“I think you should trust your son,” I said.
“Trust him?”
“To make the right decision,” I said. “He seems bright to me. I explained to him that the deal you two struck was no longer binding. That his debt was paid off. That having him come see you was not about those things. I think if you trust him, he’ll do the right thing.”
He stared at the window again. Anchor was taking a look at his phone, thumbing away at the screen. I sat and waited.
“I won’t wait long,” Codaselli finally said. “I’ll give him a day. Maybe two.”
“And then?”
“And then I’ll come find you if I need to,” he said. “Or, I’ll find those two young men who now work for me. I think they might be a better choice. Perhaps easier to convince than you.”
“Maybe.”
“Nonetheless, I’m grateful that you found him,” he said. “Thank you.”
“Wasn’t just me,” I responded. “But you’re welcome. I’m glad he’s alright.” I paused. “But I have a question.”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“You told Stevie to tell me he had knowledge of my daughter,” I said. “So I’d help.”
Codaselli tilted his head in Anchor’s direction. “John?”
“Yes, sir,” Anchor said. “I did suggest that he use any tactic necessary to engage Mr. Tyler’s services and that was one I thought might work.”
Codaselli looked at me, as if that explained it all.
“Do you?” I asked. “Know anything about her?”
Codaselli again deferred to Anchor.
“I don’t,” he said, shaking his head. “And given that you were able to find Mr. Codaselli’s son, if I had any information, I would share it with you immediately.”
It was my turn to stare out the window. When Stevie told me that he was lying, I’d been angry. But I’d also managed to create in my head the idea that maybe Codaselli and Anchor had learned something that I hadn’t been able to find out about Elizabeth. That, maybe they did have a piece of information that would help.
Another if that had turned into nothing.
I stood. “Okay.”
Codaselli pushed himself out of his chair and Anchor rose at the conference table behind him.
Codaselli studied me for a moment. “You really believe that if I wait, he’ll come?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I do.”
He stuck his hands on his hips. “I don’t trust many people, Mr. Tyler. But I’m inclined to trust you. I’m irritated that you didn’t bring my son to me, but I also appreciate that you’re looking out for him. That you really believe this is in his best interest.” He paused. “It may not make me happy right at this moment, but I respect that.” He held out his hand. “Thank you.”
We shook hands.
“John will see you out,” he said, sinking back down to his chair and fixing his eyes again on the window.
Anchor nodded at me and we exited the office.
We reached the office lobby.
“Do you mind if I walk out with you?” Anchor asked.
I shook my head and we stepped into the elevator together. He pressed the button for the main floor.
“He doesn’t have many days left,” he said, staring up at the panel of numbers. “He’s in a great deal of pain. He’s trying to ignore it.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
Anchor nodded. “Me, too. In his own way, he’s a good man.”
I didn’t think I was in any position to judge who was good and who was not. That line had been blurred for me for a long time. Just because Peter Codaselli was one thing didn’t mean he couldn’t be another.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. We stepped out into the main area of the building.
“Mr. Codaselli has asked me to tell you that he appreciates your help,” Anchor said. “If you are ever in need in a way that we might be able to repay the favor, please don’t hesitate to contact me.” He handed me a plain white business card with a phone number on it. “And please understand. This offer will stand even in the unfortunate event that Mr. Codaselli passes away. Call me. If I’m able to help, I will.”
I stuck the card in my pocket. “Thank you.”
He adjusted his glasses and held out his hand. “Thank you.”
We shook and then his face took on an odd expression, something I couldn’t read.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“Not at all,” he said, then nodded at the doors behind me.
I turned to look.
Marc and Jessica were on the other side of the glass doors. She had him by the arm and they were making their way up the walk. The swelling had subsided around Marc’s eyes and I could see that his eyes were brown, like his father’s.
They stood on the other side of the door, unsure as to what to do. They exchanged a few words and then Jessica held the door open for him. They stepped into the foyer, stomping their feet to shake the snow loose.
“Guess you were persuasive,” Anchor said.
Jessica and Marc saw us, hesitated, then came toward us.
“Isabel said we might see you,” Marc said. He looked at Anchor. “Hey, John.”
“It’s good to see you,” John said, smiling. He held out his hand to Jessica. “I’m John.”
Jessica took his hand. “Hi.”
Marc turned to me. “We borrowed Isabel’s car.”
“Good,” I said.
“Is he upstairs? My dad?”
Both Anchor and I nodded.
He looked anxiously at Jessica. She just smiled and nodded at him.
Marc looked at Anchor. “Is it okay if we go up?”
“Of course,” Anchor said.
Marc squinted at me through his swollen eyelids. “I thought about what you said. That’s why I’m here.”
I nodded.
“Thanks,” he said. “Really.”
I nodded again.
He and Jessica moved toward the elevator. Anchor lingered for a moment, then turned to me, adjusting the glasses again.
“Anytime, anything,” he said. “You call me if you need something.”
He followed Marc and Jessica to the elevator, stepped in behind them and the three of them disappeared behind the closing doors.
I didn’t know what was waiting for them upstairs, but I guessed that Codaselli would be surprised. And pleased. I hoped Marc would be glad that he’d made the decision to come. And I hoped they’d have some time together.
My phone buzzed as soon as I stepped outside. The number on the screen was unfamiliar.
I pushed the button. “This is Joe.”
“Joe, it’s Tim Barron. You free to stop by this morning?”
“I’m on my way,” I said.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Tim Barron smiled across his desk. “You look beat.”
It had taken me almost an hour to get from Codaselli’s office to his. The roads were plowed but the roads were slick. Spun-out vehicles peppered the ditches and other cars proceeded cautiously, heeding the warning. I found myself tapping the steering wheel with my fingers and not sharing their patience as I made my way across town.
“I’m a little tired,” I said. “Late night.”
“Hope there was a good reason.”
I gave a non-committal shrug.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ve got a few things that I think may help. Again, I’m sorry for the wait, but I hope you understand.”
“I do and I appreciate you doing it.”
“All I ask is that if you do find something here that helps, that it stays between us,” he said, staring across the desk at me. “I’m violating a boatload of things here—and don’t get me wrong, this seems worth it—but I also like my job. The vaguer you can be about where you got the info, the better.”
“Understood.”
He laid his hands down on the desk. “Great. Okay. The exact class rosters weren’t available. I kinda figured they wouldn’t be. I thought we might be able to take a look specifically at the Detwiler girl’s classes and see who she was in a room with but our system doesn’t have those. I don’t think we have them anywhere at this point.”
I nodded. “Okay.”