Title: Epilogues
Chapter 3
Spoilers: "Grave Danger"
Notes on this Chapter: This is a letter from Brass to his estranged daughter.
Ellie,
Hey, honey. It's your dad. But I guess you could tell that from the envelope.
We had a pretty rough day today, and I can't sleep. Just got back from the hospital. This friend of mine…I think you met him, but I'm not sure. Maybe you didn't. My memory must be deteriorating with the rest of me. Anyway, this friend of mine, Nicky…we almost lost him tonight. I won't give you the gory details, but I thought…I thought he wasn't going to make it.
I met his parents, and they're pretty tough people, you know? They knew they might lose their son, but they held it together. I went over to talk to the dad. Comfort him, you know? Like I know anything about comforting someone else. So I told him I knew what it was like, worrying about a kid. And he said they'd talked on the phone the night before. And you know what he said—the dad? He said, "We have our problems. But at least I told him I loved him right before I hung up. At least we have that."
I've been thinking about you tonight, Ellie.
I thought about calling, but I figured you'd hang up. I don't even know if you'll open this. You might rip it up and never read these words. But if you are reading them, I want you to know that I love you. I know we have our differences. I know I messed up. But I love you. I love you, Ellie.
Daddy
PS I always have my cell with me.