Chapter 8. What One Person Likes

By the time he came out, the negotiations were over. His ships had been pushed back. No other vessel was available to redirect immediately. Dane ordered the perishables divided among the boats first, then called the people whose deliveries would not arrive. Even when they heard his name and kept shouting, he listened to the end.

That night, the terms he had refused lay beside the notice for his next police interview in his bedroom. He put neither away.

***

On her fourth morning on the island, the first thing Leo saw when he lifted the fabric was a pink bear. Evelyn and the nurse were writing down the changes in his responses overnight. Moving rooms hadn't made his nightmares disappear. He had woken crying twice the night before.

Evelyn looked down too. One slipper was halfway off Marco's foot. The burly head of security tried to push his heel into it, then gave up.

“These were in storage.”

“I didn't mean you had to change into those particular shoes.”

“He told me to bring the quietest ones.”

The guard behind him spoke in a small voice. When Marco turned, he pointed to the toes of the slippers.

“The bears looked quiet...”

Having finished his explanation, the guard looked down at his own black socks. Marco glanced at them but chose not to pursue it today.

Evelyn pressed her lips together. Leaning against the wall, Dane turned his head. His shoulders moved once.

Marco stopped himself from taking the slippers off. Leo was watching them. Still holding the fabric up, he studied the bear's face.

Marco turned his toes toward the boy.

“Planning to wear those outside too?”

Dane asked. Marco drew his foot back.

“Only indoors.”

“Wear something that fits.”

“We had to find yours first, Boss...”

Every eye went to Dane's gray house shoes. Evelyn suppressed a laugh as Leo lifted the fabric farther. Marco abandoned his attempt to remove the slippers and turned the bears toward the child.

***

At lunch, the nurse took charge of Leo's meal. He left enough of the fabric open to see Dane. For a while, Dane watched the gap, then turned toward the way Evelyn had gone.

***

Evelyn washed her hands at the sink. As she folded back the sleeves of her borrowed clothes, a clean towel appeared in front of her. Dane.

“You'll need more clothes.”

“I'll have mine brought over. And my charger.”

“We can collect them if they're sent to the port. I won't send anyone to your home.”

Evelyn sent Olivia a list of what she needed. Beneath it, she added the time she would speak to the police station. Instead of looking at her screen, Dane pointed to a table at the end of the corridor.

“Have you eaten?”

“Leo has.”

“You.”

Evelyn looked at him. He pointed again to the small table at the end of the corridor. There were 2 bowls on it.

“Someone was still in the kitchen.”

Evelyn checked the time. There was a little while before she had to call Olivia again. At the sight of steam rising from the hot bowls, she felt how empty her stomach was.

She pulled out a chair and sat. Dane took the one opposite.

“Do I look like someone who survives by skipping meals?”

“All I've seen you do is stand.”

Evelyn picked up her spoon. As the broth went down, her shoulders lowered of their own accord. Dane was watching.

“Why are you staring?”

“I wondered if you'd stay that angry while eating.”

“I'm less angry now. Eat before it gets cold.”

Evelyn chose the crusty end of the bread. Dane's hand stopped.

“Were you going to eat this too?”

“You only give the boy the soft pieces.”

“I like this part.”

He turned the plate toward her. Evelyn looked at his eyes before his hand.

“Planning to memorize everything?”

“I've missed a lot. What you wear. What you eat.”

His eyes were different from when he asked about the boy's condition. Evelyn drew the piece of bread she had cut toward her side of the plate.

“You could ask. Instead of deciding things yourself.”

Dane leaned toward her across the table.

“Then what do you want to do right now?”

“Eat my lunch slowly. Sit and eat yours too.”

She tipped her chin toward the empty bowl. Only then did Dane pick up his spoon. Evelyn didn't get up first.

After a couple of mouthfuls, he set the spoon down. When she looked at him, he said he had a call coming in. His hand was quick to turn the vibrating phone facedown.

“Answer it.”

“This isn't something the boy should hear from his room.”

He went to a window a short distance away. Evelyn tried to continue eating, then heard his voice.

“Have another boat collect the refrigerated goods first. Load them on its return trip. Even if we've already paid the unloading fees here.”

Evelyn looked up as she chewed. He kept talking about moving the cargo before recovering the money. Some of it would spoil if they waited for the slot his uncle had secured ahead of them.

He asked only who would receive it and where it would arrive. When someone suggested passing the responsibility for his absence during questioning to a subordinate, he cut them off.

“I told them to bring her. Don't push it onto the man who arranged the car.”

When the call ended, he returned to the same seat. He still hadn't touched the part of the bread she'd chosen.

Evelyn followed the movement, then looked up.

“People really do listen to you.”

“Except you, Doctor.”

“And the boy.”

Dane laughed. Evelyn lost the words she had been about to say. Even after his laughter faded, he was still looking at her. Only then did she lower her gaze to her bowl.