Thread of Truth, стр. 18

“Did he think something was going on between the two of you?” I asked.

She thought for a moment. “I don't think he really thought that was happening, but he accused me of it, yeah. He knew that I wasn't doing anything with him, but he hated seeing his name on my phone or whatever. It just always set him off. I think we argued about that more than anything else.”

“Was there an argument about him the last time you saw him?”

She shook her head. “No, not that day. It was maybe a few days before.”

“And what was Sal doing?” I asked. “Was he trying to get you back? Was he just trying to be friends?”

“He wanted me back,” she said, shifting on the couch and bringing her knees to her chest. “When he found out I was pregnant, he sort of flipped out.”

“He did?” Bill asked. “You didn't tell us that.”

“Why would I?” she asked. “What was the point?”

He rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

“He told me that Desmond was a loser and that I was a loser for staying with him,” Olivia explained. “He told me I shouldn't have the baby, that it would ruin my life, that Desmond was ruining my life.” She paused. “Des saw one of those texts and he totally lost it.” Her eyes teared up. “He screamed at me and told me if I didn't want to have the baby and didn't want to be with him, then I should just figure it out on my own.” She paused, wiping at her tears. “I told him that wasn't what I wanted. It was all...I didn't even know what I wanted. Everyone was telling me what to do, but no one was asking me what I wanted to do.” She shook her head. “But I didn't want anything to do with Sal and I blocked him from my phone after that.”

Olivia Cousins was clearly a kid with a lot on her plate. A boyfriend who seemed to be trying to do the right thing. Parents who, I had a feeling, had a bigger influence on her decisions than they'd put forth so far. An ex-boyfriend who was complicating all of that. Combining those things with an unexpected pregnancy and I could see how the girl was overwhelmed, both before she had the baby and right at that moment in her living room.

“Thank you,” I told her. “I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.”

“Are they going to find whoever did that to Desmond?” she asked. She looked fragile, vulnerable, curled up on the couch. “Will the police find who did it?”

I stood up. “I hope so. That's what they want to do and that's what they're trying to do.”

She nodded.

“I'll walk you out,” Bill Cousins said.

I said goodbye to Olivia and Sharon and he walked me toward the front door, stepping outside onto their front porch. He pulled the door closed behind him.

“I didn't want to say anything in front of Olivia,” he said, lowering his voice. “I guess I did, though. The Boston kid is a first class prick.”

“Boston kid?”

“That's his last name,” he said. “Sal Boston.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Look, I know I'm overprotective of her and I'm not going to stand here and lie to you about the last few months. They've been tough on everyone and I'm sure I've been a pretty shitty father at times. I wasn't crazy about Desmond and I sure as hell didn't think the plans they were making were the right way to go about everything. But I did respect that the kid was trying to do the right thing by Olivia. He was trying.” His mouth set in a firm line. “And he was a massive upgrade from Boston.”

“How so?”

“Like I said, Desmond was at least trying,” he explained. “I wasn't crazy about his past and I was still pretty skeptical, but he showed up on time. His parents seemed to have a good handle on him. He had a job. He was good to Olivia and polite to us. So, no matter how I felt about the pregnancy and them moving forward, I did appreciate that Desmond seemed like he was trying to be a good kid. Maybe I didn't always show it, but I did think that.”

I nodded.

“But Boston?” He shook his head. “That kid rolled in here with a puffed out chest and an attitude seven miles long. He is your stereotypical arrogant punk kid. Condescending to everyone and that included me, my wife, and Olivia.”

“So why was she with him?” I asked.

“I really don't know,” he answered. “He's a good-looking kid, if you can get past the attitude. I'm sure he said all the right things when he came after her at the start.” His face tightened with anger. “But, I'm telling you. That kid thinks he's the king of the world and if she hadn't broken up with him, I probably would've kept him out of our house. He lied to her. He dressed her down. He was rude to everyone I ever saw him interact with.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “I'm well aware that I am one of those fathers that probably thinks his daughter won't ever find anyone good enough for them. I know that about myself. But I would bet you any amount of money that if you met this kid, you'd feel the same way.”

I appreciated his candor, both about Sal Boston and about himself. I knew what he meant when he said he doubted he'd ever find anyone worthy of his daughter. I often had the same concern about Elizabeth. She hadn't had a serious boyfriend, so we hadn't crossed that bridge yet. She'd dated one kid who'd nearly gotten us killed in a canyon shootout over drugs, but even that hadn't been a serious relationship and the experience had made her wary about any relationship