Somehow her response did not surprise him. “You plan to call the cops when you leave. You’ll tell them where I am. They’ll come and arrest me. You’ll tell them that you killed David because I’ve been holding you psychologically hostage for the last few months. Using your son to threaten you. You’ll explain that I faked my death and then returned to life and stole Jimmy. You figure it’ll be your word against mine. But you’re pretty sure I’ll have no credibility because I did in fact fake my death and kidnap Jimmy. Correct?”

“Yes.”

“But the same alibi would have worked even better if I was dead right now. That way you wouldn’t have to argue with me in court. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. I just wanted to get the facts clear.”

“Matt …” she began.

“Don’t say it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“How can you do this to me?”

She was going to cry, poor thing. “I told you, I can’t live like this. I can’t do this to our son. He deserves to grow up in a stable home.”

“With a murderer for a mother?”

“I wouldn’t have murdered David if you hadn’t set it up.”

“You begged me to set it up! And right now you tried to kill me!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Great! You’ve apologized and all is forgiven! Look, I’m not Jesus Christ. I’m stuck here. The cops will soon be on their way. I can’t go to jail, either.”

“I don’t want you to go to jail.”

“Right. You would prefer I was dead.”

Now she wept. “No! I love you! I know that sounds stupid right now, but it’s the truth. It kills me to do this to you. If there was any other way … What can I do?”

Matt spoke quietly. “You can throw me down another rope. You can let me go. You can take Jimmy and go to the police and tell them everything you were going to tell them as if I were still stuck here.”

“You would never let me take Jimmy.”

“I wouldn’t stop you. You’re his mother.”

She considered. “I don’t think the cops would believe me.”

“You’ll have Jimmy. That will be proof enough.”

“Not total proof.”

“You’re a great liar. You’ll convince them.”

“I don’t know. I can’t risk it.”

“But you’re willing to risk me?”

“Matt.”

“Never mind, I understand. It wouldn’t be like having me in person to parade in front of the jury. You have thought this through.”

“Yes.”

“When did you think all this up?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. It matters to me.”