Caine handed the note to LoSi, who read it out loud for Kermit’s benefit. A momentary heartbeat passed as the three men tried to assimilate the information.
“OK, let me see if I have this straight,” Kermit began, “Laura, your wife, Peter’s mother, and a woman who is supposed to have died years ago, is actually alive. Not only that, but she has also somehow managed to kidnap Peter, forcefully by the looks of his apartment, and is now holding him out at some cabin in the woods? Is that about right?”
Caine nodded.
“But she’s his
Caine nodded again. “I do not understand this any more than you do, Kermit. The woman I married, and loved with every ounce of my being, would never do anything to endanger or hurt our son. How can this be Laura? And yet, how can it not be?”
LoSi laid his hand on Caine’s shoulder. “My friend, we must devise a plan. Your son is in danger no matter who this woman is.”
******
Peter, still completely dazed, fought to regain equilibrium. His mother was alive, standing right in front him, and coldly threatening his father’s life. This could not possibly be the woman that had been described to him in such beautiful, loving detail.
“What is the truth, Pop?” he thought.
“You see, darling, I have it all planned out. You will join me in destroying your father and that will be the ultimate blow. Absolute revenge.” Laura’s eyes took on a wild shine. “I have dreamed about this day for years. I can’t wait until he arrives. The look on his face as he realizes that his own son has betray him will be priceless.”
Peter felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff.
“STOP IT! I will not betray my father and I have no intention of trying to destroy him. Mother, what has happened to you?” he pleaded.
Laura looked up at her son, shocked and outraged by his apparent refusal to help her.
“Of coarse you will destroy him, Peter. How dare you speak to me that way? I am your mother, young man, and you will do as I tell you or I will have to punish you.” The anger and violence in her voice was unmistakable.
She continued, more desperately, “There is no other way, darling, don’t you understand. If you do not kill your father, I will be forced to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you, baby, please don’t make me. I love you.”
The cliff gave way. Hearing those words from her lips should have made his heart sing, he had dreamed of this moment since he was a small child. However, in the present context, they were more like a knife being driven straight through him. Those precious words suddenly took on a sickening, ominous tone and left him feeling empty and alone. Emotional agony gripped him and twisted in his gut as he uttered his one final denial,
“I won’t do it.”
END Part 3
