He spotted Grace when she entered the park. She wore big aviator sunglasses, which hid her eyes, and an NYU hat pulled low over her head. She was a quasi-celebrity and still keeping a low profile. Unlike their shoot at the Montauk Point Lighthouse, which was remote and isolated and allowed Grace Sebold some freedom, Central Park was congested on Saturday afternoon. The disguise was necessary. But the park had been one of her favorite spots, and she wanted to do the interview there.
Derrick waved when Grace was closer and they moved to a secluded bench under a maple tree.
“Where’s Sidney?” Grace asked.
Derrick smiled and delivered the favor he promised. “She’s running late. She’ll be here in a bit.”
He pointed toward Belvedere Castle. “Let’s get some stills by the castle and at the Ramble before it gets too crowded. Sidney will be here by the time we’re done.”
Grace nodded, pulled the cap lower on her head, and followed Derrick as they walked through Central Park.
CHAPTER 56
Saturday, July 22, 2017
SIDNEY RODE THE ELEVATOR IN WINDSOR TOWER AND EXITED ON ELLIEReiser’s floor. She knocked on the apartment door and waited until Marshall answered.
“She’s not here,” he said when he opened the door in his wheelchair.
“I know,” Sidney said. “I came to talk with you.”
Marshall backed his wheelchair up, turned around, and headed into the living room. Sidney walked into the apartment and closed the door. She followed Marshall into the main room, where she saw his chess set arranged on the table. He rolled his chair up to it and looked at her.
“You beat me pretty easily the other night,” Sidney said. “I don’t think I’m much of a challenge for you.”
“That game wasn’t about winning or losing,” Marshall said as he wheeled himself to the chessboard.
“I need to ask you some questions, Marshall. About what you told me the other night.”
Sidney wanted to speak with Marshall without Grace being present. Derrick had taken care of Grace; and Sidneyknew that to get Marshall in the right frame of mind, she’d have to do it over a game of chess. She sat across the coffee table from him. The metamorphosis took shape again as Sidney watched his wrists unfurl and his sclerotic posture loosen when Marshall took hold of the chess pieces and arranged them across the board.
As she sat down, Sidney noticed one of the pinewood cases and recognized it immediately. She saw the edge of the second pinewood case inside the white cloth bag that rested next to the chessboard. “This is your old chess set,” she said.
Marshall nodded as he continued to arrange the cheap, wooden pieces on the board in front of him. “I brought it with me when we came here. It was before I knew Grace had bought me this new set.”
“Why is it out? I thought you said it brought back bad memories for Grace.”
“Grace isn’t here,” Marshall said. “I might use it today.”
Once the board was complete, Marshall opened by advancing a pawn. Sidney did the same.
“I wanted to talk with you, Marshall, about what you told me the other night.”
“Okay,” he said, moving another pawn.
“And about what happened at Sugar Beach.”
“I figured you would,” he said. “You probably also want to know more about Henry Anderson.” He regarded the board in front of him. “It’s probably why you’re here and Grace is somewhere else, thinking she’s going to meet you. Ellie’s at work, as I’m sure you know.”
The openness of the discussion paused her arm as she reached for a chess piece. “I’m trying to make sense of it all,” Sidney said. “And yes, I wanted to speak with you alone. You told me that you’re used to people underestimating you. I’m not like most people. I know you can help me. And I think that if you help me, you’ll help your sister, too.”
“Probably.” He pointed at the board. “Your move.”
Sidney advanced a pawn.
Marshall picked up his own pawn. “In the tiny world of chess, have you ever wondered how crappy it is to be a pawn?”
Sidney’s lips came together and her forehead wrinkled. “No, I can’t say I’ve ever considered that line of thought.”
