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“Why do I get the feeling that somehow there is a cryptic message underneath what you are saying to me right now, Taz?”
He shifted in his seat, his hands folded underneath his chin.
“I saw the way you were this afternoon with the stuffed dog your father had given you; the way you wanted to fix it so it looked as good as new again. Is that what you think is possible with the relationship between you and your father, should he come back into your life?”
I mulled over his words in my head.
“Is that really the question you are asking me, Taz?”
“I’m not following?”
“I think the question that you just asked me is not really the question that is burning in your mind. I think what you really want to know is if somehow, my father should make contact with me, be it in person, or by phone, or by freaking carrier pigeon, what I will do. Am I right?”
“It’s a legitimate question, Lindsey.”
“Then why did you dance around it? Why didn’t you phrase it the way it should have been asked? I don’t want you playing Psych 101 with me, Taz. I don’t want you asking me things in order to interpret it to mean something else or speculate my behavior that way. If we can’t be upfront and honest, then what the hell are we doing hanging with each other?”
“Fair enough,” he replied, “I get it.”
“Okay, then. Here’s your answer. If my father somehow approached me and asked me to help him hide, or contacted me to meet him somewhere, I would refuse. I would tell him that I loved him. I would also tell him to turn himself into the authorities and let it play out in our judicial system. I would advise him that under no uncertain terms would I assume the role of aiding and abetting his flight from prosecution. I would also ask that he never contact me again if he didn’t plan on following my advice.”
Taz reached over and picked up my hand, gently lifting it to his lips. He kissed it softly, his green eyes gazing at me.
“What if during all of this, you were made aware of where he was staying, or where he was heading. Would you assist the authorities in seeking him out?”
“Do you mean like saying I would meet him and then double-crossing him so that he could be apprehended?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Absolutely not.”
CHAPTER 29
Taz and I had driven home in silence from the restaurant. I suspected he was not happy with the answer I had given him on his final question.
I had to be honest though. I knew what my father had done was wrong. I also believed that people that break the law need to be held accountable. I had to draw the line at playing ‘bounty hunter’ with my own father though.
When we got home, Mom and Slate were still not in yet. I felt like Taz was only sticking around out of some sense of obligation to Slate. It was starting a bit to feel like I had a babysitter.
“Look Taz, I know you probably want to get back to your place and take care of whatever slipped through the cracks while you were in Charlottesville over the past few days. I’m fine here by myself. I’m not afraid of the dark. I don’t think I am in any imminent danger or anything.”
“So that’s it, huh? You’re kicking me to the curb?”
“No, not at all. It just seems to me that maybe there is someplace else you’d rather be.”
“And you would know this how?"
“Well, for one thing, you’ve barely spoken to me since we left the restaurant. I can only conclude that you didn’t like the answer I gave you. Would you prefer I not be honest with you?”
“Baby girl, I am not displeased with your answer. It was honest and it was normal. I wouldn’t have expected you to answer any other way.”
“Suppose it was the other way around, Taz. Suppose it was your father in that scenario and I was you and you were me. How would you have answered that question?”
“I really don’t know, Lindsey. My main concern is for you, at this point. I hope that you are never put into that position,” he said softly, lifting my chin to kiss me softly. “I hope that there is another way.”
“Then you aren’t upset with me?”
“No, not at all. If I was quiet it’s only because I have a lot on my mind for the operation in Baltimore that is coming up.”
