“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Michael, come on. I know you like to put out the modest vibe, but you did something incredible that day. And honestly, the parents contacted us first. In fact, one of the moms told me she’s been trying to reach out to you, to thank you, but that you won’t take her calls. She’s tried to email you and never gets a response. These people owe you a debt of thanks and they want to do it on the show.”
“They don’t owe me a thing. I did what I could to help.”
“Which is why it would make such amazing viewing. The parents are only too happy to tell the world how heroic you were. I realize it might feel awkward, but the ratings would go through the roof.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”
“You had to know it would come up at some point. Don’t be naïve.”
If Michael gaped at her any longer, someone would walk by and shut his mouth for him. “You don’t get it. Jane’s dead. I couldn’t save her.”
“And it’s time you stopped beating yourself up.” Lacey sighed. “That man would have killed her anyway, Michael. If he hadn’t done it there, he would have done it somewhere else. At the mall, at the library, even on a city bus. In a weird way, you were still her champion. You protected the children she loved.”
Laughter bubbled out from the back of his throat. It tasted like bile. “Champion. That’s a good one.”
“This is a great opportunity. I need to know you’re on board.”
“I’m not.”
“That’s…disappointing.”
“You know what, Lacey? I’ve never been more disappointed in you.”
She arched a black eyebrow.
“You’re asking me to dredge up horrible memories for some fucking ratings? Let me guess. The network wants to rename the show too. Maybe they could call itHandymen Heroes Save the Day.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s too wordy. I do likeHandymen Heroes.It’s punchy.”
Michael put up his hands and backed toward his truck. “Unbelievable. In retrospect, maybe the tank tops weren’t such a bad idea.”
“Don’t lose your temper over this.”
“I’m way past losing my temper. I’m disgusted at the sensationalism.” His hands shook, so he tucked them behind his back. He squeezed them into tight fists and relaxed them once more. Opening the door to the truck, he piled in and shut the door.
Lacey leaned in and rested her hands on the open window. “Michael, when are you going to get it? Sensationalism sells. Look, I don’t want to put you on the spot, but the producers love this angle. If you don’t jump on the bandwagon, your job could end up on the line.”
“Take your hands off my truck.”
Lacey did, but she kept talking as Michael put the car into reverse. “You’re hot now, but this could make you a huge star. The big networks won’t be able to resist you.”
“The big networks can kiss my ass.”
“Let’s talk this through.”
“You don’t get it. You never did.”
He backed out of his parking spot and tore toward the end of the street, narrowly missing a squirrel that darted in front of the vehicle at the last minute.
Slamming on the brakes, he pounded the steering wheel with the flat of his hand. “Goddamned rodent.”
He took a deep breath, put his foot back on the gas pedal, and drove around the corner of Beatrice onto College Street. As he drove, he tried his hardest to ignore the voices in his head. However, he knew no matter how far he drove or how quickly he moved, he’d never stop hearing Jane Ashton’s screams as they echoed in his memory.
This was all just another nightmare. It had to be. There was no other explanation for the insanity.
What did Lacey expect? That he’d sit around a campfire with the daycare families, singingKumbaya?
