Alex is kicking himself for not recognizing the extent of Brophy’s troubled mind sooner. When he talked to Brophy earlier, he thought the man was merely compulsive, maybe a little delusional or dissociative.
Wrong. He’s a raging psychopath.
“Colton, let’s calm down,” says Alex. “Nobody needs to get hurt. Why are you so angry? What’s the reason for all this?”
Brophy waves his gun at Lucas and Amy. “Ask those two,” he says. “Then ask your boy and his white trophy girlfriend.”
Damon balls his fists. “What did we ever do to you, asshole?”
“Damon, stop it!” says Alex. “Let Colton talk. We’re in his world right now, and he deserves to be heard.”
Brophy grunts. “Damn right I do.”
He rubs his hand over his stubble and leans back against the ladder, resting his bulky backside on one of the middle rungs.
“This country had it right for so many years,” he says, shaking his head. “Two races, segregated. No mixing of the bloodlines. White on white. Black on Black. The way nature intended. The wayGodintended.”
“Are you talking about Jim Crow?” asks Lucas. “For Christ’s sake, there was noendof mixing! Usually by rape on the part of the white men in power!”
“Not now, Professor,” says Alex.
Brophy juts his jaw toward Lucas, then points to Amy. “How old is she? Your little white concubine. How long did it take you to seduce her?”
Amy clasps her short-cropped hair as if she’s trying to pull it out. “I’ve told you a dozen times! This is my boss! My mentor! I am not his girlfriend!”
“I don’t believe you,” says Brophy. “You were holding hands when I caught you!”
“I was helping her step over a log!” says Lucas. “You’recrazy!”
“Now, now,” says Alex, trying to defuse the tension. “Not crazy. Colton just has different opinions. A different view of the world. Isn’t that right, Colton? Those feelings run deep in your family. They go back for hundreds of years, don’t they?”
Brophy nods. “Yeah. They do.”
“And they’re very important to you.”
“Damn straight.”
“I understand,” says Alex. “When I was in your home earlier today, I could see how much you honor your ancestors and how you’re trying to keep their values alive.”
Alex is winging it, pouring on the empathy. Over the years, he’s used the same technique to build bridges with serial murderers, family annihilators, and even men who’ve tried to kill him personally. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Now Melissa speaks up. “Sweet Jesus, I can’t believe this.” She’s calmed down. Her voice is gentle and measured. She shakes Damon off and takes a step toward Brophy.
Good,thinks Alex.She’s picking up on my tone. Smart girl.
“Believe what?” says Brophy.
“I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to wake up.” Melissa glances at Alex. “Michaelson Woods was right.”
Damon grabs her arm. “Melissa!”
She pulls away. “Don’t touch me!” She moves closer to Brophy. “Don’t let him touch me, Colton! Not ever again!”
Brophy grins and raises his gun toward Damon. Melissa pushes it down. “No. Not yet. He needs to hear me first.” She turns on Damon. “I don’t know what I was thinking! How could I have ever wanted your Black hands on my body! What did you do to me? Did you hypnotize me? Work some jungle voodoo?”
Damon just stands there, dumbfounded.
“I know what I need now,” says Melissa. “And it sure as hell isn’t down here with you perverts.” She looks at Brophy. “I was scared when you took me tonight. I admit it. But now I’m glad. It’s about time I saw the truth.” She moves another step closer. “I’m right, aren’t I? Tell me I’m right!”
