“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How long do you think it took her to die, out there by that pool? She was all alone in her final moments and the last thing she ever got to hear was Alex, telling her to take a fucking hike. What do you think went through her head as the blood was spilling out of it?”
“Shut the fuck up about my sister.”
Spittle gathered at Patterson’s mouth. His eyes were red. “That’s no way to die!”
“You’re drunk. I can smell it on you.”
“This isn’t about me. This is about justice. Men like Markov get away with everything. Don’t you think it’s about time someone made him pay?”
Gordon shoved the man. “Leave me alone. We’re done here.”
“Look. I don’t want to make you feel bad. I want to help you get some real closure. Just consider this for a minute. Whatever happened between Markov and your sister that night, he’s still responsible. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, it was all just a horrible accident. Don’t you think Markov should have been at her side? He let her leave, instead of chasing after her. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“If you ask me, it’s pure negligence, and he should pay for it.”
“You don’t get it. Alex has suffered too.”
Patterson brought his hands to his cheeks in an expression of mock horror. “Oh, poor Alex! Little rich boy must be having such a hard time.”
“It’s true. He has had a hard time.”
“Not as hard as some people. Not like Shannon. Not like their baby.”
“What baby?”
Patterson’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, didn’t you know about that little detail? I’m not surprised. Very few people do. But I just got off the phone with your parents and they were very forthcoming. The doctors told them Shannon was pregnant at the time of her death.”
“But…they never told me.”
“Nope. Didn’t want to hurt you, I guess.”
Tears flooded Gordon’s eyes. A baby. His sister’s child. Snuffed out, before it even had a chance.
“Sorry to be the one to tell you, Gordo. Your sister was four months along with Alex’s child. And that prick knew it the whole time.”
“He never said.”
“You mean your good buddy Alex didn’t tell you the God’s honest truth? Shocking. Well, I don’t have the same issues. You see, this is just the sort of information the world needs to know, and I’m going to be the one to tell them. Alex Markov caused the death of his own child.”
Gordon’s stomach pitched. As bile shot up his throat, he turned away from his car and vomited onto the asphalt.
Patterson backed away. “Turns the stomach, doesn’t it? Can I get you anything?”
“Fuck off!”
“You know, you should be thanking me for being up front with you. I’m the only one who has. If you have an issue, you should take it up with Markov.” The man got into his car, took a flask from the glove box and drank the contents, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He then drove away.
Ten minutes later, his head throbbing, Gordon realized he was still standing alone in the parking lot.
All the bitterness Gordon had carried around for the past year resurfaced. Swallowing the last crumb of bile, Gordon got in his car.
Unfortunately, he had no idea where to go.
***
