Homecoming by Belva Plain Read Free Book Online Page A

“Because God knows we need it. That scene downstairs in the lobby—hell couldn’t possibly be worse.”
    Rain spattered on the balcony. A high wind had risen, clattering in the royal palms. It had blown the outer doors open.
    “Some idiot didn’t latch the doors,” Lewis said. He got up and locked them. “I feel angry at the world, Gene. Things like this shouldn’t happen. Music one minute and amputated legs the next. Listen to that wind. All we need is a hurricane.”
    Gene filled his glass and sat staring at the wall. Lewis still stood at the window, trembling, staring at nothing. After a while, hearing Gene’s mumble, he turned around.
    “What are you saying?”
    “Just mumbling. Trying to figure the count. How many do you think? Dead and injured altogether.”
    “I don’t know. Too many, that’s all I know. God almighty!” he cried. “How and why? Why?”
    “I’ll tell you. Because we should have taken action at the start when young Victor came with his story about Sprague. I suppose you see now that I was right two years ago. I hate having to say it, but it’s the truth.”
    “You’re jumping at conclusions. We don’t even know yet what went wrong, and you’ve already fixed the blame for it.”
    “We know very well what went wrong. The concrete was no good. All you have to do is feel it. Cheap stuff. Not enough aggregate. I searched as best I could in all the mess tonight, and I’ll swear there weren’t nearly enough iron bars for reinforcement either. We trusted. Or you’re the one who trusted. Not I! And now we’ll be blamed for the disaster. The fact is, we deserve the blame.”
    “Well, if the supplier gypped Sprague and you’re sure about the concrete, I don’t see—”
    “I’m sure. Go downstairs now and see for yourself. I never wanted Sprague, anyway,” Gene muttered. “You know I didn’t. And now we’rethrough, finished, washed up. Do you understand?”
    “You’re jumping at conclusions, as I’ve already said, and you’re drunk. That’s brandy you’re drinking, not water.”
    “I need to be drunk. Do you realize how many people died tonight? And how many may live who will never walk again on account of your stupidity?”
    “God damn it, how dare you!”
    “I dare. Your fancy friend, heaven help us. Let’s not offend him. Oh, no, never. No social conscience, that’s your trouble.”
    “You’re out of your head. I’m not going to let you get away with this when you sober up, brother or no brother.”
    Toward dawn the telephone rang, bringing down upon both their heads the raving rage of the hotel’s owners, Arrow Hotels International.
    “You were hired because you’re supposed to be the cream of your profession. What in hell have you done or not done with this job? You’ll hear from our lawyers at ten o’clock your time, and we’ll be at your door ourselves as soon as the Concorde lands tomorrow.”
    So then we entered the prickly thickets of the law, thought Lewis now, a dark wilderness where we strayed for months and years, looking for some light beyond.
    It’s all a matter of passing the buck, distributing the guilt. The supplier cheating the contractor (oh, yes, I admit, Gene was right, and the concrete was inferior). The contractor is an innocent victim, or else he is criminally negligent. The architect engineers at the top of this pyramid have the same choice, as does the owning company. Victimized or responsible? Which is it? So they all sue each other. And the families of the dead and injured sue everyone in sight.
    Then into the fracas steps Mr. Jerry Victor, a few years older now, with a respectable suit and haircut this time, plus an interesting story for an investigative reporter. And where does the reporter go after interviewing Victor? Of course he goes to Lewis Byrne. And Lewis Byrne is called upon to explain himself in the courtroom, to give as best he can his foolish reason for not pursuing an inquiry. And Eugene Byrne must explain his