Thirty-Nine

I sat in the dark alone, the muted beeping of the machines keeping me tethered to my surroundings. Luke was dead. Joseph was gone. And Mike wanted me to lie, to pretend that none this had ever happened.

Mrs. Hooper opened my door and smiled. She looked exhausted and thin, as if she hadn’t slept or eaten for days. She probably hadn’t. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of happiness. She’d worried about me. Cared about me. Missed me, and somehow that made everything a little brighter.

“It’s nice to see you awake,” she said as she hurried to my side. She looked me up and down, her gaze lingering on the clogs on my feet. “You’re not going anywhere, young lady. You’re going to get back in the bed and do exactly as the doctor says.”

I waved her off. “I need my clothes. I want to go home. I want to see Luke.”

She stopped at my words, her smile fading. “Luke is gone, sweetie. He died in the accident.”

“I know he’s gone,” I said. “But it’s not what you think. It didn’t happen the way everybody is saying.”

“What do you mean?”

There was a gentle assurance in her voice, the unspoken promise that she would listen and, at the very least, try to believe me.

I went to answer her, to tell her every sordid detail of my nightmare, when a knock on the door stopped me.

“It’s Dee, right?” His voice was gentle and laced with false sympathy. “I’m Officer Smith, but you can call me Jared.”

He was back in uniform, the gun and the shiny badge in clear view. He took a step closer and pulled off his hat, dipping his head politely toward Mrs. Hooper.

“If you’re up to it, I’d like to ask you a few questions. I talked to your friend … ah … ” Jared paused and scratched his head, then dug out a little notebook. He flipped through the pages until he found the name he was looking for.

I wasn’t buying it. He knew Mike’s name, probably knew his damn shoe size.

“Mike. I talked to your friend Mike, but I would like to hear what you have to say.”

Under the stupid assumption that any of us had a choice, Mrs. Hooper motioned to the chair beside my bed. “If you can make it quick, please. She’s tired and needs her rest.”

“Absolutely, ma’am,” he said. “But if you don’t mind, I have to ask you to wait outside.”

Confusion flickered across Mrs. Hooper’s face. “She’s a minor. Surely I’m able to stay in here with her?” She slid closer to me.

“Usually that’s the case, but seeing as Dee is almost eighteen and technically a ward of the state, you’ll need to wait outside.”

I sank farther beneath the blankets and shot Mrs. Hooper a look, one I hoped she’d realize meant under no circumstances can you leave me alone with this man.

It didn’t work. She just patted my shoulder and gave me a reassuring wink. “Ward of the state or not, she’s like a daughter to me.”

“I won’t be more than ten minutes, ma’am,” Jared promised. “I simply need to clarify some statements that Mike made, and then I’ll be on my way. And you needn’t worry. I’ll treat her as if she were one of my own.”

Mrs. Hooper nodded. “Thank you. I’m sure you will.”

Jared closed the door and clicked the lock into place, then stood there staring at me. I glanced at the bathroom, then at the double window before inspecting the ceiling for cameras that might connect to the nurse’s station. There was no way for me to get away.

He caught my fear and tipped his head to the side. “I understand your apprehension, but I have no intention of harming you.”

That statement should have made me feel better. It didn’t, because left unsaid was the not yet. “Then why are you here?” I asked. “What do you want?”

“I want nothing from you. I merely wanted to express my condolences over the loss of your boyfriend.” He leaned over my bed and rested his hands on either side of my pillow, caging me in. “It was an accident, exactly like Mike reported. But remember, accidents happen all the time, and at the most inopportune moments.”

The first tear escaped, and he reached forward to brush it away. I pulled back, never wanting anybody to touch me again.

“No one needs to get hurt, Dee. No one,” he murmured, easing himself away from my bed.

“Officer Smith,” I said as he reached the door.

“Please, call me Jared.”

I had to swallow twice in order to get my lips to form his name. “Jared. Where is Joseph?”

He sighed, as if answering my question, or rather not answering it, was too painful for him to bear. “Forget about Joseph, Dee. Forget about Elijah and Purity Springs and try to live your life.”

I wanted to do as he suggested. I wanted to forget about what happened to Joseph and Eden … even Abram. I didn’t want to care anymore; it hurt too much. Maybe Elijah’s brother was right. Maybe the only way for me to survive was to forget.