The Darkest Time of Night by Jeremy Finley

Author:Jeremy Finley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

THIRTEEN

Complete silence was so rare in the house that I was surprised by the noises that surfaced in the sudden stillness of the room. I’d never noticed, even in the deep of night in Tom’s frequent absences, how the pantry door slightly tapped against its wood frame when the heat kicked on; how the holly bush outside the east kitchen window flicked against the pane; even how the energy-efficient bulbs that were now so dramatically expensive at Target hummed in the black chandelier above the dining-room table. But I heard it all in that moment. The air even seemed unsure what to do, as if no one was bothering to breathe.

It was in the silence that sprung from my daughters’ astonishment, hearing me tell of my work with Steven Richards, that I knew I would not share everything. That would be for Tom and Tom alone.

“You … were a UFO researcher?” Kate asked at last.

“I told you, I wasn’t a Researcher, at first. I was only an office manager.”

“It’s going to take me a minute,” Stella said. “The guy who kidnapped William studies UFOs? And you used to be his assistant? And you went to his motel room tonight? What did he tell you?”

“He said … he was going to tell me what really happened to William. He doesn’t have William.” And what happened to William happened to me, as well.

“What do you mean ‘What really happened’?” Kate asked. “That William … was abducted by aliens?”

When I didn’t respond, Kate shook her head. “Mom, come on. Mom, are you kidding me?”

“Give your Mom a break, Kate,” Roxy scolded. “She’s been through a lot.”

“I know Steven isn’t responsible.”

“How could you possibly know that, Mom?” Kate walked to the edge of the table. “And do you care to elaborate on why he has such an obsession with you and this family?”

“Watch that East Coast tone when you talk to your mother, Kate Elizabeth,” Roxy warned.

“I know we’re not getting the whole story, Mom,” Kate said.

“I had to do whatever I could to try to find William.”

“Are we talking about getting answers from UFO researchers?” Kate asked.

“What if it helps us find William? And I can’t live with someone being punished for something he didn’t do—”

“Jesus Christ, Mom,” Kate said. “Why do you want to protect this man so much? Are you even listening to what you’re saying?”

“I saw the reports once, I knew them inside out. I worked hard on those cases, I made the connections. I wasn’t just some housewife—”

“Is that what this is all about? Trying to reclaim some past independence?” Kate said. “My God, Mom, you will ruin Dad. You will ruin this family—”

“I will not let this family be ruined.” A sob caught in my throat. “Don’t you see why I had to do this? Losing William, and Brian in the state he’s in now, will hang over us forever.”

“Mom, this is over.” Kate circled the table and knelt, unsuccessfully trying to get me to look at her. “You have to get it together.

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