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But as the officer shifts position, she sees that Tom is half sitting up, the cop’s hand on his back.
“Tom,” she screams, rushing forward and dropping down next to him and the officer.
“I’m okay, sweetheart,” he says. “At least I think I am. I might have been out cold for a bit.”
“We’ll call an ambulance for you,” the cop says.
“Please, hold off a second,” Tom urges. “I really think I’m okay. I probably need to see a doctor, but I’d prefer to do it on my own steam.”
He straightens into a full sitting position. In the light coming from the house, Emma sees an ugly gash on his forehead, though it doesn’t seem to be bleeding now.
“Can you tell us what happened?” the cop says.
“Uh, yeah. I’d come outside looking for my wife.” Hepauses, momentarily confused and looks at Emma. “Where did you go?”
“I went into town,” she says quickly. “I can explain later.”
“As soon as I was outside, I heard someone come up behind me. I spun around and before I knew it, this guy in a ski mask was grabbing me, punching at me. And then—we both heard a car coming and he took off, but not before whacking me hard on the side of the head a couple of times and knocking me to the ground. It might have been with the butt of a gun.”
“Is there anything you can tell us about his appearance?”
“He was six feet, maybe, well-built, dark clothes. Oh wait, I took a swing at him and connected with his face. There’ll probably be a bruise there eventually.”
One of the officers steps away and Emma hears him talking urgently into his radio, giving the description, while the other one asks Tom if he feels up to standing yet.
“Yeah, I think I’m good.” With the cop’s help, he struggles to his feet. “Does anyone have any idea what’s going on?”
“I do,” Emma says, “but I’ll tell you in the car. If you’re sure you don’t want an ambulance?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m not dizzy or anything.”
She exhales finally, some of the tension melting away. She’s so relieved Tom’s okay, that the sound of the police car coming up the road clearly drove Kyle away. And that she was wrong, so wrong, about Tom having any connection to Derrick’s death.
But that doesn’t erase the lies he’s told her.
