“Yes, it is,” Kendra said. “No one has a better right to ask.” She stared Wallach in the eye. “I’ve asked myself the same question. I was tempted and resisted the temptation. I thought I was being virtuous and doing the right thing. I didn’t realize that the lingering ramifications of not doing it would be this terrible. Not only for you, but for others.” She reached out and grasped his arm. “I’m sorry that you went through all this. I hope God brings you peace after tonight.”
“I do, too.” He looked down at her hand on his arm. “I hope we all have peace.” He glanced at Lynch. “He was right. I don’t have any right to blame you. You’re the one who caught the bastard. I’ve just been thinking it would have been so much easier for Sheila and me not to have had to go through that court case or the rest of it.”
“Yes,” she said unevenly. “I can see how you would think that. But we have to look forward now. After Colby is dead, it’s not the end for you. As I said, your Stevie wouldn’t have wanted that. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
She glanced at Lynch, then back at Wallach. “Look, Norman. Let us take you someplace where you can get some help. I know people who can make you feel a whole lot better.”
He frowned. “Do I have to go?”
“No. We’re not arresting you or anything. This is just for you.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“Fine. But can I have someone come and see you? They can help you here.”
He finally nodded. “Okay.”
“How about you let me hold on to that blade? Would you do that?”
He slowly, gingerly extended the carved blade.
She took it and slipped it into her jacket pocket. The thin blade felt light as air. She couldn’t even tell it was in her pocket. “Thank you, Norman.”
“You’re welcome.” He sat down in front of the television set. “Would you go now? I have to watch the news programs and make sure that Colby isn’t going to slip through the cracks because of those nutty people who want him to live because they never had a son like my Stevie.” He switched on the set. “I feel better that someone knows why I went to see Colby. It was kinda hanging over me.”
“I’m glad we know about you, too, Norman. Remember, you said that I can send someone to talk to you.” She stopped at the door. “That’s a promise, right?”
He nodded, his gaze on the TV screen.
Kendra turned to go.
“Kendra.”
She looked back at him.
“You may need peace even more than the rest of us,” Wallach said quietly. “I’m sorry I made it harder for you.”
“No problem.” She tried to smile as she left the apartment and hurried down the stairs.
“The hell it’s no problem.” Lynch was right behind her. He opened the front door for her. “He nearly tore you apart.”
“No, Colby tore me apart. Like Wallach said, life is hard. This is hell. None of it was Wallach’s fault. We’ve just got to keep him from killing himself after Colby is dead, and he has no purpose.” She got into the Ferrari. “As for blaming me, if he’d known about Myatt, he would have had a right to blame me even more. The chain never really stopped once Colby got his hands on Myatt to influence.” She held up her hand as he started to protest. “I know. You don’t have to tell me. That’s all under the bridge, and we have to move forward. Call Griffin and see if we have any more news on those disposable cell phones. He said that pinging business wasn’t a complete wash.” She took a deep breath to release the tension. “I hope someone can tell us something.”
“You’re a bit on edge.”
“Now why would I be on edge? Just because Colby is going to die, and I’m afraid Myatt will do something horrible to someone when he does?”
“That would do it.” He started the car. “You need this day to be over. But since you’re not like Wallach, who can park himself in front of a TV and zone out until the deed is done, I think we’ve got to keep you busy.” He smiled. “So that’s what we’ll do. I’ll keep you so busy that you won’t have time or mind to worry about Colby or Myatt. We’ll concentrate on details and pings and anything else that comes along. Deal?”
“Deal.” She looked at him with a surge of gratitude. He was solid and sledgehammer tough, and she could trust him to do anything he said he would do. How many people could you say that about? “So what’s first?”
“I guess we should report in to Griffin and see what progress he’s made.” Lynch routed the call through his car’s speakerphone. After briefly discussing their encounter with Norman Wallach, he said, “So what info do you have for us?”