Every Deadly Suspicion

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

T OGETHER H ANNA AND E VERETT WALKED into urgent care. The admit nurse met them immediately and asked them to wait a few minutes before she could take Everett back.

Standing with Everett, two things ran through Hanna’s mind: Scott’s murder investigation and the pressing need to get Everett and Chase in for interviews, and the request from state parole. She didn’t know why Everett kept brushing off interview requests, but it was time to step up and be chief. It was difficult for Hanna where Everett was concerned—she’d been too close to him her whole life, first through her mom, then later as he helped her with her career aspirations. His support had helped get her elected, and he’d never asked for special treatment—yet his delay in sitting down to speak with her about Scott gave her the feeling that special treatment was exactly what he expected.

She had to press him about the interview. Then she would bring up the letter. It would likely blindside him like it had her. Was now the time?

“Everett, I had a couple things to let you know. If Braden hadn’t fallen, I would have been up to see you.”

“Hmmm, I know you want to talk about Scott. I can’t. I’m not there yet. It is so very raw.”

“We need to get it over with. Don’t you want to know who poisoned Scott?”

Everett grunted and jerked away. Before he did, pain blossomed on his face. When he turned back, he was composed. “You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand. I want to close this case and catch the killer.”

He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I don’t like thinking about that plane crash.”

Hanna took a deep breath. “Tell me about that morning.”

Everett closed his eyes. “I didn’t even say goodbye.” He opened his eyes, now a little watery. His voice stayed steady.

“I was tied up with Braden. Chase had brought three horses up from the valley. We were picking a horse for Braden, talking with the riding instructor. At some point, Scott left to do his property survey. I didn’t see him leave.”

“Where was Chase?”

“That I don’t know.”

“Was Marcus writing a book about your family?”

“What?” Everett was genuinely shocked by the question. “Who told you that?”

“It’s something I’ve heard from folks.”

“I know of no such thing. I would not be happy if I heard that he was. Marcus deserves the Muckraker nickname.”

Hanna nodded. “Okay, thanks.” She’d pushed as hard as she dared.

He cleared his throat. “Did you have something else?”

“I got an odd request today.”

Now, a quizzical expression crossed his face. “It has something to do with me?”

“In a way.” Hanna explained the request.

Everett’s face darkened before she finished. He brought a hand to his mouth, then dropped it. “Have you given them an answer?”

“Not yet. It’s a big request.”

Now his expression went so dark it chilled Hanna. “Thank you for telling me. Of course, it’s your decision. You do what you think is best.” The way he ended the sentence suggested that he wasn’t finished.

“Was there something else?”

He gave a shake of his head. “I’m in shock. A life sentence isn’t a life sentence anymore, I guess. Joe Keyes tore this town apart, shattered our innocence, really. Consider that before you make your decision.”

The admit nurse opened the double doors before Hanna could respond. “Mr. Buckley, you can go back now.”

“Just let me know when you decide, okay?” Everett held her gaze before moving toward the nurse.

“I will.”

Hanna watched Everett go through the double doors to where Braden would be. His dark expression stayed with her. But then what did she expect? Joe had ruined his son’s life. Both sons’ really. Scott’s sacrificing his own personal life to take care of Chase always struck her as odd, even when her mother praised Scott for it. The Buckleys had plenty of money to hire the best care. Did it even apply now? Scott had planned to get married, so Chase must be able to take care of himself.

She decided to hang out in the waiting room until the boy was released or Everett gave her an update on his condition. She let dispatch know where she was and monitored the radio, which was quiet. A TV played at low volume in the waiting room. From time to time, Hanna would look up at the program when the dialogue hit a chord. It was about a boy whose father was in prison. He ran away from home to go visit his father because he didn’t think his mother took him to visit often enough. After several minutes, it became annoying. She got up and turned the sound off.

In the silence, Jared Hodges intruded on her thoughts again. She knew he was working on the Crest Fire, probably in the thick of it, knowing Jared. And she did know Jared. At one time in her life, she thought that he was her one true love.

Hanna pinched the bridge of her nose. Before that day when they’d met at Scott’s crash, he’d shown up at her front door one Saturday morning. He didn’t understand why she was shocked.

“You never wrote or called me in ten years. I figured you just forgot me.” She’d been through so many emotions since he’d left, Hanna believed that she was finally to the “don’t care anymore” stage.

“I could never forget you, Hanna.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, a sheepish expression on his face, followed by the same crooked half smile she’d loved when they were in high school. “I guess I just had a lot of growing up to do.”

Hanna felt a twinge of old feelings bubbling up, and she pushed them down. “What did you do for ten years?”

“A lot of different stuff. Built houses, climbed mountains.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Not in doing any of that stuff. I found it after I heard about my dad’s death.”

“Sorry about your dad.”

“Thanks.”

So much awkwardness between them now.

“I found what I wasn’t looking for. I found faith.”

She stared at him. He’d changed physically, that was sure—he’d filled out and gotten ten years older, just like Hanna. Had he truly found the faith Hanna had prayed he would all those years ago?

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I believe now, Hanna. That’s why I came home. You were right. I wish I’d listened better to you, and to my dad. I wouldn’t have left.”

Hanna fidgeted, remembering how much she’d prayed for Jared to share her faith. How much different would life be now if he’d found faith all those years ago? She couldn’t go there.

“I’m happy for you Jared, really, I am. But I’ve moved on. Did you really expect me to wait? I’m dating someone.”

His smile was sad now. “I have no expectations. I just wanted you to know. I’m home for good. I’ve been hired by the fire department, and I’ve got a place out on the edge of my uncle’s land. I hope we’re still friends.”

“We’ll always be friends, Jared.”

After his visit, all Hanna could do was shake her head. Of all the times to come home, why did Jared pick now? She finally felt settled. Her relationship with Nathan was new and promising, and she’d landed her dream job. Hanna still had not processed all of her feelings for Jared.

“What is there to process?” her friend Mandy had asked. “He left. He deserted you. Why should you care that he’s back after all this time?”

Why indeed.

Hanna understood her friend’s argument. She shouldn’t care one whit that Jared was back. He’d forgotten her for ten years. So why, oh why, did it matter to her so much that he’d returned?

Hanna grudgingly admitted to herself that it mattered because she still did care for Jared.