5

Mrs. Zinkleman walked back in the room accompanied by a man Jamie assumed was Michael’s father. He wore a dirty white T-shirt that didn’t hide the beer gut beneath it. His face was grizzled as if he hadn’t bothered to shave for the past few days.

She stood up and made a move to shake his hand.

He ignored it. “What’s this about Mikey wanting to give us money?” His gaze slipped to her cleavage, and then he looked back up at her with a leer. “That don’t sound much like Mikey at all. He never cared about helping out me or his mother. Got that fancy college degree, and then acted like he was ashamed of us.”

“That’s not true,” Mrs. Zinkleman protested. “Michael’s a good boy and a good son.”

The man glared at his wife.

Jamie was afraid he might hit her. She wouldn’t let that happen.

“That boy was never any good and you know it. I told the police that. And I ain’t heard from him since he grabbed my grandson and left.” He looked back at Jamie. “So you want to know who he’s close to. Who he might still keep in contact with? Huh?”

“Not at all. I just wanted to get a few pictures to give to Michael of some of his friends. He misses home.” It sounded lame even to her.

Mr. Zinkleman stared at her as he scratched his belly. Finally, he sighed. “Whatever. How much money you got there?”

Jamie wondered what the going rate was for betraying his son. “Two thousand.”

He shook his head. “Not enough.”

She gritted her teeth. The man actually wanted to bargain. How much was the price of betrayal? She opened her purse. “Five thousand. It’s all I have.”

He nodded. “Sounds about right.” He held out his hand.

“Give me a name.” All pretending was gone now. This was out-and-out negotiations and they both knew it.

Even Mrs. Zinkleman understood. She sat in the chair sniffling tears running down her cheeks as she watched the two of them.

“Ryan Mattson. The two of them were buddies in high school, but Michael went to college while Ryan went to jail.” His hand shot out.

She placed the money in it.

“Always did like that Ryan. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty like Mikey was. He’d get under the hood and help me while Mikey stood by and watched.”

“Where can I find Ryan?”

The man shrugged. “It will cost you another five grand.”

What a prince. She opened her purse and showed it to him. “All gone. I don’t have any more.”

He shrugged. “Then I don’t know nothing else.”

Jamie turned to leave.

Mrs. Zinkleman jumped up and accompanied her to the door. She grabbed Jamie’s arm. “Tell me the truth; did Michael really give you that money to give us?”

Jamie understood the question. Mrs. Zinkleman wanted to know if her child had committed the crimes he’d been accused of. He was guilty as far as Jamie was concerned, but there was no reason to break this woman’s heart any more than it already was.

Jamie shook her head before she turned and left.