Cost by Roxana Robinson

Author:Roxana Robinson [Robinson, Roxana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-374-27187-9
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published: 2008-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

There was no siren, only a firm knocking on the front door. Two policemen stood outside, their faces sober, their blue uniforms glittering with badges and insignia.

“Mr. Lambert?” The policeman was solid, with a smooth red face. “Officer Wood and Officer Powers, Hatchard Police Department. You’re having a problem with your son?”

“That’s right,” Wendell said.

They came inside, filling the front hall.

“Tell us what the problem is,” said Wood.

Wendell explained: the trip, the rescue, the agitation. “We think he’s in withdrawal from heroin.”

The word again. How could he use it in public?

Wood nodded. “Could you tell me your reasons for thinking this?”

“His lifestyle and general demeanor,” Wendell said.

Julia admired the word “demeanor.”

“Earlier this evening we asked him directly if he took heroin,” said Wendell. “He got very angry. That’s why he went out in the boat.”

Wood nodded. “Did he admit to drug use?”

“No,” Julia said. “This is speculation.”

Both policemen looked at her.

“When we got home, he got more and more agitated,” Wendell said again. “He didn’t seem to remember he’d been out on the boat. He was angry and nearly violent and delusional.”

“Well,” Julia said, minimizing.

“He shouted at his mother and told her to keep her hands to herself,” Wendell went on.

“He didn’t hurt anyone,” Julia said to Powers, “but he’s violently ill. He has cramps and nausea. He’s been vomiting.”

“Where’s your son now?” asked Wood.

“Upstairs, taking a shower.”

“Does he know you’ve called Emergency Services?”

“He thinks we called a doctor. He wants something for pain.”

“There’s an ambulance outside,” said Wood. “If your son needs medical attention, they’ll take care of it.”

There were footsteps upstairs. The shower had stopped.

“Let’s give him a minute to get dressed,” Julia said.

They stood in silence. Steven came downstairs, jogging easily until he saw the policemen. He stopped, then came down to stand in front of his father.

“I thought you were calling a doctor,” he said.

“I called 911. This is who came. Where’s Jack?” Wendell asked.

“Getting dressed,” Steven said.

“Is he alone in his room?” Wood said. “Does he have any drugs up there?”

Wendell hesitated. “We don’t know.”

“We’ll go up,” Wood said.

“Let’s give him another minute,” Julia said, but the policemen were already moving past her.

Steven said to Wendell, “Why did you do this?”

“Because your brother’s sick and acting crazy,” Wendell said. “He’s in withdrawal, and I don’t know if he’s in danger.” He started after the policemen.

“But why did you lie about the doctor?” Steven asked, following his father. “Why did you lie to him?”

But Wendell, behind the policemen, had reached the second floor and didn’t answer. Jack’s door was open. He was now dressed, but still looked ill, hunched over, holding his belly. He straightened when he saw them.

“What the fuck is going on?” he said.

“Officer Wood, Hatchard Police,” Wood said. “Your parents notified us of some disturbance.”

“Get out of here!” Jack lunged for the door, slamming it shut.

Wood stepped next to the door. “Jack,” he said, raising his voice, “your parents called us because you seemed disturbed and in pain. You want to talk about what’s going on?”

“Get out of here,” Jack called.

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