“I hadn’t heard the anniversary part,” Imogen admitted. “I’m not that involved in their lives. I simply watch them from afar.”
“And what do you see?”
“I see … a very unhappy family.” Imogen licked her lips and watched Nick and Kreskin as they disappeared inside the house. “It’s not like when I see you and Nick together. You two are … in tune with one another. Even when you’re arguing – which doesn’t happen often according to Maude – the love is still there. I didn’t see love between Alicia and Trevor.”
“What did you see?”
“Obligation.”
“Obligation, huh? Like Trevor stayed married longer than he wanted out of obligation?”
“I guess that’s part of it,” Imogen admitted. “That’s not all of it, though. Alicia was living under a cloud of obligation, too. She stayed married, convinced herself that she was happy even though he paid zero attention to her and didn’t bother coming home until all hours of the night at least once a week. She wasn’t happy. You could see it. She was determined to keep the status quo, though.”
“Meaning she was willing to be unhappy as long as it meant keeping her family together,” Maddie mused. “I guess that makes sense. What about tonight? Did you hear anything tonight?”
“No. I heard the kids at one point. They’re often out. Then they disappeared, although I don’t know if they were still at the house or left. I didn’t hear a peep from Alicia and Trevor, though. Well … not until the gunshots.”
“Were they quick? I mean … were they right on top of each other?”
“They sounded pretty close.”
“You know Alicia pretty well,” Maddie prodded. “Do you think she’s capable of killing Trevor?”
“My instinct is no … but you never know in this day and age.”
“No, you really don’t.”
NICK AND KRESKIN SPENT A solid hour collecting evidence inside. Nick hadn’t meant to leave Maddie for so long, but when he exited the house, he was relieved to find her questioning neighbors on the street.
“Hospital next,” Kreskin suggested, following his partner’s gaze and shaking his head when he saw what Maddie was doing. “We should just put her on our payroll.”
“Don’t give her any ideas. She’s in danger enough without getting caught up in all this.”
“She’s already caught up in it,” Kreskin pointed out. “I can guarantee you’re not going to leave her behind when going to the hospital.”
“No,” Nick agreed. “I thought she might actually be helpful at the hospital.”
“Oh, you did not.” Kreskin made a face. “You just don’t want to be separated from her.”
“No, I really do think she’ll be helpful.”
“Why?”
“Alicia stopped by her tent at the festival this afternoon to chat and she told Maddie a few things about her marriage,” Nick replied without hesitation. “I’m guessing Alicia will see Maddie as a friendly face and be more likely to open up if she’s there.”
“Huh.” Kreskin was legitimately surprised. “Is that true?”
“Why wouldn’t it be true?”
“I don’t know. You usually want Maddie with you no matter what.”
“That’s true. However, Alicia and Maddie were talking earlier. I think that might work to our advantage.”
“Here’s hoping. Otherwise we’re going to have a mess on our hands when it comes to sorting this thing out.”
“No doubt.” Nick bobbed his head in agreement before raising his hand to get Maddie’s attention. “Come on, love,” he called out, ignoring the wistful looks three teenagers on the street shot him when they heard the endearment. “We have to go to the hospital.”
Maddie nodded in acquiescence before starting toward him. She offered the woman she was talking to a half-wave and then broke into a jog to close the distance between them. She was weary when she reached his side.
“I talked to most of the neighbors,” she started as he pointed her toward his cruiser. “They say that Alicia and Trevor have been having a rough time, but they all thought things were going better. Imogen was the only one who said that she thought Alicia was deluding herself with talk of a reconciliation.”
“What do you mean?” Nick pulled open the door so she could slide inside.
“Imogen didn’t come right out and say it, but she told me that Trevor is gone until three or four in the morning at least once a week – usually more – even though he’s supposedly got his marriage with Alicia back on track.”
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what that means,” Nick noted. “If he’s out that late, that means he’s probably got a girlfriend.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“Did any of the neighbors say who it was?”
Maddie shook her head. “I didn’t ask, though. I didn’t think to. It seemed like a crass question.”
“We’ll probably have to come back out here and question the neighbors on the record tomorrow,” Nick said. “For now, we’re heading to the hospital to talk to Alicia. We thought it might be helpful if you’re there to deal with any meltdowns.”
“I don’t know what I can do, but I’m willing to try.”
“That’s why I love you.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “By the way, have you noticed the teenagers were checking me out? I’ve still got it.” He winked at her as she rolled her eyes.
“Oh, geez.”
“You were their age when you fell for me,” Nick reminded her. “Look how well that turned out.”
Maddie couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “You’re kind of incorrigible.”
“I’m fine with that.”
THE HOSPITAL WAS BUSTLING WITH activity when they landed. Since Blackstone Bay was such a small town, they only had an emergency clinic. Trevor was transported to the nearest city with a hospital, which happened to be thirty minutes away.
Nick kept Maddie close as they cut through the building. He was familiar with the layout, so he knew immediately where the emergency ward was located and that’s where he pointed them.
Kreskin was already there, waiting, when they rounded the corner.
“What’s the update?” Nick asked.
“The doctor hasn’t been out yet,” Kreskin replied. “The nurse says he’ll come out to update us as soon as possible. It shouldn’t be long.”
“Is that a good or bad thing?” Maddie asked, legitimately curious. “I mean … he was shot twice. To me, it seems he should be in surgery for a long time.”
“Because that’s what television taught you?” Nick teased, causing her to roll her eyes.
“Grey’s Anatomy is more than a television show.” Maddie shifted so she could scan the waiting room, taking in the trio of people waiting in the far corner. “Are those Alicia and Trevor’s kids?” She kept her voice low.
Kreskin nodded. “Aaron is the boy. He’s seventeen. Apparently he was out picking up the daughter, Catelynn, at her dance class when it happened.”
“Does she take dance at the high school?” Maddie asked, searching her memory. “The cheerleading coach moonlights as a dance instructor, right?”
“Sarah Salinger,” Kreskin confirmed. “She’s been running the classes for years. I’ll have to call and confirm with her that the girl was there.”
Maddie watched Catelynn, who was sitting next to her mother and focused on a tablet. She didn’t look up despite the activity in the room. Her brother, on the other hand, paced like a madman. For her part, Alicia merely sat rigid in one of the hospital’s uncomfortable chairs and stared straight ahead, seeing nothing as far as Maddie could tell.
“Do you know them?” Nick asked.
“Not really. Aaron was six when I left … at least I think. I remember him being one of the little frogs on the queen float for the parade that last summer we were together before college. The only reason I remember is because I was jealous of Marla because she was the queen.”
“Not if it’s about being in the funhouse and getting a feel of my breast. I hate that story.”
Nick snickered. “That happened the year before, although I was hopeful I would be able to get you back in that funhouse. That wasn’t what I was really thinking about, though.”
“What were you thinking about?”
“That I loved you. I wanted to tell you that at the time, but I was terrified.”
“I loved you, too.”
“Yeah, but it never occurred to you to tell me, did it?”
That was true, and Maddie felt mildly embarrassed by her actions. “I didn’t think I had a chance. You were Nick Winters, after all. Every girl wanted you.”
“You were the only girl I saw that summer.”
“The other girls saw you.”
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t matter.” He smiled. “You spent the summer upset because Marla was queen and that only made her more terrible to deal with. I spent the summer dreading the end of it because I knew you would be going away to college and our time together would be limited because I was attending the academy up here. Of course, I had no idea how limited.”
Maddie pursed her lips. “I thought we were going to stop talking about that.”
“We are. I just don’t like it when you feel inferior to Marla. So, from now on, whenever you mention it I’m going to bring up the time you moved away, said you would call me, and then didn’t come back for ten years.”
Maddie glowered at him. “I see. So … what were we talking about before that?”
Nick’s devastating grin only made him more handsome. “Aaron and Catelynn.”
“Right.” Maddie took a moment to steady herself. “I don’t know them. Aaron was quite small the last time I saw him and I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen Catelynn at anything other than a festival. She seems pleasant, though.”
“I believe she’s on the spectrum,” Kreskin offered.
Nick arched an eyebrow. “Autistic?”
Kreskin shrugged. “I’m not sure. Someone at the diner said it one night when Alicia had her there. She melted down about something weird – something I didn’t understand because it was so odd – but Ruby didn’t seem bothered by it. She said it’s happened before and explained she was on the spectrum.”
“What happened to set her off?” Maddie asked, curious.
“Apparently the pie wasn’t cut in a perfect triangle.”
“Hey, I feel the same way,” Nick argued. “Pie is sacred.”
Maddie shot him a withering look. “It’s not funny.”
“Pie is always funny.” He winked at her before slinging an arm around her shoulder and pressing a kiss to her temple. “I wasn’t making fun of the kid. I was just … wishing that I had some pie.”
Maddie let loose an exasperated sigh before elbowing him in the stomach. “If you weren’t so cute, I would totally smack you around.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I am.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze before releasing her and focusing on Aaron. The boy, who looked as if he was fighting tears, openly glared at Nick. “Hey, Aaron.” Nick didn’t smile at him, instead keeping his face impassive. There was nothing to smile about regarding the current situation. “Have you heard any news about your father?”
“He’s in surgery,” Aaron snapped. “He was shot and he’s in surgery.”
“I know that part.” Nick remained calm in the face of the boy’s rage. “I was wondering if you’ve heard an update.”
“We haven’t,” Alicia announced, causing Nick to flick his eyes to her. “They haven’t told us anything. He could be in there dying, afraid, and they haven’t said a word to us. They won’t let us see him.”
“I’m sure they’re probably busy,” Maddie offered helpfully. “They’ll come out as soon as they can.”
“Yeah? Well … it’s not right to make us wait like this.” Aaron’s hand gripped the back of a chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. “This isn’t right.”
“Aaron, come over here and sit down,” Alicia instructed, pointing toward the chair to her left. “You’re making me nervous with all the running around you’re doing.”
“I don’t really care if I’m making you nervous,” Aaron spat.
“Hey. You need to calm down.” Nick put a hand on the boy’s shoulder and grimaced at the way he tightened up. It was clear that Aaron was having difficulty dealing with his emotions. “You can’t let this break you down, buddy. You have to be strong for your mother and sister.”
Instead of apologizing and acting contrite, Aaron glared at him. “Right. Have you looked at them? My mother is a basket case and my sister is incapable of understanding what’s going on.”
As if on cue, Catelynn lifted her eyes from the screen. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”
Alicia shot Aaron a dark look. “Don’t worry about it, baby.” She forced a smile that was more scary than soothing. “Your brother is just … upset.”
“Upset because of what?” Catelynn showed zero emotion as she stared at her mother. She was a cute kid, round cheeks and soulful blue eyes. She simply showed no emotion, which seemed odd given the circumstances. Still, Maddie’s heart went out to the girl. It was obvious she was struggling to understand what was happening.
“Daddy is sick.” Alicia chose her words carefully. “Do you remember we talked about that when Aaron first brought you to the hospital? I explained how Daddy was sick.”
Catelynn nodded, solemn. “He’s hurt and the doctors are going to fix him.”
“They’re trying to fix him,” Aaron barked. “Try. That’s the operative word. He’s been shot. That can’t always be fixed.”
“Aaron!” Alicia’s eyes filled with fire as Catelynn jutted her lower lip out.
“Shot?” Catelynn was obviously confused. “I don’t … I … how was he shot?”
“It was an accident,” Alicia said quickly. “You don’t have to worry about anything. It was just an accident.”
Catelynn continued as if she hadn’t heard her mother. “Is someone going to shoot me?”
“Of course not.” Alicia tried to wrap her arm around the girl’s diminutive shoulders, but Catelynn pulled away from her mother and walked toward her brother. “I don’t like this.”
“Nobody likes this,” Aaron said.
“I want to go home.”
“We can’t go home, Catelynn,” Alicia explained. “We have to wait for news on your father. It’s important.”
Catelynn swiveled and pinned her mother with a look that Maddie couldn’t describe. There was anger there … fear … and something else. “I want to go home right now,” she demanded. “Right now! I don’t want to stay here. I hate it here. I want to go home. Take me home!”
Her screech was so loud it sent chills down Maddie’s spine.
Nick and Kreskin exchanged quick looks, something unsaid passing between them. Maddie didn’t have to ask the obvious question to understand what they were thinking. This situation just kept getting worse and worse.
Four
Kreskin and Nick questioned Alicia further as they waited for an update from the doctor. She was a mess, gripping her hands together on her lap and falling in and out of the conversation as her mind wandered. She stuck to her story no matter how they prodded, and finally, they gave it a rest and settled in chairs to wait.
Maddie watched the kids for an extended period of time. Catelynn eventually calmed when her mother pointed her toward the tablet and the young girl returned to playing whatever game held her fancy. Aaron refused to stop pacing at the far end of the waiting room. Occasionally he would look at his mother when he thought no one was watching, and the expression on his face was chilling. Once, he happened to look over at Maddie and realized she was studying his reactions. After that he retreated into silence and solitude.
The surgeon eventually
joined them. He was a middle-aged man Maddie didn’t recognize, but he had kind eyes and spoke with gravitas.
“I’m Dr. Feldman,” he said, his eyes briefly landing on Nick and Kreskin. “Are you with the family?”
“We’re with the Blackstone Bay Police Department,” Kreskin replied. “What’s Mr. Clark’s status?”
“He’s in critical condition.”
Alicia let loose a wrenching sob but otherwise remained quiet.
“He survived the surgery, which is good,” Feldman continued. “He’s not out of the woods yet, though. There were two gunshot wounds. The one to the chest was obviously our biggest concern. The one to his abdomen was more of a flesh wound and we were able to deal with that relatively quickly. The chest wound, however, was very close to his heart. It didn’t damage the heart, but he lost a lot of blood.”
“What are his chances?” Nick asked, mindful of Maddie as she shifted closer to him.
“We’re hopeful, but guarded,” Feldman replied. “We’ve collected the bullets, which I’m assuming you’ll want.”
“You assume correctly,” Kreskin confirmed.
“One of them is intact. That’s the one from his abdomen. The one in his chest is fragmented, though. We put all the pieces in a bag for you. I can get that for you right now.”
“What happens next?” Nick asked. “I mean ... when will he regain consciousness?”
“I don’t know. It will be hours at the very least. He’s on a ventilator, but we’re hopeful that’s a cautionary measure we’ll be able to remove in the morning. For now, we’re observing him. We won’t be able to tell you more for at least eight hours, probably closer to twelve.”
Nick and Kreskin nodded as Feldman moved to Alicia and started talking to her in hushed tones. Aaron shifted closer to the doctor, but he didn’t engage with his mother. The lack of interaction between them wasn’t lost on Maddie.
“You should head home and get some sleep,” Kreskin instructed. “I’ll collect the bullets and then be right behind you. We’ll regroup and plan our next steps in the morning.”
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