Harlan lay, propped against a mountain of pillows, his hand fidgeting with the volume buttons on the remote control. He was not watching the news program on the screen, but he couldn"t bear to turn it off. The television was the only distraction that successfully diverted his attention away from the voicemail from Waco. Even if the news was consumed with talk about Cranston, it still kept him from thinking about the phrases “rising PSA"s” and “possible surgical remedies.” Despite the need for the distraction of the television, though, Harlan could not bring himself to turn up the volume and listen to the commentary. He knew his blood pressure couldn"t take the added stress. Besides, with the television muted, he could listen to his wife"s phone call in the other room.
She was talking to C
