Read Online Death Gets a Time-Out by Ayelet Waldman - Free Book Online Page B

over at his lawyers, and they jumped to attention.
    “We’ve barely touched on Jupiter’s life,” I said before they could end the interview. “I’m going to need information about his medical history, his psychological history. How he did in school. What problems, if any, he had before this unfortunate event. I’m going to want to talk about his drug use, his recovery. And of course, we need to discuss his and your relationships with Chloe. All that information is critical to preparing for the penalty phase of Jupiter’s trial.”
    Polaris shot a glance in the direction of his lawyers. The one who had spoken up earlier said, “I’ll prepare a list of physicians, therapists, teachers, and friends for you. You can contact those individuals, and after you’ve done so, if you feel another meeting is necessary, we can consider the possibility.”
    “No one knows Jupiter as well as his father,” I said. “The Reverend is likely to have all sorts of information that those other individuals do not.”
    The attorney snapped his briefcase shut and rose to his feet. “Then you can put your questions in writing, and submit them to me. I’ll communicate the
Very
Reverend Polaris’s responses to you. Good day.”
    With that, Aldebaran and the other robed man began hustling Al and me out the door. I shook my arm free and extended my hand to Polaris. “I’m very sorry for your loss, Very Reverend Polaris. I hope we haven’t offended you in anyway. You understand that our job is to help your son, don’t you?”
    He stared at me for a moment, and then smiled bitterly. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t wish you success in your endeavors,” he said.

Six
    “ ‘S OMETHING like that’? What kind of an answer is that? Either she died in a car accident or she didn’t,” I said.
    “Yup,” Al said. He was sitting in the driver’s seat of his car, drumming his fingertips against the steering wheel. I stood outside his window, and peered up into his face. Al’s Suburban sported oversized truck wheels, and since I’m about five feet tall, my head barely grazed the bottom of the window.
    “What do you think?” I said.
    “I think we’d better find out how ol’ Trudy-Ann kicked.”
    “Al,” I said. “Jesus. Lilly’s my
friend
, remember? You’re talking about her dead mother.”
    “Yeah, well, I’d like to know how her mother got that way.”
    “Any ideas how to investigate a death that happened thirty years ago, in Mexico?”
    He shrugged. “Hell if I know.”
    “I’ll talk to Lilly. See what she knows.”
    “Good idea. What’s with you and the Rev, by the way?”
    “What?”
    “Five more minutes in that house and you would have been getting fitted for your own white robe.”
    “What are you talking about?” I said, feigning an anger I knew was unreasonable. There was just something about Polaris.
    “You couldn’t keep your eyes off the funny-looking little guy.”
    “That’s ridiculous!”
    “Is it?”
    I opened my mouth to insist on my innocence, but then sighed. “Didn’t you feel it? He’s . . . I don’t know . . . compelling.”
    Al shrugged. “I’m pretty immune to that kind of thing. Maybe it’s because I’m a man.”
    I frowned. “No, it’s not sexual. At all. He’s just . . . he’s just hard not to look at. When he looks at you, that is.” I shook my head, frustrated at my inability to pinpoint the exact nature of the man’s appeal. “Anyway. I’m thinking our next step needs to be the rehab center. We’ll get information on Jupiter’s drug habit. How hard he worked to kick it. That kind of thing. I’ll bet there’s at least one shrink at the center who can testify on his behalf.”
    “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking,” Al said. “When can you head up to the Ojai Self-Absorption Center? Monday?”
    “The Ojai Rehabilitation and Self-Actualization Center. Yeah, Monday, I guess. I’ll leave a message for the director letting him know we’re coming.