Second Chair, A Stan Turner Mystery, Vol.4

by William Manchee

  *****

  “Wow, that's quite a story," I said. "So did you ever see Agnus again."

  "No, several weeks later Daddy was served with divorce papers. After the divorce we wandered around the country from Bakersfield to LA, to Phoenix and finally ended up in Dallas. Many times my father would come home drunk. I didn't like it when he did that, but at least we were together. When it did happen I'd clean him up, put him to bed and wash the stench of booze and vomit from his clothes."

  "Jeeze," I said. "You really had it tough."

  "It hasn't been fun. Daddy was married and divorced several times during the time we left Alaska and finally ended up in Dallas. I learned to get along with each of Daddy's companions although I often wondered why he needed them when he had me."

  "Well, even if you were taking good care of him, I'm sure he had other needs."

  "I know. It's just that none of his wives were worth a damn."

  "So did your father ever try to send you away again?" I asked.

  "No," Sarah replied. "I guess Daddy and I became pretty close having been through so much together. We had built a strong bond cemented by his guilt and my insecurity, I guess. Our life wasn't great but it was okay until Daddy met Joyce and fell in love."

  "Oh, really. She was different from the others?"

  "Yes, Joyce was a Christian Scientist and since Daddy had never been religious he agreed to become a Christian Scientist too so he could understand Joyce better and improve his own life."

  "How did that work out," I said.

  "Well, I will admit this marriage did change Daddy for the better. He dried up and finally gained some control over his life. I was glad he stopped drinking but I couldn't accept the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. None of it made much sense to me. It was very unrealistic. I tried to learn and understand it for Daddy's sake but I never felt comfortable with it."

  "So you didn't convert?"

  "Not really. I went through the motions but it never really took."

  I looked at my notes and saw that Joyce had a son. "What about Nate?"

  "Nate was a few years older than me. I liked Nate okay but it felt a little strange suddenly having a brother. We were never very close. Nate was preoccupied with football and the family and all our friends seemed to be enamored with the idea that someday he would be in the NFL. I don't know much about football. I've never had time for games. To this day I don't understand why everyone, including my own father, seems to revere Nate so."

  "Well, athletes are entertainers like movie stars," I said. "Everybody worships them nowadays. If Nate makes it, he'll be a millionaire, no doubt."

  "I guess," Sarah said.

  I looked at my watch. "Well, I guess that's enough for today. That was really fascinating. We'll get together again next week and you can tell me more about the last few years living with your father and Joyce, okay?"

  “Sure.”

  After Sarah had left, I turned and went back into my office to contemplate what Sarah had just told me. She was obviously a strong woman, a survivor who had been through hell. It occurred to me that she would do anything to protect her relationship with her father. But would she kill her own child? I couldn't see it. She would do the opposite. She was a protector. Like a mother bear watching over her cubs, she'd maul anyone who dared touch them. Unless, of course, it was all a facade. I was determined now, more than ever, to find out the truth.