"If you mean arm wrestling, I'm not."
He frowned and turned back to Edward. "I don't understand."
"I think you do," Edward said, "and if you don't, I can't explain it to you."
Peter's frown deepened.
"Part of the problem with the tough-guy code," I said, "is that a lot of it can't be explained."
"But you understand it," Peter said. He sounded almost accusatory.
"I've spent a lot of my time around very tough guys."
"That's not it," Peter said. "You're different from any girl I've ever met."
"She's different from any girl you will ever meet," Edward said.
Peter looked from one to the other of us. "Mom's jealous of her."
"I know," Edward said.
Bernardo's voice came from inside the room. "Can we lower the rug now?"
"Don't tell me you tough he-men are getting tired," I said.
"Lactic acid builds up in everybody's muscles, chickie," Bernardo said.
I'd started the name calling so I let the «chickie» comment go. "You need to join your mom and Becca in the kitchen," I said.
"Do I?" He was looking at Edward, and I realized he was appealing to Edward, asking permission.
"Yes," I said and looked at Edward, trying to tell him with my eyes, not to do this.
But he had eyes only for the boy. They stared at each other, and something passed between, some knowledge, something. "Drop the cloth," Edward said.
"No," I said and grabbed Peter's arm. I spun him around, so his back was to the door. I'd caught him by surprise, so he didn't struggle. Before he could decide what to do about me, Edward spoke. "Let him go, Anita."
I looked at him around Peter's shoulder and realized he was taller than me by a few inches. "Don't do this."
"He wants to see. Let him see."
"Donna won't like it," I said.
"Who's going to tell her?"
I looked into Peter's dark eyes. "He will when he gets mad enough at you or her or both."
"I wouldn't do that," Peter said.
I shook my head. I didn't believe him, and that more than anything made me let go of his arm and back off. If Edward showed Peter this little corner of hell and word got back to Donna, it might be enough to break them up permanently. I was willing to trade some of Peter's innocence for that. Harsh, but true.
The rug fell away on Olaf's side first, then Bernardo was left holding the rug in his arms like a limp child. He looked at Edward and shook his head, but he stepped back beside Olaf and let Peter walk into the room. I followed behind him and Edward.
Olaf had moved back near the far door. Bernardo laid the cloth on the table and stepped back to the far end of the table. I took up station to the far wall, almost mirroring Olaf, but at the opposite door. We'd all moved to separate corners of the room, and all of us tried to separate ourselves from what was happening. I don't think even Olaf approved.
Peter took in all the pictures, turning around and around. He paled, and his voice was a little breathy. "Are those people?"
"Yes," Edward said. He stayed right beside Peter, not touching, not too close, but very definitely with him.
Peter walked to the nearest wall, to the pictures I'd just been looking at "What happened to them?" he asked.
"We don't know yet," Edward said.
Peter looked at the pictures, eyes flicking from one horrible image to another. He didn't walk the room or study any one picture as closely as I had, but he looked, he saw what was there. He didn't scream or faint or throw up. He'd proven his point. He wasn't a wimp. I wondered if I should warn him about the possibility of nightmares. Nah, he'd either have them or he wouldn't.
He was still pale, with a light dew of sweat on his upper lip, but he was mobile, and his voice was breathy, but calm. "I better help Mom in the kitchen." He walked out still hugging his arms around himself as if he were cold.
No one said a word as he walked out. When I was pretty sure he was out of ear shot, I walked up to Edward. "Well, that went better than I thought it would."
"It went about the way I thought it would," Edward said.
"Shit, Edward, the kid is going to have nightmares."
"Maybe, maybe not. Pete's a tough kid." He was looking out through the doorway as if he could still see the boy. His gaze was faraway.
I stared at him. "You're proud of him. Proud of the fact that he looked at this," I motioned at the pictures, "and didn't freak."
"Why shouldn't he be proud?" Olaf asked.
I looked at him. "If Edward were Peter's dad, maybe. But he's not." I turned back to Edward. I stared at him. His face was its usual blankness, but there was a flinching around the eyes.
I touched his arm, and the touch was enough. He looked at me. "You're treating him like a prospective son." I shook my head. "You cannot have this family."
"I know that," he said.
"I don't think you do," I said. "I think you're actually beginning to think about doing it, for real."
He dropped his gaze, not meeting my eyes.
"Shit, Edward, shit."
"I hate to admit it, but I agree with her," Olaf said. "If it was just the boy, then I would see no problem. I think you can make of him what you will, but the woman and the girl … " He shook his head. "It will not work."
"I don't understand why you even want a family," Bernardo said.
"For different reasons. Neither of you believe in marriage," Edward said.
"True," Olaf said, "but if men like us do marry, it should not be a woman like Donna. She is too … " he struggled for a word, and finally said, "innocent, and you know that I do not say that about many women."
"Maybe that's one of her attractions," Edward said, and he seemed as truly puzzled as the rest of us.
"You're already screwing her. Why marry her?" This from Bernardo.
"If all I wanted was sex, I'd have gone elsewhere," Edward said.
"She any good?" Bernardo asked.
Edward just looked at him, one long look.
Bernardo raised his hands. "Sorry, sorry, just curious."
"Don't be curious about Donna," Edward said. He turned to me. "You believe in marriage. Underneath all that toughness is a midwestern girl that still believes in the white picket fence."
"I do believe in marriage, but not for people like us, Edward."
I don't know what he would have said to that, because the phone rang and he went to answer it.
"Saved by the bell," I said.
"He intends to marry this woman," Olaf said.
I nodded. "I'm afraid so."
"If he wants to marry her, it's his business," Bernardo said.
Olaf and I stared at him until the smile on his face faded to a look of puzzlement.
"What?"
"Olaf may be a serial rapist, Bernardo, or even a serial killer, but in his own twisted way he has more scruples than you do. Doesn't that worry you?"
Bernardo shook his head. "No."
I sighed.
Edward came back into the room. His face was back to his normal "Edward face," as if all the near revelations of just a minute ago had never happened. "The monster did another couple in Albuquerque last night."
"Shit," I said. "Are you going without me?"
Edward was watching my face just a little too closely, so I knew there was a surprise coming. "Your presence has been requested on site."
I could feel the surprise on my face. "Is Lieutenant Marks not in charge anymore?"
"It was him on the phone."
"You're kidding me," I said.
Edward shook his head and smiled.
"I don't get it."
"I'd guess that someone up the feeding chain chewed his ass for kicking you out. They probably gave him a choice of working with you, or being off the case."