‘How do you know this?’
‘Because Megan told me. She swore me to secrecy.’
‘Is that why you didn’t tell me the full story about him?’
‘Yes. And…’
‘And what?’
‘And because… because I was ashamed to admit that my girlfriend dumped me for a complete nut-job.’
Franklin nods appreciatively. He believes he understands the embarrassment it would have caused Parker. But he also relishes the fact that this scenario has taken on a whole new dimension. He remembers when he first saw Cody, who for some unknown reason seemed reluctant to go through his own front door. Franklin thought even then that there was more to Cody than meets the eye. Parker has just confirmed that in a most exhilarating way.
‘Cody is a police officer. A murder detective. How can he possibly do his job with this affliction you describe?’
‘I wonder that myself. Personally, I don’t think he should be on the force.’
‘You said he was traumatised. Do you mean in his job or his personal life?’
‘His job. He used to work undercover. Something went wrong and his cover was blown. He and his colleague were taken to a warehouse. Cody was tortured, but his partner was murdered.’
Better and better, Franklin thinks.
‘How was he tortured?’
‘They… they cut off some of his toes.’
Franklin whistles. ‘Nasty. And what effect do you think Cody’s ordeal has had on Megan?’
‘I think she feels sorry for him. I think she wants to help him get through his problems.’
Franklin nods again. What Parker is saying makes a lot of sense. It is Franklin’s experience that women are often much better than men when it comes to matters of the mind and caring for others. Excepting his mother, of course.
‘And what else?’ he asks.
‘I… I’m not sure what you mean.’
‘Well, do you think that Cody’s lack of a full complement of toes is the only thing drawing Megan to him?’
‘No, of course not. I’m sure there’s a lot more to it than that.’
‘Such as?’
‘Well… he saved her life.’
Franklin actually finds himself flinching with the impact of this revelation.
‘How did he do that?’
‘Megan was being held hostage by a serial killer. Cody convinced the killer to set Megan free and take him in her place.’
‘So, not only did he save Megan, but he also put his own life at risk for her benefit?’
‘Yes. And then she returned the favour.’
‘What, she saved his life in return?’
‘Yes.’
‘Such drama! Hmm. Yes, I can see how the mutual lifesaving could bring two people close together. The one being saved would recognise it as a massive demonstration of devotion, and it could also make the one doing the saving realise how much they truly cared for the other.’
Franklin is beginning to wish he had asked these questions about Cody sooner. He can appreciate now why Parker didn’t open up about his rival. He did not want to confess to losing out to someone he regards as mentally unstable, but neither did he want to put Cody on a pedestal as some kind of action hero.
He says, ‘I assume you never carried out such a selfless act for Megan?’
Parker appears irritated by the question. ‘No,’ he says. ‘The situation has never arisen.’
‘Or she for you?’
‘No.’
‘That must make you feel very inadequate.’
There’s a long silence while Parker considers his response. ‘I don’t have anything to prove. Cody isn’t a hero. He’s a complete nutcase who deserves to be thrown out of the police.’
Franklin has heard enough for now. He stands up.
Parker squirms on the bed. ‘What are you going to do?’
