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“I have a better question,” said Adam.
They both looked at him.
“Where’s he going to strike next?”
CHAPTER 18
Sunday mornings were usually the only time Hannah had to herself: Sunday school for James, volunteer time at the church for her mother, and paperwork in the office for her father.
The whole family had gone to church every Sunday when she was growing up. Hannah and her mother had participated in every potluck or holiday bazaar. Hannah had helped in the nursery school and sung Christmas carols with the children’s choir. When her father wasn’t on duty, he’d joined them.
Then Hannah had gotten pregnant. It shouldn’t have been a massive scandal—but it had been, Suddenly, she hadn’t been welcome in the nursery school. When she’d tried to serve food at the pancake breakfast, she couldn’t miss the whispers. The judgmental looks. The comments behind her back.
And to her face.
Her mother had been supportive, but Hannah couldn’t take it. She’d stopped going. As soon as she’d stopped, her father had, too.
So much for the perfect family.
When James had grown old enough for Sunday school, Hannah’s mother had insisted, and since he had friends in the class, Hannah didn’t object. Luckily, he wasn’t a target of open mockery and shame. She usually used the time to catch up on classwork for the college courses she was taking—especially since she was already behind this week.
But by the time she dropped James off at church, Hannah was ready to drop. She couldn’t remember if she’d missed one night or two nights of sleep, but whatever, she was going to take a shower and crash into bed for a few hours before heading to the firehouse.
Her father’s car was waiting in the driveway when she got home.
Hannah sighed. She didn’t want to get out of the car.
His presence shouldn’t have left her with a sense of foreboding. They lived in the same house, for goodness sake—though they rarely did more than pass like ships in the night. Her father had spoken more to her at recent crime scenes than he’d said in weeks.
Maybe she could just walk inside and go up to her room.
She didn’t understand why every time she had to face him, it was as if the last five years vanished and she was seventeen again, walking around with shame riding on her shoulders.
Well, if she sat out here in the car long enough, he’d definitely come to investigate.
Hannah closed the car door as quietly as she could and eased into the house like she wanted to rob the place.
This is pathetic. You’re pathetic.
She didn’t see her father on the main level, so she quickly loped up the steps, springing silently on the balls of her feet. She could grab some sweats from her dresser and be in the bathroom before he even knew she was home.
Except for the fact that her father was sitting on her bed.
He looked like he’d been up all night, too. The few lines on his face seemed more pronounced, and she could see dark circles under his eyes.
Hannah frowned at him. He hadn’t been in her room in years. “What are you doing?”
“Where were you?” he said.
“I took James to church,” she said.
Something in his expression tightened. “He’s with your mother?”
“Yeah. He’ll ride back with Mom after lunch like they always do. What’s with the look?”
“Where were you earlier?”
She shrugged and began digging through her dresser.
