It wont really be over until Cissy wakes up and is okay, Sam said soberly, thinking about the way his niece had looked the last time hed visited her hospital room.
Of course, Norah said with a sympathetic nod. But Maddy is safe, at least.
He hoped so. After the scares of the past couple of days, he wasnt quite ready to let her out of his sight.
I have to go back to D.C. Id only taken a couple of days off to go to the Hamptons, and Ive had a case blow up on me that I really need to attend to. Norah waited for the waitress to bring water to the table before she continued. Ive already arranged for the nice people at Limbaugh Motors to take me to the airport this afternoon. You dont need to worry about it.
That wasnt necessary-
I think it was, Norah said gently. I made a decision four years ago because I thought it was the right thing for everyone involved. I still think it was.
He looked down at Maddy, who was playing with the colorful place mat on the table, oblivious to their conversation. At least he hoped she was. So, back to how things were before?
Yes. She leaned a little closer, her eyes full of regret but also determination. Ill never be what she needs. We both know that. It makes no sense for me to disrupt her life every once in a while just because of biology. She wont understand why I always leave again. Shell think its something shes done when it really has nothing to do with her at all.
Sam would never understand how Norah could walk away from her daughter, but he also believed she was sincere in saying she didnt want to cause Maddy harm.
It was time to let Norah go completely and move on. No more hopes for something changing.
Norah wasnt going to change.
I would like frequent updates, however, Norah added. To know how the two of you are getting along.
Ill e-mail you.
The waitress approached with menus. Sam took one and bent to show Maddy what the childrens menu included. As she weighed the merits of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich versus chicken fingers, Sam glanced at Norah and found her smiling.
I was right, she said. You were meant to be a father.
On that, he thought, they could agree.
Are you going to sit in on the interrogation? Norah asked later, after the waitress had brought their orders.
Detective Tandy wouldnt let me.
Norah smiled. Shes quite the little authoritarian.
Shes right. It would be a conflict of interests.
But shell whisper the details in your ear later, no doubt.
Sam tried not to react to Norahs sly tone. She was clearly fishing for information about his relationship with Kristen, and since he didnt know how to define it himself, playing Norahs game would be folly.
If shes as good at interrogating suspects as she is at interrogating innocent people like me, Mr. Morris should break in no time. Norah settled back in her chair with a wry smile.
Sam hoped she was right. Because if Darryl Morris wasnt the person whod tried to kidnap Maddy, then Sam and the cops were back to square one.
THIS IS YOU IN THE surveillance video, isnt it? Kristen reached into the manila envelope lying on the table, pulled out the screen grab the deputy had supplied and slid it toward Darryl Morris.
Morris looked down at the photo, his complexion shiny with sweat. Morris had grown increasingly unnerved since the Birmingham Police had transferred him over to her custody. The interview room shed placed him in wasnt air-conditioned, by design, but it wasnt hot enough to warrant the perspiration dripping down the mans sallow cheeks. He looked queasy, well aware hed been caught red-handed.
That could be anyone.
Anyone wearing a tan windbreaker and a Braves cap.
Exactly. Morris looked at Foley, whod remained quiet to this point. Theres gotta be a lot of guys out there with Braves caps.
Who also happened to send angry letters to Sam Cooper? Foley asked reasonably.
And took pictures at Maddys preschool while Maddy was in attendance? Kristen added.
Im a part-time photographer. Big deal.
Apparently a courier, as well. Kristen tapped the photo.
Jeez, okay. I dropped off a package at the D.A.s office. Is that some sort of crime?
A terroristic threat comes to mind, Kristen said to Foley. Wouldnt you agree?
Id think thats fair.
Morriss eyes widened. Wait a second-terroristic threat? Sure, I wrote the jerk a couple of letters, but I didnt make any threats.
Kristen pulled a piece of paper from the envelope and placed it on the table in front of Morris. It was a full-size photocopy of the handwritten threat on the back of the last photo.
What does that say, Mr. Morris? she asked.
He stared at the words. I didnt write that.
That was in the envelope you delivered to Sam Cooper.
I didnt know what was in the envelope.
Why not? Kristen prodded.
Some guy paid me ten bucks to deliver it.
You needed ten bucks that bad? Kristen asked, skeptical. Come on, Darryl. You dont really expect me to buy this.
Your child for mine. Foley read the phrase written on the paper aloud, letting his tongue linger over each word. You lost your son in a terrible accident.
He was murdered.
Sam Cooper didnt see it that way, Foley said.
Wasnt his kid!
But Maddy Cooper is. Kristen leaned closer, dropping her voice a level. Must be hard for you, watching Maddy Cooper running around the playground, so full of life and promise.
No, Morris said, shaking his head. I think her fathers a bootlicking political hack, but Id never hurt a kid.
How about a teenager? Foley nodded at Kristen.
She pulled out another photo and laid it on the table in front of Morris. It was a photo taken at the crime scene of Sam Coopers niece Cissy lying unconscious and still, her face wet with blood from her head wound.
Morris recoiled. You think I did that?
Where were you this past Tuesday night? Kristen asked.
Morris looked at her suspiciously. At home.
Anybody there with you?
He looked down at his hands. No.
Nobody saw you at home?
I live up in Pell City, near the river. Not a lot of neighbors around.
You took these photos of Maddy, didnt you? Kristen pulled out the photocopies of the pictures Sam had received, both the more recent batch and the set from two days earlier.
He looked down at the photos again. She saw his eyelids flicker, and she knew she had him.
Why did you take the photos and send them to Sam Cooper? Why did you tell him, your child for mine? Kristen pulled up the chair across from Morris, settling down to look him in the eyes. He denied you the justice you needed, and yet there he was, with his perfect, happy little child. It wasnt fair, was it? That he could go home to his kid while the best you can do is go see a headstone.
Morriss eyes welled up with tears. Charlie didnt deserve to die. Yeah, he had some trouble, but he didnt deserve to die! He wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve. Sam Cooper didnt think his life was worth crap, or hed have tried that stupid son of a bitch who ran Charlie over!
You wanted to give Sam a taste of his own medicine. Kristen kept her voice low and soothing. Because he should know how it feels to lose his kid.
You wanted to give Sam a taste of his own medicine. Kristen kept her voice low and soothing. Because he should know how it feels to lose his kid.
Morris froze. No, I didnt say that-
Why did you take the photos, Darryl?
The guy paid me to.
What guy?
The guy who gave me the envelope. He was right outside the courthouse-didnt your cameras catch that, too?
Kristen slanted a look at Foley. He shrugged.
What did the guy look like? she asked, deciding it wouldnt hurt to play along.
I dont know-average. About my age. Blondish hair, going gray, maybe, what there was of it. Not short, not tall. Morriss face twisted with frustration. Go look at the video.
Kristen glanced at Foley again. He gave a little nod and slipped out of the room.
Kristen remained silent for a few minutes, deciding it wouldnt hurt to let Morris sweat a little more. She wasnt really buying his story about another man-what were the odds that there were two men, both with an axe to grind with Sam Cooper, collaborating on the threats against Maddy?
But might as well be thorough. Foley would check with Jefferson County Courthouse security and be back with the answer. Meanwhile, she could toy with Morris a little more, see if she could coax a confession out of him.
You dont believe me, do you? Morris broke the silence after a couple of minutes.
Dont you think its a bit of a coincidence that a guy who has it in for Sam Cooper managed to find the only other guy in town who feels the same way?
Maybe he heard about my sons case.
And just knew youd go along with his plan to terrorize Cooper?
I didnt know what he was going to do with the photos.
Then why did you take them?
He said he was working for Coopers old lady.
His old lady?
Yeah, the kids mother. Said she was looking to take the kid away from Cooper, and if Id take pictures of her at the day care it would prove he just pawned her off every day to other people to take care of.
Kristen frowned. Maddy Coopers mother is not seeking custody of Maddy.
Morris looked confused. Shes not?
No, shes not.
He pressed his lips into a tight, thin line. Then he lied to me about what he was up to.
Isnt it more likely that you decided to pick this excuse for your own behavior without knowing the real situation between Sam Cooper and his ex-wife? Kristen asked gently. Its understandable, to assume Maddys mother wanted custody. Most mothers do.
Youre trying to twist me up and make me cop to something I didnt do, Morris protested. I didnt touch that kid. Or that girl, either. He pushed away the photo of Cissy. I wouldnt do that.
Foley came back into the room. She looked up. He gave a small shake of his head.
The camera outside the courthouse didnt pick up anyone else with you, Mr. Morris, she said aloud.
Morris looked up at her, alarmed. He was there!
The camera didnt see him.
Im telling you-
Foley pulled up a chair next to Darryl Morris, crowding close. Mr. Morris, what say we start over from the beginning?
IS MOMMY REALLY GONE? Maddy asked Sam that afternoon as he fed her a snack of peanut butter, banana and crackers.