WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:09.839 Chapter twenty five, Jessica Present. Jessica awakens as the van turns onto a 2 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:13.960 dusty road. She had fallen asleep with her head at an odd angle, 3 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:18.800 bouncing around in the back of the van. Her butt and back are sore 4 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:23.600 from leaning against the hard rubber of the van's interior, and her left leg 5 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:28.000 is asleep from the knee down. She still can't feel her hands because they 6 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:33.000 are tied behind her back. She rubs them together anyway, hoping to feel 7 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:38.119 the prickling sensation of feeling start to come back, but she feels nothing. 8 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:42.399 She kicks her feet out, trying to touch them to her father's that are 9 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:47.679 inches from hers. She fails, so she scoots down until her sandals touch 10 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:52.119 his tennis shoes. He has been snoring, and he starts when she makes 11 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:58.840 contact. Dad, Jessica whispers, ramming her foot against his shin her shoes, 12 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:03.920 making a clunking sound sound on the cold van floor. Martin wake up. 13 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.239 She tries again, this time more forcefully. She hopes her voice is 14 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:14.680 drowned out by the mariachi music that is blaring throughout the van. Jessica sneaks 15 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:18.879 a glance in the direction of the driver's seat. The first man is driving. 16 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:23.640 The second man in the passenger seat is sound asleep, his head lulling 17 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:29.760 to the right side. It bumps against the window slightly. Martin finally wakes 18 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:34.719 slowly, his eyes cracking open, pushing his arms up towards the sky and 19 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.120 stretching as if he had not a care in the world. When his hands 20 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:42.000 hit the top of the van, it as if he finally realizes where he 21 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:48.120 is, and his eyes open wide. He hurriedly scrambles up to a straighter 22 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:53.159 sitting position, his eyes darting back and forth from Jessica to the window behind 23 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:57.000 her. He shakes his head as if to clear it, and speaks, 24 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:02.480 where are we? How I know, dad, don't you? Jessica snaps 25 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:08.800 at her father in dumbfounded amazement. Suddenly, Martin remembers a look of recognition 26 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:15.400 crossing his face. Arizona, he whispers, now, gazing out the back 27 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:20.000 window of the van with the dreamy expression of a child on vacation at the 28 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:25.400 beach Peach Springs. He finishes, nodding his head once as it to finalize 29 00:02:25.479 --> 00:02:32.000 the statement, why are we in Arizona? Jessica is too confused to whisper 30 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:38.120 anymore. The van takes a right hand turn and slows, finally rolling to 31 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:42.919 a stop one hundred feet from the churn. The driver wakes up the passenger, 32 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:46.759 who seems unhappy to be awake. They argue for a while, their 33 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:53.080 Spanish rapid and kurt until the second man opens the passenger side door to exit 34 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:58.199 the van. He lights a cigarette. The driver glances back toward Martin and 35 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:00.879 Jessica in the rear view mirror, and then exits the van as well. 36 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:10.000 Honey, we are in Arizona, because well because Martin continues hesitantly shooting terrified 37 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:15.479 glances at the men outside the van. He turned back towards Jessica and opens 38 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:20.039 his mouth to speak again, when there is a sudden, loud, smacking 39 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:24.000 sound and the face of one of the men smashes up against the glass inches 40 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:29.560 from the back of Martin's head. His hands are cupped around his cheeks, 41 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:35.039 and the man snarls and slams his palms again against the glass, making the 42 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:39.520 whole van shake. Martin screams a high pitched scream, writhing in terror, 43 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:44.960 and closes his eyes. The man backs away from the van. His and 44 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:49.680 the other man's hysterical laughter can be heard through the glass in the back window. 45 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:55.280 They speak in Spanish again. Jessica stares at her father. Before Martin 46 00:03:55.360 --> 00:04:00.759 or Jessica can say another word, the van shakes, this time because the 47 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.560 men take off at a run, banging into the side of it as they 48 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:09.360 go. Jessica can see through the top window that the men are running toward 49 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:14.240 a white truck that has parked about fifty feet behind the van. The truck 50 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:19.959 driver's side door is open, that is all Jessica can see Martin what she 51 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:26.319 begins to say, beginning to feel afraid again. It'll be okay, honey, 52 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:30.839 Martin says again, still recovering from his scare. Stop fucking saying that. 53 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:36.040 Jessica yells, tears beginning to wall up in her eyes. She hears 54 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:41.480 a struggle from outside the van, a girl's muted, surprised cry, and 55 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:45.759 then the men yelling in Spanish again. Then she hears a sound as if 56 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.360 someone is being dragged through the dirt, fighting all the way. As Jessica 57 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:54.560 curls herself up into a ball and tries to lie down on the van floor, 58 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:58.720 the back doors fling open, and a girl kicking and screaming, is 59 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:03.920 shoved inside the doors close with a bang. She is skinny, the smallness 60 00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:08.800 of her body barely making the van move as she hits the floor of it. 61 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.879 She is very pale, with dirty blonde hair that is pulled into a 62 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:17.439 ponytail. The girl wears short, frayed jean shirts and a dirty white tank 63 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:21.839 top with holes in it. Jessica can see the outline of her gray sports 64 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:27.399 brawl underneath the tank. She wears tattered foot flops on her feet, and 65 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:31.079 as she looks up to survey her surroundings, Jessica notices that her eyes are 66 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:36.560 a dark hazel color. The girl seems dazed, and Jessica moves her foot 67 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:41.759 away from her so as not to scare her more. Her skinny arm is 68 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.360 pinned beneath her on her left side, and the girl emits an owl before 69 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:50.160 slowly moving it out from under her and struggling to a sitting position. The 70 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:55.160 girl rubs her hand over her cheek and forehead, passing it down to her 71 00:05:55.199 --> 00:06:00.879 shoulder and finally her left knee that is bloody and starting to bruise. She 72 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.639 winces in pain as her hand passes over the scrapes that form pink zigzag lines 73 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:11.920 and drops her hands to the floor. Jessica looks to her father, who 74 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:15.839 is sitting staring at the girl before him. His eyes travel up and down. 75 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:24.199 Recognizing her, Nicole, Martin says in a whisper of disbelief and wonderment, 76 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:29.839 it's really you. Do you know her? Jessica asked her father, 77 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:33.800 who's still looking at the girl, ignores her. I don't know you. 78 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:39.000 The girl spats at Martin, giving him the once over. And what did 79 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:44.319 you just call me? Nicole? Martin repeats, this time louder and more 80 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:49.160 forcefully. Your name is Nicole. The girl turns her head to focus on 81 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:55.680 Jessica before snapping it back in Martin's direction. My name is Freedom, the 82 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:59.720 girl says a little more quietly, this time, as if she now doesn't 83 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:04.560 believe but herself. Martin gives a nervous glance in Jessica's direction, and then 84 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:09.879 back to the girl. Your name is Nicole, and you are my daughter. 85 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:15.360 When neither girl says anything, he tries again, Nicole, meet Jessica, 86 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:21.480 Jessica, meet Nicole, your sister. Martin finishes the introduction with a 87 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:26.600 little laugh and a nod of his head. Not exactly the way I wanted 88 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.959 you to meet but there you have it. Jessica's mouth drops open. Neither 89 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:35.560 she or Nicole speak. They both look from Martin to each other and back 90 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:43.040 again. But what, Jessica starts struggling to comprehend the words her father has 91 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:46.800 just spoken. She has a sister, she thinks, shyly looking at the 92 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:53.839 girl, Jessica studies her, trying to find similarities in their appearances. Jessica 93 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:58.160 has a darker complexion than the girl, and she is taller and heavier, 94 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:03.000 but just slightly. Their noses are similar, and their eyes are both wide 95 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:07.800 set and large. The girl looks back at her, looking for similarities as 96 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:13.600 well, Jessica presumes. Nicole quickly turns away, then scrambles toward the back 97 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:16.439 doors of the van, where she runs her hands over them, searching for 98 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:20.680 a latch. She pounds on the doors with her fists, screaming for help. 99 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:26.600 Don't try, Jessica offers, sighing and flinging her head toward the front 100 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:33.960 seat. It's futile. What the fuck does that mean? Nicole turns around 101 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:37.720 and glares at Jessica. It takes Jessica a minute to realize the girl is 102 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:43.840 serious. It means that is pointless to try to escape. We've been in 103 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:48.440 this van for over twenty hours now, I assume to come pick you up. 104 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.919 Nicole pauses her hands sliding down the doors of the van and looks at 105 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:58.159 Jessica. Why do they want me? Why did you come to pick me 106 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:01.480 up? Nicole looks as if she is about to cry. Who are those 107 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:09.200 men, Nicole? Honey? Martin starts stop calling me that. Nicole interrupts 108 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:11.320 him, Stop it. I don't even know who you are. You're not 109 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:18.320 my dad. She is crying now, shaking her head in disbelief. Jessica 110 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.519 is about to comfort the girl, but is interrupted by the man in the 111 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.559 driver's seat of the van. He has turned the key in the ignition and 112 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:31.399 is yelling back to the three of them. Nicole, he screams, his 113 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:37.279 Spanish accent strong Nicole. He barks again, waving his hands in the direction 114 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:45.120 of the trailer park, gesturing wildly. Ohso also nande esta Also What is 115 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:48.919 he saying? Nicole asked, looking at Jessica in a panic. What does 116 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:54.279 he want? As Jessica begins to shake her head, Martin pipes up, 117 00:09:54.399 --> 00:10:00.440 scooting toward Nicole. He needs the bear, sweetie, that Barrett I gave 118 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.919 you when you were four years old. Do you remember? We need it 119 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:07.559 now? Nicole puts her hands over her ears, trying to shut out the 120 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:13.480 noises of both men screaming and Martin up close in her ear. What bear, 121 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:18.840 Jessica asked, looking wildly from Martin to Nicole. The teddy bear. 122 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:24.120 Martin is exasperated, now, that creepy, stupid bear. I gave it 123 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:28.279 to you and told you to keep it all those years ago. Don't you 124 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:35.120 remember? His eyes flash excitedly angrily. His voice rises until he's yelling at 125 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:39.960 Nicole the teddy rock's been talking, fucking bear? Do you have it? 126 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:48.039 Martin enunciates every word like he is speaking to a child. Nicole stares at 127 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:52.600 him, eyes wide and trembling. The man in the passenger seat speaks over 128 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:58.600 everyone in better English. You take us to your house, and you get 129 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:05.879 us the bear. Jessica finally sees a look of comprehension come across Nicole's face. 130 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:09.559 She takes her hands off her ears and sits up on her knees. 131 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:13.240 Yes, I have the bear, she admits to the men, her voice 132 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:16.840 rising so they can hear her. In the front seat, I have the 133 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:20.240 bear, she repeats, if I give it to you, will you let 134 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:26.159 me go? The men do not respond. Instead, the driver punches the 135 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:30.840 gas and the van goes squilling through the entrance to the trailer park. Jessica 136 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:35.080 has thrown back against the black rubber side of the van. Her head hits 137 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:39.559 the window behind her. As her head snaps back, she whispers to Nicole, 138 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:43.720 do you really have the bear? Nicole nods her head emphatically. I 139 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.960 still wind with fear. Nicole speaks up again over the roar of the engine. 140 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:54.360 It's the last one on the right. She points to a gray trailer 141 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.360 in the distance, and Jessica feels the driver speed up as he pushes the 142 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:01.960 gas pedal heavily. The back of the van sways back and forth as they 143 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:09.440 pick up speed, spewing dust through the trailer park. Jessica notices that luckily, 144 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:13.600 the park is empty, save for a few Indian children who are playing 145 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.679 with a basketball and a rusted hoop at the far end of the trailer park, 146 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:22.159 next to Nicole's house. The children stop playing and look up at the 147 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.679 van as it careens toward the trailer. One by one, the kids put 148 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.519 their hands up to their brows in order to shield their eyes from the hot 149 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:35.960 desert sun. The van stops suddenly, the brakes squealing, and Jessica is 150 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:41.440 thrown back against the side once again. Nikole goes flying face first into the 151 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:46.639 back seat in front of her. Jessica barely has time to react before the 152 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:50.759 van doors are thrown open again and the second man is reaching into it, 153 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:54.399 grabbing for Nicole's right leg with his left hand as he holds the gun in 154 00:12:54.519 --> 00:13:01.559 his right Niicole kicks and makes contact with the man's forearm, which angers him, 155 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:05.840 and in one swift motion, points the gun down at a cactus that 156 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.720 is ten feet from where he is standing and pulls the trigger. The bullet 157 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:15.559 blasts out of the gun with a loud pow, the cactus exploding into thousands 158 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:20.039 of shards of needles and green fur that rain down over the man and the 159 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:26.360 nearby brush. Jessica and Martin cry out as Nicole stops moving long enough for 160 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:30.399 the man to grab her leg and pull her roughly toward the back of the 161 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:35.200 van. The children playing basketball scatter and run in the opposite direction toward the 162 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:41.600 mountains. The man yanks Nicole to a standing position, cocking the gun again 163 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:46.559 and holding it to her head. Oh so, he says, pushing her 164 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:52.720 forward toward the house the bear. He shuts the van doors, and Jessica 165 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:56.679 watches as their heads disappear away from the windows. At the back of the 166 00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:01.600 doors Martin, Jessica cries out, do you think anyone is in the trailer? 167 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:07.200 I hope not. Her father answers, I sure, hope not. 168 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:13.200 Jessica and Martin sit in silence for what seems like ours, nervously waiting for 169 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:18.240 Nicole and the man to return. Finally they do. The doors open and 170 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.360 Nicole is thrown roughly into the back of the car, this time clutching a 171 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:26.519 ragged brown teddy bear. It wears a red tshirt and one leg dangles off 172 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:31.879 of it precariously, the white stuffing half out. The man, still holding 173 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:37.159 the gun, reaches for the bear and rips it out of Nicole's hands. 174 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:41.799 He begins to tear wildly at the stuffed animal, holding it against his thigh 175 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:46.279 for support in order to claw at the brown fur and white stuffing. Martin 176 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:50.200 speaks up, scooting toward the man and the bear. If you get me 177 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:54.960 out of these handcuffs, I can help you, Salensio. The man shouts, 178 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.879 pointing the gun at Martin, but Martin is not to be swayed. 179 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:05.600 It's in the leg, Martin says, quietly, the left leg, but 180 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:09.360 the man does not hear, and he is already tearing away at the bear's 181 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:13.879 left leg. White stuffing flying all around the van, fat furry snowflakes coming 182 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:18.720 down in the middle of a desert. Jessica watches as the man finds what 183 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:24.720 he is looking for, grappling at an old silver key that glints and shines 184 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:30.799 in the sun as the man holds it up triumphantly. Ha the man exclaims, 185 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:35.840 throwing the dilapidated bear back in Nichol's face and slamming the van doors once 186 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:41.200 more. The bear comes to rest on the van floor. Nichole splutters and 187 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:46.200 shakes her head, the bear falling into her lap and resting there, rendered 188 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:52.759 unrecognizable by the destruction. A low, groaning noise, garbled and mysterious, 189 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:56.639 comes from the bear. It speaks slower and slower, until finally it stops 190 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:02.639 all together with a whir and a thud. Jessica looks at her father and 191 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:06.679 her sister, her mind running a mile a minute. As the van heads 192 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:11.000 out of the trailer park and toward the interstate. Do you know where we're 193 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.080 going now? Nicole looks at Martin, and Jessica notices the girl has hugged 194 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:19.159 her thighs close to her chest, the pink scratches on her knee, turning 195 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.759 to scabs and brushing against her chin. Yes, I do, honey. 196 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:29.759 Don't call me honey, Nicole barks at him, spit flying out of her 197 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:33.879 mouth and landing on one of Martin's pant legs. You're not my dad, 198 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:38.559 Jessica, as scared as she is, has to suppress a smile. Sisters 199 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:42.720 or not, she must admit that Nicole has a spark like she does and 200 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:48.799 seems to share a hatred of their father. Martin ignores her and answers the 201 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:53.480 question, we are going to Washington, d C. Jessica and Nicole look 202 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:59.720 at him blankly, while Martin continues looking to Nicole, where you were born? 203 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:03.399 There are papers in a bank vault there that will get us all a 204 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.759 lot of money. Martin glances up in the direction of the men in the 205 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:14.160 front seat and lowers his voice. The money. Martin hesitates and coughs, 206 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:18.880 tries again, I owe some money to a man. Martin sees the looks 207 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:22.880 on the girl's faces and tries to comfort them. But it will all be 208 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.920 okay, I promise you. I've made sure there is plenty of money for 209 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:32.279 everyone to be taken care of. The girls open their mouths to speak, 210 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:37.440 but Martin hurries on it is time I tell you girls a story of what 211 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:44.000 happened, and Martin does. As the van travels east, Jessica's father talks. 212 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:48.039 He tells the girls about how he made a killing in the stock market 213 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.640 because of Worlds of Wonder, the Teddy Ruxman doll, and laser tag. 214 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:56.559 He tells them how he was bribed by the senator from California, who then 215 00:17:56.640 --> 00:18:02.960 forced him to move money for the Mexican drug cartels. The senator had had 216 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:07.519 ties to the cartels for a while and claimed that Martin owed him a favor. 217 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:11.880 Things started to go south quickly. Martin lost the drug cartel's money, 218 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:17.680 but saved some on his own, tucking it away under his daughter Nicole's name. 219 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:22.119 When the senator found out that Martin had lost the money, he sent 220 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:26.880 his goons after Martin to beat him up and threaten his family. Martin was 221 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:30.960 shaken enough enough to confess to the sec and in ratting out the senator at 222 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:37.240 the same time, spared himself years in jail. Martin then agreed to go 223 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:44.000 into the federal witnessed Protection program along with his wife and daughter. Martin explains 224 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:48.640 how Ryan took Nicole and kept her safe, how she was supposed to eventually 225 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:52.160 be reunited with her family so they could live out the rest of their lives 226 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.880 together, but that they had all decided that that would not be what was 227 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:02.920 best for Nicole. At this point in story, Jessica notices that Nicole starts 228 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:07.839 to cry, hastily and angrily, wiping away the tears that slowly rolled down 229 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:11.799 her cheeks. Martin tells them that he and their mother were told where she 230 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:17.759 was, but never to contact her again. Nicole now had a family that 231 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:22.079 loved her and would keep her safe. Her name was changed to Freedom by 232 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:26.920 her adoptive parents, and her identity was changed. Martin and Lisa Walker's names 233 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:32.799 were changed to Stanley and Donna Chase, but they never used their new names 234 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:37.400 around each other. They found it easier not to have any friends or acquaintances 235 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:40.839 after the change, and hid from the world as much as they could. 236 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:47.160 Martin goes on to say that once they were moved to Difuniac Springs, Lisa, 237 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:51.039 their mother had wanted another girl, a child, to fill the void 238 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:56.039 where Nicole had once been. Jessica was born. Both girls, in their 239 00:19:56.039 --> 00:20:00.920 respective corners of the world, were kept safe through ignoran prints of each other 240 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:07.839 and Nicole's true identity. Jessica was sheltered from most everyone and everything because Martin 241 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:12.599 and Lisa thought that would be best. Jessica's father keeps talking, telling her 242 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:18.440 in Nicole that the Senator had recently been released from jail and had probably found 243 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:22.839 him and Lisa because they had been careless in not using their old identities. 244 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:27.599 The Senator also had friends in very high places because of his former position in 245 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:33.000 the government, so he could have easily found his way to the Walkers through 246 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:37.920 threatening those officials. As Jessica listens, Martin wraps up this story by telling 247 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:42.640 Nicole and Jessica that the Senator's men, who are now holding them hostage, 248 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.720 had killed their mother and went searching for the key that unlocks the safe deposit 249 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:52.240 box in a bank vault in Washington, d c. The box holds the 250 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:57.039 paperwork stating that the hidden money is in Nicole's name, and that she is 251 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:02.440 the only one who can retrieve it. Martin set up the trust in her 252 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:06.160 name years ago, hid the key in the bear, and gave it to 253 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:11.680 Nicole to keep until he saw her again. Martin stops talking and looks down 254 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:17.400 at the ground, hanging his head in shame. Jessica does not speak as 255 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:22.359 Martin finishes his story. She looks to the girl across from her, Nicole, 256 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:26.279 the girl who must be her sister. Jessica cannot believe she has a 257 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:32.759 sister. After praying night and day for years and years for God, someone, 258 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:37.839 anyone to send her a friend, a sister, the best friend one 259 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:42.279 could ever hope for, her wish has come true. She looks to Martin 260 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:48.359 next, the father she never had, and purses her lips. Jessica crosses 261 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:52.920 and uncrosses her feet, staring at him, hoping he will say something more, 262 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:59.559 but he doesn't. Nicole speaks next, So your mom died? The 263 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:04.200 question is directed at Jessica. Rage boils up inside her as the tears start 264 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:10.240 to fall, dropping onto her lap. They killed her, Jessica hisses, 265 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:14.440 pointing her head in the direction of the men in the front. They killed 266 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:21.559 her because of Martin Dad our dad. He's the reason she died. Martin 267 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:26.319 twitches uncomfortably, raising his shoulders in defense of himself. I didn't know what 268 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:32.960 to do. I didn't know, he starts. Just stop, Jessica pleads, 269 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:38.119 the sobs now coming uncontrollably. Don't speak anymore. Please. She points 270 00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:42.319 her chin towards her left shoulder, closing her eyes, wishing the nightmare would 271 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:48.559 end. Martin clears his throat, coughs, and looks away. Nicole stares 272 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:52.279 straight ahead, a blank stare in her eyes. They spend most of the 273 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:56.279 rest of the drive in silence, each one lost in his or her own 274 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:00.559 thoughts. They stop once to pee, the men pulling over to the side 275 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:04.359 of the road and letting them out to squat, watching them as they smoke 276 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:10.079 cigarettes. Jessica tries to look over at Nicole in the dark, but her 277 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:15.240 head hangs and she can only see her sister's profile, her eyes downcast and 278 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:19.240 sad. Jessica gives up and is led back to the van, hands still 279 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:23.240 tied. The first man pushes her on to the cold, hard floor. 280 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:29.880 She spends the rest of the night in a fitful sleep. When she awakens, 281 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.960 after what seems like days, the sun is hanging low in the afternoon 282 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:37.559 sky. Jessica opens her eyes and peers out the window on the back door 283 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:41.799 of the van. The sun's rays blinding her, and she shuts them again. 284 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:48.319 Are we there yet, she asked groggily, only half expecting an answer 285 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:52.559 from one of her two family members sharing the space in the van. Her 286 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:57.559 father answers almost immediately, gratefulness apparent in his voice. We're on the Beltway, 287 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:03.640 We're in DC. Where are they taking us? Nicole pipes up? 288 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:07.680 Jessica is thirsty, desperate for some water. She is also hungry, but 289 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:14.680 knows they probably won't be getting food anytime soon. I don't know, Martin 290 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:19.319 says, remorsefully, but soon this will all be over. Neither girl responds. 291 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:26.279 After another twenty minutes, the van turns onto a gravel drive. Jessica 292 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:30.599 can feel the van shaking as it goes over the stones. In front of 293 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:34.119 her. She sees what looks like an old, dilapidated warehouse with a faded 294 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:38.839 sign out the front. Before the van turns again into a darkened space. 295 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:44.720 Jessica sees green grass stretch out for what looks like forever in front of her. 296 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:49.720 Then her vision is clouded as the light is gone, the first man 297 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:53.640 opens the van door, and holding the gun, leads the three of them 298 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:59.680 out silently. They are in what looks like an old garage. Because her 299 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:03.839 eyes are still adjusting to the lack of light, Jessica finds it empty at 300 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:07.640 first, but as her eyes adjust she begins to see large shapes looming in 301 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:12.400 the distance. At the far end of the space. They are parked one 302 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:18.200 in front of the other, Their white hoods curve over steering wheels and benches, 303 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:23.200 their tires most flat, collecting dust and cobwebs. They are golf carts. 304 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:30.279 Jessica finally realizes rows upon rows of them, standing stock still, like 305 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:34.880 ghosts in the night. Where are we? Nicole yells, straining against the 306 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:41.079 grip of the first man, her tiny body flailing wildly. Let us go, 307 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:45.200 she cries, spinning toward the exit. The man takes his gun and 308 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:52.039 raising his arm, brings it smashing down across Nicole's face. Jessica cries out, 309 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:56.440 screaming, before the second man's hand clamps over her mouth. Jessica watches 310 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:00.839 as Nicole's eyes roll back into her head and her body goes limp. She 311 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:04.599 is dragged by the second man to a chair and tied up with a rope 312 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:10.240 that has been tossed on the ground. No longer resisting, the first man 313 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:14.519 does the same with Jessica. She feels the rope being wound tightly around her 314 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:18.839 breasts, her hand still handcuffed. Martin stands a few feet away, watching 315 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:25.079 his daughters be bound. He does not move. The men finish tying up 316 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:30.400 the girls and light cigarettes simultaneously leaning against the golf carts. Their smoke curls 317 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.559 up into the darkness, the only light coming from the embers on the cigarette 318 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:41.440 tips. It is silent. Before long, a door creaks open, flooding 319 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:45.160 the warehouse with light. Jessica squints, attempting to see who is standing in 320 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:51.079 the threshold as the door smashes against the wall. It is a tall man, 321 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:56.440 dark skinned with thick, wavy silver hair. He is distinguished, looking 322 00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:03.079 thin yet imposing. His lips curl into a sinister smile as he saunters casually 323 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:07.400 across the floor, and his right hand is a cigar. Jessica can see 324 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:12.880 the smoke rising from it and smell its distinct smell. Martin turns toward the 325 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:18.440 man as he comes closer, until he is standing inches from her father's face. 326 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:22.279 Martin raises his face up toward the man, no expression on his own. 327 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:30.519 Senator Martin greets him with one word. The man's smile grows broader, 328 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:34.000 and clamping the cigar in between his teeth, stretches out his right hand to 329 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:41.039 reach around Martin's back. Turning Martin around, he deftly undoes his handcuffs. 330 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:45.039 He spins Martin back around to face him, Martin making no move to escape, 331 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:52.319 He stands his posture rigid Martin. The man finally speaks, taking the 332 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:56.960 cigar out from between his teeth. He finally looks over to the girls. 333 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:03.960 Nicole still limp and her chair, her head flung back. Jessica whimper's wide 334 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:07.839 eyed. You have brought me two girls. I only need the one. 335 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:14.759 His eyes lock on Jessica's expressionless. After what seems like an hour long stare, 336 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:18.400 the man turns back to face Martin. It is nice to be back, 337 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:23.759 the man says, looking around the warehouse. How's your handicap these days? 338 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:30.000 A twelve? Martin responds, immediately, still staring at the man, 339 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:36.759 not bad. I must improve upon mine. Amazing what two decades in federal 340 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:41.519 prison can do to your game. The man snaps his fingers and the first 341 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:47.359 kidnapper flings his cigarette to the ground before trotting over to him. The kidnapper 342 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:52.000 produces the silver key, holding it up before the man before pressing it into 343 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:56.079 his palm. Thank you, Miguel, the man says, waving him away 344 00:28:56.119 --> 00:29:00.480 with a flick of his hand. The man studies the key. It glints 345 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:06.640 in the light. The man places it into his pocket. Why did you 346 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:11.240 bring me here, Martin asked, his voice escalating with defiance. You have 347 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:15.680 everything you need now. His face inches closer to the senators challenging him. 348 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:22.599 The senator laughs, shaking his head and sighs, I brought you here to 349 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:27.319 do this. The senator tosses his cigar to the ground and holds out his 350 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:33.640 right hand, palm out toward Martin. Martin glances down at the hand, 351 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:37.799 raises his own right one, and grips the man's firmly. The two men 352 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:44.640 stand still, locked in a handshake, eyes meeting. Without warning, the 353 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:48.960 senator snaps his hand back and in one swift motion, reaches around his right 354 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:53.960 side, pulling out a silver gun and swinging it around, presses it down 355 00:29:55.039 --> 00:30:00.720 against the top of Martin's head. Jessica cries out in terror. Martin does 356 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:04.359 not flinch, his eyes, full of resignation, look up into the man's 357 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:11.519 once again. One second later, the Senator pulls the trigger. Outside the 358 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:15.680 warehouse. On the floor. In the back of the white van parked along 359 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:21.519 the side of the forever grass, a strange beeping noise can be heard. 360 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:27.559 Its sound is small but insistent, deep inside the stuffing of the mangled teddy 361 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:33.319 bear. Far beneath its left eye, in the cavity of the animal's brown 362 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:40.640 head, the oldsmobile GPS tracker pings its red light, blinking faintly but steadily. 363 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:52.359 Chapter twenty six, Martin Past. Martin had never spent much time with 364 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:56.480 either of his girls when they were growing up. He didn't see the need 365 00:30:56.599 --> 00:31:00.200 when he had a wife to raise them. That's what wives or four raising 366 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:07.079 children. Martin was taught that by his father, a former naval air pilot 367 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:11.839 in World War Two, Bernard Walker, believed that women should be the children's 368 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:17.359 sole caretaker, and that those children should be seen and not heard. Martin 369 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:22.839 was boring to Harriet Walker while his father was still away at war. When 370 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:26.680 he returned home four years later, Martin remembered being introduced to him like he 371 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:32.359 was a stranger, which he was and never seemed less of one. As 372 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:37.279 time went on, Martin's father would come home at the end of the workday, 373 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:41.400 sit on the couch, put his feet up on the coffee table in 374 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.839 front of him, chain smoked cigarettes, and drink martinis. The martinis would 375 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:49.799 be served to him on a platter by Martin's mother, who would scamper away 376 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:55.880 to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on the family's dinner. After depositing 377 00:31:55.880 --> 00:32:00.680 the gin into Bernard's hand. At six oh five on the dot, Bernard 378 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:05.640 would bellow into the kitchen in a voice coated with liquor and cigarette smoke to 379 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:09.920 order that dinner be served at the table within the minute. Martin and his 380 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:15.160 brothers and sisters would, at full speed run towards said table, knowing that 381 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:20.319 if they were tardy, it would be the belt lashing over their behinds ten 382 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:25.359 times, sometimes twenty, depending on how much their father drank. Martin learned 383 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:30.079 to sit up straight at his place at the table on time and not to 384 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:34.079 speak as he cleaned his plate. At the end of the meal, the 385 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:38.440 children were asked to be excused and once their patriarch nodded his approval, they 386 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:43.640 all would run off, knowing to play quietly in their rooms until bedtime. 387 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:49.640 This was the only interaction with his father he could remember, and this was 388 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:53.240 about the only type of interaction he expected to have with his daughter, Nicole 389 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:59.440 when she was born. For the most part, it was Lisa Walker was 390 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:04.640 to have a little girl, and Martin was too busy working and screwing up 391 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:07.839 his own life along with everyone else's, to care that he had offspring at 392 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:12.960 all. He would come home at the end of the workday, stressed, 393 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:16.839 sometimes already drunk or high on cocaine, sit on the couch and prop his 394 00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:22.400 feet up and order Lisa to bring him whiskey. He had tried to drink 395 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:25.759 gin like his father, but Martin thought the stuff tasted like rocket fuel, 396 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:30.599 so he gave that up and switched to whiskey. Nicole would run around at 397 00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:35.319 his feet, and instead of giving her a few good whippings with the belt 398 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:38.400 if she got too loud, Martin would just order Lisa to take her away 399 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:43.839 out of his sight so he could enjoy his drink in peace. He had 400 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:46.920 just had a long day at the office and he didn't need a squealing toddler 401 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:52.759 at his feet, begging him to watch her play with blocks. This arrangement 402 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:57.400 worked well for Martin, and it seemed like it worked well for his wife 403 00:33:57.400 --> 00:34:01.079 and daughter too, until one day, when Nicole was almost four years old, 404 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:06.640 right before things started to unravel, he got a call around noon from 405 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:10.719 his wife. Martin was at the office very busy and snapped up the phone, 406 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:17.159 cradling the receiver between his ear and shoulder. Lisa what he barked, 407 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:22.320 scribbling down figures on a notepad in front of him. I'm very busy here 408 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:29.800 today, and Lisa interrupted him. Martin was surprised by this outburst and physically 409 00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:35.840 rocked back in his chair. His wife never interrupted him. That was very 410 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:39.840 rude, Martin decided and was about to tell her so, but Lisa continued 411 00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:45.840 talking. It seemed like she was crying as she talked, snuffling and sniffling 412 00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:52.320 and breathing heavily. It's my aunt Molly, Lisa heaved. Martin could hear 413 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:57.119 noises of things crashing in the background. She's in the hospital. She had 414 00:34:57.159 --> 00:35:00.920 a fall and they don't think it looks good. Both of the nannies are 415 00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:05.719 unavailable. I need you to pick up Nicole from preschool in twenty minutes, 416 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:13.719 she finished, your Aunt Molly, hummm, Martin repeated, slowly, trying 417 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:16.559 to register in his head who that might be. In a second, it 418 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:21.880 came to him they had gone to some old woman's house about a year ago. 419 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:25.239 She had lived in Silver Springs, and Martin had complained the whole time 420 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:30.000 about the drive. He and Lisa had had dinner with the old broad and 421 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:36.199 Martin had got rip roaring drunk. Lisa had driven home. I rate with 422 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:40.719 Martin about his behavior. Martin chuckled to himself as he remembered that night. 423 00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:47.480 Yes, that must have been Aunt Molly, he decided, Yes, Martin. 424 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:54.079 Lisa Walker continued, obviously exasperated at his failure to remember immediately. I 425 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:58.719 have to go to the hospital and I can't pick Nicole up. You have 426 00:35:58.840 --> 00:36:02.639 got to do it. But why can't you go to the hospital after you 427 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:08.760 pick Nicole up from school take her with you, Martin whined. Martin. 428 00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:15.159 Lisa Walker stated the one word forcefully. The hospital is in Silver Springs. 429 00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:19.760 I have to leave soon in order to make it there in time. I'm 430 00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:23.840 not going to bring Nicole to the hospital with me in Silver Springs her voice 431 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:30.159 escalated on the last word, verging on hysteria. Martin figured it was time 432 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:32.880 to give up the ghost and just agree to pick up his daughter from school. 433 00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:39.760 Anything was better than Lisa Walker actually becoming hysterical. All right, all 434 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:44.840 right, Martin agreed. I'll pick her up. Forty minutes, you said, 435 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:51.280 and where is her school? Twenty minutes, Lisa screamed into the phone 436 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:57.679 before disconnecting the line. The dial tone buzzed in Martin's ear. He held 437 00:36:57.679 --> 00:37:00.920 the phone at arm's length, confusedly, staring at the receiver and cocked his 438 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:07.159 head. Well, he thought, finding her school shouldn't be so hard. 439 00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:12.400 Martin thought. He remembered there was a school on Parkland Avenue. He always 440 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:15.559 sawt children playing there. The more he thought about it, the more sure 441 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:22.079 he was pleased with himself. Martin bounced up out of his chair and scurried 442 00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:24.920 toward the back exit of the building, grabbing his car keys on the desk 443 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:30.800 as he went. He jogged to the Jaguar parked in the spot of honor 444 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:35.119 nearest the back door to the building. Martin could do this. He was 445 00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:38.239 going to pick up his daughter from school. What a great dad he was, 446 00:37:39.239 --> 00:37:44.840 Martin gave himself a metaphorical pat on the back as he read the engine 447 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:50.000 and peeled out of the parking lot. Fifty two minutes later, he pulled 448 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:53.760 up in front of a fancy schoolhouse on Howard Avenue, miles away from the 449 00:37:53.800 --> 00:38:00.239 school on Parkland. He squinted and leaned over the steering wheel until he could 450 00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:02.960 just make out a little girl standing in front of the double doors to the 451 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:07.599 school, holding the hand of a very disgruntled looking woman with gray hair. 452 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:14.639 It was his daughter. Martin had found the right place. As he pulled 453 00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:17.480 the jag up to the curb, Nicole bounded up to the car, clapping 454 00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:23.519 her hands and yelling, Daddy, daddy, Yes it is I, Martin 455 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:30.000 acknowledged, doing a little half bow in the driver's seat. Nicole burst into 456 00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:34.320 laughter and did a little dance on the sidewalk, swaying back and forth and 457 00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:37.880 kicking her feet. The teacher leaned into the window to talk to Martin, 458 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:44.599 her face inches from his. You're late, she berated him, looking through 459 00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:51.280 him into the car, surveying the interior. Yes, um, Martin started, 460 00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:54.840 I had to make a pit stop in between the office and hear and 461 00:38:55.119 --> 00:39:00.599 I. He trailed off as he realized the woman wasn't listening anymore. The 462 00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:06.559 truth was the school on Parkland Avenue had not been the correct one. He 463 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:09.719 had had to ask a passer by if and where there was another preschool in 464 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:15.159 the vicinity. It had caused him to be quite late. Where is her 465 00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:20.840 car seat? The woman snapped again, peering behind Martin's head into the back 466 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:28.039 seat of the car. Oh, I didn't realize she needed, Martin started, 467 00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:30.400 as he slid his hands over the steering wheel, trying to come up 468 00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:36.159 with an excuse for not having one. He hadn't been aware that almost four 469 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:39.719 year olds needed car seats still, but he didn't want to seem like an 470 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:45.760 idiot for asking. It is in the trunk, he exclaimed, shoeing the 471 00:39:45.840 --> 00:39:50.119 coal around to the back and waving the woman away. The woman looked at 472 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:54.199 him with one last look of disapproval, and her rumping walked away, shaking 473 00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:59.880 her head as she went. She looked back once twice, and then, 474 00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:05.719 with a long look over her shoulder, disappeared into the school. Martin breathed 475 00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:09.800 a sigh of relief. Okay, he exclaimed to Nicole, looking at her 476 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:15.519 with a look of apprehension. Where is my car seat, Nicole inquired, 477 00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:21.840 looking up at him, her hazel brown eyes wide with anticipation at the answer, 478 00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:28.039 Well, ah, yes, this is a special day and no car 479 00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:32.559 seat today, Martin sing songed, picking up his daughter awkwardly and placing her 480 00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:37.840 in the backseat of the car. He buckled her in, shutting the door, 481 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:40.880 and scrambling to the driver's seat. He peeled away from the curb as 482 00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:46.679 Nicole shouted gay. Martin didn't want the mean teacher to come back out and 483 00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:52.800 arrest him for child endangerment. They drove in silence for five seconds until Nicole 484 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:58.199 piped up, why did you come to pick me up? Daddy? Where's 485 00:40:58.239 --> 00:41:00.920 mommy? Where's my car seat? How come Mommy's not here? Can we 486 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:05.320 go to the park? Can we get ice cream? Where's my bunny doll? 487 00:41:05.559 --> 00:41:08.559 I learned about fish in school today. Sometimes they're pink and sometimes they're 488 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:13.119 yellow. Why are they yellow? Daddy? How come they're yellow? How 489 00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:15.679 come? Josh and my class always tells me girls are stupid? Can we 490 00:41:15.719 --> 00:41:19.960 get ice cream? Where are we going? Daddy? Can fish fly? 491 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:25.199 Where are we going? Daddy? Martin drove on autopilot, his mouth agape, 492 00:41:25.480 --> 00:41:30.239 his eyes glued to the rear view mirror, and fascination at this small 493 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:34.960 child in the back seat. He had never heard so many questions asked in 494 00:41:35.079 --> 00:41:39.519 succession in his whole life. Hell, just questions in general? And what 495 00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:45.079 did she mean about her bunny doll? What even was that? Martin nervously 496 00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:51.320 gripped the steering wheel, not sure which question to entertain first. Luckily he 497 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:55.440 didn't have to, because Nicole asked one question again, her smile as wide 498 00:41:55.440 --> 00:42:00.880 as the ocean, her face beaming. Where are we going, Daddy? 499 00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:06.880 Are we going to the park? Yes, Martin exclaimed, slapping his palm 500 00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:09.760 on the steering wheel in agreement. Yes, we are going to the park. 501 00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:15.920 Of course, Martin did not know where there was a park, but 502 00:42:15.039 --> 00:42:21.840 he figured it was the one near their house in his neighborhood. He thought 503 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:28.280 there was one nearby to the park, we shall go. Nicole must have 504 00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:31.519 thought this was hilarious, as evidenced by the way she burst into laughter. 505 00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:37.639 She held her chubby little hands up to her mouth and giggled for thirty seconds. 506 00:42:37.119 --> 00:42:40.840 When she stopped laughing, she placed her hands down at her sides and 507 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:46.320 looked up again. I love you, daddy, she said. Martin glanced 508 00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:50.440 back at his daughter, wondering if he should say it back to her. 509 00:42:50.719 --> 00:42:53.719 But Nicole was gazing out the window, her little head bobbing up and down 510 00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:59.559 as she sang a song about a frog. Martin pulled the Jaguar into the 511 00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:04.480 plague round and cut the engine. Nicole began straining at her seatbelt, her 512 00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:09.719 hands trying to unclasp the buckle. Just a minute now, Martin started opening 513 00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:15.679 the door and unlatching the buckle himself. When she was free, Nicole took 514 00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:20.719 off like a rocket, sprinting toward the playground and the swings. Martin followed, 515 00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:24.639 hands in his pockets, sauntering up to the swings. Nicole was already 516 00:43:24.679 --> 00:43:29.840 swinging on the baby swing, pumping her little legs as fast as they could 517 00:43:29.880 --> 00:43:34.800 go. Daddy, push me, she yelled, her mouth opening and closing, 518 00:43:35.079 --> 00:43:37.280 wrabbing her lips around the air as if she were trying to eat it. 519 00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:45.360 Push me, daddy, oh okay. Martin agreed, side stepping another 520 00:43:45.480 --> 00:43:49.960 child to walk around to the back of Nicole's swing. He had been planning 521 00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:52.679 to sit on the park bench to watch her, but evidently it was a 522 00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:59.000 hands on kind of day. Martin took his left hand and half heartedly pushed 523 00:43:59.119 --> 00:44:05.639 Nicole both hands, Daddy, she cried, squealing with delight. Martin took 524 00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:09.000 both palms and caught the swing seat, pushing Nicole until she went higher, 525 00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:15.840 higher up into the air. Martin laughed in spite of himself. His daughter's 526 00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:20.960 laughter was contagious. He looked around the playground and realized he was having fun. 527 00:44:21.480 --> 00:44:25.000 He had never played with his daughter before. She seemed to contrive delight 528 00:44:25.079 --> 00:44:30.440 out of everything, pointing out the grass, the sun, the other kids 529 00:44:30.440 --> 00:44:34.559 on the playground, and making up songs about all of them. She would 530 00:44:34.599 --> 00:44:37.079 then beg Martin to make up a verse, and when Martin did, Nicole 531 00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:43.119 laughed again. You are so funny, daddy, she said, and Martin 532 00:44:43.199 --> 00:44:47.920 felt proud. Next, Nicole wanted to go on the slide again. Martin 533 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:52.840 stood to the side, hands in his pockets, watching as she climbed up 534 00:44:52.880 --> 00:44:57.159 the rungs, carefully placing one foot in front of the other and grunting with 535 00:44:57.239 --> 00:45:00.360 the effort. Finally, she reached the top and smiled down at him, 536 00:45:00.840 --> 00:45:05.960 her hair blowing in the wind all around her, her yellow dress waving in 537 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:10.079 the breeze, her hand beckoning to him as her chubby cheeks flushed with excitement, 538 00:45:10.719 --> 00:45:15.559 she called to him to come with her on the slide. At that 539 00:45:15.719 --> 00:45:19.840 moment, Martin wanted to freeze time and stay with Nicole in that day. 540 00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:23.400 As they were, with the sun shining down on them and his daughter beaming 541 00:45:23.480 --> 00:45:29.079 at him, she looked as if she worshiped him, needed him, was 542 00:45:29.159 --> 00:45:32.519 happy to be with him. Martin smiled back at the little girl he had 543 00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:38.639 never paid attention to, never truly looked at until now. Okay, I'm 544 00:45:38.639 --> 00:45:43.840 coming, he responded, heading for the top of the slide to join her. 545 00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:49.159 They went down the slide twenty times that day, Martin holding his daughter 546 00:45:49.239 --> 00:45:53.280 in his lap, Nicole's arms up high trying to reach the sky, laughing 547 00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:59.199 and playing, and giddy with delight. Martin kept both arms around his daughter 548 00:45:59.320 --> 00:46:04.000 every time, holding her middle section as tightly as a father could squeeze, 549 00:46:04.400 --> 00:46:09.199 keeping her next to him, keeping her safe. When Lisa returned home that 550 00:46:09.360 --> 00:46:15.199 night, well after nine o'clock, Nicole was asleep on the couch. She 551 00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:20.360 had fallen asleep after watching too many cartoons, fueled for hours by ice cream 552 00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:24.559 and pizza. As she drifted off, her brown hair falling across Martin's lap, 553 00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:30.239 still in her yellow dress from the day stained with pepperoni and chocolate. 554 00:46:30.519 --> 00:46:37.519 She whispered to Martin something unintelligible. What honey, He whispered back, patting 555 00:46:37.559 --> 00:46:42.679 her brown hair and smoothing her dress as they switched off the TV. It 556 00:46:42.760 --> 00:46:46.280 was a good day, daddy, Nicole repeated, her voice fading away and 557 00:46:46.400 --> 00:46:52.119 her eyes closing. It was a great day, sweetie, he responded, 558 00:46:52.559 --> 00:46:58.079 placing his hand on her tiny shoulder, feeling her soft breath go in and 559 00:46:58.119 --> 00:47:01.719 out, in and out. It was a great day, and for the 560 00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:07.840 rest of his life, it remained the best day Martin could ever remember.