Page 46 of Something Like Hail
“Meaning?”
“Tim Wyman’s welfareismy business. Are youtelling me that Ryan hasn’t asked you to speak with Tim on hisbehalf? Or perhaps he wanted you to—oh, I don’t know—deliver aletter?”
Noah’s mouth dropped open. How did he knowthese things? Was he psychic or— None of that mattered. Thesituation was spiraling out of control. The last thing Noah wantedwas for Marcello to think he had some ulterior motive. He imaginedthat impression getting back to Harold, like Noah had just gottenfriendly with him as part of a ruse. He needed to prove beyond ashadow of a doubt that he could be trusted.
Noah leaned forward, reached into his backpocket, and pulled the letter free. Then he thrust it out. “Here. Ihaven’t read it yet. Do whatever you want. Burn the stupid thing, Idon’t care.”
Marcello took it tentatively, examining theaddress. “You haven’t read it?” He sounded more curious thanangry.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
Noah took a deep breath. “Because he didn’tbother to write me at the same time, and because it’ll be the samestupid things Ryan always said when Tim’s name came up.”
“Enlighten me.”
Noah crossed his arms over his chest. “He’llsay they had a good start, but Ryan was still upset over the wayhis family treated him, so he turned to drugs, which made himcheat, which made Tim cheat, and it was all a big misunderstanding,but if they could only try one more time…” He shook his head indisgust.
“Ryan would say such thingswhile you two were dating?”
“Yeah,” Noah said. “I don’tthink he meant to hurt me. He was just really messed up over thewhole situation. Tortured, like he couldn’t get past it. I learnedto change the subject whenever Tim was mentioned, or at least notfeed into it, because he’d get really upset.”
“Upset enough to attempt atriple homicide.”
Noah exhaled. “I don’t think that was hisintention.”
“Have you read the policereport?”
“No.”
Marcello pulled out his phone, tapping thescreen for the better part of a minute. Then he handed the deviceto Noah. “I have my own reading to do,” he said, opening theletter. “Please. Feel free.”
Noah couldn’t concentrate at first. He knewmany of the details. He had often been there in court but alwaysstruggled to focus, not only because of the conflicted emotionsraging inside of him, but also due to the confusing legalproceedings. Back in the present, he noticed that Marcello hadn’tleft the screen at the top of the police report. Instead it showedan account of events according to the victim, Benjamin Bentley.Noah knew next to nothing about him, just that he was the guy Timhad cheated on Ryan with, and that he had still been around whenRyan showed up at their house with a gun.
The victim, Benjamin Bentley, describes thesuspect, Ryan Hamilton, as being shaky and irrational. Afterentering through the backyard entrance without permission orannouncement, the suspect proceeded to the kitchen where he pointeda firearm at both residents present, demanding that one, JasonGrant, identify himself. The suspect became increasingly agitatedduring this, stating “Tell me or I’ll put a bullet in his head.”Suspect made various accusations toward Bentley (see witnessstatement Attmt. A), before Bentley stepped in front of Grant in aneffort to shield him. Another resident, Tim Wyman, arrived on thescene and entered the home. In the course of trying to reason withthe suspect, Hamilton turned the gun on Wyman. The conversationquickly escalated (see witness statement Attmt. C) before thesuspect discharged the firearm, striking Wyman in the upper leftshoulder and—
Noah clenched his jaw and looked away. Hecould barely listen as events were described in court, skipping themost crucial dates, because the bare-bone facts were difficultenough to accept. Ryan, the guy who had on more than one occasioncried in his arms, who was so hurt over the people who hadabandoned him, and who had often kissed Noah on the nose andwhispered, “Thank you for loving me” before they drifted off tosleep—how could he be this same monster?
“The line about putting abullet in young Jason’s head haunts me most.” Marcello’s attentionwas still on the letter. “I don’t believe you’ve met him. Jason ishumble and unassuming. Friendly as well. Perhaps it would help youto imagine Harold instead. Think of him being on the other end of agun, and having to stand there and watch his father not only getshot, but slowly bleed out on the kitchen floor.”
“Jason is Tim’sson?”
“Yes, and if it wasn’t forhis quick thinking, Tim would have died that day, and your friendRyan would be facing the death penalty. In that way you owe Jason adebt of gratitude. Excuse me a moment.”
Marcello finished reading, Noah not havingthe courage to do the same. He didn’t need to know every detail.The crime Ryan had committed was horrendous. Noah had neverdisputed that.
“Interesting,” Marcellosaid, looking away from the letter. “I take it you and Ryan are nolonger involved?”
God how he wished he could deny it!“Technically we never broke up, but in my mind, the relationship isover.”
“It would seem you are inagreement, unless I am misinterpreting this part here.” Marcellotapped a paragraph, then handed the letter to Noah so he could readit.
There’s a reason you found me outside thebar that night. There’s also a reason our stories are so similar.We both came from the same place. Our parents were cold. We grew upwithout love. The only difference is that I didn’t have an Eric. Ormaybe I did. You were my Eric, but I was too young and stupid tolet you help me. I’m not now. I need you. Not just your forgivenessor your love but your testimony, because if that doesn’t happen,then I don’t think we can be together. I’m willing to take whateverI can get. This time I won’t mess up. I won’t hurt you. You’re myguardian angel, Tim. I just need one more chance. I’m all alone.Please.
Noah clenched his jaw. Part of him feltbetrayed, which was dumb because he didn’t want to be with Ryananymore. Noah had moved on too, both physically and emotionally.What did he care if Ryan would rather be with Tim? This wasn’t arevelation. He had reached the same conclusion long ago, knowingthat someone like Ryan wouldn’t want him normally. Only becauseRyan had been so hurt over the guy he couldn’t have did he settlefor Noah.
Betrayal was one emotioncompeting for his attention. Anger was another.I’m all alone.What the hell? Noahhad made the effort to visit Ryan. He hadn’t managed often, but hehad written more letters than he could count, and just the otherday, sent extra money to Ryan despite the uncertainty of hisemployment.