by Marta Perry
Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw him sitting in his car seat, his lower lip stuck out and his arms folded. She couldn’t help smiling at his expression.
“You know what Grammy always said to me when I had my lip stuck out that way?”
He eyed her cautiously, but the temptation to hear a story about “when Mommy was little” was too strong to be ignored. “What?”
“That my lip stuck out so far a bird was going to come and perch on it. That always made me laugh, and we’d talk about what kind of a bird it was going to be. I wanted it to be a yellow goldfinch.”
Kevin’s pout had disappeared, and he leaned forward. “I want that. No, I want a crow. A big black crow!”
“That might be too heavy for your lip, don’t you think?” She pulled into the small parking lot next to the converted Victorian that housed the pediatrician’s office.
“My lip is strong,” he announced, pinching it and trying to talk at the same time. “You ask Dr. Liz. I’ll bet she’ll say so, too.”
“We’ll see.” She opened the door and unbuckled Kevin’s harness. Thank goodness he was easily restored to his usual sunny self.
A few minutes later, Liz was looking seriously at Kevin’s lower lip. “I’ve got to say, it looks pretty sturdy to me.”
“See, Mommy?” Kevin was too pleased to have been right to object to a quick physical.
Liz was very deft. Kev probably never even noticed the casual questions she slipped in while she checked his head, his eyes, his ears.
Deidre watched anxiously, wondering what Liz was making of his responses, especially when he started describing a nightmare in vivid detail. Since it involved the bad guy from one of his favorite cartoon movies, she didn’t really think it had anything to do with remembering the attack on Dixie. But how did she know?
“You are sound as a bell, Kevin,” Liz finally pronounced. “Do you know what that means?”
He shook his head.
“It means you get a whole sheet of stickers and a lollipop.” She reached in her desk drawer for the treats she kept there. Deidre was well aware of Liz’s conviction that the occasional lollipop never hurt an otherwise well-nourished child, and Kevin certainly was that. Whatever else his injury had done, it hadn’t affected his appetite.
“Now, you go out to the office with Connie while your mom and I have a little chat.” She ushered him out to the waiting receptionist and then came back to take the chair next to Deidre instead of retreating behind the desk.
Liz was frowning, and Deidre’s heart pounded as if she’d been running.
“What is it? What do you think?”
“How often is he having these nightmares you told me about?” Liz answered a question with a question, never a good sign in Deidre’s experience.
“Every night,” she admitted. “Except last night, when we slept over at Judith and Eli’s.”
If Liz was curious as to why they’d spent the night away from home, she didn’t ask. “That’s interesting. Have they all been as bad as the first time?”
Deidre hesitated. “I was going to say no, but I’m not sure that’s true. Now that I’m alert to the possibility, I get to the bedroom fast and can sometimes get to him before he has that blind, terrified look.”
“That’s good, but it’s not enough.” Liz frowned, clicking her pen against Kevin’s records. “The fact that he didn’t have a bad dream when he was away from the house may suggest it’s related to what happened there. Does he ever say anything coherent while he’s actually in the grip of the nightmare?”
“Nothing that really points to...well, to whatever he saw that night. Once he cried out something about the stairs, and about falling. But he never remembers it the next day, and he still runs up and down those steps a dozen times a day.” Deidre rubbed her forehead, wishing she didn’t feel like crying out herself.
Liz reached across to pat her hand. “I know it’s no good telling you not to worry, because you will.”
“I’m glad you realize that.” She managed a wry smile.
“That’s better.” Liz nodded approvingly. “Look, Kevin is strong and healthy. It’s true he’s been through a couple of traumatic events, but the fact that he’s so young is going to help. The thing is, I don’t think we can just wait for it to resolve itself.”
“You think he’s trying to remember what happened.” She had to face that possibility if she were to help her son.
“Not consciously, of course. But at some level, the memories of that night are stirring.” Liz frowned down at her pen for a moment. “I’m not really qualified to go poking around in Kevin’s subconscious. But I think it’s time to turn to an expert.”
Unbidden, Deidre’s thoughts produced Jason saying almost the same thing. “What expert?” Her voice was surprisingly steady.
“There’s a child psychologist in Williamsport who is highly recommended by several of my colleagues. I met him once at a medical gathering and was impressed. His name is Harry Whittaker.” Liz turned to her desk and began scribbling on a pad. “If you like, I’ll call and make the appointment myself. We’ll get Kevin in faster that way.”
Deidre’s fingers felt numb as she took the paper with the name and address from Liz’s hand. “You think he can get Kevin to remember, and that will help him. Is that it?”
“I’m not the expert.” Liz’s tone was gentle. “But I think he’ll probably want to help Kevin deal with the memories he’s trying not to recognize. With a head injury, the blank spaces can fill in at once, at any time or never. But given what’s happening with Kevin, and knowing how scary those memories are, I suspect the sooner they’re out in the open, the sooner they can be dealt with.”
“And the more dangerous he is to the person who killed Dixie.” Her hands twisted in her lap as if they possessed a life of their own.
“I know.” Liz paused. “Maybe it’s best if no one else knows about this. As far as my office is concerned, you brought Kevin in for a normal post-hospital checkup.”
“You’re right.”
But Jason had to know. He had become too important in their lives to keep this from him. Besides, he was the one person in the world she knew had nothing to do with Dixie’s death.
As for what she thought of Liz’s idea... “I wish I could be sure that remembering is what’s best for Kevin. If only...”
“Never mind ‘if only.’” Liz gave her arm a little shake. “You’ve always been good at facing reality, Deidre. And that’s what you have to do now.”
Was she? Deidre wished she had Liz’s confidence. It was hard to face reality when that reality was so very grim.
* * *
DID HE DROP in on Deidre or not? Jason still hadn’t made up his mind when he pulled into his driveway. He wanted to see her, no doubt about that. She’d intruded into his thoughts dozens of times in the course of the day, her lips curving, her blue eyes deep with sympathy.
He didn’t want sympathy from her. But he’d told her about Leslie, something he hadn’t mentioned to another soul. For an instant he saw again Leslie’s slim, elegant figure as she’d walked out of his life after smashing it to splinters. Oddly enough, that didn’t sting as much as it should.
Deidre’s warmth had chased it away. Maybe he’d known it would. Or maybe he’d told her about Leslie because he couldn’t tell her the other fact he was hiding from her—the one that would spell betrayal in any language.
Ironic, wasn’t it? Leslie had betrayed him. He’d betrayed Deidre. And Deidre wouldn’t forgive him any more than he’d forgiven Leslie.
His cell phone put an end to an especially futile line of thought. It was the manager of the motel where Mike Hanlon had stayed.
“He’s back.” The words spilled out quickly. “I saw him, so I’m calling you like I said I would.”
“Is he in his room?�
�� His mind juggled possibilities. Call Carmichaels first to handle it, or go himself? He knew which one he wanted to do.
“Nope. I spotted him just going to his car. Walked right into the housekeeper’s cart and started swearing a blue streak. Before I could get out there he’d jumped in his car and pulled out of the lot, spitting gravel all the way.”
Not good. “Headed toward town, or toward the highway?”
“Toward town. Listen, I called you like you wanted. You did say there’d be something more in it for me.” The voice took on a whine.
“There will be. You said he ran into the housekeeper’s cart. Did she see him?”
“What do you think? She was standing right there, wasn’t she?”
“Ask her to hang around until I get there. I’m leaving now.”
Jason backed out faster than he’d come in. Five minutes to the motel, and in the meantime who knew where Hanlon was headed. Still, he’d recognize the black SUV the man drove, and Echo Falls wasn’t that big. If he was coming into town, there was a good chance Jase would spot the car.
But he didn’t. He reached the motel without any sign of the vehicle. Driven by a sense that matters were coming to a head, he charged toward the motel office.
The manager he’d spoken to leaned on the counter, deep in conversation with a thin blonde woman whose sharp-featured face turned toward him avidly. He suspected word had spread that he’d pay for information.
“This is June. She’s our housekeeper. I had her stay to talk to you.” The manager wanted to make sure he wasn’t forgotten.
“Thanks, June.” He zeroed in on her. “Anything you can tell me about Hanlon will be a help.”
The woman shrugged. “Like I said, he barreled out of his room. I didn’t even know he was in there. Ran right into my cart and then started swearing at me like it was my fault. I yelled right back at him. I don’t have to take that kind of stuff from a guest.”
Jase shook his head sympathetically. “He say anything about where he was going?”
She scrunched up her face in thought. It wasn’t an attractive expression. “Not exactly. He kept on saying he knew somebody had something he wanted. That it was rightfully his. Muttering, like.”
“Sober?” He lifted an eyebrow, and she grinned.
“Drunk as a skunk, more likely. And mean with it. Believe me, I’ve seen mean, and he was right up there. Kept slamming his fist on the cart so hard I figured he’d break it. But better the cart than me. I backed away in a hurry, but then he jumped in the car and took off.”
He didn’t like the sound of this at all. If Hanlon was the person who’d rifled through Dixie’s possessions, he hadn’t gotten what he was looking for. So now he was back for a second round.
He had to get to Deidre.
“Okay, thanks for your help.” He pulled out his wallet, dispensing cash quickly. “If he shows up here, call right away. Don’t tangle with him yourself.”
“No chance.” The woman was emphatic, and the manager sidled back behind his counter.
Jason was pulling out his cell phone as he raced back to the car, calling Carmichaels’s private line. The chief answered on the first ring.
Quickly Jase filled him in. “I’m headed into town to look for him,” he concluded.
“This is a police matter,” Carmichaels snapped. “If he’s back in town, it’s time he answered some questions. And if he’s driving around my town drunk, he’s headed straight for a cell.”
Swinging onto the street that ran parallel to Main, Jason grunted. “Better catch him first.”
“We’ll do that. Now go home. I’ll let you know when we’ve got him under lock and key.”
“I’ll let you know when I spot him.” Jason clicked off before the chief could utter an ultimatum. The man needed to get busy finding Hanlon, not arguing with Jason. If he hadn’t taken the initiative, Carmichaels wouldn’t even know Hanlon was in town.
He cruised down the street, keeping an eye out for any sign of Hanlon’s vehicle. Echo Falls wasn’t that big a town. Hanlon couldn’t evade him as well as Echo Falls’s admittedly tiny police force for long.
But by the time he’d cruised all the streets in the west end of town, he wasn’t so sure. He passed a police car and kept going. If Carmichaels spotted him, he’d just get another order to stay out of it.
A sweep of the east end of town didn’t turn up anything, either. Maybe Hanlon had given up. Maybe he was holed up somewhere sleeping it off. Still, his SUV should be visible.
Dusk was drawing in fast. He glanced at the dash clock, startled at the time. He’d fully expected to be ensconced in Deidre’s kitchen by now, waiting while she put Kev to bed.
His jaw hardened. Time to stop and think, instead of running around looking for Hanlon. He’d better head back to check on his own building. Hanlon might well be thinking that whatever he wanted had been left there, maybe hidden someplace by Dixie.
What was it? What had Dixie had that Hanlon considered so important to him?
He pulled out his cell phone. He’d let Deidre know what was going on and just make sure she had her doors locked. He could imagine her response if he reminded her yet again.
He let the phone ring and ring, but she didn’t pick up. Given what time it was, she was probably getting Kevin ready for bed. He knew her well enough now to know that that time was devoted to her son. She was essentially unavailable at the moment.
He’d give one more swing up Main and back, and then head for home. If Hanlon intended on breaking into Dixie’s apartment, he’d probably wait for it to be darker, assuming he was sober enough to attempt it. And Jase would be ready for him.
* * *
DEIDRE STOOD AT the bottom of the stairs for a moment, listening. All was quiet. Kevin had seemed more clingy than usual again tonight. They’d had an extra story before setting up one of his action figures on the night-light to act as guardian... Although Deidre suspected that he was more comforted by the stuffed dog and teddy bear who snuggled into bed next to him.
She massaged the back of her neck, trying to will away the tension that had gathered there. She was doing the right thing. She needed to believe that. In any event, Liz had called back after office hours to inform her of an appointment with the psychologist for next week. She’d also supplied a pep talk, probably sensing Deidre’s doubts.
Walking through to the kitchen, Deidre glanced at the old schoolhouse clock over the stove. She had to admit that she’d expected Jason to show up after work today. Or at least to call.
There was a real possibility that he regretted talking so openly to her the previous night. Or if not regretted, at least felt a little uncertain as to where they went from here. She felt quite sure that he didn’t go around telling people about his former fiancée. To be betrayed in that way...
Was it any different than her suspicions of Frank and Dixie? To be honest, it was. Jason knew that Leslie had betrayed him, and she’d done it to advance her career.
Deidre only had suspicions, but they seemed to darken every memory of her life with Frank.
The knock on the front door interrupted her thoughts. Her heart leaped. Jason. He might have been late and intentionally waited, not wanting to interrupt while she was putting Kevin to bed.
Deidre hurried to the door as the knocking continued. Her hand was on the knob when all the lectures about safety marched into her mind. Quickly she put the chain in place, hoping she didn’t have to explain why it hadn’t already been there, and then turned the knob, smiling at the thought of seeing him.
But it wasn’t Jason. Mike Hanlon stood there, looking even burlier than she remembered in the half dark. Instinctively she shoved the door closed, but he’d already managed to get his foot in it.
“Wait a minute. Got to talk to you.” The words were slurred, and her heart sank. He
’d been drinking.
She struggled to sound confident. “You’ll have to come back tomorrow. I’m expecting company any minute.”
“No! Now!” He slammed the door with his fist, and she felt it shudder under her hand. “Tell me where it is.”
She blinked. “Where what is?”
“You know. I gotta have it.” He shook his head as if trying to clear it, but she expected it would take more than a gallon of coffee to do that.
“I don’t know what you mean. Come back tomorrow.” She pushed futilely at the door.
“It’s mine.” His voice sank to a grumbling mutter, but his foot remained in the door. “I got rights. Dixie wrote it down for me.” He looked at her, leaning his face close to the gap between them. “You know. I was the one who told her to write it all down. Just like insurance, see? It was my idea. Now she’s gone, so it belongs to me.”
“I’m sorry.” For a brief second, something about the way he’d said the words she’s gone had touched her heart. “I really am. But Dixie never told me about anything she had of yours.”
“You must have it!” He was shouting, surely loud enough for someone to hear.
Deidre sent a quick glance toward the end table where she’d left her phone. Not far, but to get it, she’d have to let go of the door. If she did, how long would it hold out against a determined assault? Her heart was pounding so loudly that she could feel it vibrating in her ears.
Jason, where are you?
“I don’t have anything.” For a second anger seized her. She wouldn’t allow him to frighten her. Or to frighten her son. “You should know that. You broke in here and looked through the things I had of Dixie’s, didn’t you?”
He shook his head, the movement setting his body weaving from side to side. “Musta put it someplace. Where?” His eyes focused, glaring. “Where?” Raising both fists, he slammed them against the door. “Where?”
Deidre braced her back against the door, mind working feverishly. She’d have to risk it. Have to leave the door long enough to grab the phone. If he got in, he’d come after her, wouldn’t he? He wouldn’t go upstairs to Kevin.