Right to Life

They sat in the dark watching the latest Jackie Chan movie on Cinemax. He was thinking how easy these kinds of movies were, the plots so familiar you didn't have to follow them. You could think about other things like how he was going to have to start work on restoring Ruth Chandler's hutch tomorrow and what he was going to do with Sara Foster once Kath went back to work Monday. You could think about this stuff and plan things until the next fistfight started and then go back to it once the fight was over. He decided that Monday she'd spend the day inside the Long Box. Total dark. All day long. Every day he'd soften her.

He was thinking that sitting in the flickering shadows finishing the leftover stuffing from last night's chicken when the doorbell rang.

So who the fuck was that? At this time of night. He'd made a point of not cultivating the neighbors. He looked at Kath on the sofa and saw she was thinking the same thing he was – cops, we're fucked – and felt a moment of utter panic, wondering if he shouldn't get his ass out the back door double-quick.

Then he thought no way, I got this covered.

It couldn't be.

He put his fork down on the plate and set it on the end table and turned on the lamp beside it and got out of the chair. Jackie Chan was getting punched out by some black guy. It wouldn't last. Chan would break his nigger ass. At the door he put on the porch light and looked out the window.

McCann. Jesus, McCann of all people. He didn't need this. Not today.

But he couldn't very well play at nobody home either. Not with the TV blaring.

He opened the door.

"Stephen."

"Mr. McCann. How are you?"

"Fine. I know it's late. May I come in a moment?"

"We were just about ready to go to bed, actually."

"Only a moment. Something's been on my mind. It won't take long. I promise."

The smile was unctuous as usual. There was something about the little bearded bald man that always revolted him. McCann was a lifelong bachelor. Probably a faggot. Their interests had led them into the same circles but for very different reasons. Stephen didn't have to like him.

"I guess. Where's your car?"

"In the shop, I'm afraid. I walked over."

McCann lived about two miles away, practically into the next township. What the fuck was this all about?

He decided he'd better find out.

McCann stepped into the room and Stephen gestured toward the chair. He turned off the volume on Jackie Chan. Chan and the black guy fought on in silence.

"Thanks." McCann sat down and sighed.

"Can I get you a beer or something?"

"If sinners entice thee, consent thee not."

He chuckled. Actually chuckled. The asshole.

"Thank you. That would be most welcome."

"Kath? You?"

"No thanks."

He walked into the kitchen and got two beers and opened them and when he returned to the living room both Kath and McCann were watching the silent screen. Both of them looking distinctly uncomfortable. McCann took his Bud and drank. Stephen sat down beside Kath and did the same.

"So. What can we do for you?"

"I may as well say this right out. I have to know, Stephen. It's been bothering me. Where is she? Who is she?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The woman. In front of the clinic yesterday. I wasn't supposed to be there, you see. The New York Christians' Aid Coalition called some of us from my group at the very last minute. A number of their people had cancelled. Elsie Little and I were the only ones who were free yesterday. But I saw you. You pulled her into your station wagon."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He sighed. "I saw you, Stephen. If for no other reason than for the movement's sake I need to know exactly what's going on here. Remember, he that loveth lies loveth not the Lord''

"You've got me mixed up with somebody else, Charles."

He smiled. "You and Katherine both? That's hardly likely. I saw both of you. I even recognized your car. Trust me, Stephen, please. This is just between the three of us. Elsie didn't notice you and I haven't said a thing to her. You can trust me."

He'd sooner trust a water snake.

He wanted to strangle the little man. But McCann was scaring him too.

They'd planned it to be in a whole other State. The biggest city in the world for god's sake. A place they'd picketed only once before. Nobody they knew was supposed to be anywhere near there.

He pulled heavily from the bottle.

"She's going to have a baby," Kath said.

"What?"

"Jesus, Kath!"

"She's going to have a baby. She's three months pregnant. I can't have one and she can. And with Stephen's record we can't adopt. So she's going to have our baby. Okay? You satisfied?"

"But…"

"She was going to abort it, Mr. McCann. Remember the first commandment? Thou shalt not kill? Remember what this is all about? We are saving the life of this baby!"

McCann stared at her and sipped his beer. Stephen was alternately furiously with her and relieved. The ball was in his court now.

It was unlike her to be so passionate.

Maybe she disliked the little toad as much as he did.

"Do me a favor, Kath. Get me another beer, will you?"