“You have to calm down. It’s as simple as that.”
“You mean we’re gettingblackmailedlike onTV? Likea movie? Did he havea gun? In your office—”
“I’m not telling you another thing unless you calm down, and you have to go to class after this.”
“Oh my God! What are you talking about? Are you crazy?” Ryan threw up his hands, bursting into mirthless laughter. “Are you blackmailingmenow?”
“Stop.” Jake felt his temper begin to give way, his anger at Deaner and himself spilling onto Ryan, scattershot. “You said you weren’t a baby, so stop acting like one. You need to rise above this, Ryan. You need to ask more of yourself.”
“How?” Ryan dropped his hands. “What?”
“Calm down. Get a grip.”
“But I’mscared! I’m scared foryou!”
Jake felt a deep pang of guilt. “I know that, but the best way to help me—to help us both—is to stay in control. In charge.”
“Okay, okay. Okay, I’m calm.” Ryan took a breath. He picked up his phone and held it in his hand. “Okay, I hear you. I’m calm. Just tell me what the guy said, and I’ll go to class. Who is he?”
“I don’t know who he is. I don’t know any more than I’m telling you.” Jake put the car in gear again, fed it some gas, and pulled away from the curb. “All you need to know is that the man is asking for money. Luckily, we have money, and I’m going to give it to him. After I give him the money, it’s done. Period. Do you hear me? It ends.”
“How do you know he won’t go to the police anyway?”
“Because it’s not in his interest. If he goes to the police, he goes down, too.”
“Why?”
“Because blackmail and extortion is illegal,” Jake answered, off the top of his head. He had no idea if that was the proper name for the crime and he didn’t care. He had to end this conversation. He drove past the lovely houses of Stone Hills and the young mother pushing the stroller, feeling surreal talking about blackmail and thugs.
“So you’re going to pay him? How do you know he won’t try asking for more money? That’s what they do in the movies.”
“I don’t, but you don’t have to worry about that because I have plenty of money. If he asks for more money, I’ll give him more money.”
“But where does it end?”
“We have the money, Ryan. It’s not an issue. We live within our means, you know that. We all say I’m cheap, and it’s paying off.”
“How much money did he ask for?”
“Ryan, why do you have to know the details?” Jake turned left, heading back toward the high school. “The details don’t matter. It’s really better if you don’t know everything.”
“Please, just tell me.”
“He asked for $25,000.”
“Oh my God. Oh my God. That’s, like, ayearof college tuition.”
“Don’t even worry about it. I have it in savings. It’s worth the money to me.”
“But what will Mom say? She’ll notice that, for sure.”
“No, she won’t know.” Jake got ready to tell another lie. He kept his face forward, looking through the windshield as they were approaching Lincoln Avenue, heavily trafficked during the noon rush. “We have separate checking and savings accounts, in addition to the joint account that we use to pay our bills. I don’t ask her questions about hers, and she doesn’t ask about mine.”
“Why do you do that?”
“Have separate accounts? You’ve heard her say that she thinks every woman should have her own money. She likes it, too, because when she buys me a present, I don’t see how much it costs. I feel the same way.” Jake was making it up as he went along, getting away with it only because he’d never talked to Ryan about their family finances. Maybe Ryan had been right, that Jake treated him like a baby. “Plus when I trade some stocks, I don’t like her to see the losses. I want her to think I’m smart.” Jake looked over and flashed a smile, trying to cheer him up, but it wasn’t working. “Trust me, everything is going to be all right. This has turned into a business deal, no more and no less. I do these every day. I got this.”
“Oh man, I can’t believe this happened.” Ryan moaned, his forehead dropping into his hands. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I screwed this up so badly.”
