Page 106 of Something Like Hail

“Even if it means he endsup killing himself?”

Tim swallowed. “I know it sounds cold, buthe broke into my house! He held my husband and son at gunpoint! Inthat kind of situation, you have to make ugly decisions. If I haveto choose between the people I love and Ryan—”

“Except he’s not standingin your house with a gun,” Noah interjected. “He’s safely behindbars and trying to find any reason why he should go onliving.”

“I can’t be thatreason!”

“No, but you can helpabsolve him of guilt!”

“Why should I?”

They were both shouting now, Noah glancingbehind him and expecting to see more lights on than before. “Allyou need to do is show up, just once, and listen. That’s all I’masking. Give him a chance to say what he needs to. After that,you’ve done your part. You’ll have gone above and beyond whatanyone could reasonably expect, which will be your only consolationwhen he does kill himself.”

Tim frowned. “You really think he will?”

Noah exhaled. “I sure hope not. I’m scaredthough. I really am.”

Tim thought about it. Then he shook hishead. “I can’t. I don’t trust him. Like I said, he’ll get me aloneand afterwards he’ll claim—”

“I’ll go with you.” Noahnearly grimaced after the words slipped free, but then he realizedit made sense. He was probably fired anyway. Once Marcello foundout that he had begged Tim to see Ryan again, it was as good asover. Breaking his promise to stay away from the prison wouldn’tmatter anymore. “I get that you don’t know who I am or if you cantrust me, but you can. I’ll sit there with you both and be awitness. Or you can take your husband along instead.”

“No fucking way,” Tim said,shaking his head adamantly. “I wouldn’t do that to him. Jasoneither. I shouldn’t even do this to myself.”

“But you will?” Noah asked,detecting a glimmer of hope.

“Everything all right outhere?” a voice boomed.

Noah turned to see Nathaniel marching towardthem.

Tim greeted him with a handshake and asmile. “You should have brought Zero tonight! Chinchilla misseshim. She thought there was going to be a party.”

“He’s at home with Kelly,”Nathaniel said, gripping Tim’s shoulder before releasing his hand.“If you want, I could have him come get Chinchilla too.”

“Or your husband could joinus. Shouldn’t he be taking photos for—I don’t know—some sort ofpromotional thing?”

“He’s got a nasty sinusinfection,” Nathaniel replied, casually sizing up Noah in thecorner of his eye.

They kept talking about people and placesthat Noah wasn’t familiar with. He stood back helplessly, unsurewhat else to say. Pleading with Tim in front of Nathaniel didn’tseem wise anyway.

“Time to get back to work,”Nathaniel said eventually, jerking his head toward thehouse.

“Okay,” Noah replied. Readyto admit defeat, he trudged along behind Nathaniel.

“Wait up,” Tim said as theyreached the door. He held out a business card. “The bottom one ismy personal number.”

Noah glanced at the card, seeing somethingabout an art gallery. Then he looked up and flashed a smile.“Thanks!”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Timsaid. “I haven’t made up my mind.” He turned and walked back to hisdog, shaking his head along the way.

Nathaniel was glowering, so Noah didn’tloiter any longer. He pocketed the card and followed him backthrough the house. They stopped at the door to the kitchen whereNathaniel spun around, his large frame blocking the way.

“What do you think you’redoing?” he demanded.

Here it comes! Noah was about to get fired,which made it easier to be defiant. “I’m trying to help afriend.”

“In that case, you needbetter friends,” Nathaniel growled. “Or you need to startrecognizing the ones you’ve got while you still havethem.”

“Like who?” Noah shot back.“You?”