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“Am I?”
“Just like you did as a boy when a riddle had you stumped.”
He wasn’t so much stumped by the things that weren’t adding up as he was deeply disturbed by the things that were.
“Why all the questions about Glenn?” The Major asked.
“I’m worried about him.”
“In what context?”
In the context of Glenn taking him to ball games when his own father was off making speeches. Glenn giving him advice on women, which he hadn’t taken, and on where to buy the best boots, which he had. Glenn sparing him a paddling over an Easter egg prank. Glenn with an unspecified problem that was causing him to drink too much and giving him anxiety attacks.
Suddenly Trapper didn’t want to talk any more. Or think any more. He stood up. “I gotta go.”
“John—”
“You look tired. I think changing rooms must’ve worn you out.”
“We didn’t finish earlier.”
“Finish what?”
“You know damn well what,” The Major snapped. “I told you I thought you were right.”
“Thanks.”
“But—”
“See? This is why I avoided a finish. I didn’t want to hear the ‘but.’”
“But I don’t want your obsession, as noble as it is, to destroy you. Taking on somebody like a Thomas Wilcox—”
“Believe me, I’m aware of the risks involved. Look at what happened to you.”
“Then for god’s sake ask yourself if persisting is worth it. Can’t you just drop it?”
Trapper placed his hands on his hips. “Even though you think I’m right, I have ironclad integrity, conviction, etcetera, you’re advising that I drop it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why?”
“Why should I drop it? Tell me. Give me a reason.”
“Because I want you to have a life.”
“I do. This is it.” He stabbed his finger toward the floor. “And this is the second time today I’ve had to tell somebody that.”
“Kerra?”
/> “You’ll be glad to know that she’s safely off my destructive path. She’s gone back to Dallas.”
“By choice? Or did you drive her away?”
He didn’t reply to that. Instead he said, “I’m not dropping it.”
