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"No. I was going to. But then a man walked up to her door, and she let him in. I got back in the car and waited for another twenty minutes, but the man didn't leave. I started to realize how crazy I was acting. Your father wasn't with her. She had someone else in her life, so I left. But I'm still waiting to hear from your dad. I think he knows your mother is alive and is having some kind of breakdown."
Everything she said made sense. It fit the timeline, but she'd also raised questions about my dad.Why had he suddenly stopped all contact with us?She'd last talked to him on Tuesday evening. It was Friday night. That was a long time to be out of touch, especially in light of everything that had happened.
"How did you know I was at her house, Brynn?" Vicky asked.
"The police have been looking at security footage from the neighborhood."
"Why?"
"My mother was shot on Thursday afternoon. You didn't know that?"
"What? No!" Vicky exclaimed. "I had no idea. Who shot her?"
"The police don't have a suspect. She's alive but in critical condition. The hospital called me on Thursday, shortly after my mother was admitted. Apparently, my mom asked the nurse to contact me."
"Are you in San Francisco now? Have you seen your mom?"
"I have. But she hasn't seen me; she's unconscious."
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry."
"Don't pretend to be sorry, Vicky. You could have told me two weeks ago. You could have shown me the video. You had plenty of chances to tell me she was alive. You didn't want me to know."
"I was protecting you."
"You were protecting yourself. I think Dad is also here in San Francisco. Have you called hotels in the city?"
"I contacted a couple of the chain hotels that he normally uses, but I couldn't find him. I honestly don't know where he is."
"Do you know why my mom would fake her death? Twenty years ago, you were one of her best friends. Was she having problems with Dad? Was she scared of him? Was there some other problem in her life that she talked about?" I asked, the questions rushing through my lips.
"I can't imagine why she would have done what she did. She was in love with your dad, and she certainly wasn't scared of him. That's not why she left. How could you even suggest that?"
"Because the police are suggesting that. And they're interested in you, too. You and Dad have a lot of explaining to do. You were at my mom's house the night before she was shot, and Dad was in the city the day after. Inspector Greenman will be calling you shortly. I suggest you be completely honest with him."
"The police are going to call me?" Vicky asked nervously. "Can't you just tell them what I said?"
"No, I can't. And I wouldn't avoid answering their call. It will only make things look worse for you."
"Well, I'm not talking to any cops without a lawyer."
"Whatever. Do what you want. I can't talk to you anymore, Vicky. I can't." I ended the call, feeling overwhelmed by emotion. I sat back in my chair feeling drained. I blew out a breath.
Kade gave me a compassionate look. "That was rough."
"For her or for me?"
"Both of you."
"What do you think? You heard everything she said, and you're probably more objective than I am when it comes to her."
"I think…you need a cookie." He handed me a cookie, and that made me smile.
"You're very intuitive," I said, as I took a bite of the sweet chocolate.
"Haven't heard that one too often," he said dryly. "As for what I think about your stepmother…she sounded scared and desperate, like she was afraid of losing someone she loves."
"I get that, but she acted so oddly. She didn't tell anyone about the video. She flew to San Francisco to confront my mother, but then says she didn't do that. I don't know what to think."
