She folded her fingers over his hand. He was alive. Whatever happened, she would deal with it, but Kevin was alive.
Liz moved a chair up to the bed and nudged her into it. Just sit here with him for a few minutes. Dont attempt to wake him. The nurse may have to ask you to leave at some point. I know I can count on you to cooperate.
Dont make a fuss, in other words. But she wasnt the type to fuss, was she?
Liz turned away, and Deidre reached out to catch her hand. My friend, the one who was with Kevin, do you know how shes doing?
Lizs eyes clouded. Im sorry. Ive been told that Dixie James died without regaining consciousness.
* * *
JASE SLIPPED OUT of the waiting room and watched as Deidre and her father-in-law trailed the doctors down the hall. They disappeared from sight into the boys room. An unaccustomed emotion wrenched at his heart. Poor little guy. Still, things did sound hopeful regarding his recovery.
Hed really been pitchforked into trouble when hed set out to meet Deidre Morris tonight. There was a bright side to his actions in sabotaging her carat least she hadnt been alone when shed made that grisly discovery.
So why did the memory of his actions bring with it a wave of guilt?
Jase glanced back at the waiting room, but he was too restless to sit in there. He had to talk to the judge as soon as possible. Given what had happened, hed surely want to delay any action against his daughter-in-law, and Jase would be relieved to be out from under the burden of that task. Whatever Deidres other failings, thered been no mistaking her anguish over her son. He didnt doubt that shed have changed places with the boy in an instant.
Kevins injury had been bad enough, but at least it had looked like an accident. But the womanthat had been deliberate. He was no expert, but hed be surprised if anyone could have survived that blow to the head. What on earth was going on in this supposedly peaceful small town?
The hall was as quiet as a hospital ever was, the lights slightly dimmed and most of the patient room doors closed. Two nurses were having a conversation about their weekend plans at the nurses station, their voices as cheerful as if it was the middle of the afternoon.
He moved toward Kevins room, making little sound on the tile floor. A talk with the judge was definitely in order. Hed done his best to answer the cops questions, automatically not volunteering anything extra. But the police would have to question Deidre sooner or later, and if he was meant to represent her, that had to be clarified.
Pausing, he watched the door, reluctant to make a move. It swung open, and he had a brief glimpse of the child on the high, narrow bed, with Deidre sitting next to him, her eyes intent on his face. Then the door closed as the judge, still gray-faced, approached him.
Can we have a word? Jase kept his voice low.
Judge Morris glanced around, nodded and led the way to the window at the end of the corridor, safely out of earshot of the nurses station.
How is the boy? He sounded awkward. Not surprising, since he felt awkward. Dealing with emotion had never come easy to him.
You heard what the doctor said, so you know as much as I do. Its a matter of waiting. Judge Morris looked as if the concept was completely unfamiliar to him.
Im sorry. Jase hesitated. Under the circumstances, I take it you wont want me to proceed with any further investigation.
Morriss face froze. Then you take it wrong. Its more important than ever now.
But with your grandson in the hospital...
Thats the point, Morris snapped. Why is he here? Was he injured because something Deidre did put him in danger? I have to know, or how can I protect him?
Jase got where he was coming from, but at the moment there seemed nothing to tie Deidre to the attack on the woman. Its possible it was an attempted burglary that turned violent. Nothing to do with either Mrs. Morris or Ms. James.
The judge shook his head impatiently. A burglar would have seen the lights and known someone was home.
True, but even so, the violence was directed at Dixie James. It seemed to him more likely that, if it wasnt a burglary or a random attack, someone had either followed Dixie or had known she was babysitting that night.
We have too little information to speculate, I suppose. The judge glanced around, as if expecting that information to materialize because he wanted it.
Deidre is unlikely to do anything to raise questions about her behavior while her son is in the hospital, Jase pointed out, trying to be the voice of common sense.
I suppose not, but I still want you to represent her with the police. And help her deal with any reporters. The judge turned away, and then turned back as if struck by a second thought. Ill have a word with the chief of police to make sure he keeps you abreast of whats happening in the investigation. Its best to be prepared.
Being prepared to the judge obviously meant pulling as many strings as necessary to ensure that he took care of his grandchild. Jason couldnt fault his goal, whatever he thought of his methods. In any event, he didnt have much choice.
All right. Movement down the hall caught his eye. Looks as if the cops are here. Two officers, one young enough to look as if he were growing into his uniform and the other a silver-haired older man, had just emerged from the elevator.
The judge looked at them and stiffened still more. Under no circumstances are they to attempt to question my grandson. I wont have his recovery jeopardized by an overeager policeman. See to it.
Jason nodded, privately thinking that not much effort would be necessary. The doctors would no doubt do that job for him. Theyll be wanting to speak to your daughter-in-law tonight. They do have an assault to solve.
Murder, Morris corrected. The doctor told us the woman didnt survive. Ill have a word with them on my way out, and Im relying on you to make sure their questioning is as brief as possible.
Jase nodded. He suspected that would be an easy matter after the judge spoke to them. Judge Morris clearly carried a lot of clout in this town, and the police would be more aware of that than anyone.
He watched as the judge approached the two, spoke for a moment and then gestured to Jase. Obeying the summons, he approached to find himself being surveyed coolly by the older man.
Chief Carmichaels, Jason Glassman. Glassman is the new associate at the firm. Hell be handling anything necessary for my daughter-in-law.
With a curt nod, the judge stalked to the elevator and pushed the button. Even the elevator obeyed him, opening promptly.
By what seemed to be common consent, the three of them waited until the doors had closed before turning to business. I hear the boys in a bad way. Chief Carmichaelss expression softened. Poor little guy.
I understand the doctors are hopeful that hell recover. But theyre keeping him in a medically induced coma for the next few days. He trusted he didnt have to spell it out for the man.
Carmichaels nodded. Meaning we wont know what, if anything, he saw until he comes out of it.
Maybe not even then, Jase pointed out. People sometimes have no memory of the events leading up to a head injury. And I doubt you can expect much from a five-year-old, anyway.
We have to try. Carmichaelss tone was mild, but Jase didnt miss the steel in his eyes. This was a man who would do his job, no matter what anyone said. Still, hed probably try to do it without antagonizing anyone, which would help.
As for Mrs. Morris... Jase began.
Now, Mr. Glassman, Im sure a big-city prosecutor like yourself knows we have to talk to her, no matter how inconvenient it might be. This is now a murder case.
In other words, his reputation had preceded him. It would have been foolish to think otherwise.
Shes sitting with her son at the moment. If the chiefs words had been a challenge, he wouldnt take it up. Im willing to ask her to come out for a few minutes, providing you keep it brief. I was with Mrs. Morris the entire time and probably better able to observe the situation, since I wasnt personally involved.
I understand you drove her home from a meeting at the library. You went together, did you? The chiefs silver eyebrows lifted slightly, as if it seemed unlikely to him.
No, I just met Mrs. Morris for the first time at the meeting. Afterward, I noticed she was having trouble getting her car started, so I offered her a lift home.
And you went into the house with her, Carmichaels added.
Only because I noticed the door standing open. We city-dwellers are always on alert for signs of a break-in, as you can imagine.
The chief nodded, as if satisfied with that explanation. If youll ask Mrs. Morris to give us a few minutes, then well get out of the way.
Jason frowned as a thought occurred. Are you leaving someone on duty here?
I dont have a big enough force to spare a man, but I can ask the security guard to check in often. You have a reason to think the child is in danger? There was an edge to the cops voice.
Ive only been in town two days. I know next to nothing about the situation, but if the child might be a witness to murder... He let that trail off, satisfied that hed made his point.
Well make sure hes never left alone. He glanced toward the door meaningfully, and Jase took the hint. He wanted to see Deidre, and he didnt appreciate being told his business by an outsider. Nobody did, but maybe an outsider saw more by virtue of the fact that everything was unfamiliar.
He slipped into the room, pausing for a moment to be sure he wasnt startling Deidre or the boy. But Kevin was deeply asleep, his chest barely rising and falling as he slept, and Deidre looked up immediately at the change in light when the door opened.
Sorry to interrupt, he murmured. Chief Carmichaels needs to ask you a few questions. If youll just come out for a minute or two... He could see her instinctive response.
I cant leave Kevin. What if something happens?
Ill get someone to stay with him. But even as he spoke, a male nurse, identification plainly displayed, entered the room.
Ill be here with Kevin for a few minutes. He gave Deidre a reassuring smile. Id have to ask you to step out, anyway. And I wont leave until you come back, okay?
Seeing she had no choice, Deidre removed her hand slowly from her son. She bent over and whispered something to him before coming to Jase.
Its all right, he said quickly, putting a hand on her elbow. If she got any paler, shed be whiter than the sheets. Ill make sure the cops dont overstay their welcome.
She looked up at him then, meeting his gaze with a look of surprise and gratitude that startled him. You shouldnt have gotten involved in this at all. If you hadnt been so kind as to give me a lift, you could have been safely home by now.
Kind. There was her child lying in a coma, and she thanked him for being kind when he was the one whod sabotaged her car. He couldnt feel any lower if he tried.
CHAPTER THREE
KOMM, NOW, YOU must eat. Deidres cousin, Anna Wagner, pressed a container of hot chicken soup into her hands. Mamm made it this morning just for you. She didnt want you eating hospital food.
Deidre could imagine the disdain with which her aunt had said those words. Amish mothers had a profound distrust of institutional food of any sort.
She didnt feel like eating, but Deidre obediently put a spoonful in her mouth. To her surprise, her tight throat seemed to relax at the warmth, and she discovered she was hungry, after all. No wonder they called it comfort food.
Its great. Thank your mamm for me.
Annas normally cheerful young face sobered as she looked at Kevin. Were all praying. And he looks a little better, aint so? His color is most natural.
I think so. Maybe it was the effect of the chicken soup, but Deidre dared to look ahead, just for a moment, to the day when a normal Kevin would be clattering down the stairs and sliding across the hall.
She couldnt imagine getting through this without being surrounded by people who loved and cared about her and Kevin. Anna was getting up, obviously ready to leave, but thered be someone else in the waiting room, ready to come in and join her silent vigil... Relatives or friends, theyd be here.
Someone tapped softly and pushed the door open a few inches. Jason Glassman hesitated. May I come in?
Anna snatched up her bag and kissed Deidre. Ja, its fine. Im just going. Cheerful, outgoing Anna gave him a smile that was accompanied by a speculative gaze before she slipped out.
My cousin, Deidre said. Realizing the container was empty, she set it down as he approached.
He looks better, he said, as everyone did who came in. Some of them were just trying to be encouraging, but Jason had seen Kevin at the worst, and that meant something.
I think so. But Id like to hear it from the doctor.
Im sure. He glanced toward the door. You have an Amish cousin?
I have thirty-four Amish cousins, to be exact. Thats not counting their children. She took pity on his baffled look. My father grew up Amish, but he left the church when he was a teenager. He maintained a good relationship with his parents and siblings, and so theyve always seen me as one of their own.
Someone mentioned that you have a business selling Amish crafts. Do you do that with your Amish relatives? Jason took the chair next to her where Anna had been sitting.
Had he been asking about her? Natural enough, under the circumstances, she supposed.
Not exactly, although some of them do participate. I do a web-based business that allows Amish craftspeople to sell their products online. My partner is Judith Yoder, my neighbor. Although our family trees probably interconnect if you go back far enough.
Jason looked from Kevin to her. I guess this isnt the best time for small talk, is it? Have the police been back?
No, thank goodness. She edged her chair a little closer to the bed, needing to be able to reach out and touch Kevin.
They will be. Jason sounded certain, making her frown.
Whats the point? I cant tell them anything more. Everything she had seen, he had, as well.
Theyre waiting for Kevin to wake up. He sounded as if that should be obvious. Theyre hoping he saw what happened to Dixie.
No. The word was wrenched from her as her heart cramped. If he saw that... She put her hand over Kevins as if that would protect him. No child should have to bear that.