Page 10 of Into The Rabbit Hole

“Sir, if I may. I understand that this is your son, but it is not in your best interest to representhim.”

Mitch was right. Wade was a lost cause. It wasn’t in his father’s best interest to represent him or be anywhere near him. Especially if he wanted to begovernor.

“Mitch, this is my kid. My boy. He is my interest. He’s not guilty, and I’m going to representhim.”

Wade couldn’t have been more shocked. He was so shocked the despair he felt momentarily subsided to allow the feeling of shock and surprise. Mitch looked shocked,too.

“Ben, think about what you’re doing. You’re the state’s attorney.” Now Mitch lookedworried.

“If this is going to be a problem, then I quit,” his father interrupted Mitch as he was about to continue. “Now please leaveus.”

Mitch looked from Wade to his father with disparage, then leftthem.

Wade kept his focus on his father and watched him with keen eyes as he sat on the edge of the steelbed.

“Dad, you can’t represent me.” Wade shook hishead.

“I am,son.”

“Dad—”

“I love you, son,” he said, silencing him. “And I may be a poor excuse for a father, but there’s one thing I know how to do better than anyone, and that’s defend you in court. This is all happening because of me. Something I did. You’re suffering for it, for myactions.”

Wade blinked several times, unsure what to saynext.

“What did you do, Dad?” It was the question of the moment. The question of this wholedisaster.

“A lot. A lot of terrible things. Things there is no forgiveness for. Things you will not forgive mefor.”

A cold chill of dread ran down Wade’s spine, making his nerves tingle. As he observed his father he wondered what it was he could have done that was so bad. Only one thing came to mind.Death.

He had the look of death in hiseyes.

* * *

Taylor

* * *

What a nice night.

She’d had no sleep whatsoever and didn’t even feel tired. She’d come by yesterday to see her mother andBrian.

It was their first meeting after being told that Brian was her birth father. Although the news had shaken her and left her feeling displaced, she understood why her mother kept such a secret from her and everyone else. Taylor had come by because she was ready to talk to her mother, and ready to talk toBrian.

She and Brian spoke all night, and she’d listened keenly to all hisstories.

They’d sat in the sitting room, talking and eating all sorts of goodies Brian had prepared, which included a ton of chocolate muffins. Both Chloe and Kelly would have loved him to noend.

Taylor had been eager to hear everything, absolutely everything. She wanted to know what she’d missed from his life, about his family, what he liked, what he didn’t like.Everything.

He was the same. He wanted to hear all about her, too, and she gladlyshared.

Taylor had always found him easy to talk to, and surprisingly this was even easier. Talking to him and knowing that he was her father was easier than she imagined, and she felt this bond between them that she couldn’t quitedescribe.

It was the kind of bond that forbade them from taking a break from this reunion even for sleep. Her mother had left her with him to catch up and probably went to bed hoursago.

It was almost five a.m. She hadn’t stayed awake for this longsince…