Don't Get Caught

Chapter 18 - Ariel

Hundreds of white boat masts lined the horizon, giving the usual break between the blue sea and blue sky a jagged edge. The view blurred as I zoned out. It was early morning, and hangover central. Peter and I sat with our coffees in a café on the promenade, overlooking the marina. The day was already hot, but I couldn't forego a shot of caffeine.

"You know what you're going to say to Christina later?" Peter asked as I took tentative sips of the scalding hot liquid. His easy smile suggested he wasn't suffering as much as I was.

I nodded slowly, my brain knocking against the inside of my skull. "Look, I know you have your reservations about this, but I promise I'm not a bad person. I just want the truth, that's all. Of course Danny and his sister can ultimately make their own decisions. I need to know though. I don't have it in me to let this go."

Peter stirred his coffee and squinted towards the water. He didn't say anything. He didn't believe me, I could tell.

"Have you heard from Danny?" I asked, not meeting his eye. The awkward conclusion to the previous night just a few hours earlier was still playing on my mind.

"I spoke to him yesterday, just before we flew out here," Peter said.

"And? How's he doing?" I asked, bringing the coffee cup to my lips again, braving a look at Peter over the rim.

"He's fine. Not budging though if that's what you're asking." The lawyer put his mug down and rested his elbows on the table. "Ariel, how well do you know Danny?"

"Very," I lied. "Why?"

"Then you know about... about his condition."

I sat up straighter. "His condition?"

"You don't?" Peter's eyes narrowed in confusion, the lines around them deepening.

"Tell me what it is and I'll tell you if I know," I said, rubbing my head, not in the mood for his riddles.

He shuffled in his chair. "I can't. Client confidentiality. I thought you might know. Shit, I shouldn't have said anything."

"Peter! Tell me what you're talking about," I insisted, my voice getting higher.

"Ariel, you know I can't. You make out like you're close to him, but I shouldn't have assumed."

An uncomfortable knot formed in my stomach. What the hell was he talking about? A condition? Was he ill? "You're bringing it up because it's relevant. Just tell me. If you don't, I'll ask his sister when I see her later." I hoped it sounded like a threat but not entirely sure why it would.

Peter sighed. "Fine. Danny has Asperger's."

My whole body relaxed, even my pounding head seemed to dull for a second. "So what?" I'd been prepared for something much worse. This seemed irrelevant.

"So I'm not sure yet, but it might explain why he's acting strangely, that's all. His odd behaviour doesn't mean he's innocent like I thought it did. I'm starting to believe he really did do it. I always assumed him not making eye contact with me meant he was lying about everything, but it's just his—"

"Condition?" I cut in with a roll of my eyes.

"Right."

I sat back in my chair, clutching my coffee against my chest. This could explain a lot of Danny's behaviour over the course of our relationship, but it didn't mean he was a murderer. A lump formed in my throat as Peter's words, "I'm starting to believe he really did do it," ran through my mind.

I swallowed down the last of my drink. "I think I'm going to head across town so I can be in plenty of time for Christina," I said, rising from my chair.