The Tower

He paused for a moment reflectively, then chuckled. "Well, he never finished normal high school, but I'll be damned if he didn't read every book in that library by the time he was sixteen. That was before… before he left, you see."

"We got hold of some of Allander's IQ tests from before he was committed," Jade said.

He noticed Thomas tense up as Allander's name was said aloud. It was as if Jade had released it into the stagnant air of the house for the first time in years. So far, Thomas had used only euphemisms for his son's name.

Jade continued with his question. "Was he always so bright?"

Mr. Atlasia smiled, the side of his mouth twitching slightly. "He takes after his mother's father. That's whom he was named for. Allan Darby, God rest his soul. He was a kind man, a brilliant man. He taught English literature at the state college here for a number of years. His students loved him passionately. He died the week before Allander was born. Heart attack."

He shook his head slowly. "So young. Such a wonderful man. He was the youngest professor ever to get tenure there. I recall one of his colleagues said at his funeral that he was the only man he knew who could recite Paradise Lost beginning to end."

Jade shuddered. "A dubious distinction." He was testing Thomas, but even this jab didn't draw an angry response-only a disapproving stare. Very level man, very controlled, he thought.

Mr. Atlasia squinted over at him, his voice becoming serious. "That's the kind of man he was. He was fascinated by everything. He beheld life through the eyes of a child. Reminded me of that picture of Einstein on a bike."

Jade cleared his throat. "I'd like to see Allander's room if that's all right with you."

"Please, Mr. Marlow. This isn't Great Expectations. We weren't exactly going to keep a boy's room untouched in our house to remind us. Memories can be painful. We cleaned out his things years ago."

Jade leaned forward, placing his thumbs under his chin. He stared intently at Thomas and the small yellow ring in his green eyes seemed to glow with anticipation.

Thomas, obviously intimidated by Jade's glare, braced himself for the next question.

"How do you feel about your son, Mr. Atlasia?"

The door from the garage banged open. "Hello, honey, I'm back. You should've seen the look the kid at the counter gave me when I went through the whole line just to buy a single carrot." A pocket-book banged down on the kitchen table and then some keys. "Thought I was some kind of pervert or somethi-"

Mrs. Atlasia came around the corner into the living room, and upon seeing Jade, stopped mid-sentence. She blushed, covering her mouth with her hand.

Although she was in her sixties, Deborah Atlasia was an extremely attractive woman. Her smile radiated charm and grace, and she had a becoming self-assurance. She could fill an empty room with her smile. Her warmth carried over to her eyes. Jade recognized her eyes-they were Allander's down to the crow's-feet that wrinkled from the sides.

It was eerie looking at those eyes, Jade thought, wondering how Thomas Atlasia could look into them every night and not see his son's reflection. Maybe he did.

Jade struggled to rise from the plush seat.

"I am dreadfully sorry. And rather embarrassed, too, now that I think about it. I'm Deborah, but you can call me Darby." She extended a hand and several elegant silver bracelets jingled around her wrist.

"Jade. Jade Marlow. You go by your maiden name, Mrs. Atlasia?"

Again, Jade was unsuccessful in his attempts to stand. She walked over and gently pushed him back into the chair, placing her hand on his shoulder and applying pressure.

"Please. Not Mrs. Atlasia. It makes me want to look for Tom's mom." She laughed an elegant, womanly laugh. "And believe me, I'd rather not."

Thomas tilted his head and gave her a look of mock warning.

"Just kidding, hon." She smiled at her husband.

Pushing her light brown hair behind her ear with a cupped hand, she looked at Jade as if for the first time. "So what do you do, Mr. Marlow? I mean, why are you here?" She stopped. "Oh no. That sounds atrocious, I don't mean that." She smiled again. "I mean, what allows us to be graced with your presence?"

"Nice recovery," Jade said, smiling and still trying to stand up.

"Thanks. I thought you wouldn't notice."

"FBI. Sorry-I notice everything."

She widened her eyes and pulled her head back a little. "Well, I must say that caught me a bit by surprise." The room was silent for a moment. "Your mother know what you do?"

"No. She thinks I'm a pimp."

Darby laughed uproariously and slapped her husband on the shoulder. Mr. Atlasia was in a more solemn mood than his wife, but he smiled nonetheless.