Read Online The Clearing by Dan Newman - Free Book Online Page A

door he saw two officers; the one who had been there earlier and another – a large man with sweat on his forehead and an unruly moustache. He wore sergeant stripes on the sleeve of his blue police uniform, and he held his hat in both hands the way people do at funerals. It took Nate a moment to place him, and then he remembered.
    Sergeant Cole walked slowly into the room and sat on the coffee table in front of Nate; it was a solid piece of furniture but it still creaked under the weight of the big man. His holstered gun made a dull thunk against the tabletop, and the officer wiped at the perspiration on his forehead. “Mr Mason...” He spoke softly, as if to a child. “Do you... Do you remember me?”
    Nate looked at the man and somewhere inside a dam began to fracture.
    Kathy’s brow furrowed in question. She looked at the big officer but the man shook his head gently.
    â€œHello, Sergeant Cole,” said Nate, but the words came out so softly and unevenly that he wasn’t even sure the man heard him. A moment later he began to cry. Not heaving sobs racking his body in anguish, but rather a simple stream of tears. Nate puffed his cheeks out as he fought to maintain his composure.
    The big policeman placed one hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Ain’t this a son of a bitch?” he said quietly. “Ain’t this a goddamn son of a bitch?”
    Kathy looked on, puzzled, but calm. She produced a tissue, almost magically, and handed it to Nate.
    â€œThanks,” he muttered, taking a deep, steadying breath. He knew the loss of his father would shake him, but this reaction – these tears and the sudden emptiness inside him – that was all tied to the appearance of Sergeant Cole.
    Sergeant Cole took a long breath and began. “The officer there,” he said, pointing at the policeman by the door. “He tells me you found your dad? Just like he is now?”
    Nate nodded.
    â€œYou didn’t move him at all?”
    â€œNo. Well, I covered him up. Covered his head with a towel.”
    Sergeant Cole nodded. “And the gun. Did you touch it?”
    â€œNo,” Nate said hollowly.
    â€œWhat about the box of papers and things? All that stuff he had around him. Did you touch any of that?”
    â€œNo,” said Nate. It was a lie, but a small one. “I just came in here and called you guys.”
    â€œThat’s good, that’s good,” said Sergeant Cole, putting his hand again on Nate’s shoulder. “Has your dad been going through tough times lately?”
    Lately? thought Nate. Sure, if lately meant the last thirty years. “Yes, he’s been struggling for... for some time. He had some problems with alcohol.”
    â€œOK. OK.” Sergeant Cole looked around the room. “And what about relationships? I gather he lived alone, but is there anyone else we need to notify? Your mother perhaps?”
    Nate shook his head gently. “They’re not together anymore, not for a long time.”
    Nate thought about that. His mother. When was the last time he’d seen her? He couldn’t remember. Someone should probably tell her , he thought. Someone . Nate knew it wouldn’t be him.
    Behind Sergeant Cole, two men in overalls came through with a stretcher. Sergeant Cole raised his hand and the men nodded in understanding, then retreated silently from the doorway. “Those guys, they’re from the coroner’s office, they’re gonna take the body away when we’re all done, OK?”
    Nate was still thinking about his mother. “Sure. OK,” he said vacantly.
    â€œRight. I’m going to go take care of things in there. You sit here with...” He looked over to the woman from Victims Services and raised his eyebrows.
    â€œKathy.”
    â€œ...with Kathy, here. She’ll help you with whatever you need, all right?”
    â€œSure. OK,” said Nate, watching the big man heave himself up