He stared at the screen. “That’s terrible.”
“How did they find out my cell-phone number?”
“Robin, it’s a huge leap to think some troll would be able to track down yourparents.”
“The nurse at the front desk,” she said. “She reads me. She said she knew I was from around here.”
“Robin...”
“I’m serious. If an ER nurse I’ve never seen before knows where I live, then who’s to say some psychopath doesn’t know it too? Who’s to say that psychopath didn’t track down my parents and break into their house?”
“Over a film column?”
“Yes, Eric. Over a fucking film column.”
“Robin,” he said slowly. “You’ve got to get a grip.”
Her jaw clenched up. “The cops asked if my parents had any enemies,” she said. “They told me to think about it hard, Eric. They didn’t tell me to get a grip.”
He stared at her. “They asked you that?”
“Yes...” She stared back. His face was pale, eyes wide. “Are you okay?” she asked him.
“It’s nothing.”
“Stop it,” she said. “You aren’t allowed to tell me, ‘Nothing.’ Not tonight. You have to let me know what’s on your mind.”
“You aren’t the only one who’s pissed people off.”
“What do you mean?”
Eric started to answer. At least she thought he started to answer, but she’d never be sure of that, riveted as she was by the doctor pushing through the ER doors, asking, “Are you Robin Diamond?”
“Yes.” She thought about whether she should stand up to greet him, as though there were some ceremony to this, the Receiving of News. In a type of compromise, Robin half stood up, then fell back to sitting again. “That’s me.”
“We worked very hard, ma’am,” he said. “There’s no easy way to put this.”
“No,” she whispered. Or thought. She wasn’t sure.No, please, no.
She didn’t want the doctor to speak. But the words kept coming. “Ms. Diamond,” he said, and then, “your father.” And then, “I’m sosorry.” And then, “entrance wound” and “blood loss” and “vascular structure,” each word as pointless as a scribble on a piece of paper, as pointless as Eric’s hollow gasp and his arm across Robin’s shoulder, as all the prayers she’d said, all the pleading to a God she was never sure she believed in. Each word he said as pointless as life.
Nine
June 12, 1976
7:00A.M.
Dear Aurora Grace,
For the past two nights, we’ve stayed at a Motel 6 in West Covina. I haven’t left the room, and neither has Gabriel. A couple of times he’s sent out for Shakey’s pizza and paid out of Papa Pete’s wallet. When the delivery guy shows up, he makes me hide in the bathroom, just like he made me hide in the car when he checked in to the motel. Gabriel doesn’t like anyone looking at me besides him. He says it’s a safety thing—witnesses would remember a young couple more than a single guy on his own. But I don’t think that’s the real reason.
There’s nothing to do here and I’m bored. I’ve asked if we can go out and buy magazines, but Gabriel doesn’t think that’s safe either. He thinks the cops are after us, and actually, as far as that goes, he may be right. Papa Pete’s murder was on the news last night. And even though nobody said anything about Gabriel and me, someone did see a car with two people in it pulling out of the driveway. Andthe news reporter said the witness gave a description to the cops. The newscaster had also said that both of Peter Cooper’s stepdaughters were missing. “It’s only a matter of time,” Gabriel kept saying. “We have to get out of here. It’s only a matter of time.” He hasn’t turned on the TV since.
It’s driving me nuts, the quiet. I’ve tried readingOnce Is Not Enoughagain, but I guess I don’t like the book so much anymore. January’s life is 99 percent miserable, and as much as her dad may love her, he can’t protect her from any of it.
The only other book in this room is the Bible in the nightstand drawer, so I’ve been reading that, just to look at something that isn’t Gabriel’s face.
The good news is, he got us a room with twin beds. He said he doesn’t want to make me do anything I’m not ready to do. “You’re lucky. I’m not like other guys. I care about your feelings.” This is what he tells me, this boy who wouldn’t let me break up with him, who killed the only father I ever knew and made me shoot him too. Who sleeps with a gun to make sure I don’t get away. Who won’t even let me buy a fucking magazine!!! Sorry for swearing, but come on, Aurora Grace. My feelings. Sure.
