Margaret had been his second wife and the love of his life. But in the sixth year of their marriage she developed a bad habit—heroin. He did not see the signs, and Charlie saw everything. But when it came to his wife, the addiction made no sense, at least on the surface. She was an RN three nights a week, and the rest of the time she took care of him and did volunteer work at her church. She appeared as far removed from temptation as a nun.

In retrospect, Charlie understood that was Margaret’s problem. She was only so perfect because she lived in such perfect denial. She always smiled, had a kind word for everyone. But something inexplicable tore at her emotional center and she slipped into the habit of dulling the pain with Vicoden she swiped from the hospital. In time, she went on to something stronger, oxycodone; and then, finally, heroin and the needle.

He only discovered her habit the first time she overdosed. He found her in the garage, not breathing. It was then he knew why she would only make love to him with the lights out. She had not wanted him to see her tracks. But he never got a chance to talk her into rehab. The paramedics came quick, but they had their red lights off on the drive back to the hospital.

Charlie didn’t like to talk about it. A boring story, he said. Kelly could respect that. Sitting in the car beside him, she wished she had not brought up Margaret’s name.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“It was years ago.” He ran his hands over the steering wheel. “It doesn’t matter.”

“How did you ever get over it?”

He stared down the street. “Who says I did?”

“You can’t tell me that. Not now.”

It was his turn to be sorry. “You can’t compare my situation to yours. Tony and Anna are alive. Where there’s life, there’s hope.”

“I don’t have any hope,” she whispered.

“Then let me come in. We can talk about it.”

“No. I hate talking about it. I hate thinking about it.”

“When did you talk to him last?”

“Last week.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing. He told me when he was going to drop Anna off. Did you know he is suing for full custody? My lawyer tells me he’ll probably win. I mean, I’m her mother for godsakes.”

“What’s his argument?”

“I’m never home. I’m physically ill. Emotionally, I’m too reckless.”

“Is there any way I can help?”

“Yeah. Kill him. Kill his girlfriend too.”

“I can do it tonight if you want. Make it look like an accident.”

Kelly smiled. “Yeah. They were both cleaning our guns at the same time and accidentally shot each other.”

Charlie shrugged. “O.J. had less going for him and he walked.”