Page 94 of Nobody's Fool

“I was in a very dark place back then. My girlfriend, Lacy, had just dumped me. I was spiraling.” He smiles now. It’s no longerfaltering, but it may be the saddest smile I’ve ever seen. “And Victoria saw that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Vic saw how low I was. During that ride. She tried to talk me into staying.”

“At McCabe’s Pub?”

“Yes. She said she was worried about me, that she didn’t want me to be alone. So she kept saying I should go to her party.” The sad smile is still there. “And you know something? I almost did. I remember pulling up to the bar and her trying one more time to convince me and I almost said yes, but I mean, if there is anything more pathetic than being alone on New Year’s Eve, it’s going to your little sister’s high school party when you’re twenty-five years old.”

Fair point. “You said you broke up with your girlfriend.”

“She broke up with me, yes. The day before.”

“This would be Lacy Monroe?”

“That’s right.”

“But you told the FBI you ended up at her place that night.”

“I did. That’s just it. After I dropped off my sister, I came back home and hung out by myself in our home theater. I had quite the pity party. I watched an old movie. I drank a lot. I did a fair number of drugs. I mean, I was blitzed. At some point, Lacy called me.”

I nod. “According to the FBI file, that would have been at 1:21 a.m.”

“That sounds about right.”

“What did Lacy say?”

“It was a classic drunk dial. She missed me, she loved me, she was sorry and wanted me back. You know the deal.”

“All too well,” I say.

Thomas sits up a little. “I hope it’s not insensitive for me to say I know. When Mom wanted to hire you, our security guys at Belmond did a quick background check. They said you drank.”

“I did,” I say.

“But you’ve been sober for several years now.”

“Yes.”

“Good,” Thomas says. “I’m glad. It’s not an easy journey.”

I don’t know whether he’s working me with this bonding moment or if it’s legit. Don’t care either. “So after Lacy called,” I continue, “you went to her place?”

“Yes. She dumped me a few days later. Our whole relationship was what they now correctly label ‘toxic.’”

“Okay,” I say. “You mentioned before that your sister also called you that night.”

He swallows. “That’s right.”

“According again to the phone records, this was at 11:04 p.m., a few minutes before she’s spotted leaving McCabe’s Pub.”

He says nothing. Madeline says nothing.

“And,” I add, “the call only lasted one minute.”

“That’s because I didn’t answer,” Thomas says. He closes his eyes. Again I’ve seen some good acting in my time, and I’m not saying I buy everything he’s saying, but there is little doubt in my mind that his regret is authentic.

Madeline looks at her husband, his head lowered now, and again I see the concern on her face.

---