Something Missing_ A Novel - Matthew Dicks [126]
“I was just doing …”
“Hush,” Sophie interrupted. “Don’t do that. Don’t belittle what you did. You risked your life for me that night, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough. But Martin, I need to know something. How did you know that I was in trouble? How did you know about the man in my house? And how did you know my name? And his name? When you called for us, you used our first names. You knew who we were. And you knew his name too. Darrow’s name. And even though I’ve never seen you before, you recognized me when I was standing on your front stoop. How did you know so much?”
For more than a decade, Martin had wanted to share his life with someone, to tell another human being about the career that he had created for himself. He wanted someone else to know how careful and clever and precise he had been for all these years, and now, sitting across from him, was someone who wanted to listen, who wanted to know. Someone who was indebted to him, who referred to Martin as her hero, and who had reminded Martin moments ago about just how close he had come to death. In the end, it was this reminder about the fragility of life that compelled Martin to tell his story to Sophie Pearl. His willingness to speak, to share his most precious secret, was born from a fear that he might one day die without anyone ever knowing about who he really was and what he really did.
And so Martin Railsback, Jr., told Sophie Pearl the story of his life, beginning with the incident in his parents’ driveway so many years ago. He explained the rules by which he operated his business, described a few of his more interesting clients, and explained how he was able to earn a living while remaining undetected. He told her about his friend Alfredo, and about how the incident in the Claytons’ home had led to the letter to Alan Clayton, and how that letter might have saved the Claytons’ marriage. He told her about Daniel Ashley’s surprise birthday party and the means by which he had intervened to preserve the surprise. He related his encounter with Cujo and Blondie, and how his intervention in the Ashleys’ affairs had led him to Laura. He told her about Laura, their blossoming relationship, and he admitted for the first time (even to himself) that he might be falling in love with her. Finally, he told her about the day that he saw Clive Darrow leaving her home, about how he followed the man to his house and ultimately identified him. He told her about how he had accurately deduced Darrow’s plan, including his intent to use Noah Blake as a patsy for his crime, a fact which Sophie confirmed, though it had taken the police more than a week to figure that out. Though he wanted to leave it out, he also told her about how he had ignored his father’s advice, and how this mistake had ultimately allowed Clive Darrow into Sophie’s home. His eyes filled with tears as he apologized for this error in judgment, and they remained teary as he described his entry into the Pearls’ house that night and his brief but decisive encounter with Darrow.
When he finished, almost an hour had passed, during which time Sophie Pearl had remained nearly silent, interrupting only when asking for details or clarifications. At first Martin had welcomed her silence. It had allowed him to narrate his story with rhythm and ease, but as it grew more protracted, Martin began to feel anxious, wondering if the absence of interruptions was an indicator of her growing anger or terror.
Nevertheless, he had pressed on.
Martin ended his story with a description of his injuries and a brief recounting of the past two weeks, including Laura’s increased presence in his life. When he was at last finished, he said, “I guess that’s about it” and breathed a sigh of relief. He had done it. He had shared his story with another human being, and regardless of her reaction, he felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. In some odd way, he felt more real than he had