I drove. Dad and I didn’t talk. We were each getting ready to face what lay ahead. The sun had started to set. Every so often, rays of light blinded me through the windshield. Shadows stretched across the road.
Cheri’s street was filled with cop cars and an ambulance. Red lights were flashing and people were standing in a group watching police unroll yellow tape. A body lay on Cheri’s lawn under a white sheet.
I spotted Jimmy with his back to me. He was talking to another cop. I needed to get his attention but would have to get past some of the police officers.
“Anna,” Dad said. “I’ll stay here. You go and find out.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll be right back.”
He nodded. Dad stood straight as a rod, as if at attention in a military lineup. His eyes stared directly ahead to the body on the ground.
I slipped under the tape and ran toward Jimmy. Someone grabbed my arm but Jimmy had turned. His eyes opened wide and he signalled for the cop to let me go. Jimmy walked over to me.
“Anna. I never expected to see you.”
“Is it . . . is it Cheri?” I asked.
“No.” His eyes looked past me to where Dad stood. Jimmy shook his head so Dad would know it wasn’t Cheri.
“Who is it?”
Jimmy looked at the sheet on the ground then back at me. “It’s someone Cheri works with.”
“Who?” My mind scrambled over the people I’d met.
“Her name is Hannah Jones. Somebody struck her with a car and she flew several metres onto the lawn. The car must have been going full out.”
“Did you know her?”
“I met her at a few of Cheri’s work parties. I wouldn’t say I knew her.” He avoided my eyes and looked past me. “Mr. Sweet. I’m sorry to have gotten you out tonight.”
I turned and saw that Dad was right behind me. He looked relieved but upset. He shook his head. “I’m sorry for the family of the young lady under that sheet. But I’m glad it’s not my girl.”
I took his arm. “I’ll take you home, Dad. Cheri should be there by now.” I turned to Jimmy. “You and I have to talk. I’ll be by in the morning.”
I wanted to find out why Jimmy had lied. Hannah had visited him at home that morning. They knew each other better than he had let on.
*********
Cheri was sitting at the table reading the newspaper when Dad and I walked into the kitchen. She took one look at our faces and her smile disappeared.
“Where have you been?” Dad asked. His voice was gruff.
“Just out.” Cheri said. “I picked up the car from the mechanic and drove around for a while. He’s doing an oil change on your truck, Dad. My treat. We can pick it up any time. Anyhow, I lost track of time. Has something happened?”
“Talk to your sister,” Dad said to me. “I’m going to pour myself a Scotch and watch some television.” He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and went down the hall to his den. My father avoided family upsets whenever possible.
I sat down across from Cheri. “Really, where have you been all this time? You have to tell me now if you did anything wrong. I’ll try to help you.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“This isn’t like when we were kids. You won’t be able to bat your big blue eyes and get away with whatever you did.”
“How did you know?”
“Oh crap.” I’d been hoping I was wrong. I sighed. “Did you mean to hit her?”
“What are you talking about? I know that I didn’t tell you everything and I’m sorry, okay?”
“Walk me through it.”
“I’m not allowed to be with Evan unless someone else is there. I did something crazy after work one day. I picked him up and don’t remember anything after that. I have no idea why I left him alone in a park. I blanked out.”
“Dad already told me that. Did you blank out again today?”
She raised her head and looked at me. “No. I knew where I was.”
“Tell me exactly what you did.”
“I picked up my car from the garage. They’d fixed the brakes and the damage to the hood and bumper, you know, because of the accident. Then I drove over to Evan’s school. I waited outside until he came out. I watched him play during recess. I knew I should just leave but I followed his bus home. I got out and called to him. He ran into my arms and I hugged him. Bonnie came out and yelled at me. Then I let him go and drove back here.” Cheri started crying. “I miss him so much.”
“Are you telling me you didn’t drive to your house in Manotick?”
“Why would I go there?” Cheri wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands. She looked confused.
I stared at her for a bit. She either: (a) didn’t have anything to do with Hannah’s hit and run accident, (b) had lost her mind, or (c) was a great actress.
“What’s Hannah Jones like?” I asked.
“Hannah? She’s smart and ambitious. She’s the new breed of young lawyer—wants to get to the top right away. They don’t put much stock in experience. She and Roger Little are a lot alike in that way.”
“Did Jimmy know Hannah very well?”
“No. They met at a few of my work parties, but that was it. Why?”
“Hannah was killed outside your house in Manotick today, Cheri. She was hit by a car. The driver fled the scene.”
“No!” Cheri looked around the kitchen. Her eyes were round blue pools of fear. “Jimmy must have mistaken her for me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I should have been the one to die. Oh my God. Hannah Jones died instead of me!”