Suspicion of Madness Read Online Free PDF Page A

Billy seem to click."
    "I could drop in."
    "No, better not do that." Martin chuckled, and the woeful expression on his face lightened. "I recall the last time I went over there unannounced. I said, 'Joan, it's me,' and she says, 'I know who you are, now get off my land till I send you an engraved invitation.'"
    "Coño."
    "Joan likes her privacy, that's all. Sometimes reporters show up looking for interviews, but that doesn't happen much anymore. She used to be something of a cult figure. She played lady vampires in a couple of pictures with Vincent Price back in the late sixties. Billy has the videos if you want to see them."
    A movement in the corridor caught Anthony's attention. A thin, ropy man in blue jeans and sneakers walked past and stopped at the open door to Billy's room. "Who is that?"
    Martin turned in his chair. "Billy's dad. I'd better go."
    By the time they had gone back across the hall, Kyle Fadden was arguing with his former wife. "Why didn't you call me, Teri? You don't think I have a right to know about this? I had to hear it from Lois. She's the one who called me."
    Through her teeth Teri said, "Be quiet, will you? He needs to rest."
    Anthony had never met Kyle Fadden. Four years ago he had been in the county jail in Key West on a DUI. Gray hair hung from under a faded ball cap. On the back of his T-shirt a big fish circled toward a baited hook.
    Martin said, "Kyle."
    Fadden turned around.
    "He won't wake up till morning," Martin said. "Why don't you come back then?"
    "Don't tell me when I can see my son." He pushed past to lean over the bed. "What is this? Why is he tied up?" Fadden had the creased, sunbaked skin of a man who worked on the water. Sweat stains darkened the band of hisMERCRUISER logo cap. "Why is he still unconscious?"
    "He still has a lot of alcohol in his system," Martin said.
    "Aw, Christ." Fadden shot a glance toward the ceiling. "He's been drinking again? Did you know about this, Teri?"
    Her dark eyes snapped with anger. "How can you talk? I smell the beer on your breath."
    "One beer. Don't get so high-and-mighty. How come you never told me he was depressed? You never noticed?"
    "All right, you've seen him. Why don't you go?"
    "I have a right to be with my son, don't I?"
    Anthony said quietly, "Mr. Fadden, there's nothing you can do here. You should come back in the morning."
    Fadden stared at him. "Who are you, his doctor?"
    "I'm a friend of the family."
    "That's nice. They call their friends and not the boy's own dad."
    "Do you want security to show you the way out?"
    Fadden's eyes lit up—a man who would assert his rights by throwing the first punch. "Screw you."
    Stepping between them Martin said, "Kyle, it's my fault nobody called you. I promised Teri I would, and I didn't get to it yet. I apologize." Martin touched the back of a chair. "Do you want to sit down? Billy's going to sleep all night, but you're welcome to stay with us. The doctor makes his rounds at eight o'clock. Or if you'd rather, I'll call you as soon as Billy wakes, and you can come then."
    Fadden stared at Martin Greenwald. "He's not your son."
    "I know that, but I care about him too."
    "Yeah, see where that got him. This boy has it too easy. He needs some rules. Look at that hair. It's ugly. I wouldn't put up with it. Flunks out of school, can't hold a job. Nobody tells me a damn thing." Fadden stared down at his son for a minute. "He's going to be out all night, huh? I'm beat. Might as well come in the morning."
    "That's fine. It's up to you."
    "Okay. If he wakes up, tell him I came by." Fadden looked at Teri as though he had more to say but they would get to it later. He shouldered past Anthony and went out. Anthony leaned into the hall to make sure Fadden kept going, then pulled the door shut. He wondered how Martin had managed to be so meek without choking on it.
    Sighing with relief, Teri held out an arm for Martin, then wrapped herself in his embrace. She smiled at Anthony. "Friend of the family? It's true,