“Mr. Gale, I don’t know why, but Murray Hamilton just came to a stop in the parking lot of the Hutchins state police barracks.”
CHAPTER 21
At one end of the squad room, Kevin and Erica sat on a wooden bench. Kevin stared at the clock. It said 5:41.
Erica clenched Kevin’s right knee, stopping its bounce. Kevin hadn’t realized until then that he’d been tapping his hand in rhythm with his bouncing leg. He knew the nervous habit drove Erica crazy, but it was always unconscious. He gave her a half-hearted smile.
Since he had told the officers that his father was bringing the identification within the half hour, they’d let him wait with Erica in the squad room instead of in a holding cell with the drunks. When Kevin had called his father, the conversation had been short. Although Kevin detected some surprise in his father’s voice when he’d told him where he and Erica were, his father hadn’t asked any questions. Kevin just told him what he needed, and his father said it would take about 25 to 30 minutes to get to Hutchins and then hung up.
Knowing that they wouldn’t get to the warehouse by six o’clock, Erica had called the sales representative at LuminOptics. Fortunately for them, he’d told her, he was staying late. If they got there by seven, they could still get the laser. It would be tight. The warehouse was forty-five minutes away, and Dallas rush hour traffic, which lasted at least until seven, could easily double the travel time.
It had been 15 minutes since Kevin had talked to his father. In that time, he hadn’t said much to Erica, and she didn’t seem willing to prod him about it.
Still clenching Kevin’s knee, Erica spoke in a voice that was a mixture of concern and annoyance. “Why didn’t you tell me about your father? When I first met you, you told me your parents were dead.”
Now he knew why she hadn’t asked him any questions. She’d been fuming. “That was a part of my life I wanted to forget about. I told everyone that, not just you. In fact, I was supposed to be at the graduate school this morning to explain why I lied about it on my financial aid form. Dean Baker was giving me one last chance. I guess that’s gone now.”
“No, I mean when I told you about my family this morning. I think I deserved a little honesty in return.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was telling you that just so you’d give me money. Besides, your situation was different. Your parents obviously loved you. Why should I tell about how crappy my father was?”
Erica’s voice was angry. “Why should I bare my soul to you if you aren’t going to do the same with me?”
“Okay.” Kevin concentrated on the clock in front of them. “You want a little honesty? Here it is. My father was a drunk for the better part of my childhood. He had an accident on a construction site when I was 15 and collected disability for the next ten years, drinking half of it because he didn’t have anything better to do. He never wanted me to go to college, thought it was a waste of time and wouldn’t pay for it. He wanted me to go into construction, be a real man. The only reason I went to college was because of my mother, who
Erica, who had been looking straight ahead instead of at Kevin, raised her eyebrows. She nodded in that direction and tapped Kevin’s arm. “That’s got to be him,” she said.
Kevin looked up. Next to the front door at the other end of the squad room was Murray Hamilton, and Kevin realized why Erica had been so sure it was him. The figure striding toward them was the same height as Kevin, but his frame, built from years of hard construction work, was massive, clothed in a denim shirt, jeans, and work boots. Although his body differed from Kevin’s wiry sinew, Murray Hamilton’s square-jawed face, Roman nose, and wide hazel eyes would instantly be connected to Kevin’s by all but the most casual observer. Only the stubble-covered wrinkles and thinning hair kept him from looking like Kevin’s older brother.
Kevin and Erica rose just as Murray reached them, coming to an abrupt stop in front of them. He stood without saying a word, just looking into Kevin’s eyes.
Finally, Kevin broke the silence. “Hello, dad.”
“I might have known,” Murray said, “that the only reason you would call me was because you were in trouble.”
Kevin expected his father to throw the passport at him, turn, and walk out as quickly as he’d come in.
“But I’m glad you did,” Murray said and grasped Kevin in a tight hug.
Kevin was flabbergasted. His father had never been an affectionate man; in fact, Kevin could recall only a few times in his life when his father had hugged him, and even then it had been when he was much younger. Now it seemed as if his father would never let go. Still, Kevin couldn’t bring himself to return the affection.
Murray released him and held his shoulders at arm’s length.
“You look good,” said Murray. “You’ve lost some weight, haven’t you?”
“A little.”
“And putting muscle on those bones, I see,” Murray said, squeezing Kevin’s shoulders.
“Did you find the passport?” Kevin asked without emotion.
“I got it right here.” Murray pulled the passport from his hip pocket. Kevin took it, opened it to check, and then called Officer Brady over to them.
Brady studied the passport carefully. After about thirty seconds, he said, “All right, Mr. Hamilton. It looks like everything is in order.”
“Does that mean we can go?” Kevin said.
“Yes, but I’m confiscating the fake ID. Because of all the trouble we’ve caused you and Miss Jensen, I’ve decided to drop the charges against you. Just watch your speed from now on.” He nodded to Erica. “Have a good day, Miss Jensen. Let me know if you have any trouble getting your car.” Brady put on his hat and walked out the front entrance.
“Now do you mind telling me what this is all about?” Murray said.
“It’s no big deal. Thanks for the favor. See you later.” Kevin turned as if to walk away.
“Kevin!” Erica said. “What’s wrong with you?” She turned toward Murray, extending her hand. “Hi, Mr. Hamilton. My name’s Erica Jensen. We really appreciate you going to all this trouble.”
Murray took her hand and smiled, showing teeth yellowed from years of smoking. “No trouble at all. Pleased to meet you.”
“It shouldn’t have been any trouble getting off the couch and coming over,” Kevin mumbled.
“Actually, you’re lucky you caught me at home. I was just about to go back out to my job site when you called.”
“Grabbing a beer during your break?”
“No,” Murray said calmly. “When I said my job site, I meant the one my company is contracting. My company is Hamilton Construction.”
Kevin looked at him in disbelief. This man who he hadn’t spoken to in five years, who’d been a drunk and lousy provider all his life, was now trying to tell Kevin that he had his own company.
“You’re kidding.”
“Had it three years now. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t return my calls.”
“Why should I have called you? You never gave me any reason to. You never cared about me or what I was interested in.”
Murray studied his shoes. “Nick, I know I was an asshole when you were in high school. I was wrong about you going to college, too. You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself. But before she died, your mother made me promise that I’d try to patch things up between us. I’m trying.”
Kevin said nothing. He wasn’t sure why his dad was acting this way, but he wasn’t going to let him redeem himself that easily, not after what he and his mother had gone through.
“Nick?” Erica said.
Murray turned to her and then, realizing she’d been talking to him, a look of understanding crossed his face.
“I forgot. He’s going by Kevin now. Began using his middle name when he got to college. I don’t think he ever
