Jennifer rubbed the sides of her head in an effort to ward off a headache, then dropped onto the frozen steps. She sat in silence, with neither Sean nor Gabe knowing what to say. Finally Jennifer spoke. “It’s okay, Gabe. I went a week or so trying to hate all of you, but I wasn’t very good at it. Leah’s dad’s face kept coming back to me, and I think I would have been just as demanding as he was. I just hate the situation we’re in, not being able to know.” She looked at Sean. “Why did he lock Lois up if she went along with him?”
“She said she came home from school and confronted him. Told him how someone else had been arrested. He panicked and hit her. When she woke up she was secured in her little prison. She said he was trying to make her death look natural, so we wouldn’t figure it out. Thought if he could get rid of her, then he was safe as long as he didn’t out and out kill her. Another week or so and he might have gotten away with it.”
“Now,” Gabe said. “The big problem we have is letting your husband know he can come home. Do you know where he went?”
“He went to his parents place in Idaho. It’s three hundred miles from here.”
“How can we get word to him, any ideas?”
Jennifer shook her head. “He promised to come get us in April and take us up there if the situation is good. I don’t know any way to get ahold of him sooner.”
“I do.”
The three adults swung around to see David standing in the snow by the corner of the house, a huge grin on his face.
“Dad told me where to find a guy with a radio.”
CHAPTER 45
Saturday, March 3rd
Moyie Springs, ID
“Come in. Come in, my friend.” Roman’s grin lit up his face as he ushered Kyle into the front room of his modest home. “You are late, but congratulations are for you, you know.”
“Did you get ahold of Frank?” Kyle sensed something in his new friend’s mood and was hopeful that Roman had gotten news from Deer Creek that would be helpful.
“Yes, yes. I talk to Frank yesterday, finally. Have very nice conversation.”
“What did he say?”
“Said that you can go home, and that you have new baby girl.”
“He said I have what?”
“He said it is girl. Congratulations.”
Kyle shook his head. “No, that can’t be right. Was he talking about my daughter Emma? It was her birthday last week.”
Roman frowned and tugged on his chin as he consulted his notebook. “No. Says new baby girl. You think it was going to be baby boy or something?”
Kyle sighed. “No, I think maybe you talked to the wrong person. My wife wasn’t pregnant. I don’t think you spoke to Frank, or at least not the right one. Can we try again?”
“You have more money?”
“I didn’t bring any with me. I didn’t think I’d need it.”
Roman looked at Kyle, perplexed. “I not have much gas, you know. Took long time to get Frank. I pretty sure he the right one. You know David?”
Kyle nodded. “He’s my son.”
Roman smiled triumphantly. “See. I got right guy then. Frank say that David come talk to him few days before. Said you are free man.” Roman paused and looked at Kyle sternly. “You killer or something?”
“No. I promise you that I’m not. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Is my family safe?”
“Frank say they all safe. But he did say new baby girl. You sure your wife not pregnant?”
“I’m positive. What else did he say?”
Roman went over the short list of questions and smiled at Kyle when he was done. “Not bad for simple Polack, no?”
Kyle smiled, his head swimming with the news. “You did wonderful, Roman. I can’t thank you enough.”
“That silver buy me good food, so I am good. Congratulations on everything, that you can go home, and baby girl. I loved my baby girl.”
Kyle shook his head and grinned. “I think you’ve somehow got that message mixed up. I was home a month ago, and I’m positive Jennifer wasn’t pregnant.”
“Humph,” Roman grunted. “Let’s see. You talk to me, I talk to Frank, who talk to David, who talk to Frank, who talk to me, who talk to you. Could be some confusion, but I think not.”
“There’s obviously some confusion there.”
“I don’t think so. I pretty sure you have new baby girl. That good thing, you know.”
“No, you’re wrong.” Kyle let out an exasperated laugh. “There has to be a language issue or something.”
Roman stiffened a little. “You not like my English?”
“I’m sorry. Your English is really good, but maybe you misunderstood something that was said. How long have you lived here?”
“I am in America three years and five months now. Know only just a little bit of English when I get here.”
“You really are doing great with it. Where did you come from?”
“I come from Poland. That’s why I Polack.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you’d said that. How’d you end up in Northern Idaho? It a long way from Poland.”
“You want me tell you the story?”
Kyle nodded. “Sure, I’m curious. Idaho is such a long way from home for you.”
“I tell you story then. Sit down. It take little while.” Roman pointed to an old leather couch pushed up against the far wall and waited for Kyle to sit. “Comfy?”
Kyle nodded.
“Okay. Where to start?” He thought for a second then smiled. “You know Ronald Reagan?”
“I was too young to vote for him, but I know about him. Why?”
“Ronald Reagan come to Poland when I am younger. My father, he talk about Reagan all the time after he came to Poland. Said Reagan helped make Poland free, so I can get good job and vote like an American. After that, as I grow up, I always think I should go to America, to live there, but I never do. Anyway, I get married. Very nice girl and very beautiful. Polish women are very beautiful, you know.”
“I didn’t know that, but I’m glad to hear it. Thanks.”
“You are very welcome. Anyway, I get married, and I have job, and then we have children, first a boy, and then baby girl, like you.”
Kyle shook his head, causing Roman to laugh heartily.
“So then I have wife and children, but no money, because family is very expensive in Poland. So I think I never get to come to America, only see it on TV, but that okay, because at least I have job and family. I can be happy in Poland. No problem. But then my life change. Malina, my wife, she have job cleaning offices at night so we have money and can buy a house maybe, not live in apartment forever. Anyway, one day, Malina taking kids to school in the morning, and she very tired, she work very hard, you know, and Malina,” Roman paused and wiped at his eyes, swallowed, and looked away. After a short silence he continued, struggling to tell the story. “I am sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Malina very tired, and she fall asleep while driving, just for short moment. There was red light. She went through and hit truck, which make very big fire.” Roman waved his hands over his head mimicking a large explosion.
Kyle wiped tears from his own eyes. “I’m so sorry, Roman. I can’t imagine losing my family like that. It must have been very difficult for you.”
Roman rocked back and forth in an exaggerated nodding motion, looking out the window for a long minute to compose himself. “Yes, very difficult. Very difficult. After few months, life not so good. I want to kill myself, but then I think, maybe I go to America instead. We have money in bank for house, and I get little bit from insurance, so I can do it. I buy picture book about America, and look at different places. I grow up and live in Warsaw, which is very big city, and very old, and very crowded. Not so nice, I think. But Idaho, it has trees, and mountains, and lakes, and not so many people. Very beautiful, like a dream for me, so I pick here.”
Roman paused, and Kyle wasn’t sure if the story was complete or if Roman was gathering his thoughts. “How have you liked it so far?” he prodded.