by Tim Green
“Sometimes it seems like she doesn’t get that I’m not really her son,” Sam said. “But she saw the report, right?”
“No, she knows,” Jake said, putting an arm around Sam. “She just likes to forget a little, and it’s nice that you let her.”
“I’m glad you didn’t let them use any more of that DVD you took of her. I should never have given it to them.”
“You did what you thought was best. That’s all you can ever do,” Jake said. “You know, not letting Outrage run that stuff was what got me this Sunday gig.”
“I thought it was because of the helicopter tape,” Sam said.
Jake had given the tape shot from Judy’s ex-husband’s helicopter to Cambareri, even though American Outrage had offered him a hundred thousand for it, and his job. But the DA said the tape would be much more valuable for Slatten’s trial if it hadn’t been splattered across the potential jury pool’s televisions.
“It was both,” Jake said. “My agent said CBS kept talking about integrity and they mentioned Martha’s tape, too.”
The sky suddenly opened, pattering down on their umbrella. The tourists migrated toward the steps.
They watched the shattered surface of the pond. Rivulets began to run along the brick pavers at their feet. The sound of the rain and the fountain became one. In the middle of eight million people, they were completely alone.
“I talked with my producer the other day,” Jake said, raising his voice just a bit to overcome the rain. “She said I could have some time to check out where Lukaj got his babies. It’s a long shot, but I thought, you know, now that I’m settled into this show I could start poking around a little.”
Sam’s face revealed nothing.
“I was thinking of asking Don to let me look at some of the old FBI files on Lukaj,” Jake said. “Maybe there’s something there.”
“I think,” Sam said, freeing his face and crossing his arms across his chest as if he were cold, “I think I’m good.”
Jake allowed himself to smile.
Sam stood up. “Want to get a sandwich?”
Jake followed his lead and they began to walk toward the stairs.
“You sure about the FBI files?” Jake said. “I won’t keep asking, but I want you to be sure. I don’t mind.”
Sam stopped and looked up at him. He patted Jake’s shoulder and grinned so that his braces gleamed. “It’s just you and me, Dad.”
“Let’s go.”
