Free Parker 04 - The Fury by Jason Pinter Page A

wondered, now, if my attitude toward him, my
    anger, was compounded by the lack of hers.
    "I don't know when," I said. I took her hand. Held
    it. She held on to mine, but her eyes were far off, distant,
    trying to process the situation but clearly failing. To her,
    the notion of my father being arrested was like him
    being sent into outer space.
    "Well, what do I do?" she said. "Should I wait at
    home for him to be released?"
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    Jason Pinter
    "Home is a good idea, Mom," I said. "Do you have
    money?"
    She thought about this. "I don't know our checkingaccount information, but we keep a jar of emergency
    money in a safe."
    "How much is in there?" I asked.
    "Five thousand dollars," she said.
    "That should be enough for now," I said.
    "Mrs. Parker?" Amanda said. My mother turned to
    her. "My name is Amanda Davies. I'm Henry's...friend.
    I'm a lawyer, so please don't talk to anybody you don't
    know. Don't speak to reporters, don't give anybody
    money, and only talk to the police if you have a lawyer
    present. If you need one, tell the detective on the case
    and he'll help you retain one, free of charge. We'll do
    our best to get your husband out of this as soon as we
    can. So put that chicken in the freezer."
    "Thank you, dear," my mom said, her eyes twin
    kling as she smiled at Amanda. "You said you're a
    friend of Henry's...are you two in college together?"
    My mouth opened, but I didn't say anything.
    Amanda responded, "Something like that. You're
    welcome to come to New York with us if--"
    "Oh no, I could never do that." It was definitive. I
    wondered when my mother last left the state.
    "Do you want us to, I don't know, come over for
    dinner?" I asked.
    "Oh no," she said fervently. "The house is a godawful mess."
    I nodded, felt my eyes begin to sting.
    "Then I'll call you as soon as we get back," I said.
    "Be strong. We'll sort this out. Remember what
    The Fury
    79
    Amanda said. Don't talk to strangers, and also don't
    believe anything anyone says about Dad."
    "I know your father," she said sweetly. "If anyone
    says he did something wrong, they just don't know
    James."
    "I love you, Mom. It's good to see you." I ap
    proached, wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me
    back, fragile, like the tension in her joints might cause
    them to shatter. When we untangled, I held her hands
    for an extra moment, then she let them go. Sitting back
    down, she turned her attention to the ceiling. And we
    walked away.
    "You okay?" Amanda asked. She could tell I was
    rattled. More than that. It was all my memories--good,
    bad and wrenching--flowing back at once.
    "I'm not sure yet."
    "Will she be okay?"
    "She's survived being married to him for almost
    thirty years. I think a little while without him will be
    easier."
    "How are you holding up?" she asked.
    "Given the circumstances? Could be worse. I haven't
    had the nervous breakdown I was sure was coming
    when I saw her."
    "Do you believe your father's story? About the gun?
    The money?"
    I sighed. "Guess I have to. You know what's funny?"
    "What?"
    "I've never felt closer to him. Guess not too many
    sons and fathers can have being accused of murder as
    a way to relate to each other."
    10
    Amanda and I sat in the first row of the Bend County
    District Courthouse as my father was led into the room
    in handcuffs. My mother sat next to us, her eyes distant
    like she was viewing a movie, not watching her husband
    accused of murder. He was seated at a small wooden
    table next to a man in a natty suit, his temporary courtappointed lawyer, Douglas Aaronson. Once the case
    was transferred to New York we'd have to find him new
    representation. None of us could afford much of
    anything, so the best we could hope for was someone
    competent enough to either prove my father's inno
    cence, or at least keeps things progressing until we could
    prove it ourselves.
    Judge Catherine Rawling entered the courtroom.
    "All rise," the bailiff said. Everyone stood up. Aaronson
    had to prompt my father. He stood up