The Ideal Man

TWENTY – SIX

The Pattersons weren’t pleasant people.

After Hershey and Clark arrived at the Sullivan house late in the afternoon, Max gave them instructions and made Ellie promise she would stay with them, then walked the few blocks to the Patterson home.

The couple opened the door together, but neither invited Max to come inside. Resentment etched Mr. Patterson’s face, and anger radiated from Mrs. Patterson.

Max showed them his badge and said, “My name is Agent Daniels, and I’m with the FBI.”

“Why don’t you people leave us alone?” Mr. Patterson demanded.

“I want to talk to you about your son.”

The couple edged their way out onto the porch, and Mr. Patterson pulled the door closed behind him.

“What is it you want with him this time?” he asked.

“First of all, I want to know where he is,” Max said calmly.

“Why?” Mrs. Patterson asked in a gravelly voice. “So you can harass him again?”

“Or do you want to lock him away again?” Mr. Patterson asked. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at Max. “Evan hasn’t done anything wrong, and I know the law. You can’t touch him.”

“He was a good boy until she came along,” Mrs. Patterson said. Only the slightest hint of disappointment flashed across her face before the anger took over again. “We had such high hopes for him. He was going to make something of himself. He was so smart and clever. All the teachers told us so.”

“She ruined his life, getting the police involved and all. He didn’t mean any harm.”

Max wanted to argue, to remind them that Ellie was eleven years old the first time their son attacked her, but he knew it was useless to point out the facts. They had already twisted them to fit their agenda, and nothing he could say would change their minds. They wanted to believe their son was a victim.

“I’m not here to talk about the past,” Max said.

“We don’t know where Evan is. We haven’t seen him in months,” Mr. Patterson insisted.

“If we did know, we wouldn’t tell you,” his wife muttered.

“Your son tried to purchase a gun yesterday,” Max told them.

“I don’t believe it,” Mrs. Patterson scoffed. “You FBI agents always lie.” She pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and elbowed her husband for his lighter.

“Did that woman call you and tell you the lie about a gun so you would come here and harass us?” Mr. Patterson demanded.

“We know she’s back in town. We read it in the paper. She’s behind this.” Mrs. Patterson lit a cigarette and inhaled. “She won’t rest until she’s destroyed our boy.” Smoke billowed out of her mouth as she spoke. “She ought to be the one locked up is what I think. I hope she gets what she deserves.”

Max was through being diplomatic. “I’m putting both of you on notice. If your son gets hold of a gun, and you do nothing to stop him, you’re as responsible as he is if someone gets hurt. I’ll lock you up, too.”

They gave no response to his threat, but as he was walking down their porch steps, he heard their front door slam.