Time of Death

Hammond a little too much cough syrup to make sure she went back to sleep after all that commotion her daddy and Peter Everett made when they killed her mother.’

Domenica frowned. ‘What the—’

‘I know, Domenica. I know you gave Gavino cough syrup to make him sleep and keep him out of your way. And I know your first little kick of leverage was walking in on Douglas Hammond and Peter Everett. That was how you got them to do what you wanted all these years later. Peter Everett could doctor Helen’s files to make me look unstable, to make everything I ever had on you look like fiction. Douglas Hammond was roped in to make sure it all had the legal seal of approval. That didn’t quite work, though, did it? You were underestimating his guilt at what he had done to his wife. I’m betting he didn’t want any more blood on his hands. He knew what your next step would have been if my files weren’t released. He was trying to do me a favor.’

‘You are mentally ill,’ said Domenica. ‘You don’t know what you are saying, you are insane, you are paranoid. I have never even heard of these people.’

Ren moved toward her.

‘You came into my home, my life, my son’s life…’ shouted Domenica.

‘Which is more than you did.’

‘Oh, now look who is the little nanny.’

‘I was doing the job I was employed to do,’ said Ren. ‘What about you?’

‘He was my son.’ Domenica sobbed the last part. Domenica slammed a hand on to the table. ‘My son, you bitch. You broke the heart of a six-year-old boy.’

You have to be fucking kidding me. ‘You’re the one who’s insane,’ said Ren. ‘Did you not know that I was there in the woods when you ran from the compound with Gavino in your arms? I was there, you delusional bitch. I saw you look him in the eye…your seven-year-old son…and you tried to leave him behind. Alone. Alone.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘Oh my God,’ said Ren. ‘This is unbelievable. Do you really believe that? Do you? Have you re-written his entire childhood? At one point, you told me that he was the biggest mistake you ever made.’

‘I never said that.’

‘Then I’ve clearly come back late enough into your life for the edited version to have over-ridden the truth,’ said Ren. ‘Does Gavino even believe that shit?’ Ren walked away. ‘Why do I care?’

‘A little part of you loves my son,’ said Domenica.

Ren turned again. She was about to deny it but changed her mind. ‘And what if I did, Domenica? What if I did? Do you think we’re the same? Is that it? You are so fucked up.’

Domenica’s eyes shone with anger. ‘I won, Ren. You lost.’ She shrugged. ‘You lost your mind.’

Ren punched her – hard, fast relief. Domenica’s head snapped back and hit the wall behind her. She half- staggered to her feet, but collapsed on the floor. Blood was streaming from the split skin under her right eye.

And I do not care. Ren stood over her. Blood was dripping on to Domenica’s shirt, running from the back of Ren’s hand. And I do not care.

Ren was transfixed. Domenica locked eyes with her. They were streaming. No emotion, just salt water. Domenica didn’t speak. She struggled to her feet.

Ren turned briefly away. I can’t stand watching weakened people.

‘How pathetic it is that you have no control over your emotions,’ said Domenica.

Ren smiled. ‘The rollercoaster always has the longest lines.’

‘And the most dramatic drops.’

‘Oh, I think you had the most dramatic drop, Domenica.’

‘You have nothing, Ren. No one. You are wired for a lifetime of pain. You will always be discontent. And every day, you are aware of that. And every day for the rest of your life you will be aware of that.’

‘You have no clue,’ said Ren. ‘None.’

‘I read your file,’ said Domenica.

‘Do you know one thing psychiatrists always say?’ said Ren. ‘That they are not mind readers. They know only as much as the patient tells them. And with someone like me? Half an hour every few weeks? When what I say depends on the mood I’m in? You know nothing, Domenica.’

‘You took away the father of my child,’ said Domenica.

‘“Father of your child” – you make it sound so worthy. And…well, untrue.’

‘James loved me,’ said Domenica.

Insane. ‘Domenica,’ said Ren, leaning forward, ‘James Laker was raped.’

Domenica went to slap a fat hand across Ren’s face. Ren blocked it.

‘James Laker loved me,’ said Domenica.

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ said Ren. ‘You haven’t got a clue. James Laker feared you. He couldn’t leave the compound. You were the warden he was your prisoner – that was your relationship. I helped him leave, so he could at some stage be a proper father to Gavino and have a chance at a decent life once you were put away.’

‘You did all that, yet you didn’t love Gavino?’

‘James Laker wanted to get as far away as possible from you,’ said Ren. ‘Can you understand that, Domenica? You crossed the border to get what you wanted, didn’t you? You understand what it’s like to do that to get what you want? Well, he did the same. He got the fuck away. Maybe you should have learned from yourself; maybe you should have patrolled your own borders a little better.’

55

A door opened to the right of Domenica and Gavino Val Pando walked in. The task force had gone through the building earlier, but no one had been assigned to cover that door, because it appeared to lead into a locked room.

Ren remembered the building plans. The skylight. There was a skylight.

The last time Ren had seen Gavino Val Pando, one year earlier, he was as handsome as she had always known he would become. He’d worn his hair short, he’d been fit, tanned, dressed well. He’d looked as if he’d stepped straight from an Abercrombie doorway.

Oh my God. What happened to you?

Gavino looked unwell. Mentally. Ren and Domenica glanced at each other and for a moment, shared something human. Gavino stood there, his hands by his side, his eyes moving back and forth between the women.

What is going through your head right now?

‘How fucking dare you,’ he roared at Domenica.

Domenica recoiled with the volume, the force of his anger. ‘What do you mean?’ she said.

‘Oh, Jesus. What do I mean?’ said Gavino. ‘What do I mean? You, you lying bitch! I mean you. How fucking dare you?’

Domenica raised her hands. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘That’s because there are so many things I could be talking about,’ said Gavino. ‘That’s how screwed up this all is. You have no idea what I’m talking about because it could be any number of millions of things you have done to me over my whole short life.’

Ren watched him. He looked medicated.

‘Is he on medication?’ said Ren, without turning directly to Domenica. She kept her voice low. But not low enough.

‘What?’ said Gavino. ‘What did you say to her?’

‘I asked your mother if you were on medication.’ Ren kept her tone even.

Gavino stared up at the ceiling and started laughing. ‘Yeah, like she’d have a clue. Ask her what my favorite TV show is. What music I listen to. Who my best friend is. Oh, hold on, I don’t have any.’ He looked at Ren. ‘Funny, isn’t it – she is my mother. Yet you’re the one who worked out that I’m on medication and it took you, oh…’ he checked his watch, ‘thirty seconds. Well done.’ He turned to Domenica. ‘See that, Mother? She’s good. Yes, Special Agent. I am medicated. Because of that bitch.’ He pointed at Domenica.

She rolled her eyes. ‘Why do kids always blame their parents for everything?’