Page 125 of Tito

I had my doubts that I could watch anything regarding the capture and imprisonment of my brother. I gave a nod, nonetheless. “Okay.”

“Give your word these meetings and their contents will never be discussed. With anyone,” he said dryly.

“You have my word,” I said.

“That’s enough for me.” He stood and tugged the wrinkles from the military-esque jacket he wore. “Collateral damage.”

I realized he was wearing a SWAT outfit. My mind was going a thousand different directions trying to piece together what was about to happen. I mentally shook my head. “Excuse me?”

“The police officers,” he said. “They were collateral damage. Lives forfeited for the betterment of mankind.”

He gave a nod and turned away.

* * *

I’d never beable to know what was going through Cash’s mind immediately prior to his door crashing down, but I had my own ideas. I suspected he, like me, was coming to terms with the mistakes of his past.

Ultimately, Cash was a good man. A good man who made a decision to save the lives of his friends at any cost. He made that decision when he pulled the trigger, and once again when he confessed to the crime.

Cash certainly had his faults. We all did. Mine were no better than his, only different.

It saddened me that he didn’t want to see any of us before his arrest. He feared if any of us were near him that we would become part of the investigation. His last hours were spent with his child, his mother, and his wife.

There had been no updates from any of the men, or from the news.

Sick to my stomach with worry, I listened while Reggie watched a recorded episode of Jeopardy! from the previous day.

My mind—and my body—were numb.

“He uses his left hand to write checks to the charitable foundation named for him and wife Melinda.”

“Who is Bill Gates,” Reggie said.

“The distance a photon travels in a vacuum in 365 days, this unit is often hyphenated.”

“What is a light-year,” Reggie said. She looked at me. “You haven’t answered one, yet.”

“Sorry,” I said. “My mind’s elsewhere.”

“I hope it returns soon.” She rested her head against my shoulder. “I’m sick of you being a shell of your former self.”

I wondered if—and when—that day might come. I stroked her hair. “Me, too.”

During the reading of final Jeopardy, Astronomy buffs visit Idaho for the USA's first dark sky reserve; oddly, part of it is this resort area with a bright name, Reggie gave her response.

“Sun Valley,” she blurted.

The television went to the commercial break. I smiled to myself. I loved her dearly. If I had to paint a picture of the perfect woman, I’d paint one that would be her doppelganger.

“I love you,” I said.

She looked at me and smiled. “I love you, too.”

Breaking news! San Diego Sheriff’s detective Ted Gottschalk cracks the case of a two-decade long series of SoCal bank heists and leads a SWAT team into a deadly shootout. More after Jeopardy!

My heart faltered. “Did you—”

Reggie leaped from the couch. “Oh my God,” she cried. “Oh my God. I hope he’s okay.”