Elsa said to her daughter.
"That's aimless," Su
Cheryl stood. Spike had never sat.
"We can find the door," Su
Neither Elsa nor Markham said a word, nor did they move. Su