And the commandant had hung up.
General Wallace watched the truck lumber toward the stockade, then returned to his office and rang for his aide, Captain Alvin Giles.
“About the man we’re putting in the stockade—” General Wallace said.
“Yes, General?”
“Our primary objective is his safety. I want you to handpick the guards yourself. No one else is to go near him. No visitors, no mail, no packages. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I want you personally to be in the kitchen when his food is being prepared.”
“Yes, General.”
“If anyone shows any undue curiosity about him, I want that reported to me immediately. Any questions?”
“No, sir.”
“Very good, Al. Stay on top of it. If anything goes wrong, I’ll have roasted ass for breakfast.”
49
Jennifer was awakened by the soft drumming of the early morning rain, and she lay in bed listening to it gently hammering against the house.
She glanced at the alarm clock. It was time to begin her day.
Half an hour later, Jennifer walked downstairs into the dining room to join Joshua for breakfast. He was not there.
Mrs. Mackey came in from the kitchen. “Good morning, Mrs. Parker.”
“Good morning. Where’s Joshua?”
“He seemed so tired that I thought I’d let him sleep a little longer. He doesn’t have to start back to school until tomorrow.”
Jennifer nodded. “Good idea.”
She ate her breakfast and went upstairs to say good-bye to Joshua. He was lying in his bed, sound asleep.
Jennifer sat on the edge of the bed and said softly, “Hey, sleepyhead, do you want to say good-bye?”
He slowly opened one eye. “Sure, friend. ‘Bye.” His voice was heavy with sleep. “Do I have to get up?”
“No. Tell you what. Why don’t you laze around today? You can stay inside and have fun. It’s raining too hard to go outdoors.”
He nodded drowsily. “Okay, Mom.”
His eyes closed again and he was asleep.
Jennifer spent the afternoon in court, and by the time she finished and arrived home it was after seven o’clock. The rain, which had been a drizzle all day, was coming down in torrents, and as Jennifer drove up the driveway, the house looked like a besieged castle surrounded by a gray, churning moat.
Mrs. Mackey opened the front door and helped Jennifer out of her dripping raincoat.
Jennifer shook the damp out of her hair and said, “Where’s Joshua?”
“He’s asleep.”
Jennifer looked at Mrs. Mackey with concern. “Has he been sleeping all day?”
“Heavens, no. He’s been up and around. I fixed his dinner, but when I went upstairs to get him he had dozed off again, so I just thought I’d let him be.”
“I see.”
Jennifer went upstairs into Joshua’s room and quietly entered. Joshua was asleep. Jennifer leaned over and touched his forehead. He had no fever; his color was normal. She felt his pulse. There was nothing wrong except her imagination. She was letting it run away with her. Joshua had probably been playing too hard all day and it was natural that he was tired. Jennifer slipped out of the room and returned downstairs.
“Why don’t you make some sandwiches for him, Mrs. Mackey? Leave them at the side of the bed. He can have them when he wakes up.”
Jennifer had dinner at her desk, working on briefs, preparing a trial deposition for the next day. She thought about calling Michael to tell him she was back, but she was hesitant about speaking to him so soon after the night with Adam…He was too perceptive. It was after midnight when she finished reading. She stood up and stretched, trying to relieve the tension in her back and neck. She put her papers in her attaché case, turned out the lights and went upstairs. She passed by Joshua’s room and looked in. He was still asleep.
The sandwiches on the stand beside the bed were untouched.
The following morning when Jennifer went down to breakfast, Joshua was there, dressed and ready for school.
“Morning, Mom.”
“Good morning, darling. How are you feeling?”
“Great. I was really tired. Must have been that Mexican sun.”