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s phone calls to senators and others in high places； and loud and angry plaints of all sorts of rights violations。 He made it to the hospital office at dark； and hit another line of defense。 But this time a nurse simply called Patrick。
His room was dark； lit only by the bluish light of the muted television hanging high in a corner…a soccer game from Brazil。 The two old pals shook hands gently。 They had not seen each other in six years。 Patrick kept a sheet pulled to his chin； hiding his wounds。 For the moment； the soccer game seemed more important than serious conversation。
If Sandy was hoping for a warm reunion； he quickly adjusted to a subdued one。 While trying not to stare； he studied Patrick's face。 It was thin； almost gaunt； with a newly squared chin and a sharper nose。 He could pass for someone else； but for the eyes。 And the voice was unmistakable。
〃Thanks for ing；〃 Patrick said。 All of his words were very soft； as if the act of speaking required great effort and thought。
〃Sure。 Didn't have much of a choice； you know。 Your friend is very persuasive。〃
Patrick closed his eyes and bit his tongue。 He said a quick prayer of thanks。 She was out there and she was fine。
〃How much did she pay you？〃 he asked。
〃A hundred thousand。〃
〃Good；〃 Patrick said； and then said no more。 A long pause； and Sandy slowly realized that their conversations would be built around long silent intervals。
〃She's fine；〃 he said。 〃She's a beautiful woman。 She's smart as hell and fully in control of whatever she's supposed to be in control of。 In case you're wondering。〃
〃That's nice。〃
〃When was the last time you saw her？〃
〃Couple of weeks。 I've lost track of time。〃
〃Is she the wife； girlfriend； mistress； hooker…〃
〃Lawyer。〃
〃Lawyer？〃
〃Yes； lawyer。〃 Sandy was amused by this。 Patrick shut down again； no words； no movement anywhere under the sheet。 Minutes passed。 Sandy took a seat in the only chair； content to wait for his friend。 Patrick was reentering an ugly world where the wolves were waiting； and if he wanted to lie there and stare at the ceiling then that was fine with Sandy。 They would have lots of time to talk。 And no shortage of topics。
He was alive； and right now nothing else mattered。 Sandy amused himself by recalling images of the funeral and burial； of the casket being lowered on a cold and cloudy day； of the priest's last words and Trudy's controlled sobs。 It was downright funny； to think that old Patrick had been hiding in a tree not far away watching them grieve； as had been reported for three days now。
He laid low somehow； then snatched the money。 Some men crack up when they near forty。 The midlife crisis drives them to a new wife； or back to college。 Not old Patrick。 He celebrated his angst by killing himself； stealing ninety million dollars； and disappearing。
The real dead body in the car suddenly erased the humor； and Sandy wanted to talk。 〃There's quite a wele mittee back home； Patrick；〃 he said。
〃Who's the chairman？〃
〃Hard to say。 Trudy filed for divorce two days ago； but that's the least of your problems。〃
〃You're right about that。 Let me guess； she wants half of the money。〃
〃She wants many things。 The grand jury has indicted you for capital murder。 State not federal。〃
〃I've watched it on television。〃
〃Good。 So you know about all the lawsuits。〃
〃Yeah。 CNN has been quite diligent in keeping me up to date。〃
〃You can't blame them； Patrick。 It's such a wonderful story。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃When do you want to talk？〃
Patrick rolled to his side and gazed past Sandy。 There was nothing to look at but the wall； painted antiseptic white； but he wasn't looking at it。 〃They tortured me； Sandy；〃 he said； his voice even quieter； and breaking。
〃Who？〃
〃They taped wires to my body and shot current through me until I talked。〃
Sandy stood and walked to the edge of the bed。 He placed his hand on Patrick's shoulder。 〃What did you tell them？〃
〃I don't know。 I can't remember everything。 They were shooting drugs in me。 Here； look。〃 He lifted his left arm so Sandy could inspect the bruises。
Sandy found a switch and flipped on the table lamp so he could see。 〃Good Lord；〃 he said。
〃They kept on about the money；〃 Patrick said。 〃I blacked out； then I came to and they shocked me some more。 I'm afraid I told them about the girl； Sandy。〃
〃The lawyer？〃
〃Yeah； the lawyer。 What name did she give you？〃
〃Leah。〃
〃Okay； good。 Her name is Leah then。 I might have told them about Leah。 In fact； I'm almost certain I did。〃
〃Told who； Patrick？〃
He closed his eyes and grimaced as the pain returned to his legs。 The muscles were still raw and the cramping had begun。 He gently rolled again and rested on his back。 He pulled the sheet down to his waist。 〃Look； Sandy；〃 he said； waving his hand across the two nasty burns on his chest。 〃Here's the proof。〃
Sandy leaned a bit closer and inspected the evidence …the red sores surrounded by shaved skin。 〃Who did this？〃 he asked again。
〃I don't know。 A bunch of people。 There was a whole room full of them。〃
〃Where？〃
Patrick felt sorry for his friend。 He was so eager to know what had happened； and not just about the torture。 Sandy； as well as the rest of the world； wanted the irresistible details。 It was indeed a wonderful story； but he wasn't sure how much he could tell。 No one knew the details of the car crash that burned John Doe。 But he could tell his lawyer and friend about his seizure and torture。 He shifted his weight again and pulled the sheet up to his neck。 Drug free for two days now； he was coping with the pain and trying mightily to avoid more injections。 〃Pull that chair closer and take a seat； Sandy。 And turn off that switch。 The light bothers me。〃
Sandy hurriedly followed orders。 He sat as close to the bed as possible。 〃This is what they did to me； Sandy；〃 Patrick said in the semidarkness。 He started in Ponta Pora； with the jogging and the small car with a flat tire； and told the entire story of how they grabbed him。
ASHLEY NICOLE was twenty…five months old when her father was buried。 She was too young to remember Patrick。 Lance was the only man who lived in the house； the only man she'd ever seen with her mom。
He took her to school occasionally。 They sometimes ate dinner as a family。
After the funeral； Trudy hid all photos and other evidence of her life with Patrick。 Ashley Nicole had never heard his name mentioned。
But after three days of reporters camping on their street； the child naturally was asking questions。 Her mother was acting strange。 There was so much tension around the house that even a six…year…old could feel it。 Trudy waited until Lance left for a visit with the lawyer； then she sat her daughter on her bed for a little chat。
She began by admitting that she had been married before。 Actually； she had been married twice before； but she figured Ashley Nicole wouldn't need to know about the first husband until she was much older。 The second husband was the issue for the moment。
〃Patrick and I were married for four years； and then he did a very bad thing。〃
〃What？〃 Ashley Nicole asked； wide…eyed and absorbing more than Trudy wanted。
〃He killed a man； and he made it look lik