Page 29 of Go Now
‘Go on,’ Morrison said.
‘You had photographs of Ms Vasquez’s home.Images of the front drive.A map showing how to get there.Why would you have them?’
‘Elena sent them to me.’
It was such a surprise that Kate almost flinched.‘Why would she do that?’
‘She got in touch not long ago.She felt bad about how the film depicted me.She wanted to understand my perspective better, well… she thought we couldbothunderstand one another better if we met and talked.So she invited me to her home on Long Island.’
‘When did you meet?’
‘We didn’t, in the end.We made a date, which she had to cancel.Then we made another date, whichIhad to cancel.You know how it is.Lives, schedules, obligations.We just didn’t get round to it, and now, of course, we never will. I feel very sad about that.I sensed that she was changing her mind about the pictures.Or at least, that she was open to another point of view.Anyway, I can forward you our email correspondence.’
Such things could be faked, of course.But Kate was longer sure if Morrison belonged on her list. She left the apartment building and found Marcus already in the car, eating cookies out of a large paper bag.He’d been interviewing Morrison’s neighbors, one of whom, it seemed, was a keen baker. Keen on feeding big chunky guys like Marcus, too.
‘Mrs DeMeo has the apartment right opposite.She’s 76, sharp as a tack and she doesn’t sleep.She said goodnight to Morrison by the communal garbage area just after midnight on Tuesday and she saw her leave for work again at six am in the morning.’
‘So technically, Morrison could have gone back into the city to murder Ashworth and then driven home.’
‘True.But Wednesday, Morrison was home sick all day.Mrs D called in on her multiple times, including lunchtime.’
Kate relayed the details of her second interview with Dr Morrison.They both sat in silence for a while, munching Mrs DeMeo’s cookies, which were very good.
‘I’m kind of glad Morrison’s in the clear,’ Kate said.‘I liked her, in the end.’
‘Why?’
She shrugged.‘I don’t know.I liked her apartment.’
‘Andthat’syour reason?’Marcus laughed softly. ‘You liked her apartment.’He laughed again, more loudly.
She looked at him.‘Well, even if you are cruelly mocking me, I’m glad to see you looking and sounding more cheerful.’
'Yeah, well, I wouldn't say cheerful.But better.I talked to Cheryl. I found out why she ran away from my friend at the hospital.'He took a deep breath. 'She has a lump.'
She put her hand on his arm.‘Marcus, I’m so sorry. Is it… dangerous?’
‘They don’t know yet.They did a… they put a needle in and take some cells.’
‘A biopsy.’
‘That’s it.She’s waiting to find out.But it’s sore, she says.And she’s lost weight, Kate. Those aren’t good signs, are they?’
‘No, but they can be signs of lots of things.She might just have lost weight because of the stress she’s under.Is that why she called off the engagement?’
'I don't understand how her mind works.The first thing she thought is that I need to be free to choose someone else. That it's not fair on me to have a sick wife. I mean – does she really think I'm that kind of person?How can she even think that?'
‘I guarantee you, her head’s in such a state that she doesn’t know what she’s thinking.’
‘Or is it a test?’Marcus went on, barely acknowledging what Kate had said.‘She tells me she’s sick, in order to see my reaction.She’s always testing me.That’s why I was weird when that Columbia girl took our picture.Because I knew there was no way I could ever let Cheryl see that picture, even though it’s innocent. And then, of course, I felt bad for thinking that.But it’s true.Cheryl’s very jealous.’
‘Marcus.I don’t know Cheryl, but I can’t believe that she’d test you with a cancer diagnosis.Or a cancer scare, if that’s what it turns out to be.You know she’d never do something like that.’
‘No, you’re right.’He rubbed his face for a moment; she could hear the rasp of stubble against his palm.‘Sorry.I’m just so… so freakin messed up. I don’t know what to do, Kate. Back in the SEALS, I jumped out of helicopters. I protected an injured colleague for 16 hours, 16 hours on an exposed mountain ridge waiting for Medevac, with just a pistol between us and the Taliban.I don’t run from danger.I don’t fold under pressure.’He stared at her, his eyes filled with tears.‘But I don’t know what to do.’
‘There might not be anything to do right now.Just be with her.Wait with her.Face the news with her.Make sure she knows that she’s not alone.Can you do that?’
‘I think so.Thanks, Valentine.’
