So he'd lost two people he loved to an enemy he had failed to defeat, Tiel thought. "You were powerless to save your brother or your wife," she observed aloud. "Is that why you quit?"
"You were there," he said curtly. "You know why I quit."
"I know only what you were willing to impart to journalists, which was precious little."
"It still is precious little."
"You were bitter."
"I was pissed." He raised his voice to the level of a stage whisper, but it was loud enough to cause Katherine to flinch in her mother's arms.
"At whom were you pissed?" She knew she was pressing her luck. If she probed too hard, too fast, he might clam up altogether. But she was willing to take the chance.
"Were you angry at your in-laws for making an unfounded allegation? Or at your associates for withdrawing their support?"
"I was angry at everybody. At everything. Goddamn cancer.
My own inadequacy."
"So you just threw in the towel."
"That's right, thinking 'What's the fucking use?' "
"I see, so you banished yourself to this no-man's-land where you could really be useful."
Her sarcasm wasn't lost on him. His features tightened with mounting annoyance. "Look, I don't need you or anybody else analyzing my decision. Or questioning it. Or judging it. If I decided to become a rancher, or a ballet dancer, or a bum, it's no one else's business."
"You're right. It's not."
"And while we're on the topic of business," he added in the same biting tone, "this videotape idea of yours…"
"What about it?"
"Is it strictly for Ronnie and Sabra's benefit?"
"Of course."
He looked at her with blatant mistrust, which stung. He even chuckled skeptically.
"I think anything we can do to sway Dendy will help defuse this situation." Even to her own ears she sounded self-defensive, but she continued anyway. "I don't get the impression that Agent Galloway is enjoying this standoff.
Regardless of what Cain says, Galloway sounds like a de cent man who's doing his job but doesn't relish the thought of blazing guns and bloodshed. I think he's willing to try and negotiate a peaceful settlement. I merely offered my services, which I believe will facilitate a peaceful resolution."
"But it'll also make one hell of a story for you."
His soft and intuitive voice, along with his piercing eyes, made her guiltily aware of the audio recorder in her pants pocket. "Okay, yes," she admitted uneasily, "it'll make a great story. But I'm personally involved with these kids. I helped bring their child into the world, so my idea isn't completely selfish.
"You're biased, Doc. You dislike reporters in general, and, given your experience with the media, your aversion is understandable. But I'm not as cold-hearted and unfeeling as you obviously think. I care a great deal what happens to Ronnie and Sabra and Katherine. I care what happens to all of us."
After a significant pause, he said quietly, "I believe that."
His eyes were just as piercing as before, but the substance of this gaze was different. The heat of vexation that had suffused her gradually intensified into heat of another kind.
"You were terrific, you know," he said. "With Sabra. You could've fallen apart on me. Freaked out. Thrown up.
Fainted. Something. Instead you were a calming influence.
A real help. Thanks."