Chapter
40
SO TELL ME, DO YOU prefer Sally or Jessica?”
Reel said, “How are you, Leon? Still playing behind closed doors with your little swastika?”
Leon Dikes smiled and looked toward the doorway to the room where Julie was being held. “It’s so wonderful to hear your voice, Sally.”
“Let’s live in the present. The name is Jessica.”
“All right, Jessica.”
“Next time you see Earl, tell him I said hello. It’s heartwarming to see that you two have remained close.”
“The truth is, I never really cared for your father, Jessica. He’s uncouth and uneducated. I have a PhD.”
“Yeah, in the I Love Hitler program at the University of the Demented.”
“Actually, it was political science and it was at Berkeley.”
“Now, t
hat’s something I never knew about you, Leon.”
“But your father did prove useful. He was dying, but he was dying unfulfilled.”
“Let me guess. I was the last item on his bucket list?”
“It was a mutual goal. You cost me several years of my life in prison.”
“What you did should have cost you your life. You got a ridiculously short sentence because I was prevented from coming back and testifying against you.”
“But you decimated my organization. It took me a long time to rebuild it.”
“Goody for you. Let’s talk about the future.”
“Julie is a very intelligent girl. She could go far in any field she chooses. Will she get the chance?”
“Let her go and the answer is yes.”
“I would like to let her go. If my price is met.”
“I’ve got a few bucks in my 401(k).”
“You and my daughter are the price.”
“She’s not your daughter.”
“I am her biological father.”
“You raped me.”
“Your words. But in any case it does not take away my status.”
“It most certainly does. And it did. The court already ruled on that.”
“American courts do not have jurisdiction over me.”
“Not really sure how you figure that one. But I don’t want to get into that. You take me in return for Julie. It’s me you really want, after all.”
“I said you and my child.”
“It’s called compromise, Leon. You never get all you want.”
“I do. Because if I don’t I will impregnate Julie, hold her for the term of the baby. And then kill her. That way I will have my child. Those are my terms. They are not negotiable. You know me well enough to understand that.”
Reel didn’t say anything for several moments. “It will take me some time to get hold of Laura.”
“Laura? You named her after—”
“My mother, yes.”
“I told you her name was Eva.”
“I was not naming my daughter after Adolf Hitler’s mistress.”
“They were lawfully married. Eva Braun was Der Führer’s great love.”
“Yeah, he married her and then killed her. Some love.”
“I will not argue political philosophies with you. His mind was too advanced for someone like you to understand.”
“And thank God for that.”
“I will give you two days to locate ‘Laura.’ Then I will call and give you instructions on the exchange.”
“Look, Leon, I can’t just take Laura from the life she has and give her to you.”
“Then I will get to you another way. And I will have my new child with Julie. And I will send you Julie’s head nine months from now. It is simple. Do not worry yourself over it, Sally. You are female. Know your limits. Remember, I often counseled you about that.”
“What?”
“That he should be the one who’s afraid.”
Reel took this all in and nodded. “I’m an idiot, I really am.”
“No you’re not. You’re stressed beyond belief and feeling incredible guilt. Most humans aren’t equipped to deal well with that combination.”
“But I’m not most humans, am I? I forgot that for a bit. I guess it seemed to me that I was still a teenager dealing with this piece of filth. But I’m not.” She stood. “I’m not.” She paused, choosing her words with care. “This actually might be a blessing in disguise, Robie. He used my old man to get to me. But he never looked at it the other way around.”