Tanner

by Dale Mayer

  Wynn sat back with a feeling of shock. “Can you tell me why or what happened?”

  “He sometimes won’t even talk to me.”

  “Why? He was, as you said, at the top of his game. He was doing great.” Wynn didn’t understand. The Steve she knew would never have ended up like that. She wanted to know what happened. Usually there was an accident in the air. And then she knew. “He had a close call, didn’t he? One that scared the crap out of him.”

  “Oh, he sure did. He was up with a couple friends, and something happened to his gear. He survived, fairly safely. Like, he didn’t break anything. He was really sore for a long time. He ended up coming down pretty rough, and I think he just saw his life passing before his eyes and realized he needed to make a change.”

  “Is it a good change though?” she asked. “Or is he hiding, just not wanting to do anything?”

  “That’s a good question. It’d be really good if you guys could come and see him.” And then she went silent for a long moment before she tentatively asked, “If Todd can’t … That is … I’m so sorry. I forgot he was badly injured.”

  “He was, but he is slowly recovering. He’s walking again, although with crutches to keep his balance, but he’s getting there.”

  “Oh, I’m delighted to hear that,” Tanya said warmly. “Todd was always the best. When he crashed, we all thought for sure he was a goner.”

  “I know. I had a crash myself here just a few days ago,” Wynn said ruefully. “It was only because of the quick actions of one of the people I was with that I didn’t have a repeat of Todd’s accident myself.”

  “Oh, my God! That would have been terrible,” Tanya cried out. “Were you hurt?”

  “No.” She laughed. “I don’t know how or what good deed I did to deserve it, but I didn’t get injured in any way. I was pretty terrified though, and I have to admit I haven’t been up since then but mostly because of other circumstances. It’s not because I’m scared.”

  “Yeah? You know? That’s what Steve said to me too. He said that he’d go up. He just needed a day or two. But then that day or two ended up being more than a day or two, and, by the time I realized he hadn’t been up at all, I think it was too late,” she said quietly. “So make sure you do get back up because I know how much you love it. You were teaching, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, for the last couple years.”

  “You two were the brother-and-sister duo nobody could catch up to.” Tanya laughed. “I was always jealous, even though I didn’t paraglide. I hated that sport. But you guys were crazy about it.”

  “It was in our blood. But now we spend most of our time on the ground. I guess life’s like that. It’s cyclical,” she said with a smile.

  “I guess,” Tanya said. “We’re not very far away. We’re outside San Diego. Steve’s got one of those fancy million-dollar homes on the ocean. Why don’t you come down and visit?”

  “I’d like that,” Wynn said. “I know Todd would too. I think it’s important to stay connected to the friends we made. Recovery is hard enough. But, when you do it alone, it’s a bitch.”

  The two women set up plans. Wynn wrote the date down on a notepad beside her, knowing she’d have to confirm it with Todd first. With a quick promise to call back with their answer, she got up and headed to the kitchen. Todd was there, holding a cup of coffee, looking a little worse for wear after an obviously bad night.

  “Don’t you look like shit after a late night of drinking,” she said cheerfully.

  He just glared at her.

  She chuckled. “Is that what I look like when you say that to me?”

  He nodded. “But you look worse.”

  She grinned at the typical-brother response. “So you want to go visit Steve?”

  He looked up at her in surprise.

  She held out her phone and wiggled it in the air. “Just got off the phone with Tanya.”

  Todd leaned forward. “How is he?”

  Wynn shook her head. “Not good.” Her tone was brisk. “He did have an accident after the season. He was up with friends, and his equipment failed. He did survive, but it scared the crap out of him.”

  “It scares the crap out of all of us,” Todd said with a sad smile. “But he didn’t get hurt?”

  “Banged up and bruised but not too bad. It was more the experience. He hasn’t been up since,” she said quietly.

  Todd stared at her. And then the corners of his mouth turned down, and he nodded. “I understand exactly how that feels.”

  She grabbed her brother’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “Nothing you can do about it,” he said. “I’m not sure I’m capable of going up again anyway.”

  It was the first time he’d ever said that. She’d thought for sure that was what drove him with his research for a safer glider. And now she had to wonder. “I tentatively set up a visit for Thursday at noon.”

  Todd considered that and nodded. “It’d be really nice to see Steve. Apparently we have lots to talk about.”

  “I know. How sad is that?”

  “Did you mention anything about our problems?”

  She shook her head. “No. I thought it was enough of a shock just to contact her out of the blue. And I figured it would be best if we explain it once, and that it should be in front of Steve and his sister.”

  Todd nodded. “Good idea.”

  Tanner walked in just then, running a hand through his hair. His face lit up at the sight of the coffee.

  “Hungover?” she teased.

  “Last time I was hungover I was sixteen,” he said. “You learn in the military to never let things get that far. But I’ll never say no to coffee.” He poured himself a cup and sat down at the table. “Did I hear Steve’s name mentioned?”

  She nodded and filled him in.

  He stared at her. “Another accident, one that killed another career?”

  Her face grim, she nodded. “Exactly.”

  “So can I be invited to lunch that day?”

  “I thought you had a job to do,” she said.

  “I’ll take that day off,” he said, sending her a long look. “You know somebody else needs to be there. Not only does somebody else have to make sure the right questions get asked but you need a witness to whatever Steve says.”

  Her stomach started to knot. “You can’t possibly think he had anything to do with Todd’s accident?”

  “No, probably not,” he said slowly. “But that doesn’t mean Steve doesn’t know something and has stayed quiet for the last couple years.”

  “If that’s the case, why would he speak now? To me? And especially in front of an unknown witness?” Todd asked. “Nobody wants to admit something like that after the fact.”

  “Probably because he had a bad accident himself. Maybe he has a suspicion about what went down with you that he hadn’t realized before it affected him personally. It’s one thing to suspect something. It’s another thing when that suspicion is confirmed.”

  “Then why wouldn’t he go to the police?” Todd asked.

  Tanner turned to Wynn. “You said he’s housebound. What do you want to bet it’s more than just a fear of flying that’s keeping him that way? What if he’s afraid of a second attempt on his life?”

  *

  Thursday morning Tanner pulled up in front of Wynn’s house and walked inside the open workshop. There was no sign of either brother or sister. As he wandered past each office, one at one end, one at the other, he found each inside their own office, each on their computers. He ended up at Wynn’s office and knocked on the door. When she looked up and smiled, he walked in. “Are you guys ready to go?”

  She gasped, looked down at the clock on her computer and nodded. “I didn’t realize it was so late.” She stood, grabbed her sweater off the back of her chair and picked up her purse.

  Although she might not have been aware of the time, she was prepared. They walked together over to Todd, who was working away on his computer.

  He groaned when
they walked in and said, “I just need another hour.”

  “Well, you’re not getting it right now,” Wynn said firmly. “We’re going to see Steve. He needs us too.”

  Todd shot her a look, but he logged off the computer, pushed back his chair and grabbed his crutches. “Fine, but I don’t want to be gone too many hours. I want to get this finished today.”

  Tanner kept his grin to himself. He knew several other people just as dedicated to their work. Mason’s partner, Tesla, was one of them. Often Mason had to drag her away from her work in order to eat. Devlin’s partner was another one. She was an inventor and computer programmer and God-only-knew-what-else, but her current specialty was drones. And, when she got into a project, nothing got her out. Devlin had been known to pick her up and carry her away from her workstation, kicking and screaming.

  Tanner could imagine Todd was of the same ilk. Dedicated to his work, so caught up that he ate, lived and breathed every bit of it. It wasn’t a bad way to be if you had a passion like that. But, for those around them, Tanner wondered just how easy those people were to live with.

  They were a little late pulling up to the beautiful waterfront property. Tanner stood beside his Jeep and whistled. “Wow, isn’t this something?”

  “Yeah, it is.”

  He looked over at the two of them. “Did you get this kind of money from endorsements?”

  They both shook their heads. “No, but Steve came from a wealthy family to begin with. I think this is the family home. No, the other one was small, wasn’t it?” Todd looked over at Wynn in confusion.

  “His family did have waterfront property, but I believe they sold it when they moved to Europe and split the money between the kids, or so I’m thinking. Steve added to his pot and bought this place.”

  They walked down the big wide Spanish staircase. As they came around the corner, there was a massive swimming pool with an infinity-edge hot tub and a fantasy backyard.

  Wynn called out, “Tanya? Steve?”

  There was a cry from inside the house, and large glass doors opened up. A voluptuous young woman stepped out, her smile huge and bright as she raced toward Wynn. The two women hugged. Wynn introduced Tanner to her, and they shook hands. Then Tanya turned, looked at Todd and smiled. She gave him a gentler hug and said, “Damn, it’s good to see you two. Steve is inside.”

  They followed her through the walkway between all the glistening blue water. Tanner marveled at what money could buy. The ocean went on as far as they could see. Neighbors were a long way off on the sides—at least a long way off compared to some city lots—and everywhere was this gorgeous luxury. Tanner had never had an opportunity to have something like this. He wasn’t sure it was for him anyway.

  He could do with twenty acres twenty minutes out of town. He’d much rather have privacy and a little less luxury than luxury and a whole lot less privacy. He stepped inside the gourmet kitchen to see a man leaning against the fridge.

  Todd hobbled forward. “Steve?”

  Steve studied him for a long moment, and then there was almost a visible relief as if he finally recognized him. The two men hugged each other. Tanner watched their mannerisms curiously. They were normal except one thing was evident—Steve was afraid.

  He saw Tanya catch Wynn’s gaze. She shrugged and mouthed See? He’s like this a lot.

  Wynn gave Steve a big hug and said, “It’s so good to see you.”

  Steve looked at her with a heavy sigh. “I figured you guys would be coming and looking for me. I swear I didn’t know.” And then tears formed in the corner of his eyes. “And I’m so damn glad you’re here now. I haven’t been able to sleep. I haven’t been able to do anything for fear of what you would say, fear of what you would do. And, even now, even though I know I deserve it, I’d much rather have it over with so I can sleep again and know it’s done and dusted, and I can maybe finally move on. But, right now, damn it, I’m just a wreck.”

  Wynn looked over at Todd. He stared back at her. They both turned to look at Tanner. He turned to look at Tanya, but she stared in shock at her brother.

  “Dear God, Steve. What have you done?”

  Chapter 12

  Wynn barely recognized Steve. He used to be a tall gangly guy. He was still tall, obviously, but the gangly part had shifted to being bone-rack skinny. He moved with sharp, stark movements, as if he never rested, as if he was never at peace. When they all finally sat down in the living room, coffee served by Tanya, Wynn managed to say, “Steve, what happened?”

  He looked at her with haunted eyes. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “At the beginning.” Tanner used a calm, steely voice. “In a case like this, that’s really the only place.”

  Steve gave a small nod. He gripped Todd’s arm. “I’m so sorry. I hope you can forgive me.”

  Todd frowned at him. He wasn’t saying yes, but neither was he saying no. “Tell me,” he said.

  “It was after your accident,” Steve said. “We were all still in shock. I remember sitting there in the bar, thinking that could have been me. Wondering how much I really wanted to continue with this lifestyle. I’d seen accidents before, but I hadn’t seen the men involved immediately afterward. But I had seen you. I saw your twisted legs. I saw the blood. I saw the open bone.” He shuddered. “It was the worst I’ve ever seen.”

  Wynn watched the young man’s face, the myriad expressions crossing it. She couldn’t believe the change in his demeanor either. Steve always used to be the guy who stood up straight, gave you a big smile, had a great big belly laugh. He lived large, and he loved life. Now he looked like a shell of the man he had been. As she stared at him, she realized he wasn’t even thirty years old. He looked over fifty now.

  “Keep talking,” Wynn urged when he fell silent.

  He shrugged. “It’s hard to know what to say. I was at the pub that night, drinking my sorrows. I raised more than a glass or two in your honor, Todd, as I knew you were in the hospital, fighting for your life. I thought about going home, but then I grabbed my beer, and I went and sat in the corner. I didn’t want to talk to anybody. I didn’t want to have anything to do with anyone. Life sucked. Just seeing what had happened to you, well, it was like seeing my life pass before my eyes. And I don’t mean to demean what you went through, but it was … it was pretty rough.” His voice broke.

  Wynn was amazed at the depth of how Todd’s accident had struck Steve. Maybe it was a good thing, but seeing the man he was now, there had to be so much more to it.

  “The thing is, the way the pub was arranged,” he continued, “there were booths. I was sitting in mine, huddled down, moping, trying to forget what I’d seen of you after your accident. I could hear voices behind me.” He fell silent again.

  Todd gripped his hand. “Tell me.”

  Steve gave him a haunted look. “It’s hard.”

  Todd nodded. “I know. I was there.”

  At that, Steve winced again. “I could hear the men in the booth behind me talking. I thought I recognized one of the voices, but I wasn’t sure.”

  “Who was it?” his sister asked, moving to sit beside him. “Why did you never tell me about this?”

  He gave her a shuttered look. “Well, you were wrapped up in your latest boyfriend.”

  She winced. “Yeah, that’s when I was sleeping with as many of the paragliders as I could,” she said in a dry tone. “Let’s just say, I was young and stupid.”

  Wynn stared at her. “You were doing a lot of partying. Not still?”

  She shook her head. “Actually the partying led to drugs, and the drugs led to a really bad experience. I’d always kept to light drugs, usually in a party scenario. But I ended up with a little too much. I think it came in one of the drinks. I never did find out for sure, but I woke up in the hospital with my stomach being pumped. I made a change of lifestyle right then and there,” she said quietly. “Went off men, went off booze, went off drugs.”

  “I’m so glad,” Wynn said impulsively. �
��You scared me back then.”

  Tanya nodded. “I scared myself. I was lost when Mom and Dad moved away. I gave off a tough and capable exterior, but inside I was anything but. … I wasn’t suicidal, but I didn’t really care what happened to me. This guy,” she said, pointing her thumb at her brother, “was doing so well on the circuit and having such a ball, it seemed like he was such a success, and I was such a failure.” She gave her brother a sad smile. “The things we do to ourselves and to each other without intending to.”

  “I hear you there,” Todd said. “My sister and I have been to hell and back since my accident.”

  Tanya nodded. “Both of us had our own journeys, and they were difficult enough in their own way. But when you add in a sibling who’s going through a rougher journey, well, it’s hard to make any comparison and not feel bad.”

  Wynn smiled. “And yet, at the same time, you want to be there for them, and you want to grow from this so neither of you ends up stuck behind, but it’s hard.”

  “I kept telling Wynn to carry on and to forget about me,” Todd said. “She wouldn’t listen. I wanted her to leave and to have a life and to not hang around her crippled brother. She used to get so angry with me.”

  Tanya smiled. “I think that’s what pulled me through too. When Steve had a good year, I was having a great year. When he was having a bad time, I was having a worse time. But when I finally woke up and smelled the roses and realized I was on a downward spiral, Steve and I reconnected in a big way.”

  Wynn turned to look at Steve. “What were those men saying? And who were they?”

  “I thought it was Rog, but I wasn’t sure. He was talking about how pissed he was that, once again, he’d missed the title, and he thought for sure that, after you fell, Todd, that he’d take the title the next year. He sounded fairly fanatical about it, to tell you the truth.”

  “Did he make it sound like he’d had anything to do with the accident? Or was he just capitalizing on somebody else’s bad luck?” Tanner asked.