“Everything is going to be fine.”
“This handwriting is totally recognizable, and the police have it on letters you gave them. You don’t think they’re going to see the same writing in John Spade’s apartment and put two and two together? You don’t think they’re going to come back?”
“So what does it prove? That he was harassing us?”
“Adrian, there’s just too many loose ends! How can you be so calm?”
“Just relax. You’re pregnant, remember? You have to relax.”
Next I showed him the pictures of Valencia. “Explain these. How are you involved? Where is she?”
When he saw those, all color drained from his face.
“Where did you get this?” he asked, pulling it from my fingers.
“It came in the mail. From John Spade.”
He looked at it, and then leaned his head back, defeated. Then he picked up the piece of paper that had been wrapped around them.
ADRIAN CORBIS, The past ALWAYS catches up with you. It’s only fair…
“Tell me how you’re connected to this,” I said.
He didn’t speak.
“Talk to me!”
“How could you have kept this from me?” he asked, setting the photos down on the table. His green eyes were nearly black with anger.
“You’re mad at me? You’ve got to be joking.”
“So these came in the mail and you didn’t even think to tell me? We’re lucky to be alive. Do you realize that? You saw these, yet you said nothing? You don’t make any sense sometimes.” He looked at the postmark on the envelope. “These pictures came all the way back in June! And there we were, asleep with the windows open, no fence, no dog. Jesus Christ!”
“Adrian, how dare you turn this around on me! I almost turned you in to the police. What was I supposed to think? Tell me why this letter came for you.”
He walked out of the kitchen, into the hallway, into the living room. I followed him, waiting for him to say something. He sat down on the chair in the living room and put hi
s head in his hands.
“How are you involved in this, Adrian?”
“I didn’t hurt her,” he said weakly, looking at me with tears in his eyes.
“Were you there?”
Again, he was silent.
“I mean, you weren’t seriously involved in this. Right?”
He exhaled and it sounded like something deflating.
“I need to know what happened,” I said.
“I got involved in something I shouldn’t have. I would never have hurt your sister. You know that. Tell me you know that.”
“I don’t know anything anymore.”
“Baby,” he said, reaching for me, but I took a step backward.