Chapter 14: Not One Drop

Sunday came at seven in the morning, on the television in Lyle's kitchen.

Chase sat on a pale couch with a coffee mug he was not drinking from.

Lacey sat beside him in a cream sweater, her hand on his knee.

The banner at the bottom said SUNDAY KICKOFF LIVE.

"Janie is a wonderful woman," Chase told the host. "She is being used."

"By whom?" the host asked.

"By a man who has wanted to hurt me for seven years."

Lacey leaned in with wet eyes.

"We only found out last night," she said. "The baby's father is Tulsa's quarterback."

A photo filled the screen.

It was the garage window at night, with a bare back and a hand in a man's hair.

The faces had been blurred, which did not help.

"They were together before the divorce," Lacey said softly. "Janie is his cover. We forgive them both."

Zach stood behind my chair with Gus on his shoulder.

He had not said a word.

"They found the one story where Chase is the victim," I said.

"It's a good story," Zach said. "I'd buy it."

"It's wrong on page three. Separate rooms."

"Janie."

"I'm saying the facts are on my side. I'm not saying I like them."

Out the window, the first van was parked in the road.

By eight there were six, and a man with a long microphone was standing in the middle of Lyle's gravel drive.

"They're in my yard," Lyle said.

"It's a public road," Zach said.

"That's my gravel."

I looked at the clock on the stove.

"Gus's six-week appointment is at ten," I said. "The pediatrician is in Papillion."

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