That was a fair question, one Sean hadn’t really come to terms with himself. “They never gave me any details about his death, so there wasn’t much to tell. But I’m honestly not sure why, Ryan. My father and I had a complicated relationship. When my mother died when I was ten, he kind of checked out of my life. By the time he’d left the country for his new job things were pretty bad between us.” That was an understatement. Another victim of Japan had been their relationship. His father, a one-star general, had been the base’s commanding officer. When he wasn’t at work, he was at the O-Club, slowly building a reputation as a booze and * hound. Sean, in turn, had acted out, drinking and partying and fighting, often being brought home after curfew by the base police. But nothing really seemed to catch his dad’s attention. They rarely fought, or even spoke, for that matter. What he remembered most from his teen years was the silence. Heavy silence. And the one time he had come to his father for help—over a killing, no less—his dad had let him down again. The General was a politician. In the military, but a politician nonetheless. So when Sean told him about the storekeeper, his dad chose to hide the problem. Bury it. Within the week, the General had made up some story about a sick relative and shipped Sean off to his aunt in Cleveland, then was stationed back stateside three months later himself. Sean always wondered if leaving the post early in Japan had ended his dad’s chance for more stars on that uniform he loved so much.
By Sean’s senior year in high school his dad had retired. He’d also managed to get sober. The day Sean was leaving for college his father tried to make amends. Tried to bring up the storekeeper and what had happened. Wanted to talk before he left the country for the new job. But it was too late. The last thing Sean had said to him was, “Go work out your twelve steps somewhere else. We’re through.”
Ryan continued, “They interviewed one of your old friends on the news. He said that when your dad died, you didn’t take time off school. That you used it as motivation to succeed. He said that’s why you may become a Supreme Court justice.”
Sean shook his head at the armchair psychology. Why the hell was the media focusing on his father now? Then he remembered that during his White House meeting, the president had mentioned his dad. Our plan is to put your name out there again along with some additional information about your personal story and see the reaction.
“It wasn’t my father’s death that motivated me,” Sean said absently.
“No? Then what was it?”
“Mom. You. Jack. Abby.”
For years his oath had been his motivator. He’d channeled all of his guilt and shame into unbridled ambition. But when Emily came along the focus changed. He wanted to be a better person not for the vow of a distraught teenager, but for her. She believed in him, pushed him to be better. She became the family he’d always wanted. And by the time they’d had their third child, he’d long ago siloed away his past. Emily and the kids were all that mattered. It was why he couldn’t bring himself to tell her about Japan. He liked the version of himself reflected in her eyes.
“Is Mom gonna be okay?”
“Yes. She’s just having a rough time.”
“Don’t you think we should tell her about everything? And about what happened at the school last night?”
Sean kept his eyes on the road. “I’m not sure.”
“Why? You think she can’t handle it?”
“I didn’t say that. I just think she’s really struggling right now, and I don’t want to pile on. You know what I mean?”
Ryan turned to his father. “You both always say that keeping things to yourself doesn’t help anyone. That we need to trust you guys enough to tell you things.”
“I know. But this is different. I’ve never seen Mom this way. I just don’t know if she’s ready.”
“I think she’s stronger than that, Dad.”
Sean chewed on his lip. “You’re a smart kid, Ryan. A really smart kid.”
CHAPTER 40
Sean’s street was dotted with lamp light as he rolled toward their colonial. The sidewalks were lined with recycling bins and brown sacks filled with plastics, bottles, and cans.
“Shit,” Sean said as the SUV neared their home. Ryan, who’d dozed off, sat up and rubbed his eyes with balled fists. Another news van was parked in front of the house, this one blocking the driveway. Sean pulled alongside the van and gestured for the driver to move aside. The unshaven guy in his thirties, eating a bag of chips, finally noticed him, gave a lazy nod, and started the van’s engine. Before the vehicle moved, however, another man, this one in a blazer and holding a microphone, appeared next to the SUV’s opened driver-side window.
“Mr. Serrat, I’m Eric Wall with WUSA 9 News.”
Sean held up a hand and shook his head, but that didn’t stop the reporter. “Do you care to comment on the upcoming evidentiary hearing? Do you think the FBI committed an illegal search? Should the evidence against Malik Montgomery be thrown out?”
Sean turned to Ryan. “Just look forward and don’t acknowledge him.” Sean waved for the van’s driver to pick up the pace.
“The NAACP says Malik Montgomery is being railroaded,” the reporter said. “Do you have any doubts about Mr. Montgomery’s guilt?”
Sean glanced over the reporter’s shoulder to the front of the house. He saw a form in the window. He looked the reporter in the eyes. It must have been a hard look because the guy stopped talking midsentence. Sean’s window hissed up and the reporter nodded to the driver of the van, who finally rolled from curb, giving Sean access to the driveway. Sean pulled up the drive. He and Ryan climbed out of the SUV and started quickly toward the door when something troubling caught Sean’s eye. In the front yard, near the steps. Ryan’s bike.
CHAPTER 41
“I’ve been trying to reach you,” Emily said. She stood in the shallow light of the kitchen. Her eyes were bloodshot, hair a mess. “You can’t keep doing these disappearing acts. Why didn’t Ryan go to school? Where were you? And why didn’t you pick up your phone?”
Sean answered none of it, but turned instead to Ryan. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up and I’ll make you some dinner. I want to talk with Mom.”
Ryan nodded and disappeared out of the kitchen.