Split Second (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 1)

“To talk.”

“Where’s your friend?”

“He’s not much into running.”

“I told you everything I know.”

“Did you, Kate? Look, I just want to try and understand you. I want to help.”

“Don’t try and be my buddy, okay! This isn’t some lame TV cop show where we’re all of a sudden going to bond.”

“You’re right, this is real life, and a number of people have lost their lives or been kidnapped. We’re trying to figure out what the hell is going on because we want to stop whoever’s doing this, and I think you can help.”

“I can’t help you or anyone else.”

“I don’t think you’ve even tried.”

Kate pulled up, hands on hips, sucking in quick breaths, and looked angrily at Michelle. “What the hell do you know about anything? You know nothing about me.”

“That’s why I’m here. I want to know more. I want to know as much as you’re willing to tell.”

“You just don’t get it, do you? I’ve put this all behind me. I don’t want to relive that part of my life.” They started to run again. “And besides, I don’t know anything.”

“How do you know you don’t? Have you gone through every little detail, been asked every possible question, run down every line of possible inquiry?”

“Look, I try not to think about the past, okay?”

“So I take that as a no.”

“Would you think about it much if he were your dad?”

“What I wouldn’t do, Kate, is try to hide from the truth. Have you ever really talked about any of this? If you haven’t, I’m here to listen. I really am.”

As tears started to trickle down the other woman’s cheeks, Michelle put a hand on Kate’s shoulder and they both stopped jogging. She led Kate over to a bench, and they sat down.

Kate wiped her eyes with her hand and glared stubbornly at nothing. Michelle sat there patiently waiting.

Kate started off hesitantly and in a small voice. “I was in algebra class when they came and got me. One minute I’m doing x plus y problems, and the next minute my dad is national news. Do you know what that feels like?”

“Like your whole world is ending?”

“Yes,” Kate said quietly.

“Were you able to talk to your mother about it?”

Kate waved her hand dismissively. “What was there to talk about? She’d already abandoned my father. That was her choice.”

“Is that how you saw it?”

“How else could I see it?”

“You must have some idea why they separated beyond what you told us earlier.”

“It wasn’t my father’s doing, I can tell you that.”

“So it was your mother’s choice, and you’re saying you don’t know why—other than maybe feeling she’d wasted her life with your father?”

“I do know that when my mother walked out, his life was basically over. He worshiped her. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he’d committed suicide.”