AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I didn’t realize that it would be on the news and I wanted to tell you in person.” Nola peered at the label on the nearly empty IV bag connected to Charlotte. “They’re giving you morphine? Strong stuff.”
“I am in pain,” Charlotte said tremulously. “You have no idea how bad my hip hurts. Not that you care. What evidence did they find?” she asked. “And why is that Kennedy girl in charge?”
“Some kids found Eve’s boot in the cave and I don’t know why Maggie’s the one in charge. I thought it was strange too,” Nola tried to pull Charlotte’s sheet back from her legs but Charlotte held tight. “I just want to see the incision,” Nola explained, releasing the linens. “See if your surgeon is as good as I am.”
“It’s not right,” Charlotte said, bringing a cup to her mouth and tipping it back. Water dribbled down the corners of her mouth. “I don’t think that’s a good thing at all. I gave Henry the benefit of the doubt for years and what do we have to show for it? No.” She shook her head. “The Kennedy family had their chance.”
“That’s what I said.” Nola plucked a tissue from the box on the windowsill and handed it to Charlotte. “Maggie Kennedy isn’t the most impartial person to investigate. She’s too close to the case.”
“If they would have only listened to me, they would have solved it a long time ago.” Charlotte dabbed at her face with the tissue. “I’m just worried that Maggie Kennedy will go down the same dead ends that her dad did.”
“We all know who you think killed Eve,” Nola said distractedly, looking out the window. “Too bad there was never enough evidence to prove it.”
Charlotte sniffed. “Nick Brady killed Eve and I’ll go to my grave saying so. When I get home, I want to talk to Maggie Kennedy. I want to tell her that they can’t let him go this time. The doctor said I will probably be able to come home by the end of the week.”
“Charlotte, that’s not going to happen,” Nola said as she glanced behind her to see if anyone could hear her.
“What?” Charlotte asked in confusion. “But the doctors said...”
“It’s the house,” Nola said eager to get this conversation over with. “They’ll never let you come home to it the way it is now.”
“But how will they know?” Charlotte’s voice cracked. “You aren’t going to say anything, are you?”
Nola didn’t respond.
“Nola, you’re not going to tell the doctors I shouldn’t come home, are you?” Charlotte asked fearfully. “You can’t do this to me.”
“It’s for your own good,” Nola said, keeping her voice neutral, calm.
“You’ve never done anything unless it was for your own good,” Charlotte shot back. “The only person you care about is yourself. I’ll tell them you pushed me down the steps. I swear I will.”
“You know that’s not true, Charlotte. I was trying to help you and you tripped. Why in the world would I push you?”
“You’ve always hated me. You hated your sister and you hate me. You want me out of the way.”
“That’s not true.” Nola went to the small closet in the corner of the room and pulled out a pillow and walked back toward Charlotte. “I loved Eve and why would I have stayed with you all these years if I didn’t care about you? You look uncomfortable,” Nola said as she slid the pillow behind Charlotte’s head. “If you tell them that, there’s no way they will ever let you come home.” Nola spoke in a low, soothing voice. “You would be put in an old folks’ home. Let me get things organized for you. Then you can come home,” Nola said as she looked to the doorway. “I’ve got to go now, Charlotte. You get some rest now. I’ll call you later.”
“You’re lying! You always lie. I can’t stay here.” Charlotte’s eyes widened with fear. “Don’t leave me here, Nola. Don’t you dare leave me here. I’ll tell them you weren’t there with me until six on the day Eve died.”
“You can’t say that, Charlotte.” Nola sighed. “That will just make it all the harder to prove that Nick was the one who killed Eve.”
“I don’t want you throwing away my things.” Charlotte was shouting now. “They’re important to me. They’re all I have! Nola, don’t leave me here!”
Nola stepped from the room, meeting Ray as she moved down the hallway, her mother’s cries following her. “Is everything okay?” Ray asked. “Did something happen?”
“She’ll be okay,” Nola answered as she breezed past him. “She’ll be just fine.”
Nola hurried back to her truck but she took her time heading back to Grotto, taking back roads and country lanes, swiveling her head from side to side looking for any movement in the ditches that hugged the road. She was getting that urge again.
Her mother would forgive her. She always did. Nola just needed her mother out of the way for the time being and, well, if it turned into a permanent thing, that was okay too. Her mother would thank her in the end, especially if it meant the downfall of Nick Brady.
The rustle of tall grass and a sleek striped tail caught her eye and she pulled over to the side of the road. Poor thing was scrawny and flea-bitten. If Nola didn’t step in, it would probably die a long and painful death. She reached into her bag and retrieved the can, a snare pole and a thick pair of work gloves. No need to get scratched up.
Nola stepped from the truck. Black gnats swirled around her head and she waved them away only to have them disperse and quickly return. She popped the lid on the tin of cat food and set it near where she saw the tabby, took five steps backward and with the snare pole in hand, crouched down and waited.
