Liv shakes her head. “No, you’re imagining things. Dad is worried about Julie.”
Was I imagining?
“Are you ready to go relieve Ollie and Sandy?” Liv asks as she places her dish on the tray.
I help her collect our things. “So, tell me about Sandy.”
After we place the tray on the conveyer belt, sending it back to the kitchen, Liv reaches for my arm. “Like I said, she’s only twenty. They met...”
Chapter
Twenty
My parents’ living room is uncharacteristically tense as the members of my family all take seats, murmuring among ourselves. I choose one next to Liv on the long sofa. Mom is on her other side. Dad is in one overstuffed chair, and Ollie is in the other. We all turn to the man who called us away from the hospital. With his hat in his hand, pressed against his uniformed chest, and his fingers softly tapping on the brim, Sheriff Manes stands before us.
After Dad received his call, all of us except Matt returned to Blue Gil. Currently, Matt and his mother are sitting at Julie’s bedside in Bronson Hospital. As one of the few non-family members that my mom trusts, Matt has a direct line to Liv and our parents if anything changes.
As of six o’clock this evening, the doctor reported that Julie is healing.
Her white blood cell count has decreased, indicating that the infection is lessening. Dr. Chaudhry is hopefulthat tomorrow they will be able to cut back on the heavy sedation medications, allowing Julie to wake. She said it’s important for her muscles to begin moving. Julie’s level of pain is the doctor’s greatest concern. Currently, the medication sedating her is also managing pain.
Before we left Julie’s room, I squeezed her hand. Her fingers were warm and donned with bandages. Her other hand was connected to the IV and tubes. The hand I held lay still in my grasp. “Julie, I’m sorry I didn’t take you up on your invitation. I wish I had been there for you.” My whispered words weren’t meant for anyone but her.
Though I’m anxious to begin the research Echo recommended, the sheriff’s summons came first. When Dad asked us all to be here, I couldn’t refuse.
The room settles in a hush as we all wait.
“I...wanted you to be told,” Sheriff Manes begins, “I wanted to be the one.” He appears to be practicing until he finds the right words. “I thought I should be the one...”
“Joe,” Dad says. “Tell us what?”
“It’s Marty Thompson.”
The room takes a collective breath, holding it in our lungs, the air burning as we anticipate what he is about to say.
“We found her.”
I exhale.
He lifts his hand. “She’s dead.”
“Oh...” Each of us mutters something as I reach for Liv’s hand. She’s also holding our mother’s. “Was she...?” my mother asks.
“This information has only been shared with herparents,” Sheriff Manes says. “Out of respect for the Thompsons, I’m limited on what I can say. They did authorize me to talk to you folks.”
“Joe,” Dad begins again, “our girls were friends. We watched Marty grow up. Hell, she and Julie have been friends since grade school.” He stands. “Was she...did he...? Hell, Joe, is this the same sick bastard who hurt Julie?”
Sheriff Manes shakes his head. “I can’t tell you that. The county sheriff’s department sent a forensic team to the shed. After we found Marty, I called the state.”
I would assume it is a big step for Joseph Manes to call a higher and larger force.
“They’re sending officers down here first thing in the morning.”
“In the morning,” my father rages as he stands. “In the morning? We have two teenage girls hurt. One is dead. The other is in a drug-induced coma. This can’t wait until morning.”
Sheriff Manes lifts his hand holding his hat and uses it as a shield as Dad steps closer. “Jerry, I understand what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?”
