A Measure of Darkness
Page 29
“I must’ve stood there for five minutes before I went back to bed.
“He never noticed me.
“I have no idea how many nights he spent doing that, while I slept. Even if it was the once, it’s more than I ever did.
“My brother is a hustler. I mean that in the best sense. I respect him for it. I respect that, no matter where he is in life, he’s striving to improve. And I think that what you did here today, getting married, is the next step in that process.
“Now I want to tell you a story about when I met Andrea, on the night we learned she and Luke were engaged. It took place right after they announced they had some big news. You’d expect Andrea, when we ask what it is, to say, We’re getting married. That’s not what she said. The first thing you said, Andrea, was, ‘Luke’s playing ball again.’
“I didn’t grasp the significance of those words then. Remember, I’ve just met this person, and suddenly she’s marrying my brother. It flew right past me. But as I’ve gotten to know you, Andrea, I’ve come to appreciate what you were doing, and why it was important.”
Andrea was nodding, and smiling, tears streaming down her face.
At last, someone gets me.
“It’s easy to feel sympathy for someone when they’re flat out on the floor. A lot harder is sharing their joy without fear of losing yourself in the process. Andrea, I remember the pride on your face when you told us about Luke. His happiness was your happiness. That takes love, and it takes courage. It’s what makes the two of you good together.”
I raised my glass. “It’s a lesson we could all stand to learn. It’s what I’m striving for, and I thank you both for showing me a path. To my brother the hustler, and the woman who is his equal. Your happiness is ours. I wish you a lifetime supply of it, getting better every day. Cheers.”
2:01 a.m.
Amy kicked her shoes toward the bedroom closet. “I’m gonna burn this dress.”
She turned around, lifting her hair so I could unzip her. “Your speech was sweet.”
“Thanks. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to get up there and lie.”
“I’m sure it meant a lot to them.” She hopped out of the dress and padded semi-nude to the bathroom. I watched her go, savoring her form, then peeled off my suit and rolled onto the bed.
As a rule, I go to sleep early and wake up early. Two in the morning is not my finest hour. I was drifting downward, grateful for having the day off, feeling around for my phone so I could silence the four thirty a.m. alarm.
“Clay? Can you come in here, please?”
“Everything okay?”
“It’s fine. Come here.”
She was perched on the edge of the tub. She had neglected to flush the toilet. I reached past her to do it but she stopped me by holding out a white plastic stick.
“Look at this, please,” she said.
Bristles at one end. A window displayed a pair of pink lines.
“That’s two, right?” she said.
On the counter by the sink sat an open pink-and-white First Response box. Results in 3 minutes. The set of instructions accordioned out on the counter.
I found the diagram, held it up for comparison.
“Looks like two to me,” I said.
“I’m not imagining it.”
“The second one is faint, but it’s definitely there.” I showed her in the instructions: “ ‘Any two lines means positive, even if one is lighter than the other.’ ”
I put the paper down. “This is why you weren’t drinking?”
“I took half a sip. I had to. Your mom was giving me funny looks. You don’t think that’s a problem, do you?”
“I’m sure it’s fine. How long have you known?”
“Three minutes,” she said.
“How long have you suspected?”
“A week. My boobs are bigger. I’m kind of insulted you haven’t noticed.”
“Sorry. I’m noticing now. They look awesome.”
“Thanks.”
“Like, amazing.”
“Thanks, honey. I appreciate that.”
We looked at each other.
“So,” Amy said. “What do we do now?”
“We could dance,” I said.
“Good idea,” she said.
So we did.
To Faye
—JONATHAN KELLERMAN
To Gavri
—JESSE KELLERMAN
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dep. Erik Bordi, Capt. Melanie Ditzenberger, Sheriff Gregory Ahern, Melissa Lewkowicz, Jesse Grant, Brian McMahon.
Special thanks to Sgt. Patricia Wilson.
By Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman
A Measure of Darkness (2018)
Crime Scene (2017)
The Golem of Paris (2015)
The Golem of Hollywood (2014)
By Jonathan Kellerman
ALEX DELAWARE NOVELS
Night Moves (2018)
Heartbreak Hotel (2017)
Breakdown (2016)
Motive (2015)
Killer (2014)
Guilt (2013)
Victims (2012)
Mystery (2011)
Deception (2010)
Evidence (2009)
Bones (2008)
Compulsion (2008)
Obsession (2007)
Gone (2006)
Rage (2005)
Therapy (2004)
A Cold Heart (2003)
The Murder Book (2002)
Flesh and Blood (2001)
Dr. Death (2000)
Monster (1999)
Survival of the Fittest (1997)
The Clinic (1997)
The Web (1996)
Self-Defense (1995)
Bad Love (1994)
Devil’s Waltz (1993)
Private Eyes (1992)
Time Bomb (1990)
Silent Partner (1989)
Over the Edge (1987)
Blood Test (1986)
When the Bough Breaks (1985)
OTHER NOVELS
The Murderer’s Daughter (2015)
True Detectives (2009)
Capital Crimes (with Faye Kellerman, 2006)
Twisted (2004)
Double Homicide (with Faye Kellerman, 2004)
The Conspiracy Club (2003)
Billy Straight (1998)
The Butcher’s Theater (1988)
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Monster (2017)
Silent Partner (2012)
The Web (2012)
NONFICTION
With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars (2008)
Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children (1999)
Helping the Fearful Child (1981)
Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer (1980)
FOR CHILDREN, WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED
Jonathan Kellerman’s ABC of Weird Creatures (1995)
Daddy, Daddy, Can You Touch the Sky? (1994)
By Jesse Kellerman
Potboiler (2012)
The Executor (2010)
The Genius (2008)
Trouble (2007)
Sunstroke (2006)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JONATHAN KELLERMAN is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted, True Detectives, and The Murderer’s Daughter. With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored The Golem of Hollywood, The Golem of Paris, and Crime Scene. He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous
nonfiction works, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children and With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live in California, Mexico, and New York.
jonathankellerman.com
Facebook.com/JonathanKellerman
JESSE KELLERMAN won the Princess Grace Award for best young American playwright and is the author of Sunstroke, Trouble (nominated for the ITW Thriller Award for Best Novel), The Genius (winner of the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle), The Executor, and Potboiler (nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel). He lives in California.
jessekellerman.com
Facebook.com/JesseKellermanAuthor
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