by Nora LeDuc
“We’re just searching for the truth,” Hines told her as they drove north to the hospital.
They rode the next few miles in silence, and Teagan allowed herself to get lost in musings she kept stowed away in the back of her mind.
She was almost eight. Aunt Sophia had driven them to the hospital. They walked down the hall, where white-clothed people hurried past without a glimpse at them.
Her aunt slowed and pushed a door wide. “Go in, Teagan.”
A woman with dirty, scraggly hair, and a gray face lay on the bed. Her open mouth gasped for air. Her cheeks were shriveled old apples. She looked like the witch in the fairy tale book.
Teagan backed away into Aunt Sophia, who was blocking her escape. She was trapped.
Noah slowed his car for the turn into the hospital, and Teagan’s thoughts returned to the present. In the lot, Detective Hines jumped out and opened her door.
Teagan’s throat constricted, shortening each of her breaths. She’d do this for Lucy, the woman who always lent a supportive shoulder. Besides, she had no rational reason to fear a hospital. Just a bad memory.
She walked between the detectives into the brick building and waited a few feet from the desk where Noah and Hines spoke to the receptionist.
Fighting off her anxiety, she glanced around the lobby to distract herself. Nothing resembled her past memories. Relax.
A man sat in the TV nook across from a couple. She did a double take. What was he doing here?
Chapter 14
“Seth Bodell, what are you doing at the hospital?” The words slipped past Teagan’s lips before she could censure herself. But why was he here? Had he run down Lucy and was trolling for information on her condition?
Seth’s lower lip turned under when recognition flared in his eyes. He got to his feet, and she became aware how large he was.
“You don’t own the hospital, Teagan Raynes,” he spit out.
Her already queasy stomach rumbled with nerves. Don’t let him know. Stand your ground. He was up to something.
Noah stepped up on her right and Hines flanked her left. Their action buoyed and reassured her.
“Didn’t your mother teach you how to speak to a lady?” Noah asked through gritted teeth.
Seth narrowed his eyes and shoved his fists into his pockets as though he was trying to hide evidence of his anger.
“We’re looking for the driver who hit Lucy Watson this morning, which means I have a few questions for you.” Noah stabbed his finger at Seth. “And your nephew.”
“Me? I don’t know nothin’ about her. I didn’t know it was hit and run. Cops like you are always trying to find someone to blame.”
“I told him Lucy was here because of an accident.”
Teagan turned toward the voice. Stacey Smith? The church’s secretary glided to them with a white vase full of yellow flowers in her hands.
“Miss Smith.” Noah’s left eyebrow shot up in surprise. “What brings you here?”
Stacey patted her hair and sniffed the blossoms before answering. “Father phoned and asked me to check on Lucy for him. He had to finish up the details for the vigil at your house and couldn’t come. I was tied up and asked Seth to help.” She looked at Teagan. “Didn’t you want Father Matt to wrap up the meeting after you ran off to the hospital?”
Her last words rubbed against Teagan’s tolerance. Matt wouldn’t complain she’d ‘run off.’ The bouquet in Stacey’s hands caught Teagan’s attention. “Are those from the altar? My aunt pays for those lilies from a fund she left.”
Stacey shrugged. “They were on their way to the trash. I figured someone should enjoy them while they were still blooming.” She held up the vase. “When Lucy wakes up, she’ll see a happy color. Good idea, huh?”
“I’m afraid she’s not napping,” Hines told her.
“If you’ve all come to sit with Lucy, then there’s no reason for me to stay.” Seth grumbled and backed away from them.
“Just a minute.” Noah blocked the man’s direct path and forced him to halt. “Stay away from Teagan.”
The defiant look in Seth’s eyes set off an alarm in her head. At the information desk, the receptionist was staring at them.
“Seth should go,” Teagan said, hoping to diffuse the situation.
Instead, Seth spit out, “Detective, you remember to stop accusin’ my nephew of crimes when he’s innocent. First you blame him for his ex-girlfriend disappearin’, and now, you ask me questions like I did somethin’ to Lucy.”
“Who do you think ran Miss Watson down, Mr. Bodell?” Hines asked in a quiet voice, crowding closer to Seth.
He blinked several times. “I didn’t know she was run down. Stacey just told me she had an accident. I thought she’d slipped and fallen. Besides, why ask me? Talk to her good friend.” He pointed a finger at Teagan.
“Me?” She’d had enough of Seth Bodell’s attitude. “As I recall you acted like you wanted to run me over when I was jogging to Muffy Mart.”
“What are you talking about?” Noah asked, his mouth tightening.
Teagan gestured to Seth. “He pulled up next to me on Main Street and accused me of setting the police on Travis while he revved his engine and waited for me to cross the road.”
Seth ran a calloused hand over his face. “I was tellin’ the truth. The cops were houndin’ Travis.”
“If I find out you’ve threatened Miss Raynes,” Noah said in a low, deadly voice, “then you’ve committed a crime, and I’ll haul you in.”
She should have kept quiet. The scene was getting worse by the second.
“I was mad that the cops kept treatin’ Travis like he did somethin’ to Lisa.” Seth flung his open palms upward. “She should know how it is. Lisa’s missin’ and now my nephew is too. I want to find him.” He fisted his hands, and his expression returned to hostile.
Noah and Seth looked like they were about to start a fist fight in the hospital lobby.
“Noah.” Teagan tugged on his arm to get his attention. “He was upset about Travis. I understand.” She added, “Please.”
Releasing a deep breath, Noah inched back. “Miss Raynes is more lenient than I am. Don’t forget that you’ve used your one get-out-of-jail-free card. Now explain why you came to visit the victim of a hit and run when you aren’t close friends.”
“I came because Stacey said Father Matt was busy and I owed him a favor. I figured Lucy might need a ride to where she was stayin’. They told me at the desk her doctor would come down and talk to me in a few minutes.” The man paled, but kept his chin up as though daring Noah to make good on his threat to take him into custody.
“Favor?” Hines asked.
“A personal one,” Seth snapped. “I was short on my mortgage money last month. The church has a fund for hard times that can be loaned. I’m already workin’ on payin’ the cash back.” Seth glanced at his watch. “I have to leave. I’ve got to search for Travis. He left, and he didn’t leave a note. Why don’t you go look for him instead of troublin’ honest people?”
“Did you report him missing?” Hines asked.
“I told you when you came to my house in the middle of the night. You didn’t bother to listen to me because you only care about a girl who took off on her own and was bad news from the start.”
Teagan had enough of his finger pointing. “She didn’t run off and she wasn’t bad news.” Seth had his nerve badmouthing Lisa. “She’s a bright, lost girl who deserves to be found.”
“Mr. Bodell,” Hines interrupted. “If you go to the station and fill out a report, a whole team of police will hunt for your nephew.”
“So you lied when you said you were lookin’ for him?” Seth demanded of Hines.
“Mr. Bodell, we’d love to find Travis and talk to him. You can help by going straight to the station from here and making and filing a formal statement. We are looking for Travis, but a formal statement makes an official paper trail.”
“Seth,” Stacey said, picking off the brown
leaves on the stems of the flowers and acting oblivious to the tension in the group or the stares from people passing. “You should stop at the church office and ask Father to have the group looking for Lisa search for Travis, too. That’s a good idea, huh?” Stacey tilted her head and nodded, confirming her own suggestion. “Since we’re all gathered together, are we going to Lucy’s room as a group or one by one?”
Was Stacey serious? Teagan resisted rolling her eyes. The secretary expected them to go to Lucy’s room like they were friends at a party? How could Stacey be so clueless? Teagan became aware of the strangers watching them.
“I’ll drive you, Mr. Bodell,” Hines offered.
“Forget it.” Seth stomped a few feet away before turning back to them. “I’m goin’ to the church, where I’ll get help findin’ Travis and not because he’s a criminal. Stacey you can give Father Matt a report about Lucy.” Seth marched through the automatic doors.
The tension seemed to diffuse around Teagan.
Noah leaned toward her. “What was his relationship to Lucy?”
Teagan opened her mouth, hesitated and blurted. “Confidential.”
“I got it,” he said in a low voice. “AA.”
Stacey put her hand up to the side of her mouth as though to confess a secret. “Seth’s emotional because of his problems.”
“I’ve never seen him anything but angry,” Teagan blurted. Was Stacey kidding? “That’s his normal self. He’d live at the police station if people filed a report every time he lost it.”
“What are his problems?” Noah asked Stacey.
“He’s upset because Lisa and Travis took off together.” She ran her aqua painted nails that matched her dress through her hair. “You understand, Teagan. You’re a mess since Lisa disappeared. You’ve been crying a lot.”
“Thanks, Stacey, for reminding me, and we’ve no proof that Lisa and Travis are together. He didn’t disappear when she did.”
“I didn’t mean to insult you.” Stacey laid a hand over her heart. “If you pick up eye drops at the drug store and use them, no one will know you’ve been crying a lot, and they won’t look at you funny.”
At least with Stacey and Seth around, Teagan didn’t have time to fret over the memory of her mother’s last hospital visit.
“We’re not here for medical tips, Miss Smith,” Noah said. “What makes you think Lisa and Travis ran off together?”
“Nothing in particular. I figured it out for myself. They were going out, and no adults approved of them dating. They solved it by running away.” She flashed a smile. “Pretty smart, huh?”
“What’s your relationship to Lucy Watson?” Noah persisted.
“I don’t have relationships with women. I took her job after she left Hawick Falls. Lucy and I barely knew each other. I mean she trained me, but it was only five days. I came to the hospital today to help Father Matt.”
“How can we contact her family?” Hines asked.
“Does she have one?” Stacey wrinkled her brow.
The buzz of a phone interrupted the group.
“It’s mine.” Hines fished his phone from his pocket and moved away from them.
“I’ll check if Miss Watson’s doctor is available soon,” Noah said. “And no, we won’t be going together to her room.” He crossed to the receptionist, who then placed a call while Noah lingered in front of the curved desk.
Stacey filled the moment by discussing the need for makeup under the bright lights at the vigil. Teagan breathed a sigh of relief when Noah returned.
“Lucy’s had a setback,” he said, rejoining them, “and has been transferred to ICU. Her doctor’s not allowing visitors at this time. I’ll drive you home, Teagan. Miss Smith, you must be needed at the church.”
“Did the doctor say anything else about Lucy’s condition?” Teagan asked, gripping her hands together.
Noah shook his head.
“Oh.” Stacey pursed her red lips. “You’re right. I’ve lots of work. With Lisa gone, I do everything in the office. I tried to talk Father into hiring someone part time, but he wants to wait for Lisa. He thought he’d help me, but the planning meetings, the searches, and vigil have eaten up his free moments.” She tapped Teagan on the arm. “Don’t worry about the microphone for your speech. The media expert will get it working soon, and the boxes of candles are counted and ready to be handed out by the volunteers.”
Teagan’s throat tightened with her effort to keep her response civil while her friend was upstairs, maybe dying. “Father Matt reviewed the schedule with me earlier. I’m set.”
“Good. I’ve spent tons of my time on the ceremony, I’d hate for you to be confused.” Stacey’s lips drew upward in a fake smile. “I’d better get back to work since, as you reminded us, detective, no one’s at the church office but me. Teagan, remember if you need anything, I’m there for you. I’ll drop these flowers off at the desk, and someone can bring them up to Lucy.” After exchanging a few words with the receptionist, she set the vase on the desktop. With a wave to them, Stacey disappeared through the sliding glass doors.
“I hope Lucy recovers soon,” Teagan said to give herself a moment to cool after Stacey had wound up her emotions.
“Does Stacey stand in often for Father Matt?” Noah asked.
“She never has before, and I prefer not to talk about her since she always rubs me wrong.” Teagan glanced toward the stairs. “I hate to leave Lucy. She should be with friends.” Maybe Teagan could sneak into her room and see how Lucy was for herself. “Do you think whoever hit her will come to the hospital to hurt her again?”
“Lucy’s monitored twenty-four seven by her physician and security. Don’t worry.” His voice softened. “I’ll give your name to her doctor. You’ll be one of the first allowed to visit.”
“Thank you, and good luck finding her brother. Lucy hasn’t seen him in years. She really didn’t have anyone. It’s why she didn’t leave Jake sooner. She didn’t want to be alone.”
“What about Travis? Were he and Lucy friends?”
“Lucy did have a soft spot for Travis. She used to lecture me that I should give him a break because his life wasn’t easy. She thought Seth had a good side too. That was Lucy. Why would anyone hit her?”
“Seems Lucy was the one who needed the break,” Noah said.
Detective Hines returned and Noah filled him in on Lucy’s condition before asking Teagan, “Where does Travis hang out?”
“Lisa mentioned a hunting store he’d visited in Maine, but I wouldn’t call it a place he went frequently. Most of the time, they hung at our house. I figured it was better than the streets.”
“If Seth threatens you—”
“I’ve never considered him dangerous. He yells a lot to let off steam.”
“Call me if he threatens you. You know I bet Seth will never report his nephew missing because he knows where he’s hiding.”
“I don’t understand Seth at all,” she confessed.
“Let’s hope he’s not expecting the family award for best uncle.” He held out his hand.
She reached out to grab it, and lines of confusion crossed his face. Yikes, he was gesturing for her to go before him.
She spun around to exit and hide her embarrassment. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t one of her daydreams about Noah. Teagan hurried to the lot while the detectives shadowed her.
Chapter 15
Lisa dreamed of sweaty, cold glasses of water and opening her mouth under a faucet. The stream flowed down her throbbing throat and like magic soothed the aches in her sore body. She smacked her dry, cracked lips and pictured the sun breaking away from the clouds and ending the blackness that wrapped around and smothered her.
At the sound of a slam, she tensed. He was back. Her stomach growled. Last time, he’d given her half a sandwich and two sips from a plastic bottle. How long had she been here? She was starving. Tears burned her eyes.
Please, God, help me. I’m sorry for my sins. I promise. No way will I do them ag
ain. Just let me out of here. I’ll do good. Help others. Become another Mother Teresa. Yes, I’ve broken the rules. But I’ll change.
But would God save her? The times she lied, refused to do as her foster parents asked, or did the opposite to prove they couldn’t make her, piled up on her conscience. She’d said mean things to kids at school and laughed at them. Yes, they were cruel first, but Father Matt said it didn’t matter who started the problem. Weirder, she’d tried at All Saints to be a nice girl. She didn’t argue with her teachers, did she? No. She just expressed her opinion and did her work Look what happened to her.
Her belly cramped with fear. She had to figure how to get out of wherever she was.
Teagan! Teagan would search for her. She was stubborn and didn’t quit. At least, that’s what she told Lisa when Aunt Sophia died. She promised to adopt Lisa because it was never too late for family. That’s when Teagan confessed her secret. Everywhere Teagan went—online, shopping or around Hawick Falls—she looked for her mother. It didn’t matter she’d disappeared twenty years ago.
On the other side of the wall, the girl begged. Her words slurred together by panic and terror.
Lisa shook and tears spilled over her cheeks. She didn’t have to imagine what was happening. She knew. Forget food. Listening, picturing, and knowing what was going on killed her little by little.
“Please, please, no. Stop.” The girl’s pleas turned into shrieks.
Lisa had to drown out the girl or go crazy. She recited nursery rhymes one after the other. Her voice grew louder and louder, but she still heard the cries of pain. They were in her head, in her brain pumping the girl’s horror through Lisa’s bloodstream.
I will be strong, strong, strong, stay strong, Lisa chanted. The monster was playing music.
Another terror chomped through her mantra and ripped apart her small amount of courage.
She was next.
Chapter 16
The next morning, Noah and Hines met with the chief in his office for their daily meeting. Dressed in his crisp white shirt and navy blue tie, the boss stood by the portable whiteboard near his desk. The suspects were listed in red marker across the shiny surface. He fixed his stare on Noah, who was speaking.