Chapter Ten
Landry's at his desk, reviewing the report on the latest sweep of the Haverty apartment, and the latest re-print of the gun, both of which reveal nothing new, when he sees her. Julie. Long black skirt to her knees. One-inch heels. White blouse. Those hot, smart girl glasses. Every inch the magazine reporter. Assistant editor, now, Coach said.
She strides forward, sets her purse down on the floor by the chair opposite his desk, but she doesn't sit. Wordless, he gestures to the chair.
Julie shakes her head. She puts a hand down on the top of the desk. Her posture is like that of her mother. Not the occasionally reticent teen he once knew. Commanding. Unfaltering.
"Long time," Landry manages finally. "No – "
"- You are going to drop these charges against my father."
"I want to, Julie, I really want to, but he confessed, and until he's willing to admit who really did – "
"- My sister didn't do this either."
"Please," he says, and gestures to the chair, but she refuses to sit again, and so he stands up. "Julie, I'm so sorry."
She sighs. "I know you're just doing your job. And I know we haven't talked in years. But I need your help here."
"Not about that. I'm sorry about the baby. I'm so sorry."
She slides into the chair finally. He sits. "That was a long time ago Landry. I'm sorry it…I tried to call you, you know, a couple years ago."
"Yeah. Your Mom told me. What about Matt? Did he know you were trying to call?"
"He knew. He wanted to call you himself. But he was so ashamed that he blamed you for so long, and he thought you would never forgive him for not forgiving you sooner. He was afraid if he called at that point, you'd just tell him to go screw himself. So I was calling for him."
"For him? Does that mean you haven't forgiven me?"
"I've forgiven you Landry. Long ago. I just couldn't get in touch with you. And I'm sorry I held it against you. It was just an accident."
"I was driving too fast. I was showing off my new car."
She swallowed. "Yeah. Not that fast though. And you didn't mean any of it to happen."
He closes his eyes. Swallows. And then admits it - - "I blamed myself too."
"I hope you don't anymore."
He opens his eyes. "Guilt fades over time." He's not just talking about the unborn baby now. The justifiable homicide too. "The nightmares slow down at some point. You move on. So. Assistant Editor?"
She smiles, a little proudly. "Yeah. In five years, I'll be editor." Her smile fades. "Landry, you have to help us. You have to fix this."
"I'm trying. I swear to you, I'm trying."
She turns and looks behind herself. Hovering in the station entry doorway is Matt. She jerks her head toward Landry, and he makes his way slowly to the desk. He looks at his feet, not Landry. "Hey," he says.
"Hey," Landry says. He tries not to sound mad, because he is, a little. More mad at Matt than Julie. Matt wasn't in the car. Matt wasn't carrying the baby. And Matt's deserted him before, the first time, for Chicago, and then just shown up, like it was nothing. Matt's harder to forgive. But he wants these friendships again, because life…life's been kind of empty, if he's honest. "How's the art thing going?"
"Good. Got commissioned to do a sculpture here in Seattle, so, we'll be here a few weeks." Matt raises his eyes hesitantly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry…it wasn't your fault. And I'm so sorry I let it…let myself…sorry."
Landry shrugs. "It's – "
" - Don't say it's okay," Matt says. "Because I know it's not."
"It's over," Landry said. "It's in the past."
Matt nods. He puts a hand on Julie's shoulder where she sits. "What can I do to help Coach Taylor?"
"Help me find Gracie's girlfriend. So I can question her and see if Gracie told her anything about this Haverty guy and who else he might have been threatening. Because no one in your family is talking."
Julie nods.