Mad Dog Justice by Mark Rubinstein Page B

about Kenny disappearing almost a
year
ago, and you said nothing to
me
? And now … now you’re saying that maybe the kids and I could be in
danger
? Becauseof what? Some people from some mob? Are you
serious
? And you’re first telling me all this
now
… after Danny’s been shot?”
    “Trace, I didn’t want to—”
    “You didn’t want to
what
, Roddy?” Her face reddens. “You didn’t want to tell your wife that we could all be killed because of Kenny Egan … who’s now
dead
because he owed money to some mob?”
    “We don’t know for sure that Kenny’s dead.”
    Her mouth hangs open. “You don’t know for
sure
? But you
think
he’s dead? How … how could you
do
this?”
    “I didn’t want you to worry … to be involved.”
    “How could I not be involved? I’m your
wife!
” Her face is frozen in an expression of disbelief. “Have you told me everything, Roddy?”
    “Yes,” he says, nearly cringing at his lie.
    “Absolutely
everything
?”
    “Yes, honey, I have.” He can barely tolerate his own voice.
    Tracy resumes pacing. She brushes back a lock of hair from her forehead. “This is unbelievable, completely beyond anything I could have imagined. I don’t know what … I just can’t … Who have I been married to all these years? Just who
are
you?” She stops pacing and turns back to him.
    “Trace …” He reaches for her.
    “No, Roddy …
no
.” She steps back, trembling. Her eyes are wet, and her eyeliner looks smudged. “Do you trust me?”
    “Of course I do.”
    “Do you? Do you
really
trust me?”
    “Trace, I trust you and love you, more than—”
    “Roddy, do you trust
anyone
?”
    “Please, Tracy, let’s be sensible.”
    “How could you not tell me all this?” Tears drip down her face.
    He reaches for her again, but she backs away.
    “Honey, I figured—”
    “What did you figure, Roddy? Just what were you thinking?”
    He stands there, nearly paralytic, feeling his life shredding apart. And he’s weaving a web of lies and deception. His mouth opens, but there are no words; there’s nothing he can say.
    “Roddy,” she says, crossing her arms in front of her and shaking her head from side to side, “what am I to you?” She peers into his eyes.
    “Honey, you’re my wife, and I love you more—”
    “Okay, so you love me. But do you
trust
me?”
    “Of course I do.”
    “
Of course you do
? But you tell me nothing. There are men out there … men with guns. Danny—your best friend since you were maybe two years old—is in the hospital after he’s been shot. You’ve known about this Kenny Egan thing for almost a year and you kept it a
secret
from me?”
    Roddy’s legs feel as though they’re going watery. He moves to the sofa and plops down.
    “You’ve put our
children
in danger. Now you’re telling us we have to leave this house, our home, and you’re afraid for your life and our lives? And you told me
nothing
until now?”
    “Tracy, I didn’t—”
    She moves toward him with her eyes flashing. Her arms are still crossed and she’s trembling. “Look, Roddy, I know you had a miserable childhood. I understand all about your mother and father and how your mother’s lousy boyfriend, Horst, beat you. I know all about the old neighborhood and how tough it was. I get it. But there are limits.
    “We’ve been married for fifteen years; we have two kids. We built what I
thought
was a good life—a solid marriage, a lovely home and family life. But it’s … it’s very clear that you don’t trust me. You don’t
really
trust me … your own wife. I don’t know if you can trust
anyone
.”
    She turns and begins pacing again with her arms still crossed in front of her, as though she’s clutching herself to keep her insides from falling out. “You just can’t believe that someone can love you and care for you and be on your side no matter what, can you?” She stands stock-still for a moment and then shakes her head as tears stream in narrow runnels