Chapter 52
This was Milo’s way back into my life. Inevitably, he and Dr Ben were the only ones who Nick trusted completely.
Vince was caught between a rock and a hard place.
He asked me not to tell Nick what Milo had done, saying ‘he has probably saved Nick’s life’.
Vince even wondered aloud if Ruby’s rape had been some kind of flirtation that had got out of hand.
We barely spoke for days. Nick went out to meet up with Milo a couple of times a week, and when he asked if he could invite Milo to our house for dinner, Vince said yes.
I was livid and wanted to tell Nick exactly how trustworthy his best friend was, but Vince begged me not to.
‘Whether you like it or not, that man has turned his life around, and if he did the crime, he has served his time.’
‘If?’ I said, incredulous.
‘I didn’t mean that.’
‘You don’t believe he did it. His DNA was inside my sister, for the love of God.’
‘It doesn’t matter whether I believe he did it or not. You’re talking about something that happened nearly twenty-four years ago. Don’t you think people can change?’
‘You’ve been talking to him, haven’t you?’
Vince couldn’t look me in the eye. ‘He has taken exceptional care of my son for nearly a year. He stood by him when everybody else failed him, including me. Milo earned his trust, got him psychiatric treatment and into a position where he seems mentally stable for the first time in years. You don’t have to be here when he comes. ’
‘Sure, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? So he can tell you that the DNA was planted, that my sister is a liar, that he’s an innocent man. No way. I’m going to be here.’
Vince pleaded with me not to make a scene, not to confront Milo about anything in case it upset Nick. I did not want to be there, but I knew now how manipulative Milo could be. He’d do anything to get into my good books, but he could not unrape Ruby. I was going to be there.
Nick felt absolute loyalty to Milo. He told me that Milo had once been in prison too and that, when he got out, he went to work in his uncle’s diner.
He would drop off surplus food from the diner at soup kitchens and homeless shelters every week.
Then he trained as a counsellor for a homeless charity and helped with recovering addicts and ex-cons.
He still worked shifts in the diner. I asked Nick what Milo had been in prison for.
He said it was some kind of assault case but he knew that Milo was innocent.
‘How do you know?’
‘Because he’s the gentlest guy I’ve ever met.’
No wonder Nick had mental health problems – he would believe anything.
In early June 2023, Milo came to dinner.
I had put it off as long as I could, using the London Book Fair as an excuse and then being too busy with editing, but I couldn’t put it off forever.
When Nick walked into the room with him, Milo looked at me with a warm smile, which I did not return.
Normally, Vince did the cooking, but on this occasion, I did.
I could spend less time in Milo’s company.
When it was time to serve, I sat in the seat opposite Nick to avoid facing Milo or sitting beside him.
The three men were discussing the Bruins.
Milo was telling some story about hopping a fence with a cousin to get in to see a game at the TD Garden when he was twelve years old, but they were caught and given a lifetime ban, and that’s why he wasn’t ever an ice hockey fan.
Vince and Nick laughed and told him they were sure that particular security guard was long gone by now.
Vince offered to take Milo to a game with them the following weekend.
‘I don’t go where I’m not welcome,’ said Milo, grinning.
‘Really?’ I said, ice in my voice.
The grin disappeared. ‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘like, that security guy could have made up a story that I stole something and called the police. I don’t mess with the law. I haven’t found those legal people to be honest or truthful.’
Vince beside me put his hand on my wrist. I took several deep breaths while Nick and Vince went back to discussing the Bruins. I met Milo’s eyes briefly but there was no anger or defiance in them, he was unreadable.
For the rest of the evening, I said little, and spent more time than necessary in the kitchen. When it was time for Milo to leave, I avoided shaking his hand. He tried to take my hand, but I shoved them both in my pockets. He said goodbye and thanked me. I nodded towards him and kept my mouth shut.