Page 78 of One in a Million
Sam forced himself to ignore the stabbing sensation in the region of his heart. “I think you know how to get the charges dropped against your son,” he said.
“Do I?” she asked. “How?”
“Suppose you tell me.” Sam took a yellow legal pad and a pen out of his briefcase and laid it on the coffee table.
“So, I confess to having Frank killed, and the case against Darrin goes away?”
“That’s right. I’ve already cleared it with my supervisor.”
She picked up the pen and began to write. The written confession was short, barely half a page, but the important details were there. She added her signature and passed the notebook back to Sam. “Now what?”
“You’ll surrender to the authorities, who’ll arrange to have you picked up. You’ll have access to your lawyers; they’ll advise you what to do next. You’ll likely be granted bail and time to prepare for a hearing.”
“How much time?” Madeleine asked.
“This is a capital case. Sometimes it can take months to schedule and prepare, especially if you elect to plead not guilty. Your lawyers will guide you through the process.”
Madeleine laid her cigarette in the ashtray and rose to her feet. “I don’t think all that will be necessary.”
He stared at her. “I don’t understand.”
She gave him a mysterious smile. “I’m dying, Agent. I have a brain tumor. The doctors have given me less than two months to live. Now be a good boy and read me my Miranda rights.”
* * *
Sam sat alone on the bungalow porch, watching the cloud bank move in from the west. Crickets sang in the darkness. The midnight breeze smelled of rain.
By morning, the storm would be here. Not long after that, the police van would be arriving to take Madeleine to Abilene for her arraignment and bail hearing. Sam would be going with them, to his new job. His work here was done.
Would he get a chance to say goodbye to Jasmine? He hadn’t seen her all day. She was probably avoiding him. But maybe that was for the best. He had done his duty and arrested her mother for murder. She would never forget that, let alone forgive him. What more was there to say?
Except that he would never forgether.
A meteor flashed across the sky and burned into darkness. Sam rose, walked to the edge of the porch, and stood looking out into the night—the dark house and stable, the quiet pastures, the glorious, starry sky. For years to come, his memory would take him back to this place and the woman who had saved him. But tomorrow would be here soon enough. Now it was time to get some rest.
He turned around to go back inside—and stopped. Jasmine was sitting on the bench he’d left, as if she’d appeared by magic.
“Hello, Sam,” she said.
“Surprise. I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”
“Why? Did you think I’d be angry?” She shook her head. “You did what you had to—in the gentlest way possible. She told me everything. Sit down.”
Sam joined her on the bench, relief washing over him. “How is your mother?” he asked.
“She’s finally asleep. I’ve been with her most of the day, helping her prepare for what’s ahead—making lists, who to call, what to say. Darrin has yet to be told.”
“So, he doesn’t know that she confessed in order to save him?”
“We’ll tell him in the morning. The whole time my mother has been here, I’ve sensed that something was wrong with her. I just didn’t know it was . . . a tumor. I can barely say the word.”
“I’m no lawyer, but I imagine a plea of mental illness will get her acquitted.”
“Not that it will make much difference.” Jasmine sighed. “But that’s not why I’m here. There’s something I need to say.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I’ve been selfish, Sam. I wanted you so much that I didn’t care about the rules or the wreckage I left behind—wreckage you’ll have to deal with.”
“I didn’t exactly fight you off. Are you sorry?”
“I wish I could say yes. But no, I’m not sorry. I fell in love with you. And it was so good, so real . . . Even when you go, I won’t be sorry. After a lifetime of bad decisions, loving you was the best choice I ever made.”