Chapter 29

Bobby tried not to shiver at the clang of the door shutting behind him. The sound always disturbed him, but the purpose of this visit to Ryker's increased his anxiety. One of the two guards in the interview room nodded at Bobby.

"Claret will be here in just a minute," the guard said. He studied Bobby. "He really took you out in an interrogation room?"

"Yea," Bobby admitted. "But in my defense, I did have a couple of broken ribs and some other injuries at the time." He smiled weakly. "I ran into a bomb at Claret's farm."

The guard shook his head. "Don't know who I'm more impressed by. Claret for taking on you, or you for taking on Claret."

"I'm just glad I survived," Bobby said.

"Claret's been looking forward to this meeting for a long time," the guard said. "Don't worry, Detective...Two of us will be here...And I gotta tell you that since his meds have kicked in, Claret's been a model prisoner."

Bobby sat at the worn table. "I hope you're right," he said softly as the guard left. He struggled again not to shiver as the door clanked heavily shut. He attempted to take refuge in the knowledge that Alex stood outside that door and in George Huang's reports on Claret's radically changed behavior.

The cold clang of the cell door opening jolted Bobby out of his dark study. A guard entered, followed by Gregory Claret, who was followed in turn by another guard, who was followed by Claret's young female lawyer.

"Smart move," Bobby thought. "If he'd gone to trial...to have a woman representing him."

"Thank you, Detective," the young woman said. "For meeting with my client."

Bobby tilted his head to acknowledge her words. He concentrated on Claret as the guards methodically released him from the shackles and handcuffs that held him. He bore the pallid skin of someone who had experienced little sun in recent weeks, a color that contrasted with the bright orange jumpsuit he wore. The prison clothes hung loosely on his frame, and a meek, submissive air replaced his cocky and arrogant attitude. As the guards led him to the table, Claret kept his eyes focused on the ground. Bobby sat again, and Claret looked briefly and guiltily at him. The guard checked to make certain that Claret was secure and stepped back. An awkward silence descended.

"Thank you for seeing me," Claret finally said in a low, flat voice. "I...I appreciate it."

Bobby folded and unfolded his hands on the table. "It seemed," he said deliberately. "A good idea for everyone."

"Yea," Claret said. Bobby thought that he was grateful for the civil conversation. "I hope," Claret went on. "That you're better?" His voice remained flat, but Bobby was certain its tone was the result of the medications Claret now took.

"I'm getting there," Bobby answered.

"And the other detective?" Claret asked. "The blonde woman..."

Bobby fought down a shiver of fear. "She's fine...She wasn't hurt at all."

Claret relaxed. "Good...good." He glanced at Bobby. "I know you may think this is an act...I know...My expression of my feelings...It's subdued...They tell me it's because of my medications...But...I am sorry...truly sorry." Claret shook his head sadly. "I know that doesn't compare with the horrible things I did...but I am sorry."

Bobby studied Claret for several moments. In spite of his numb expression, Bobby sensed that Claret's guilt and desperate attempt at apology were genuine.

"I believe you," Bobby said simply.

Claret's head shot up. The guards stepped towards him.

"You…you do?" A desperate hope appeared in his eyes. "You're not just saying that…"

Bobby shook his head. "It's not the sort of thing I'd just say at this time and in this place."

"It's important," Claret said, his words threatening to run together. "That somebody understands…and I thought…I thought you might…" He shrugged. "I mean…you're nothing like me…" Bobby's heart hammered in his chest. "I know that…But I can't figure out why you're there…" Claret nodded across the table. "And I'm here."

Bobby stared at his hands. He had every reason not to trust Claret. He had seen and knew what the man had and could do. He was one of Claret's victims. Above all, he had promised Alex that he'd be careful, that he wouldn't place his physical or mental health at risk. But he had to save Claret—he had to save himself.

"I wonder about that, too," Bobby said softly.

The guards, Claret's lawyer, even Alex's presence behind the door, vanished from Bobby's mind. He was aware only of Claret.

"I remembered your mother," Claret said apologetically. "I remembered that I was so embarrassed when they had to move my Mom. Your mother was tough, but nice. And I saw you. I remember being surprised that you seemed to want to be there. Or at least no one forced you to be there." He spread his large palms on the table. "They had to force me to visit her. My family threatened to cut off my money."

"But they didn't know…wouldn't believe…what she did to you," Bobby said calmly.

"Yea," Claret admitted. "She did some…horrible things. Dr. Huang…some of the other doctors…They tell me that…that the women I hurt and killed…" Claret stopped. His shoulders shook with his efforts to maintain control. "That I was getting back at my Mom…They tell me that if…if I'd gotten help…or if my Mom…But her family…they didn't believe…"

Bobby folded and unfolded his hands. "Yea," he said. "It's a terrible illness…It's hard for people to admit…to see…"

"My mother's family was ashamed…still is." For the first time anger slipped into Claret's voice. "That was what they felt. They worried about what people would think…And it cost those women their lives…It cost my mother…and me…our lives…" He struggled. "I know…I'm the one who killed and hurt them…I should've gotten help on my own…I'm guilty…" A terrible sadness replaced the anger. "But if I'd gotten help…If they would've…"

Bobby took a deep breath. Claret had opened up, had accepted his guilt and responsibility. He owed Claret the same honesty. In the back of his mind Bobby heard Alex's warnings. "But I have to do this," he thought. "Please understand…"

"I think," Bobby said deliberately. "The differences between you and me…My Mom wasn't violent…at least, not to the same extent…and…there wasn't any family…They were out of the picture…I got put into care some…And some people really helped me…" Bobby shook his head. "Strange…" Claret viewed Bobby with a mix of interest and sympathy. "I always wanted a family…Always hoped someone would appear and help me. I never thought it could be a bad thing."

Claret stared at his shackled hands. "I hoped…I'd sit in school and dream of someone taking me away from them."

Another silence settled between the two men.

"The woman I hurt," Claret asked suddenly. "How is she?"

"She's…she's getting better," Bobby said cautiously. Revealing himself to Claret was one thing, but talking about Angela Correlli was an entirely different matter.

Claret was satisfied with Bobby's brief answer. "Good…good," he said with obvious relief. "You were right…I wasn't that smart…To show up at the hospital…" He smiled. "Pretty delusional."

"Yea," Bobby agreed. He sensed the clouds clearing before him. "What…what will happen to you?"

Claret acknowledged his lawyer for the first time. "I have a good lawyer…One of the benefits of that family…I'm pleading guilty to the murders and attacks…I won't ever be free again…And that's a good thing…a very good thing…In prison they'll make sure I take my meds…And I can participate in studies…It's not much…It won't bring back those women…" He looked at Bobby. "It doesn't compare with what you've done with your life…but it's something…"

Bobby stared at his hands. "Yea…something…"

"I'm sorry," one of the guards said. "Time's up. Have to take you back to your cell, Claret."

"Ok," Claret said. He offered no resistance as the guards efficiently and quickly placed the shackles and chains on him. As they led him away, he turned to Bobby.

"Thank you," he said. "I know you didn't have to do this. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am…Thank you…"

Bobby stood. "It's all right," he said softly. "And…thank you." He looked up at Claret, and their eyes briefly met before the guards guided Claret out of the room.

Claret's lawyer extended her right hand to Bobby, who shook it politely. "Thank you, Detective," she said. "Thank you for recognizing that my client is human."

Bobby stood for several minutes before he followed the lawyer out of the room.

Alex waited outside the door.

End Chapter 29