Cross

by Ken Bruen

  I asked, 'What took you so long?'

  He had no answer, went with, 'Did Maria tell you the full story?'

  I wasn't sure how to answer so said, 'I'd like to hear it from you.'

  He nodded, as if that was fair. 'The car that killed Mrs Mitchell?'

  He was talking about the hit and run that set all of this in motion.

  I said, 'Be a man. After all that's happened, at least take responsibility.'

  He lowered his head. 'I did. My girlfriend was driving and she had two strikes against her, so I told them I was driving. And then I ran.'

  Jesus Christ.

  I debated telling him that his lie had cost the lives of all his family and others. Then I thought, fuck it, and began to walk away.

  He shouted, 'Are you going to tell on me?'

  I didn't answer.

  The morning of my departure, I was about to disconnect the phone when it rang. I had a short time to kill before my cab was due to take me to the airport, so I picked it up.

  'Jack?'

  Ridge.

  I hadn't said goodbye to her.

  I said, 'Yeah?'

  She took a deep breath. I could tell she'd been crying. 'Jack, I need your help.'

  I was thinking of Terms of Endearment. Jack Nicholson at the airport, smiling in that way only he can and saying he's almost made a clean getaway.

  I sat on my suitcase, my heart pounding, and for the first time ever I used an endearment with her.

  'What's up, hon?'

  'The biopsy, it's malignant.'

  Must have been the sunlight coming through the window. I wiped at my eyes, my cheeks wet.

  Ken Bruen

  ***

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  Document creation date: 29.11.2011

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