Chapter 40: A broken man behind the shield

                                    

                                          
She hesitantly descended the stairs. She could see between the bars of the banister, Taker, kneeling in front of a table, his elbows resting on the table, his head in his hands. She looks around her, she sees bits of newspaper talking about Josh's case, the portrait of the robot, the various testimonies, the photo of the black van, the phone number calling Lini. But what does that mean? Lini thought.
"What are you doing here... ?"
Taker's voice was dangerous, as if he was going to get angry, Lini looked at the different bottles of alcohol on the table, on the floor, broken glasses.
"I..I came to bring you..tea...Taker, since when have you been following my husband's case?" She said asking herself a lot of questions. Did he know from the start?
Taker gets up, looks dangerously at Lini who walks towards her who backs up until her back hits the wall but Taker doesn't do anything to her, just takes her cup and takes a chair and puts it in front of her a few meters from where she is.
"Sit down." He said with a calm voice that sent shivers down her spine. Lini hesitantly walks over to the chair and sits down, looking at Taker who seems to be trying to calm down. He takes a sip of his hot tea which makes him feel good, closes his eyes then looks at Lini.
"One day, an ordinary guy meets a woman in a clothing store, the two get on well and decide to get together..."
Taker walks from right to left with his cup in his hands, he stops in front of the painting, his back to Lini. "Then the two get married, and some time later his wife becomes pregnant, the husband was very happy when he learned that they were expecting twins..."
Taker takes something in his hand, he looks in the palm of his hand where there was the gold ring that belonged to his wife.
"When the twins were born, they were the happiest parents, the husband was happy, he had a job he was passionate about, a beautiful and understanding wife and twins. He couldn't have asked for more, he loved spending time with his family when he came home from work, he was happy..."
Lini doesn't know it but tears run down Taker's cheeks, grabs the ring which in his fists trying not to let anything show, he takes a long breath before drinking his glass in one go.
"...One evening, the husband came home after a long week of work and travel. He was greeted by the twins and his wife who were eagerly awaiting him. The husband's wife had ordered donuts for the return of her husband, he loved it. The wife took one of the twins and left. The husband didn't know at the time that he would never see his wife and son again..."
Lini is in a state of shock, she has just understood...Lona told her that her mother and her brother...Taker is going through the same thing as her; fight for the same reason. The woman and boy who were knocked down by the killer were his wife and son. Taker hasn't turned around yet, his back to Lini.
"...Yes..we are living the same situation, I have been a widower for two years like you.the same night like you..but...you were able to tell the truth to your daughter in your own way but I...I can't..Deep down, I...I still suffer from it"
Lini gets up slowly, walking quietly towards Taker as he has one hand on the wall and one hand on his face trying to calm himself down. She understands everything now, why he was still angry, why he changed his behavior when Lini told her husband what had happened. She understands why he always stays in character, it's to protect himself from emotions.
Lini touches Taker's shoulder with a shaking hand, she puts her other arm around his waist, leans her head against his broad back, while Taker has his head against his forearm, refusing to show a single emotion.
"Let's support each other. For them and for our kids." Lini said, whispering loud enough for Taker to hear.
~!~
They are back in the kitchen, talking what they know about the case but they quickly realize that they know the same thing. Lini talked a bit with Taker about telling Lona the truth about her brother and her mother, he shouldn't hide it but he always said it's not something to discuss with a child. . He's going to think about something he could say without shocking Lona.
After a few minutes, Taker puts his hand on Lini's hand, she looks at their hand, frowning while drinking her tea. "You have to know that..it's kind of thanks to you.." Taker said sincerely to Lini, looking into her eyes. "For two years I had forgotten how to be a good parent and I thank you for teaching me that again."
It's the first time that he thanks her for something, Lini smiles at him proud to have changed at least one thing in him. For two years, he had forgotten how to react like a father because of his obsession with the business and his work, completely forgetting his daughter. Since Lini has been here, everything has changed, he doesn't regret having asked her to come and live here. Their hands are still in each other, enjoying the silence that reigns in the house.