Shit, said Ren.
Thats bad news, said Cliff.
How old is she? said Ren.
Glenn let out a breath. Shes fourteen.
4
From the windows of The Merlin Lodge amp; Spa, the peaks of the Tenmile Range over Breckenridge glowed against the black sky. Snow was falling, more than was forecast, a white powdery gift for the next days competitors. The town was hosting a snowboarding championship two weeks ahead of the world-famous Winter Dew Festival, when up to one hundred thousand visitors would hit Breck.
Mark and Erica Whaley sat at a table against the wall half way down the restaurant.
OK, said Mark, looking at his watch. Its eleven thirty. I told the sitter Id go check on the kids half an hour ago.
Erica pulled the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket beside the table and held it over her glass.
I think youll find thats empty, said Mark, smiling.
Erica leaned back in her chair. Oh, well
There was a moment of silence between them.
Honey, are you OK? said Erica, reaching out for Marks hand.
Yes, he said. His jaw clenched. Why? Im fine. Youd be the first to know if I wasnt.
Exactly, said Erica. I am the first to know
Whats that supposed to mean? said Mark.
It means that most of the time I know before you do that something is up, said Erica.
Thats ridiculous, said Mark. Nothing is up.
Calm down, said Erica.
Im just tired of being asked, said Mark.
So, I wont ask, then, said Erica.
Thank you, said Mark.
I wont care any more if youre OK, said Erica.
Honey
Ill be one of those wives who lets her husband come and go, tends to her children, sleeps with the pool guy and plays bridge with her lady friends.
Were never getting a pool, said Mark.
Erica smiled.
I only ask because I care, she said.
Yeah, I get that, said Mark.
Dont be like that.
Honey, were on vacation, said Mark.
Away from things, said Erica. Isnt that a good time to talk?
Sure it is, said Mark. But lets not get into the are you OK thing.
Erica gestured to the waiter walking past.
Could we get another bottle of champagne, please? she said.
You bet, said the waiter.
Thank you, said Erica. She looked at Marks face. Oh, come on. Im fine.
I didnt say a word, said Mark.
Erica made an expression to mimic his.
But two bottles really? said Mark. Weve got snowboarding tomorrow, the championships, the kids
You dont have to worry about me, said Erica.
Emphasis on the me, said Mark.
Erica rolled her eyes.
From the lady with the horror of eye-rolling, said Mark. There was an emphasis, he said. Subconscious or not
That is not fair, said Erica. You know Im not like that.
Do you know something? said Mark. Being mean when youre drunk is a drink problem too
Wow, said Erica. Mark wasnt looking at her. What has gotten into you? She waited. Mark, look at me.
He did.
Are you OK? she said.
Youre seriously asking me that, said Mark, after everything I just said
Ericas eyes were alight. Oh my God, I have put up with so much shit from you. For months! Have you any clue? You work late, or youre locked away in the den-
Its been really busy. You know that-
We have sex once a month- said Erica.
Mark looked at her like she was nuts.
Trust me, said Erica. She paused. Once a month I feel hideous.
Hideous? said Mark. What the ? His face was stricken.
Im thirty-nine years old and I feel like a hag, she said. My husband barely comes near me. So forgive me for asking if everything is all right. And its not just about sex. Its about you being distant. From all of us. Sure, here we are in a beautiful hotel, but whats the point? Ive tried tonight, and no, Im still getting nothing from you. So, forgive me for trying to get something from a bottle of champagne.
Mark said nothing.
Im your wife, said Erica. I know you. Im not asking if youre OK for the hell of it. Im asking because I know that everything is not OK. Im asking a question I know the answer to, whether you do or not, whether youre lying to me or not. Im giving you an out, Mark. Im giving you a chance to tell me the truth. Because I know you. And, therefore, I know that something is not right. Her chest was heaving. Do you even know the significance of this weekend?
What? said Mark. Of course I do. Im the one whos spent years trying to get a judge to let me have my daughter overnight-
Youre not the only one, said Erica. I was there too. I was the one who helped to change that judges mind, who gave you the stability to-
I gave myself the stability, said Mark. Im the one who went for treatment, Im the-
Anyway, Im not talking about Laurie, said Erica. Im talking about us.
Mark paused. Our anniversary is Tuesday. Not tonight. Not this weekend. Seriously, Erica. Did you think Id forgotten?
Erica looked away. I yes. I did. Im sorry.
Mark shook his head. Why would you think Id forget that?
Because of everything I just said to you. And because
Because what? said Mark.
Erica looked him in the eye. Mark, are you seeing someone else?
He stared at her. He took a deep breath. Then he threw his napkin onto the table. Im going to check on the kids.
Ren and Cliff waited as Glenn Buddy held his hand over the phone to talk to a nurse.
He came back on the line. The vic wont be ready to talk any time soon.
Were there any signs of forced entry at the house? said Cliff.
Yup, said Glenn. He broke in the back door. She was alone; her parents were at the movies.
And you think its the same guy ? said Cliff.
And you think its the same guy ? said Cliff.
Even though its forced entry in the victims own home.
Ren glanced at Cliff, but he missed it.
Yes, said Glenn. Similar build, frenzied, same unwashed smell, terrible breath, stab wounds in all the same places.
Ren knew where those places were and it was horrific.
Anything left at the scene this time? said Cliff.
Nothing that hopped out, said Glenn. Our Evidence Response Teams going through it. And were still trying to round up kids from the Kennington party. Its The Silent Order of the Teenage Freaks
What do you need from us? said Cliff. Shoot.
Mark Whaley rode the elevator to the third floor of The Merlin Lodge and Spa. He jogged down the dark hallway. He turned the key in the door of Room 304. The sitter blonde, curvy, sixteen years old was standing in front of him naked.
5
The restaurant at The Merlin had emptied, apart from Erica Whaley. She sat scrolling through her cell phone, glancing up when her husband appeared in the restaurant doorway, then turning her eyes back to the screen. Mark sat down. His heart was pounding. Sweat dampened the hair at his temples.
For minutes, they sat in silence. Erica had put away her phone and was staring at the floor.
She spoke quietly. I dont want to be this couple, she said.
What couple? said Mark.
I dont want to be two people staring across a table trying to find the person they fell in love with. Tears slid down her face.
For a long time, Mark Whaley said nothing. Then he reached out and squeezed her hand. Pulling her with him, he stood up and took her in his arms. Im so sorry, he said. I youre right. Ive been I am so sorry. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my whole life. I am not seeing anyone else. I am so hurt that you asked. You are my world, Erica Whaley. And anything I have ever said or done that may have made you think otherwise is wrong. I cant bear it. I cant bear any of this.
Erica pulled back. Any of what? she said, squeezing his arms.
Just conflict, he said. Life.
Life? said Erica. Life is wonderful.
He hugged her tight. Life is wonderful, he said over her shoulder, out to the world.
How are the kids? said Erica.
Asleep, said Mark. Lets stay a while longer the sitter was in the middle of watching something on the television. Im sure she wont mind.
Ren Bryce pulled out the top drawer of her desk to get some gum. The list of new psychiatrists she had so enthusiastically printed out at five a.m. the previous month was folded there, as likely to be used as the throat lozenges, the broken watch, and the birthday candles. After all, she was fine.
Shit Garys email.
Ren grabbed her mouse and went to her flagged emails. Gary Dettling had sent her one two weeks earlier that had a vague resonance.
She clicked on it.
Ren,
Ive set this up:
Monday, November 16, 1 p.m. Dr Leonard Lone.
Recommendation from a friend
This Monday.
Ren sat back in her chair, and stared up at the ceiling.
Im fucking fine, people.
Gary Dettling was the only one in the office who knew Ren was bipolar. Before he had hired her for Safe Streets, he had trained her as an undercover agent, and then became her case agent on one of the most well-known undercover assignments in the Bureau it had proved Rens talents, and almost destroyed her. Not long afterwards, she had been diagnosed. The arrangement with Gary was that she always had to be under a psychiatrists care, but he allowed her to use an outside psychiatrist, because she had never clicked with an Agency one.
She read the reply she had sent him.
Thanks so much, Gary. Ill be there.
In the meantime, please, someone, give me a plausible reason not to be.
Gary walked into the bullpen as Ren was closing his mail. He was hard to miss tall, dark and athletic, he was the perfect front man for Safe Streets, and a boss that no-one could or would argue with.
Guys, this is SA Ben Rader, said Gary.
A short guy stepped forward from behind Gary and gave a small nod. He was five foot eight, with tanned skin and black hair. He had green, smiling eyes. He was dressed in black jeans, with a military shirt hanging open over a black t-shirt. He had a wide silver band on the middle finger of his right hand. He was shifting from one foot to the other, and had jammed his hands into his pockets. He looked about eighteen.
The Young and the Restless.
Ben is one of our finest UC graduates, said Gary.
Yup, said Ben. Strictly deep cover in retirement homes
Ren laughed. He flashed a big smile her way.
Im just passing through, said Ben. I thought Id catch up with Gary, say hi.
Please, excuse me, said Ren, standing up, and moving around her desk. She pointed out the door. I was on my way to the ladies room. She moved to walk past Ben and Gary.
This is SA Ren Bryce, said Gary.