Chapter Eleven – False Sense of Security
December 2009
Bobby removed a thoroughly bundled Lexie from her car seat and began stripping some of her layers as soon as he entered the Eames house. The sound of many voices talking and laughing echoed through the entranceway.
"Bobby!"
He looked up to see Penny coming around the corner, beaming. "And Lexie," she cooed.
"Here's the diaper bag," Bobby said, taking it off and pushing it towards Penny. "She's got extra sleepers in there, along with lots of formula, bottles, diapers, bibs, a few favourite toys…"
"In short, the usual," Penny interrupted. "Why are you telling me for?"
"Well… so you know," Bobby said, confused. "So you know what you've got for the day. What time should I pick her up?"
"What? You're just going to drop her off and go?" Penny asked, her smile fading.
"Well, yes," Bobby replied. "This is a time for family, and you were so insistent on having her here, and I suppose that she should be with her extended family… I got the morning with her, and Christmas Eve, and-"
"What, are we divorced?" Penny asked with a hint of amusement.
"Hey!" John Eames called, coming in behind Penny. "Who else are you married to?" he teased.
"Bobby was going to drop Lexie and go!" Penny informed John. "He's talking like we're discussing custody," she said accusingly.
"Bobby," John sighed, shaking his head.
Bobby was very confused now. "I don't understand," he said honestly.
"Son, we want you to stay," John stated.
The thought hadn't even occurred to him. He had been warring all day with thoughts of wanting to keep his daughter to himself over Christmas, before deciding that he was being selfish. He had never considered staying at the Eames family Christmas with her. Without Alex, how was he to know that they'd assumed he realized he was automatically invited?
Seeming to read his thoughts, John said, "Bobby, when you married Alex you became a part of this family. Lexie only cements it now."
"You'll come in and celebrate with us!" Penny insisted. She suddenly flushed, remembering a conversation she had had with her husband recently. "If you want to, of course," she amended. "I know I have a habit of being too pushy."
"I… well… of course," Bobby stammered.
"Good!" Penny exclaimed, unable to resist her natural inclinations any longer. Get your coat off and get in here. I have some fruit cake I want you to sample. By the way," she tossed over her shoulder, "Liz said that Nathan's looking forward to seeing his cousin." Her voice carried into the entranceway even after she had started back into the other room. "He knows that he's not getting any brothers or sisters and…" Her voice was lost in the hubbub of the large group of people.
"She can't help herself," John explained, smiling fondly. "She's in her element at big family gatherings." He reached down and picked Lexie up, tickling her belly. Bobby followed them in, taking steadying breaths. This was the first Christmas without Alex.
Though he had to leave on more than one occasion to get a handle on his emotions, Bobby managed to make it through the entire evening. He missed Alex more than words could say. But he had Lexie to think of, and she grounded him.
It was amazing how Bobby still wasn't used to coming home to an empty house. He still expected Alex to come around the corner at any moment. He had gotten used to her presence so quickly… But her absence was something he couldn't adjust to so easily.
Nine-month-old Lexie, exhausted after the bustle of the day, hardly stirred as Bobby lowered her into the crib in her room. She had outgrown the tiny cradle, really more fit for a doll than a baby, a while ago, so Bobby had finally moved her into the yellow and green nursery. Bobby pulled one of Penny's hand knitted blankets over her and stood staring down for a short time.
Finally he turned away, switching the night light on and the bedroom light off. Lexie's chest rose and fell in the dim light, one little hand curling and uncurling in her sleep. Bobby left, closing the door not quite all the way. He wandered back into the living area, flopping on the couch. He flicked half-heartedly through a few channels on the television before switching it off.
He got up and began to wander aimlessly, his brain as it so often did flicking through memories of Alex like a film on fast-forward. He closed his eyes and rubbed them vigorously, but the images remained. He went into the kitchen and threw open the fridge door, searching for something in there with alcohol content.
Though he never drank himself into a stupor when he was alone with Lexie, this night called for something to numb the pain. He flopped back onto the couch and took a drink, reminding himself that when he closed his eyes, the Alex talking and laughing besides him was just a memory.
"When are we going to act?"
"When I see fit to do so."
"And when is that going to be? It's been nine fucking months!"
"Patience, patience…"
"Why should I have patience? What's the point in waiting?"
"The point is to lull them into a false sense of security. Then, we will act. It will be like a recurring nightmare. Each time they begin to recover, I will make sure that they never live a normal life again."
"But how long are you going to wait?"
"I will tell you when the time is right. Do not question me. I am in charge."
The other man was not pleased, but he knew perfectly well that he was certainly not in charge.
January 2010
Bobby woke early, as he did every morning. He had spent New Year's Eve with Mike, Lewis, and Lexie. The three men had enjoyed each other's company, and that of the baby who had crawled all over them, bringing a smile to their faces before she eventually fell asleep.
Bobby could see Mike snoring gently on the couch in the living room as he went to boil water for his morning tea. Lewis was sleeping on a cot in Lexie's room. As Bobby wandered through the living room to have a look out the window, he noticed an envelope lying by the door.
Frowning, Bobby went over to get it. It appeared to have been shoved under the door. Heart hammering, he dug a finger into the flap, tearing it open. Inside was a photograph of him in the park, placing Lexie into one of the baby swings. It was clear by the trees in the background that the picture had been taken in autumn. He recognized the handwriting underneath, proclaiming simply: Happy New Year.
"BOYD!" Bobby exploded; checking the locks and chains on the door even though he knew there was no way Boyd was inside his apartment. His cry had woken Mike, who rolled rather ungracefully off of the couch and stumbled to his feet.
"Bobby?" he asked. "What is it?"
Bobby shoved the photograph at him without a word, marching straight into Lexie's room and picked her up. When he returned to the living room with his daughter, Mike was scrutinizing the photograph with a frown.
"It's Boyd's handwriting," Bobby informed him.
"How can you be sure?" Mike asked.
"Because I've read the case file so many times, and reviewed all the evidence, including all of Boyd's handwritten records that he kept of all of his victims," Bobby replied. "And leaving a photograph – that was what he did with… That's what he did before!"
"This is hardly threatening though," Mike began.
"Do you think so?" Bobby hissed. "Do you really think this is a friendly greeting? Just the kind of salutation you give when letting someone know your keeping your eye on them? Look at it – that was taken months ago!"
"What's he mean just with Happy New Year?" Mike asked.
"He knows damn well that this isn't a happy year!" Bobby roared. Lexie, who had been sniffling and whimpering up until that point, burst into loud wails. But for once, Bobby was less than attentive to her cries. The hand that wasn't holding her waved around in vicious gesticulations as he continued. "He's reminding me that he hasn't forgotten. I only wish I knew who his accomplice was, because he can't have been delivering it himself from prison…"
Bobby stopped yelling and faced Mike, who hadn't said anything, but was looking distinctly guilty. "What?" he demanded.
"Bobby, please try and stay calm, okay?"
But Bobby was so agitated at this point he could only glare and demand over Lexie's screams, "What. Happened?"
Before Mike could answer, Lewis walked out of Lexie's room, bleary eyed. "What's going on?"
"It's Boyd," Bobby spat through gritted teeth.
"The one that-"
"Yes."
Bobby glowered at Mike until he finally answered, "He escaped from prison."
"When?"
Mike looked around uncomfortably before taking a deep breath. "When he was being transferred to the prison after his sentencing," he said, and waited for the storm of Bobby's rage to wash over him.
"But," Bobby began uncomprehendingly, "But that was months ago." Then louder, and angrier. "That was months ago, Mike! Why wasn't I told?"
"We were looking for him, Bobby," Mike hastened to explain. "And you already had so much to deal with, and the captain thought it was best-"
"THE CAPTAIN THOUGHT IT WAS BEST?" Mike winced as though Bobby had hit him. "You should have TOLD ME!" Bobby thundered. "WHAT IF HE HAD COME AFTER LEXIE?" As his daughter's name passed his lips, Bobby looked down at her and seemed to notice for the first time that she was crying. He rubbed a hand over her back and lowered his voice, though his words were still uttered in a dangerous growl.
"What if he had gone after he while she was with John and Penny? What if Boyd had slaughtered them all? What would you have said then, Mike? Would you have just given me the bullshit of the captain thought it was best?"
"He only threatened Alex and her partner, we didn't think he'd care about the rest of you once she was gone," Mike responded, his explanation cutting, but quick. He had truly thought that he was doing what was best. Bobby flinched, but remained silent, processing this information.
Without another word, he turned and plopped Lexie into Lewis's arms. "Watch her, will you?" he asked.
"Of course I will," he said, but he wasn't sure Bobby even heard.
"You know where the lockbox is?" Bobby asked. At Lewis's nod, Bobby gave him the combination. "If anyone but me comes in here – shoot them."
"Where are you going?" Mike asked.
"To the lab," Bobby snapped, waving the offending envelope. Mike trotted after him, leaving Lewis standing in the middle of the living room with the still sobbing Lexie.
"Bobby," Mike said. "I'm really sorry. I wouldn't have kept it from you if I thought he'd come after Lexie. I swear I-"
"I know," Bobby snarled. He knew in his heart that Mike had acted with his best interests in mind, but he was much too enraged to consider forgiveness at the moment.
