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Chapter 39
SO, MY GUTwas right.
Decker was in the Mitchells’ kitchen staring down at a report on Toby Babbot’s accident that had required the insertion of a metal plate in his head.
When the “industrial” accident had happened, he’d been working on the construction of the Maxus FC. He’d been driving a forklift that had collidedwith another piece of heavy equipment. Babbot hadn’t been wearing his safety harness and had been thrown clear of the forklift, resulting in the head injury.
A fractured skull.
He had health insurance through his job, so his medical bills had been covered. But apparently alcohol had been found in his bloodstream at the time of the accident. Thus any lawsuit he might have filedagainst the company was problematic. However, the company might have been hedging its bets, because they had allowed him to stay on for a few months in an office capacity before letting him go.
Decker heard the front door open. A few moments later Amber appeared in the doorway.
She looked so pale and shaky that Decker didn’t know how she was able to stay upright.
“Do you know where Zoe is?” she asked.
“Alex took her to run some errands for you.”
She nodded. “How are you doing?”
Decker looked embarrassed that she would be worrying about him at a time like this.
“I’m fine. Can I, um, get you anything?”
“No, I…I don’t need anything. Thank you for getting Frank’s car and personal items.”
“It was reallynothing, Amber. We were glad to do it.”
Her lips trembled. “I got Frank a really nice coffin.”
Decker felt his skin turn cold. He wanted to get up and give the woman a supportive hug. But the thing in his head stopped him from doing that.
Tears beginning to slip down her cheeks, Amber said softly, “I’m going to go lie down.”
All Decker could do in responsewas nod.
He listened to her walk down the hall to her bedroom on the main floor.
The door closed behind her.
Next, he heard something hit the floor.
Shoes.
And then the squeak of bedsprings.
Amber flopping on the bed.
And then came the sobs that easily reached all the way to the kitchen.
Unable to endure the criesof the bereaved woman, Decker quickly rose and went out onto the rear porch, where all of this had begun.
He felt himself shaking all over. What Amber was experiencing was what he had experienced. And seeing someone who had lost a loved one to violence had brought all those memories flooding back.
You can’t go there, Decker. If you do, you’re no good to anybody.
He forced himself to focus on the house behind them.
